Southwest Boarding Procedures

sdfcvoh

sdfcvoh

This is my Custom Title
Sort of off topic - but my Mother-in-Law asked me today if there was any magical method to get checked into SW for the front rows. Any advice? (other than the obligatory responses from a couple of you that SW sucks... etc.):) Thanks!
 
Check in on the computer the night before, print out the boarding passes, then make your way to the coveted "A" line at the airport and hope that you're the first one there. Its a cattle call, and there's no guarantee on where anyone will sit. Good Luck.
 
I noticed that at DAL they have SUB groups now. Each group A,B,C has subgroups that are numbered. like 1-6 7-13 ect... So maybe if you check in REALLY early you will get one of the first subgroups and you will be able to get in one of the first 3 rows.
 
It used to usually be that the worst place to sit was in the first couple of rows. Parents with their kids would pre-board and take seats in the front, so it was much more likely if you got a seat in front that you'd end up with a little monster kicking your seat while their parents gushed about how cute and rambunctious they were.

I noticed last week in Raleigh, though, that they were boarding the parents/kids after the A group. I don't know if this is system-wide, but it did a great job of not letting them monopolize the front of the airplane.
 
zmiller4 said:
It used to usually be that the worst place to sit was in the first couple of rows. Parents with their kids would pre-board and take seats in the front, so it was much more likely if you got a seat in front that you'd end up with a little monster kicking your seat while their parents gushed about how cute and rambunctious they were.

I noticed last week in Raleigh, though, that they were boarding the parents/kids after the A group. I don't know if this is system-wide, but it did a great job of not letting them monopolize the front of the airplane.
Click to expand...
Totally agreed, Im not going to bash Southwest Airlines becuase I enjoy flying them most of the time when I do. But the one thing that I hate the most is when you're waiting at the gate....and the plane isnt even there, people that put there bags and stuff in line to hold their place and go sit somewhere else and dont even stand in line! :banghead: This forces you to stand in line becuase you dont want to miss out on a good seat. The one thing I wish they would implement would be assigned seating.....that would be great.....:rolleyes:
 
The SWA boarding procedure is being completely overhauled. They ran a boarding "experiment" in San Antonio for a couple months, and now are implementing the procedure system-wide. I think it should be in effect by the end of the year. Instead of A, B, and C, now you have sub-groups within each boarding line. So when you line up, you go to your sub-group. For instance, you check-in and are assigned A17. You'll line up in the sub-group that contains A17. They separate by six numbers... A1-6, A7-12, A13-18, etc. up to 30. Preboards (elderly, wheelchairs) still go before the A group, and now families go after the A line.

It actually works pretty well... since I commute from SAT, I've seen this in effect since September.
 
I have only flown on SWA 4-5 times now but I like it.

I am not sure when you can check-in online, but I know my secretary actually gets up in the middle of the night to do it sometimes. She seems to be hellbent on ensuring I get the "best ticket" though I tell her it really is no big deal, so I wanna say 12 hours prior not 24 maybe?

The times I have flown, I make sure I show up TO THE GATE one hour prior and put my bags in line and go sit down. That always gets me a front seat, which I prefer to be able to get off quick.
 
FlyChicaga said:
The SWA boarding procedure is being completely overhauled. They ran a boarding "experiment" in San Antonio for a couple months, and now are implementing the procedure system-wide. I think it should be in effect by the end of the year. Instead of A, B, and C, now you have sub-groups within each boarding line. So when you line up, you go to your sub-group. For instance, you check-in and are assigned A17. You'll line up in the sub-group that contains A17. They separate by six numbers... A1-6, A7-12, A13-18, etc. up to 30. Preboards (elderly, wheelchairs) still go before the A group, and now families go after the A line.

It actually works pretty well... since I commute from SAT, I've seen this in effect since September.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

It is supposed to be rolled out in every city by early November...

http://www.southwest.com/help/boardingschool/
 
It's in effect now. It rocks. Parents with kids no longer get first dibs. Check in 24 hours before the flight, get in the first or second sub-group, and you're golden.

What I do is wait for most of the kids to board, so I can avoid them like they're diseased.

I have a new personal policy, too: If I can hear your brat from the cockpit, you're a security risk. Please leave the aircraft before the FBI have to remove you.
 
mtsu_av8er said:
I have a new personal policy, too: If I can hear your brat from the cockpit, you're a security risk. Please leave the aircraft before the FBI have to remove you.
Click to expand...


Jeez all this whining and complaining ;).

First is was the noise from doing a single engine taxi from some obscure pump, now kids are getting to you.

You are starting to talk like a regional pilot now. Good job! :sarcasm:

;)
 
mtsu_av8er said:
What I do is wait for most of the kids to board, so I can avoid them like they're diseased.

I have a new personal policy, too: If I can hear your brat from the cockpit, you're a security risk. Please leave the aircraft before the FBI have to remove you.
Click to expand...

You're terrible...:crazy:
 
When she checks in, have her check in with the skycaps. Have her request a wheelchair there, they will take her to the gate and put her in the pre-board line. When it's time to board she'll be first unless she's going to Islip N.Y. where half the aircraft is wheelchairs. A good tip will get you to the front of that line!! The funny thing is this use to happen all the time when I worked at SWA......good times!!!

Mark

(getting your boarding pass the night before usally works too)
 
mtsu_av8er said:
It's in effect now. It rocks. Parents with kids no longer get first dibs. Check in 24 hours before the flight, get in the first or second sub-group, and you're golden.

What I do is wait for most of the kids to board, so I can avoid them like they're diseased.

I have a new personal policy, too: If I can hear your brat from the cockpit, you're a security risk. Please leave the aircraft before the FBI have to remove you.
Click to expand...

Wow, all that from someone who preaches "no whining" ;)
 
mtsu_av8er said:
It's in effect now. It rocks. Parents with kids no longer get first dibs. Check in 24 hours before the flight, get in the first or second sub-group, and you're golden.

What I do is wait for most of the kids to board, so I can avoid them like they're diseased.

I have a new personal policy, too: If I can hear your brat from the cockpit, you're a security risk. Please leave the aircraft before the FBI have to remove you.
Click to expand...


:laff: Thats awesome... you really are an airline pilot arnt ya ?? lol
 
MQAAord said:
Wow, all that from someone who preaches no whining
Click to expand...

Hehehe - my hatred for loud brats is nothing new! so, I'll take that one as a compliment . . . simply staying true to my beliefs . . . lol. If they're loud, leave 'em at home or learn how to be a parent!!
 
mtsu_av8er said:
Hehehe - my hatred for loud brats is nothing new! so, I'll take that one as a compliment . . . simply staying true to my beliefs . . . lol. If they're loud, leave 'em at home or learn how to be a parent!!
Click to expand...

Gawd...I would pay some serious cash to see Lloyd sitting between screaming kids on any flight..

Your parents must have been so proud to have you as the perfect child while growing up!!!
 
MusketeerMan said:
Gawd...I would pay some serious cash to see Lloyd sitting between screaming kids on any flight.
Click to expand...

I've been known to try very, very hard to avoid such a situation. But, when it happens, everybody around me can tell that I'm very, very irritated.

[/quote]Your parents must have been so proud to have you as the perfect child while growing up!!![/quote]

Oh, I was hardly perfect. However, in my house, "shut up" meant to close your mouth and not make a frigging sound. Make noise and you'll feel pain. Bad pain . . .

That's why I thrived in The Corps . . . instant and willing obedience to orders.

:)

That's a different topic though . . . :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top