Do you think this will hurt SWA? Southwest Launches Automated Airport Boarding Pass System By Steve Lott/Aviation Daily 03-Jun-2002 10:07 AM U.S. EDT Southwest today plans to launch, in selected cities, its new automated boarding pass system that was developed due to the new airport security procedures. Last week, the carrier tested the system at Houston Intercontinental and Midland/Odessa, Texas, airports. The airline said in an internal communication that the customer and employee feedback has been "positive, and the glitches few and minor." A spokeswoman confirmed that the airline would monitor the two test cities in preparation for further rollout to Austin on Tuesday, and Fort Lauderdale, Seattle and Islip, N.Y., on Wednesday. Shortly after Sept. 11, the airline complied with new airport security policies by giving each passenger a paper boarding verification document showing name and flight number, in addition to the infamous numbered plastic boarding card. The airline earlier this year said the plastic pass became redundant, and it decided to eliminate it. Under the new system, the airline still will board in groups and will maintain an open seating policy. Instead of boarding in numbered groups of 30 passengers, Southwest will assign passengers to three lettered groups. The "A, B, and C" groups will number roughly 45 people each. The printed pass will list the assigned letter group. As a result of the process change, Southwest will undergo a "big customer education initiative" and will have to change the signage at its airports. Assuming there are no glitches, Southwest hopes to get all its cities on line by June 20. Also part of the new system, Southwest will start issuing boarding passes at the ticket counter and curbside at airports in addition to gate areas. Southwest CFO Gary Kelly said in April the carrier was exploring the use of self-check-in airport kiosks, but no action was announced Monday.