I used to like SW because if you really wanted or, in my case, needed to be one of the first to board you could. Even though the "camp out" system can be described as humiliating and other not so nice adjectives, I liked it because I knew that it was in my hands to get to the gate early and board first.
See, I am 6 feet 10 inches tall and about the only way I can physically survive a flight is to sit on an exit row seat. Since I am not a millionaire and cannot afford first class, I have to travel coach and the regular seats in coach nowadays are not fit for an average size human being, much less somebody as tall as I am. Since SW adopted its new policies, now it's virtually impossible for me to guarantee one of those coveted exit row seats. I know what most people must be saying, just suck it up like the rest of us, but trust me on this, flying on a regular seat for me is literally torture.
Anyway, I understand that as a company it is hard to please everybody. Business flyers claim they pay the bill, families say them boarding first is good for all involved. All very good and valid points. My point is that since airlines feel the need to pack as many people as humanly possible into planes, there should be some way that people that need a little more space can get it.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. As much as it pains me to admit, I would gladly pay a reasonable fee to be guaranteed an exit row seat....
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