The boarding process and seating strategies of Dallas-based airline, Southwest has long been a hot-button issue. Southwest Airlines plans not to ditch its cattle-call boarding for assigned seating but announced to switch to a more orderly system throughout the country this fall. It is anticipated that already quick boarding will become speedier and frustrating campouts at the gate will be eliminated.
Southwest is the only big domestic carrier that lets passengers pick their own seat. This 34-years long cattle-call system is expected to be alleviated by November when the airline will give passengers an assigned number within its current boarding groups (A, B and C). The new system will allow passengers to get rid of the need to wait in line to secure a good boarding position. The airline also plans to make other changes at its airport gates.
This means, the check-in process will remain the same. Fliers will still be able to get a boarding pass 24 hours in advance. But they will be issued a number and a letter. At the gate, Southwest agents will call out groups and divide them according to number into six columns of five people each.
Source: ABC News
