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Southwest Trying New Boarding Process

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by runningonthehub, Nov 8, 2018.

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  1. runningonthehub

    runningonthehub VIP Whale

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  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    They have done that in other markets for at least a few years. I have done it at FFL
     
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  3. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    I would only use it if the destination airport had forward and aft deplaning, line Burbank.
     
  4. Johnzimbo

    Johnzimbo VIP Whale

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    They never went with my suggestion. Give everyone A1 and it is survival of the fittest :)
     
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  5. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    It’s pretty easy, you just turn the plane around and board from the rear. Early boarders will walk to the front of the plane before clogging the aisles. You’re welcome.
     
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  6. Mudhen

    Mudhen Always in Dutch

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    Some of those jet bridge stairs can be pretty unstable, especially if you load them up with a bunch of people carrying bags. They have open risers, and very aggressive open grip treads. Very easy to trip. There have been injuries to airline employees in the past, and we are used to going up and down them, every day. SW will give up on this boarding method, when someone falls and breaks their neck.
     
  7. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    The better solution is to charge some token amount for each "carry-on"...say, $5 unless it fits under your seat.
    The entire reason why C & D boarders are problematic is the overhead storage bin space. With free checked bags, charging $5 for carry-ons would eliminate that problem.

    Another alternative is, instead of going by group-letters (A, B & C), board by seat type - "Window" first, then middle-seats, then aisles. "Middle-seaters" would be free to take any open window seats before the "aisle" passengers board. If there are still open aisle seats after that, I guarantee that the middle-seaters in those rows will shift over to the aisle.
    Each of those categories is a known quantity. Obviously, the windows & aisles will go first - and it may seem weird to let the middle-seat passengers board as the "second" group, but if you think about it, it would work...the only issue would be with overhead bin space... so, this, in conjunction with a charge for carry-ons, would be the perfect (IMO) boarding alternative for SW.
    No need for "early bird" or "A-List" boarding fees...
     
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  8. Eleven99isFine

    Eleven99isFine VIP Whale

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    Southwest flights would board faster if they cracked down on the seat saving. Flight attendants need to police that bad behavior.
     
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  9. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    I respectfully disagree that seat saving slows boarding, it may be an annoyance to some, but of the many flights I have been on I’ve never seen it slow down boarding and I have seen FA’s accommodate it. One time (we were both EB) my husband had to go to the RR before boarding so he got on later and the FA stood in his seat next to me til he got there. I would never begrudge a person saving a seat for another person, I’d just move on.

    IMO it’s the multiple pieces of luggage and carryon’s and pokey dokeys causing the aisle congestion that slows everything down, I’m surprised SWA ever leaves ‘on time’.

    Charge $25 for every item that goes in the overhead or check it for free. That might solve the problem.
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
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  10. JoJoR

    JoJoR VIP Whale

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    Completely agree with you on this.
     
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  11. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    Southwest makes their extra money on boarding priority, other airlines make their money on bags. Therefore a person with an A pass saving a seat for their partner with a C pass is basically stealing that seat priority from everyone in between. My last flight I was in aisle 7 and watched the person in aisle 6 explain to about one hundred twenty people that the empty seat was ‘saved’. If this person would have simply walked to the rear of the plane they could have insured their goal of two seats together without being a huge annoyance to every other boarder.
     
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  12. azlefty

    azlefty VIP Whale

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    At the next airport you would have to board at the front, and alternate at every stop. Otherwise the A1-15s would stay at the back, not solving the problem. Can a jetway attach to the rear of the plane? Why is this the first time I have ever heard of this brilliant idea?

    On the other hand, if I am traveling solo on a short flight, I usually take the first available seat, which is a middle in row 2-4 if I am in group B or C, so I can make a quick exit. With alternate boarding I would be causing the problem, walking to the far end and possibly not finding any seats and then moving back against traffic.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2018
  13. Glenn357M

    Glenn357M High-Roller

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    as long as the plane takes off on time I ok with how ever the plane is boarded.
     
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  14. bobby jones

    bobby jones VIP Whale

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    Here is a novel idea that I am not sure if ever tried - assign seats when you purchase a ticket!
     
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  15. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    Allegiant does (used to?) this at Grand Island where they don't have jetways, or at least they do (did?) on the older planes that have drop-down rear stairs on the plane. They just said for rows such-and-such to board through the front and so-and-so board through the rear. I've also seen this for some larger planes at airports that have two jetways on some gates.

    I think it may help speed up things.
     
  16. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

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    I hope this doesn't become the norm. I personally like the current way because I can almost always count on going to the back to find open seats and overhead bins because of people favoring the front of the plane. Plus I don't like the idea of trying to navigate two sets of stairs. Doesn't seem like a smart plan to me.
     
  17. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    Here's the Big Burning Question (tm) ... Will they be deplaning with two exits as well?
     
  18. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    Burbank is the only SWA California airport that I am aware of that deplanes out of both the fore and aft doors.
     
  19. runningonthehub

    runningonthehub VIP Whale

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    I was thinking the same thing about those air stairs. I can see somebody easily tripping. Especially going down, while carrying luggage. A couple of lawsuits
    And as long as I get the seat I want.
     
  20. grosx2

    grosx2 Have fun storming the castle!

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    To be fair to the FAs, SW would first have to enact a policy that prohibits seat saving. Currently there is no policy against seat saving, so there is nothing for FAs to police.
     
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