A list now boards after family boarding if you don't have an A position
Sep 28, 2023, 6:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: O'Fallon. MO
Programs: SW A+, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 7
A list now boards after family boarding if you don't have an A position
Went to board between A and B groups before family like Normally when I have a B or C group. Sometimes I book last minute, I'm A list preferred. Was told A list now boards after family boarding.
Sep 30, 2023, 4:06 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
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I actually like this idea (I am A+) and was hoping they would do this when I first heard rumors about it. I want to know where the potential screaming babies are before I sit down so I can avoid them.
I can't tell you how many times I board first, get settled in a preferred seat, and then a family with an infant comes down the aisle and settles near me. When that happens I relocate further back, but now there are fewer choice seats available.
If this is indeed official, I think it is a good thing. They can't take the exit row seats anyway (not that those are my preferred seats, but they seem to be revered by many here).
I can't tell you how many times I board first, get settled in a preferred seat, and then a family with an infant comes down the aisle and settles near me. When that happens I relocate further back, but now there are fewer choice seats available.
If this is indeed official, I think it is a good thing. They can't take the exit row seats anyway (not that those are my preferred seats, but they seem to be revered by many here).
Sep 30, 2023, 7:57 am
#4
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I have looked all over the SWA website. Can not find the rule.
Sep 30, 2023, 8:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sacramento
Programs: AA MM, AS MVP Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, FPC lifetime Plat, Kohls MVP
Posts: 552
Flight on Thursday had family boarding before A-list preferred and A list. Flight on Friday had A list before family boarding. But I agree there are advantages to boarding after family boarding. I think I will board after families to avoid sitting near them if I do SDC.
Oct 1, 2023, 7:28 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,349
I think WN is experimenting with the boarding process. I read an article last November that they were trying a new family boarding policy on a few flights that would board families after the pre-boarders but before Group A, with the catch that they'd be prohibited from sitting in rows 1-15. Which sounds nice - a no-kid section of the cabin from 1-15 - but it seems impossible for the crews to enforce it.
If that didn't pan out, they may be trying some additional tests to see what they can do with the boarding order to make the process more efficient.
If that didn't pan out, they may be trying some additional tests to see what they can do with the boarding order to make the process more efficient.
Oct 1, 2023, 8:00 am
#7
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I have two flights tomorrow so am interested to see how they do it.
Oct 1, 2023, 9:29 am
#8
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Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
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I think WN is experimenting with the boarding process. I read an article last November that they were trying a new family boarding policy on a few flights that would board families after the pre-boarders but before Group A, with the catch that they'd be prohibited from sitting in rows 1-15. Which sounds nice - a no-kid section of the cabin from 1-15 - but it seems impossible for the crews to enforce it.
If that didn't pan out, they may be trying some additional tests to see what they can do with the boarding order to make the process more efficient.
If that didn't pan out, they may be trying some additional tests to see what they can do with the boarding order to make the process more efficient.
This process already works for pre-boarders.
Last edited by NoStressHere; Oct 1, 2023 at 9:43 am
Oct 1, 2023, 2:03 pm
#10
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Posts: 11,133
As to priority boarding, we buy it for most trips and have a 90% success rate getting the LUV seats. Hardship boarders can not sit there
Oct 2, 2023, 5:30 pm
#13
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Oct 6, 2023, 7:00 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,580
Information based on random reports from individuals rather than announcements from the company must be sustainable.