I have used the Pre-Board option for the past several years. I have never paid a fee to Pre-Board. I have had 2 spine surgerys in the past 3 years so, I ask for the Pre-Board. Depending on the chronic spine pain level the day of travel I may or may not need to Pre-Board. I must say though the personnel I encountered on my last Southwest flight going from Portland, OR back to my home base of Albuquerque, NM was quite a pleasure. When I checked at the gate I asked about paying the fee and upgrading to one of the A1-15 boarding slots. The gate agent asked me the reason for needing one fo those slots. I told him about the need to board earlier. I was then asked for my boarding pass. He printed out the Pre-Board passes. There were 2 flight segments as I was using Rapid Rewards Credits and went back by way of Dallas. I was told then to just always ask for Pre-Board, that I did not need to go into too many details. As well on that trip, due to my fear of missing my flight out of Portland I called the night prior to my flight and asked about how long I should allow to clear security in Portland. When I go to the airport, I learned the agent I spoke to had changed my check-in such that I could bypass the longer security line and go through the Fly-By lane as they call it at some airports and bypass most of the persons waiting for security, I have to say for my travels, Southwest is the best in terms of customer service and all the Southwest personnel I have ever encountered seem to really care about their customers. Not simply so you will return for future flights but simply that they care more than any of the other airlines I have ever flown.
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