SWA Gate Agents need to announce and enforce the numerical order of the Boarding Passes. You've added these numbers, now use them. Just this week I purchased and flew with a Business Select ticket. At boarding time a passenger with A 27 walked on ahead of me. I paid twice as much as her and she got the same benefit. On the return flight the Agent announced "A 1 through 30" and everyone just scrambled regardless of their number.
Here's what I learned: why bother paying $367 when I can get at the head of the line even with a $109 ticket.
Here's a simple suggestion: when the Agent announces it's boarding time he/she should be scripted to instruct the passengers to line up in numerical order according to their Boarding Pass. The Agent will need to say this over a few times to reinforce it. Then the Agent should call up the groups seperately, as in 1-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, and so on. Secondly, the Agent should make any "high numbered" passengers who attempt to board in the first groupings step aside and wait until their group is called. Do this a few times and others will get the idea.
Your promos for the new boarding procedure talk about spending less time waiting in line. Well the opposite is happening: people are camping out early in line to get a better boarding position in their Letter group, just like the old days.
In sum, the number system . . . use it or lose it!
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