11-18-2007
10:03 PM
2 Loves
After reading these blogs, I felt compelled to add my comments. I've been a Rapid Rewards member since 1996 and fly exclusively on Southwest. When the number system was implemented as a pilot at the San Antonio, TX airport, it went very smoothly and I supported it 100%. The SW representatives explained it very thoroughly and enforced the numerical boarding process. I would check-in online and have number A 1-5 99% of the time. Now I'm on the "A" list and the first time I flew out of El Paso on a return flight to San Antonio, it was chaotic! I arrived at the airport on Friday 11/16 with my A-List number A25, approximately 2 hours early. There was not a vacant seat to be found so I stood with dozens of other people. Seats had been removed to provide space for the "make-shift" lines, which resulted in reduced seating in all waiting areas. Where are the new seating areas that have been advertised? I hope this will be corrected in the near future.
Prior to my flight (which was late), I observed the boarding process for another flight. Many of the passengers appeared to be lost and were in the wrong line. The SW Representative didn't do a very good job explaining the process and I saw people merge into the lines out of sequence. The SW representative that worked my flight explained it very well, and with my A25 I was the 35th passenger to board in El Paso. I'll be flying over the Christmas holidays on a RR's ticket and there is no telling what number boarding pass I'll get!
My observation is that all SW staff should have visited the San Antonio Airport to observe their operation of the numerical system; and the waiting areas should have been redesigned, prior to implementation. Passengers should not be able to buy their way onto the A-List. It should be based on the number of flights - not the price of the tickets. Southwest Airlines owes it's success to the frequent flyers - not the ones with the deepest pockets. If priority is going to be given, it should be given to these frequent flyers.
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