southwest airlines boarding pass group b

Southwest airlines boarding pass group b full#

Some customers even shared stories of meeting a future spouse because they were able to choose their seat.

It was considered an example of the airline’s egalitarian attitude eschewing dividing travelers into “elite” and “non-elite” in the cabin. And while Southwest continues to rely mostly on short-haul trips its customers’ average trip length is growing as it expands its route network across the nation making the seat issue more important.įans of open seating especially corporate customers who often made last-minute travel plans said the policy meant they could easily get the seat of their choice by checking in 24-hours in advance. Kelly describing plans to reconsider the policy elicited more than 700 comments most of whom wanted the policy to stay in place.Ĭritics resented having to line up in boarding groups and the uncertainty of knowing where they’d sit. Southwest’s 36-year-old open seating policy has a passion point for many passengers. Instead of boarding early, families who don’t hold an “A” group pass, will board before passengers in the “B” group. Southwest announced on Tuesday that it would institute a new family boarding policy on Oct. “Our goal is to give customers back what they value most, which is time.” “Customers like choosing their seats, they don’t like standing in line,” Mr. While customers won’t be assigned a seat, they will be assigned a place in line. Kelly said last month’s tests in San Antonio were a “dress rehearsal” for the new boarding system, which will roll out nationwide in November. “That’s right, I’ll say it,” Gary Kelly, the airline’s chief executive said in a press conference Wednesday morning. It’s the long wait in line that’s going.īy SUZANNE MARTA / The Dallas Morning News Southwest Airlines Co.'s open seating policy is here to stay.

Southwest to keep open seating, but with a twist “Our customers have been waiting for this answer for a while,” King said.

Southwest airlines boarding pass group b full#

Some analysts expect the airline to eventually charge for an A boarding pass and/or give them to travelers who paid full fare for their tickets. That eliminated the need to form the snaking, confusing A, B, C lines Southwest is famous for at its airport gates. It tried out a more orderly boarding process, with passengers called in groups according to a number on their A, B and C passes. Even if the airline decides against assigning seats, it appears likely it will at least alter its boarding process after testing several methods in San Antonio this summer. It may not be as simple as a yes or no decision. King was mum on which way the company is headed but did say the changes would not be implemented immediately. The debate has generated more comments on Southwest’s blog than any other topic. It has long been derided by some business travelers and others as a cattle call, but also has legions of vocal fans who don’t want the airline to mess with a good thing. Southwest, which has been studying alternatives for more than a year, on Wednesday plans to announce its long awaited decision on whether to switch to assigned seating or otherwise tinker with its open boarding policy. Other boarding and seating changes may be brewing. “We decided that it works for us,” said spokeswoman Brandy King. The airline tested the new system this summer in San Antonio. Families didn’t have to fret if they didn’t snag an A pass since they preboarded. Passengers can check in online 24 hours before their flight, and many people fanatically watch the clock to make sure they snag an A boarding pass and their pick of seats. Passengers board in three groups, A, B and C, with their letter determined by when they checked in. 2 in a bid to speed the boarding process.įamilies with children four and under will now board after the first regular boarding group unless they have an A boarding pass to be in that first group. The airline, which carries more than one in three Phoenix passengers, is eliminating early pre-boarding for families beginning Oct. Southwest Airlines ends ‘family first’ boardingįamilies traveling with small children will no longer get to jump to the front of the boarding line at Southwest Airlines.