Late to this blog post, but the reason I found it is because I was Googling "how to get an A boarding pass" on Southwest. Yes, I was once again considering purchasing a ticket on your airline...that must be because the last time I flew SWA was over three years ago and the experience has begun to fade from memory. Reading this brought it all back--having to get to the airport 2 and a half hours ahead of time just to get through the security lines was bad enough, but then I was met with another line at the gate that began forming OVER AN HOUR before the plane even arrived. I had a B boarding pass, but could see that wasn't going to help any. The choice was a) stand in another line for over an hour or b) go to Starbucks for a coffee, sit down and enjoy it, and get the last middle seat on the flight next to the lav and the screaming children.
The last time I waited in line for a seat like that was for Bowie tickets when I was 16 years old and I'm a little over that whole scene...not to mention the bum rush down the aisle once they finally let the B pass holders board. I will not fly your airline if I have a choice...I would pay double the ticket price just for a seat assignment, but I don't usually have to since the fares are almost always all the same anyway.
After almost 40 years in the airline industry and seeing how crass, tacky and "Greyhound" it has become, it's gotten to the point that I'd rather drive or stay home anyway.
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