Originally Posted By: crinkles
i can't imagine trying to get onto a plane with no assigned seating... one massive free for all high school bus situation...
Actually they've tweaked the boarding process over the years. For a long time, they passed out plastic boarding passes at the gate, numbered 1-120 (or whatever). When time came to board the plane, they took 1-30 first, then 31-60, etc. It was always a piece of cake to get passes numbered 1-30 assuming you actually showed up at the gate when you're supposed to; it was the late arrivals and people making connections enroute who got the high numbers.
After many years, they switched to the "ABC" system. What used to be 1-30 was now "A", 31-60 was now "B", etc. The switch was made since to allow people to check in online starting 24 hours ahead of time. A boarded first, then B, etc.
Now they've changed the system again. For an extra fee ($10), you can check in WAY in advance, thus increasing the liklihood of being in "A". But there's more: Each letter has a 1-30 and 31-60 portion, so in other words A-36 will board in the second group, not the first. Passengers still line up before, not randomly but now in numerical order within their assigned letter. This is the first system that required actually lining up in numerical order, as far as I know.
I'm perfectly fine with their system. I'm organized enough to make sure I board in the first group and its never a problem. However I'll admit that eventually they'll joing the rest of the world and assign seats. There are only so many ways to modify their existing system to accomodate various online reservation and check in options.
