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New SWA Boarding Process
I had the opportunity to try out the new SWA boarding process this week. For
those that don't know, SWA has replaced their traditional ABC boarding swarm with a more organized reserved place in line process. Instead of being issued just a letter A, B or C, each passenger gets a letter followed by a number 1 through 60. For example, A45, B15, C3, etc. At the gate, there is a single line of poles with numbers on each side. One one side 1-5 is listed on the first pole, 6-10 on the second with 26-30 on the last. On the other side, the sequence start with 31-35 and runs through 60. When the time comes to board, each passenger with an A number stands by the pole with their number. This automagically creates two side by side lines with people in the order of the number on their boarding passes. Once every is standing by their pole, the agent boards that line onto the plane. The process repeats with the B and C groups. In general, people seemed to be able to figure out the new system with no problems. One of my flights was very light - only about 30 passengers getting on the plane, so it was obvious that SWA is reserving the A1 - A15 slots for their new Business Fare passengers, as there was no one by the first 3 poles. Is the new system better? Yes, I think it is. It gets rid of the swarm at the gate and the need to sit on the floor to reserve your place in line. You can sit in a chair anywhere in the area until just before boarding and that's a good thing. The only negative I saw was that "A" isn't as "A" as it used to be. With the old plastic passes, there were 30 people in a group. When SWA went to the printed boarding passes that expanded to 45, but you could still board early by getting to the gate a bit early. Now there are 60 people in the A group and even if you check in exactly 24 hours early, you may have 15 people plus all the blue card people in front of you. Seating remains unreserved on board. -- "Tell me what I should do, Annie." "Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars |
#2
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New SWA Boarding Process
"Rick Blaine" wrote in message ... I had the opportunity to try out the new SWA boarding process this week. For those that don't know, SWA has replaced their traditional ABC boarding swarm with a more organized reserved place in line process. Instead of being issued just a letter A, B or C, each passenger gets a letter followed by a number 1 through 60. For example, A45, B15, C3, etc. At the gate, there is a single line of poles with numbers on each side. One one side 1-5 is listed on the first pole, 6-10 on the second with 26-30 on the last. On the other side, the sequence start with 31-35 and runs through 60. When the time comes to board, each passenger with an A number stands by the pole with their number. This automagically creates two side by side lines with people in the order of the number on their boarding passes. Once every is standing by their pole, the agent boards that line onto the plane. The process repeats with the B and C groups. In general, people seemed to be able to figure out the new system with no problems. One of my flights was very light - only about 30 passengers getting on the plane, so it was obvious that SWA is reserving the A1 - A15 slots for their new Business Fare passengers, as there was no one by the first 3 poles. Is the new system better? Yes, I think it is. It gets rid of the swarm at the gate and the need to sit on the floor to reserve your place in line. You can sit in a chair anywhere in the area until just before boarding and that's a good thing. The only negative I saw was that "A" isn't as "A" as it used to be. With the old plastic passes, there were 30 people in a group. When SWA went to the printed boarding passes that expanded to 45, but you could still board early by getting to the gate a bit early. Now there are 60 people in the A group and even if you check in exactly 24 hours early, you may have 15 people plus all the blue card people in front of you. Seating remains unreserved on board. -- "Tell me what I should do, Annie." "Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars I just flew DAL-ABQ-OAK Friday night on Southwest and it was my first experience with the new Southwest Boarding procedure. I, frankly, wasn't impressed, as it is still a herd of cattle. |
#3
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New SWA Boarding Process
Jeff wrote:
I just flew DAL-ABQ-OAK Friday night on Southwest and it was my first experience with the new Southwest Boarding procedure. I, frankly, wasn't impressed, as it is still a herd of cattle. It would be far more interesting if they used a raffle system in which each party or family gets a numbered ticket stub and they call out "winners" at random. If you wanted a better shot, they could sell you some numbers. |
#4
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New SWA Boarding Process
"Rog'" wrote:
It would be far more interesting if they used a raffle system in which each party or family gets a numbered ticket stub and they call out "winners" at random. If you wanted a better shot, they could sell you some numbers. Now that's good! -- "Tell me what I should do, Annie." "Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars |
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