There’s a buzz about the blogosphere this weekend with tales of the huge mess that is Southwest Airlines‘ new boarding policy. Here’s a sample of what’s been said:
Confessions of a Travel Junkie: “Instead of the ass-numbing (because you had to sit on the floor for half an hour before boarding if you wanted a decent seat) yet understandable A, B or C boarding procedure, you now have a number assignment (not a seat assignment mind you). Mine was Group B Position 30. So I had to locate the 8-square foot staging area for B26-30. No I’m not kidding. But wait, there’s more. B1-5, 6-10, 11-15 etc. don’t exist until A1-5, 6-10, etc. have boarded. Once A is on the plane, they rotate the sign and A staging area becomes B. And the confusion begins again.”
The Cranky Flier: “When they decided to board, they did so with no warning. All of a sudden, I hear, ‘Ok, A 1-30 can now board.’ Uh, what? I was A26 and I had been sitting down, just like half the other people. So people jumped up and came at the door from all different areas. As we walked on, I asked, ‘Did you call for A people to line up?’ She said, ‘No, we don’t need to line up anymore.’ If this is how it’s going to be, it’s actually worse.”
Our very own Brad Hill twitters: “Just boarded Southwest flight from Vegas. New sucky seating system is doomed.”
Have you experienced the new Southwest Airlines boarding method? Let us know how it went, good or bad.