11-19-2007
04:47 PM
1 Love
Always flew SWA because once you learned the open seating and check-in system, it simply required a little legwork on your end to acquire a good seat of your choosing. Thought it was a great idea to implement the numbered boarding system to eliminate the need to stay put for an hour before a flight lest yoy lose your spot in line.
The latest change for prefered biz class is deeply disturbing, although not anywhere as disturbing as eliminating the family pre-boarding. My choice of SWA was always fueled by the knowledge that I would be able to avoid sitting a row away from parents with (usually) unattended children who kick seatbacks or climb onto the seatback in front of you, not to mention the lovely sound of bawling infants. That was the risk you took when purchasing assigned seats with another airline; you never knew who you'd be sitting near.
My two cents...establishing an elite biz-class that has dibs on "A" seats removes the best aspect of choosing SWA as my carrier of choice. Not pre-boarding children is a HUGE mistake. Increased fares are a fact of the economy and fuel prices. While I was always a steadfast loyal customer of SWA, I fear I have purchased my last ticket to fly with them. I think I'd rather pay an extra $50 to $100 and not have to deal with this nonsense by purchasing assigned seats on another airline.
SWA...you took a once great thing and totally destroyed it. Way to go...
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