I have been a long time SWA flier and fan, primarily because of low fares and equal opportunity to get a seat where I want with my traveling companions. My feelings are being RAPIDLY REVISED - with no REWARDS! The new boarding system would be OK IF there was more room between the poles for all the people assigned to that space and IF everyone was polite and respected the numbered priority. Unfortunately that isn't the case. The boarding crew could do a better job of announcing the policy and take their usual humorous approach to ask passengers to check that they are in the right order. Also, the system says you can't check in until 24 hours prior to the flight time. I have learned, however, that it does allow check in at least a couple of minutes early. So I was able to check in 2 minutes before the 24 hour mark and still only got assigned A53!. Now that there are elite and A-list check ins, SW is no longer providing a level ground. Even allowing for the first 15 spaces for "last minute business travelers", that means 38 spaces are taken, even before the appointment checkin time. Between that and the significantly increased fares, what is the difference between SW and other airlines? The joke is on those of us have been flying SW because there were no elites and A-listers.
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