Difficult to say. Hmmm...this might give me an incentive to go to FLL this weekend to check it out. I guess it makes sense to use the three letter groups in numbers of 45 (or so) since their seat go up to 137. I guess I'll have to get used to it...:) Walter DCA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger & Amanda La France" <lafrance@verizon.net> To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 13:47 Subject: Southwest Launches Automated Airport Boarding Pass System > 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. >