IME, I don’t like having so many ‘pre-boarding’ groups that don’t have numbers. Makes no sense. The small ones aren’t a big deal - disability, kids 2 and under make sense, and maybe GS. But now putting 1K in a new non-numbered pre-boarding group doesn’t make sense. Also doesn’t make sense with the boarding lanes just for group 1-2 and 3+.

The small boarding groups - military, disabilities and those needing extra time and those with younger kids make sense for the most part. GS maybe somewhat, but now 1K. At hubs with high enough elite counts, half the plane or more must board before they even call group 1. Good Heavens.

Everyone should have a boarding group number - even if they rename the boarding groups to 1a (disability), 1b (military), 1c...whatever it is. But to have GS and now 1K board before group 1 does nothing - unless you’re of the opinion that GS and 1K need their egos pumped up a little more during boarding (many don’t need it).

I would rather have them go back to groups 1-9, or whatever it was, then have 5 pre-boarding groups.

And also, one of the biggest issues is the spacing between calling the groups. When you call for folks with disabilities and wheelchairs, and folks who need more time - don’t follow that announcement for group 1 (or whatever) less than 30 seconds later. I’ve seen this too many times to count when they’re bringing, say, wheelchairs down, or someone walking slowly with a cane who clearly Is going to need more time to board. This only causes a line to form on the jet bridge (and the inevitable action of a contractor trying to wheel out the chair through a pack of elites who are rushing to be first to sit down for some reason that I don’t fully understand.

while we’re on the subject - can’t you note a pre-board designation when it is warranted. When I’m traveling with my < year old kid - I need the extra time - coming on with a gate checked stroller, diaper bag, etc. takes more time. You know I don’t need to be in group 1 or 2 or whatever it is anymore because the system clearly knows I have a child traveling with me. For those with wheelchairs, they know you’re going to need to board ahead of your group [whatever]. How hard is it for the system to designate that when it’s clear?

Passengers are not self-loading cargo...

SL

In alphabetical order. My surname begins with B so I’ll be fine.

Ive always added mine to the reservation when booking, or called that in shortly after. But my understanding is that even though on domestic flights, a lapchild doesn’t need a ticket, they still need to be added to the PNR. Is this not the case? So you’d still need to do that at check in. Isn’t that why the app and web site asks if you are traveling with a lap child when you check in (unless that’s changed - it usually asks me) when im not. Or can someone just walk into a flight with a kid without having a carrier know about it all?

IMO, would solve a lot of issues if you were required to do it - would be easy to avoid seating mishaps (since there are different requirements on different planes (ie ER4 only have 4 rows you can pick, CR2/7 can only select C/D seats, etc.), block exit row seats (already done with kids on a reservation), allow free E+ selection online for bassinet use on international flights, etc. isn’t there also weight and balance issues if they don’t have the lap infant data?

Southwest is free for checked bags, but the few flights I’ve taken I see the bins full before the end boarding. Fee’s for checked bags don’t help, but apparently not charging doesn’t fix the problem either.

So maybe my forced bag check for everyone idea isn’t so bad. Either suck it up and deal with it, or don’t fly.😄