I enjoy flying Southwest, but open seating makes the experience less than perfect. If I wish to have much choice of seats, it is necessary for me to arrive at the gate 60 or 90 minutes before the flight. It is in that time frame that the first few people will jump up to get in line. They are quickly followed by another 20 or 30 people, myself included, who dutifully stand there for an hour or more until the flight boards. If it is economically feasible, please go to assigned seats.
An alternative system could be based on something similar to what the ill-fated ValuJet did. Let the customers continue to print their boarding passes at home, but provide them with 10 or 15 group designations beyond just A, B, and C--perhaps A-J. There is then no reason to jump up and form a line early because you are already in such a small group of 8 or 10 people there is no reason to do so. When I flew ValuJet years ago they would let each group have about 20 or 30 seconds down the jetway, then would immediately call the next group. No cattle call necessary. It worked.
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