I really don't care one way or the other about the assigned seating. What difference does it really make. Folks that travel on SW constantly know the system and know how to get "A" boarding. If you go to assigned seating, the frequent travelers will still get the preferential seats anyway - assuming you will grant some type of tiered loyalty system based upon our frequency of flying SW.
This is what irks me. I am usually at a gate at LEAST 2 hours before boarding. Invariably, I am # 1 in the "A" line. By boarding time, here come all the preboards. Poof - the preferred seats are gone. Have you ever really looked at and examined your pre-boarding policy? I would venture to say that SW has more preboaders than any other airline - certainly a lot more than the norm for the industry. I have no problem with the wheelchairs and those on crutches, etc. I see, time after time, many able-bodied people preboard. Talking to the gate attendants, they are told "not to question" anyone who gets in the preboard line - blue sleeve or not. I have even asked able-bodied men why they are in preboard and the answer was that no one ever questions them, so they do it. I can understand letter a mother with a baby in arms preboard - but why let every kid "5 or under" preboard. What purpose does that serve? Really? What purpose? None that I can think of.
Unless SW can restructure their preboard policy, then I will be in favor of assigned seating.
One other complaint. I frequently travel SAT to MSY, connecting in HOU. Always arrive in Gates 40-50, or so. On my return flight, again I always arrive somewhere between, say, 40-50. EVERY TIME on the return flight, I have to connect through Gates 1-7, which means I have to change terminals and go through that damn security again. How about shifting this around a little bit? Send the HOU to SAT flights out of 40-50 at least every now and then. I often take American to MSY just so I don't have to gon through this.
OK, I'm off the soap box.
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