Southwest Airlines has announced that families with small children can no longer pre-board ahead of all other passengers. The airline, which currently doesn't offer pre-assigned seating, assigns seating by groups - A, B, C etc.. based on how early one checks in; group A boards after families with kids, followed by groups B & C. Under the new policy, such families will board after group A or whatever boarding Group their boarding pass indicates. Article hereThis change is reportably one of other boarding changes Southwest will announce in a press conference later today.
4pm Update: (thanks Ktjen) Southwest announced "open seating is here to stay" in an email to RapidRewards members. There is a slight change to current procedure, as noted in their text:
"Open Seating is Here to Stay!You spoke and we listened. Today, Southwest Airlines is thrilled to announce that you will continue to be able to choose your favorite seat once onboard the aircraft. And it doesn’t stop there! We’ve figured out how to make our open seating method even better by doing away with the so called “cattle call” and eliminating the need to “camp out” in the boarding line.Beginning in early November, you will be assigned not only a boarding group (A, B, or C) but also a number within that boarding group based on the time you check in for a flight (for example: A32)..."