There's something about Southwest Airlines' group-based boarding system that annoys the heck out of me.
It's probably not what you think - it's not anything to do with their system or anything that is specifically the fault of Southwest. Instead, it has to do with my usual pet peeve of seriously dumb and irrational behavior on the part of the masses.
Ignore the usual complaint that most people have of the Prisoners' Dilemma problem of standing in line - yes, this exists (if everyone would just agree to sit their asses down, nobody would have to stand in line for 30 minutes, but somebody always has to be the first in line), but this isn't even the most irksome part.
If you ever have a chance, watch the way that the lines form at a Southwest flight. You'll probably note (I've never seen otherwise) that the A group line starts first ... and starts long before the other two groups. You'll get a super-long line in the A group and no line until much later in the B or C groups.
This makes absolutely no sense!
Everyone in the A line is guaranteed a decent seat - they're all going to get aisles or windows and will all be seated before anybody in the B or C lines. So unless you really want one of the few special seats (like the facing rows, something I hadn't considered until Erin pointed out that she really likes these), there's absolutely no reason to bother standing in line. And if you aren't one of the first dozen or two, you might as well not bother even if you do like those seats since you aren't going to get them anyway.
People in the B and C lines, though, have a lot to gain or lose based on their position in line - the seat quality dwindles quickly in the B line, going eventually from a lack of empty rows for parties of 3, to a lack of adjacent seats for pairs, to eventually middle seats. At the C line, you start to have to worry about having enough space for your carry-ons. In each of these cases, there's a reason to want to be as early in the line as you want.
So why is it that the A line is long when the B and C lines are empty, every time?
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Never underestimate the ability for large groups to behave illogically ...
--Nick
Posted by Nick at January 27, 2004 01:53 AM | TrackBackGood points all around. :) When I was flying between Seattle and San Jose a lot I had Southwest down to a science. I'd never stand in line if I was in the A group, and I knew the gates well enough to know where to stand with a B pass to pretty much guarantee that I'd get in towards the beginning of the B group.
C, on the other hand, is pretty much hopeless.
Posted by: Eric at January 27, 2004 09:45 AMI've been told that I "bitch-slap" Nick for everything that he says (by Nick).
I will attempt to give some thoughts without "bitch-slapping" him.
Nick, are you an IDIOT? (hehe. I crack me up!)
JK.
In all seriousness, I think that it's probably not as bad as you think (stupid-wise).
It would stand to reason that the A people stand in line longer and their line would form. After all, they have been there longer. By the time that 10 B people have their cards (do they still do that?) every single A person is there.
If we make two assumptions:
1) 120 seats
2) 3 groups (A, B, C)
We can start to look at this.
120 seats translates into 20 rows. Ergo, there are 40 aisle seats. There are also 40 A people. If we assume that people generally take aisle seats, the A people will take most of those. Let's assume that only 75% take isles. This would leave enough seats for the 12 B people in line (I've noticed that happens). It would also give incentive for those people to wait in line.
After that people know their lot in life. There isn't a real reason to rush into line (not like there was a reason with A). The remaining Bs will get a window and the Cs will get a middle seat.
As for the A people Erin is right. As a 6'3" person I head straight to the line. I want (nay need) that meeting place (for the leg room that I create by giving potential sitters an "I will kill you if you sit here" look). This is the case for 10 or so As. As for the other 30 As – well, they’re idiots. So, *most* of the people are doing what they should do. It is just the catalyst of the meeting seats that throws some people.
Cheers,
Steve
So, I agree with you that the other "30" As are not being very wise, as I said originally. And really, if it were just the 10 people in the A line waiting, I'd be fine with it, for the reasons that you say ...
There are two parts of your assumptions that I don't think are quite the same as reality ... from what I can see, people take windows and aisles in about the same proportions, so there are actually 80 good seats, not just 40.
Also, I'm almost positive that the groups aren't actually 40/40/40 - instead, it's closer to 60/40/20.
So, given that, I think that all 60 of the A people will get an aisle or window not too far back, and the first half of the B group will be fine.
Anyway, surprisingly enough, you aren't disagreeing with me too much ...
--Nick
Posted by: Nick at January 27, 2004 10:55 AMTwo more:
- My better half also points out that seats toward the front of the plane are more valuable to people (quick getaway)
- I think that if you change the assumptions as you did (and add the above assumption) you will get about the same results:
About 30 idiots and everyone else doing what they should.
Posted by: steve at January 27, 2004 11:12 AMAs someone who never gets to the gate early enough to be in the A group, personally, the reason I don't really bother standing in line for B is because Southwest flights are so short that I don't really care what seat I get.
Posted by: Jan at January 27, 2004 02:11 PM