Southwest Changes the Cattle Call

[bjarvis]

I heard on NPR's Morning Edition while driving to work that Southwest Airlines is adjusting their traditional cattle call seating methodology.

For the uninitiated, Southwest doesn't do seat assignments. Instead, everyone is given a boarding pass with an "A," "B" or "C" on a first-come, first-served basis upon check-in, and each group is released onto the plane in order. You might be the first person at the gate, but if your boarding pass has a "C," two-thirds of the plane boards before you, including anyone who arrives at the last minute with an "A" or "B". Pre-boarding allowances are made for those needing assistance or families with children.

Under the new system, there are still no seat assignments and Southwest will still do the letter assignments but they also print a number to indicate your position in your respective corral. Effectively, your place in line will be held until you get to the gate. As a Southwest flier, this largely means that I'll still have a mad rush to check-in online from home precisely 24 hours before my flight, but there's no reason whatsoever to hurry to the gate since arriving early or late will have no impact in our choice of seats.

What I found most surprising is that Southwest is doing away with pre-boarding for families with children. Outside of opening themselves up to being bashed as non-family friendly, I'm not sure this adjustment will actually save any boarding time or appease their business customers. I'd rather families get a chance to be seated first so I can purposefully take a seat *away* from the potentially screaming babies or seat-kicking toddlers. Then again, perhaps appearing unfriendly to families will reduce the number of screaming & spewing babies and poorly parented children on Southwest flights.

Comments

Sounds workable

[cuyahogarvr.livejournal.com]

with one minor clarification:
"Q: Do families still get to pre-board?
A: Beginning October 2, 2007, an adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the "A" and "B" boarding groups, unless you have an "A" boarding pass. Those Customers holding an "A" boarding pass should board with the "A" boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families traveling with small children are easily accommodated together."
I'm with you though, get the families with kids on board so that I can avoid them when I choose my seat. Also, if I'm in the A group and the families with small kids are in the A group........

[jss]

> perhaps appearing unfriendly to families will reduce the number of [...] babies and poorly parented children

I doubt it. If SW is the cheapest, families (especially those with younger children) are likely to continue using them, no matter how family-unfriendly they may be [perceived as], simply to save money, especially in the current US economy.

[manley1.livejournal.com]

Then again, perhaps appearing unfriendly to families will reduce the number of screaming & spewing babies and poorly parented children on Southwest flights.

That would give me a reason to fly Southwest, which is annoying difficult to do from Boston since you have to go all the way to either Providence or to Manchester, NH. Still, for a long brat-free flight, it may be worth it.

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

They've been printing the numbers on boarding passes for some time, and I've wondered why we couldn't use them for boarding. I'm glad they listened to my thought...

As to families - I'd pay extra to fly planes that didn't allow anyone under the age of 12 to travel. Mind you, it kind of puts an end to my new business idea. I had planned to open 'rent a baby' franchises at major airports. A bit like those rent a DVD ones, you'd rent a baby at LA, then return it at SF; thus assuring early boarding. I just haven't worked out how to get the initial inventory.

[fuzzygruf.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that this will eliminate those lines at the gate, but I'm wondering how much this will slow things down. If they start to board, and they are up to #34, and then #10 shows up, does he just cut to the front? A minute later #11 shows up. Then #12 shows up, etc.

Perhaps they'll do it in groupings, i.e. Group A, #'s 1-20?

I'll make sure I don't have travel plans during those first few days of chaos!

[urbear]

Interesting that they're doing this now, when at least one "classic" airline (Northwest) has largely abandoned staged boarding. After "special needs", first class and elite passengers board, Northwest simply announces that all remaining passengers are welcome, and a stampede ensues.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

It hasn't felt that much like a cattle call the past couple of years I've flown Southwest. The old boarding pass system REALLY did.

It may be a fluke, but with the current system, as long as I've got an A board or an early spot in line with a B board, I always find a seat where I like it, between 6 and 8 aisle.

I've noticed the confusion now seems to be that many of the A board folks seem to just sit in a row of gate seats rather than standing in line, so it's hard to tell where the line actually IS for A.

Danny mentioned the Rent-a-Baby idea a couple of years ago...thought it was a hoot! I'm more up for the Rent-a-Leg-Cast business model for preboarding.

[globespan.livejournal.com]

I like American Airlines, assigned seats and boarding by group numbers.