Southwest Airlines is in to Change - Will It Get Confusing at the Gate?

I thought I had figured out the new system. I fly tomorrow and read about the new grouping system, by number, so that I wouldn't have to camp out in the A, B or C line. I thought that was a good thing. Some of the floors at the gates are dirty and some are cold and hard. This meant that I would be pre-assigned to a numerical group that would be called when it was time to board. So I am ready for that.

But this week an announcement came from Southwest about additional new systems changes. Wow! Those "continuous process improvement" groups must have been meeting all hours of the night to come up with these changes:

• Southwest Airlines introduced "Business Select." It's a new fare that guarantees that the "Business Select" Customer will be among the first to board the aircraft.
• Southwest also debuted the new look of its fare display on its web site. Instead of a large display with numerous fare categories, the airline has streamlined the process by bundling its fares into three major fare columns: "Business Select," "Business," and "Wanna Get Away," making it easier for Customers to choose the fare they want.
• Southwest Airlines unveiled enhancements to its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program. Rapid Rewards Members will be rewarded for their frequent flight activity by jumping to the "A-List." Rapid Rewards Members who have flown 32 one-way flights or 16 roundtrips in 12 months will join our "A-List" where they will be automatically checked in for their flight in advance of departure and will most likely receive an "A" boarding pass.
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program introduced its new Freedom Award. Rapid Rewards Members now have the opportunity to exchange two Standard Awards for one Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is free of seat restrictions except for a few blackout dates around major holidays -- which means as long as there is a seat for purchase on a flight, Members can use this new award to reserve it.

What Southwest forgot was their commitment to simplicity. I thought I had adjusted to a new system and now there is so much more to consider. Let's see what I need to do now:

• Check in and get my number for tomorrow's flight
• Log on to my Frequent Flier account to see if I qualify for coveted "A-List" status
• Arrive at the gate early because the new system just started and there's sure to be confusion.
• Listen for my "position number" to be called
• And lastly, sit back and enjoy the flight back to the sunny Southwest!

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Mitchell