On Monday, 1/16, I flew TUS-ABQ. I arrived at the airport plenty early and was sitting in the gate area when the gate agent called for boarding flight 2953 and in the next breath had 1-30 start boarding before most folks even had a chance to line up. I rushed over to board frustrated that my A19 was had been essentially rendered meaningless. I have never experienced this before. It appeared to me that someone must have been in a hurry (pilot? FA? GA?) as the door was closed by 18:20 for a scheduled 18:30 departure.

I contacted customer service to complain and was brushed off and told it would be passed on "to the appropriate department." I have left a message for the station manager but have not heard back.

I am curious if any others have had similar experiences. In this situation if I had paid for BS, I would have demanded a refund. When preferred boarding is one of the only perks, it's disappointing when that is devalued or taken away.