Just thought I'd throw in a couple of observations on this as a thread exists.

The lines at SEA are not roped off; one gent strolled up to the beginning of the [empty] B Line with several folks already waiting on A. When A was announced he went ahead and got to board first.

At MDW, another fellow found a space where there was the bags belonging to myself and another passenger were in line (we were sitting down opposite them) and just cooly placed himself there. I know some don't approve, but I feel anyone sitting in the line area corriodor is the same as standing on line early. My point is that there were folks indisputedly on line behind our bags; the intruder knew that.

At SLC yesterday, a woman and her husband (rather brazenly) made their way to the front of the A Line close to departure. When questioned, the wife announced: "I don't walk well." She had a slight limp, but nothing particularly noticeable. When I suggested that she get a Blue Folder to pre-board, she dismissed that. Her husband, who perhaps "got it," steered her to the official pre-board area indicating they might like to sit. I was hoping the GA would bounce them for not having Blue Folders, but I guess she decided it wasn't worth fighting over.

As for me, well ... I like exit rows, but I'm not sure they're worth waiting for like that. A regular aisle seat beats an exit row middle (or window with a large person in the middle).