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Change Your Southwest Airlines Boarding Group from "B" or "C" to "A"

boardfast.blogspot.com — Very cool tip....it's free, fast, and easy! Tried and it works.

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  • akuma624, on 10/12/2007, -11/+10This freaking rocks
    • dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14Yeah, but I have to wonder if SWA is going to start getting a little suspicious when EVERYONE lines up when group "A" is called...
    • neocitron, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5It's too bad i'm in the Northwest :(
      i've seen a Southwest plane in Vancouver once in a blue moon
    • violentvinyl, on 10/12/2007, -16/+8Students have been doing the same thing with grade reports for years. Underage kids do the same thing with licenses, and lawyers do it all the time with numbers on contracts (for the good of those involved, or otherwise).

      Nothing new here, but it's interesting to see that for our purposes, your boarding group only exists on your ticket (for the time being). It's just a bad idea in general to give one person sole control over a piece of information that can be used to his advantage or detriment. Makes you wonder how many other systems work like that (I'd suspect very few in this day and age).
    • UncommonSense, on 10/12/2007, -24/+8Regardless of whether it hurts anybody, it has to be illegal to change the contents of a boarding pass. On top of that, this is highly suspicious, with the word "terrorist" rearing its ugly head.
    • violentvinyl, on 10/12/2007, -5/+52"with the word "terrorist" rearing its ugly head."

      Becasue if I was going to blow up a plane, I'd want to make sure I got a good seat first.
    • josegutz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29With my luck I would do something this cool and then find myself in the customs breifing room getting someones latex'd hand up my fudge tunnel.

    • athlonmj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11This is great except:
      if you're printing out your boarding pass online, chances are you checked-in early enough to get an A pass.

      With most flights, most people check in at the airport, so you're usually guaranteed an A if you check-in before you go.

      Also, all boarding passes have a number on the bottom corner showing what number you were when you checked-in. You would need to somehow doctor that too.
    • Pile, on 10/12/2007, -6/+18#1 This is probably a capital crime under the USA Patriot Act.

      #2 Dumbasses since the dawn of commercial aviation, have always jumped the line regardless of boarding order and there are numerous inconsiderate and underhanded methods of getting onto that flying tin can a little sooner.

      Congrats!

      http://BSAlert.com/
    • Palal12, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3First of all, there's also a little number on the bottom-right of your pass. There are only 45 A-passes that WN gives out. If things get too suspicious, WN will simply start looking at the number. Of course this may soon be unnecessary if they move to asigned seating. Also, if too many people start doing this, they'll increase the security of a boarding document.

      In any case, it is EXTREMELY easy to get an A boarding pass and I simply don't know why you'd need an A boarding pass if you were doing online checkin.
    • Pile, on 10/12/2007, -10/+8If you're flying Southwest, the order on which you board the plane is the least of your problems.

      A friend of mine who is a commercial pilot said he will never fly Southwest. Their standards for hiring pilots are apparently really bad; they're known to hire pilots over the phone. If you're going to cheat to get on the plane, you might as well call them up and get hired as a pilot. You might have a good chance.
    • btdgreg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8"If you're flying Southwest, the order on which you board the plane is the least of your problems.

      A friend of mine who is a commercial pilot said he will never fly Southwest. Their standards for hiring pilots are apparently really bad ..."

      And yet, they have the best safety record of any major carrier. Go figure.

      (I think your friend's data is biased and probably flawed. I seriously doubt they hire pilots over the phone. I have a friend who's a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a pilot at Southwest.)
    • shaun3000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Pile:

      So? It's not like they hire them and the next day they're flying the line. New hires for any airline have to go through several weeks of training to make sure they are up to the company's standards and make sure they know the operating rules for that company. If you can't hack it, you don't get to keep your job.
    • dbrown1981, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Anyone know if this would work with Delta's Zone 1-7? I'm sure you could physically make the change in the same way you change the letter but is the zone info included in the bar code?
  • perryjp, on 10/12/2007, -12/+12somehow this just *has* to be illegal. I don't fly on Southwest so I don't know what the pages you see look like but I wonder what else you can modify about your plane ticket and the security implications that has on the airline system...
    • Mesach, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9its just boarding priority, Kinda like giving yourself first boarding privileges, and on an airline that supports the cattle call style of boarding, getting into the A group is preferred...

      There are no security implications in this.
    • JoeLeo, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14It's still fraud - there's clearly an intention to deceive.
    • arnar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Is this "boarding priority" something you pay for? Or is it just assigned randomly?

      If the latter, SWA can easily prevent this by calling the groups up in random order each time, ABC, BAC, CAB, whatever.. that would be more fair on less-html savvy people.
    • c0dem0nkey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@arnar

      Its first-come, first-served. The first group to get their boarding passes (by either checking in at the airport or checking in online) gets the "A" passes, etc.

      This suggested "solution" is unethical at best, regardless of where it stands legally. Its cutting in line.
  • Archimboldo, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12Sadly, you are not atypical in wanting to cheat the system, but this still sucks.
    • knightcrawler75, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Cool hack. But what is the big deal... Instead of sitting in the terminal your sitting on the plane.
    • WhoDey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@knightcrawler75
      SW seating is first-come, first-serve (no assigned seating). So, if you're one of the first to get on the plane, you'll get your choice of seat (exit row Window baby!)
  • joel2600, on 10/12/2007, -45/+19with the security trying to be placed around airlines these days, i think this is one of the last things you want to try doing.

    the same concept here applies to printing out a barcode for a cheaper item and sticking that barcode on something less expensive and then trying to pay for that item using your new barcode.

    it's free, it's fast, it's easy .... IT'S ALSO STEALING!!!
    • leobaby, on 10/12/2007, -6/+20aparently you've never flown southwest.
    • Mesach, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21Not that I condone this, but how is it STEALING?

      What are you taking? a seat? that you will leave behind when the flight is done?
    • mernest, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Obviously you don't like to know what you are talking about when you post a reply joel. There is no price difference between groups.
    • Qenton, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Well it is line cutting. So I guess you are stealing time and happiness from someone else.

      But I got tired of the cattle call system anyway, so I usually don't fly Southwest.
    • iSEPIC, on 10/12/2007, -24/+8@joel2600 - you're an idiot.

      All this boils down to is boarding people who have seats in the BACK first, so that stupid ***** don't clog the isles in the front putting their ***** away, getting up and getting something else out of the overhead storage, and so on. So that the people board first (with the exception of first class, which this doesn't even address) go to the back, then the next group of rows of seats board next... it's a system devised to help board faster - which btw, there are studies showing this system is flawed and doesn't make it faster, but who knows, there is a study showing something for everything proving every point to be right or wrong - anyway, yeah, this has NOTHING TO DO WITH STEALING (and neither does downloading music, so STFU).
    • phatsharpie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6"All this boils down to is boarding people who have seats in the BACK first..."

      I thought Southwest has open seating. I haven't flown them in years, but has that policy changed?
    • pkulak, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Yea, iSEPIC has no idea what she's talking about.
    • iSEPIC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@pkulak, your boyfriend (Joel) is an IDIOT, and cannot even fathom reality, so I suggest you go and comfort him.
    • iSEPIC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1QUOTE
      I thought Southwest has open seating. I haven't flown them in years, but has that policy changed?
      /QUOTE
      Well, the last 10-11 times I flew SW, they did not, now Im not saying you're wrong, because I know they do things different in different airports. So, who knows for sure, any employees want to comment?
  • thefish2010, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31Apparently, joel2600 does not fly southwest. You don't pay extra for an "A" - it just means that you checked in, whether online or in person, in the first 40 or so people. They get to board first, and since southwest has open seating, it's important.
    • terrab0t, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Finally. I had to read all the way to your comment to find out clearly what the advantage of boarding first was. Thanks. I didn't know if it meant you had a better choice in seats, or if you just got to sit on the plane longer while everyone else boarded. I'm not familiar with what "cattle call" means in airline terms.

      The airline I just booked with (Canjet) not only has assigned seating, they have a neat little diagram on the web booking interface that lets you click to select your seat. It shows you which ones are already taken.

      I noticed that almost all of the seats in the front were filled, then there is an empty section, and then the very back row is filled. It was the same way on both flights I booked. I was looking for back row because I don't really care about getting off the plane fast (you have to wait for your luggage anyway), and when there's trouble and you have to get off, everybody rushes to the front, leaving the back wide open for easy escape. I wonder if the other back row people are thinking the same thing?
    • SinisterStairs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@terrab0t

      The back is more popular than the middle because the middle is the loudest -- that's where the engines are.
    • shayne321, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@terrab0t:
      In my experience by the time group C is called for boarding, not only are all of the aisle in window seats taken (leaving the just the dreaded middle seat - which means if you're flying WITH someone you're likely to be separated), but the overhead bin space is usually taken too. This means the flight attendants usually force you to check any bags that will not fit under the seat in front of you. Since a lot of people going on business trips only take their carry on bag, this means they have to wait at the baggage claim once they arrive at their destination (waiting 20 minutes to an hour or more before they can get out of the airport). I've been through this process and it majorly sucks, BUT I probably wouldn't do this - it's just falsifying your ticket, which seems really shady to me.
  • Beanlover, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I wondered if this would be possible since I recently flew on SWA.

    I'll bet that SWA will soon discover this happening and incorporate the "A" "B" or "C" into the bar-code somehow. They announce the fact that if you are in the wrong line you will be made to go to the end of the correct line you are to be in.

    It amazed me that people would actually stand in line for over an hour and a half just to be the first "B" or "C" person. It makes me want to fly on another airline but maybe that's just me.
    • bwoodall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"that's a very bad customer...a very, VERY bad customer. Now go to the back of the line and think about what you've done."
  • phreel0aderr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21I, for one, would not like to be the first one to find out when they change this system. If you really want to be in group A just check in online the day before. Its not that hard.
    • crawf061, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1124 hours ahead of time online checkin becomes available. Most people completely disregard this information. I usually check in about 6 hours before hand and _almost_ always get in the "A" group
  • billyboobs34, on 10/12/2007, -17/+3I hate flying southwest ... no leg room at all
    • oakj423, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11it's called southwest. take a look at their business model. they offer cheap fares - take it or leave it, they don't care. if you want leg room and customer service, yadda yadda, go fly elsewhere
    • stealthboy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7> "I hate flying southwest ..."

      Then don't fly Southwest. Nobody is forcing you to. Sheesh, must everyone rush to play the victim card? Why not just go all the way and sue them?
    • Palal12, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Their leg room is no different than most domestic airlines. Their customer service is superb (you can get a real person on the phone) and their in-flight snacks are much better than what you get with legacies and second only to JetBlue.
    • Hardcase, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Their legroom is most definitely less than most domestic airlines. I quit flying Southwest because of that very reason. I can get the same fare and better service on Alaska or Delta, plus the opportunity to upgrade to first class for 50 bucks on occasion.

      Nobody forced me to fly Southwest (well, that's not exactly true, the US Navy forced me to, but only once), but it's still worthwhile to point out that when I sit in a Southwest 737, my knees are jammed into the seat in front of me. When I sit in an Alaska or Delta 737, they aren't. If that doesn't mean more legroom, then you tell me what it means...
  • empeethree, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16someone is going to feel like a dumbass when they aren't allowed to board the plane cause they changed their ticket information.
    • thatbox, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Somehow I doubt that which of three non-barcode GIFs you've got on your ticket wil be that big a deal.

      Besides, you didn't do it. Their webpage goofed!
  • ABadInAlbany, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9how long until that info IS barcoded along with everything else?
    • duke, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11I bet within 72 hours of it hitting digg's front page.
    • ninti, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"I bet within 72 hours of it hitting digg's front page."

      I think you A) Give Digg a bit too much credit, and B) overestimate how much SW cares. This being on Digg will maybe (MAYBE) translate to one person doing this per flight, especially considering those who print it out from the web are likely to already get an A. I doubt they will even notice, and if they did I don't think they would care that much as long as people still get on the planes and their asses in seats quickly so they can make their money. If you think they are going to spend the manhours to change their entire barcode system to fix this little niddling problem, you are insane.
  • chrispy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5i would imagine this has to be illegal in some way.

    haha.... getting A boarding is great through... you dont have to wait for all the stupid people to try to stuff their carry-on luggage in the overhead... when in fact they should have checked it because its too big to fit in the bin!
  • ElectricGrandpa, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9It sounds like if you're booking online(in order to do this trick) you're probably going to be in the A group anyway...
  • TehDoctor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Sit by the emergency exit on the left side.... plenty of legroom there
  • wirah, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I've never flown southwest. This is certainly a sexy little trick though. But hmm what happens if 'A' gets too crowded and becomes the new 'B'.
  • Jeffrey903, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Why doesn't Southwest eliminate the A, B, and C groups by check-in time and whoever gets to the airport first gets to board first (maybe they give out passes at the terminal). That way everybody should want to get there early and Southwest shouldn't even have to think about waiting for late people because most (or at least more) people would probably get there earlier.
    • crawf061, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6i've never been on a plane that "waited for late people", barring the exception that someone's connecting flight was delayed a couple of minutes, so they still had time to sprint across the terminal to board the next plane. They used to give boarding passes at the terminal but then Al Gore invented the internet and everyone realized it was so much easier.
    • mattdew, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They used to do that and it was a pain in the a$$. You'd have to check-in up front AND THEN wait in line at the gate for a number. 1-30 boarded first, 31-60 second, and so on. With the A, B, C system you get your letter on your boarding pass when you check in...no waiting in line at the gate = much less hassle.
    • BridgetDS, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Oops, Mattdew beat me to it!
  • RedGiant, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3I've never flown Southwest, so what do these letters mean, and why do B and C suck?
    • thatbox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4A boards first, then B, then C. Cs usually end up with lousy seats and sometimes have to get carryons checked if bin space runs out.
    • crash331, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4When you arrive, the first 40 to check in get A passes, the next 40 get B and the last get C. You then wait for the plane to come up to the door. Then the attendants will call for A to board. B and C wait in the airport. After A is seated, they call for B, and so forth.
  • kavery, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14Whoever wants to be in the guinea pigs for this little experiment raise their hands?

    Have fun. The last thing I need on my summer vacation is to be escorted by TSA and FBI agents from the terminal while everyone wonders what that crazy American was up to. I'd just assume relax on the beach then in an interrogation room.

    The A, B, C system works, it's just that humans, by nature, have to screw one another and claw each other to get to the top.
    • szembek, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4I agree 100%
    • ike9898, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yes, this forging boarding passes would seem to increase your chances of spending some time in the interrogation room!
    • Salmonax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Agreed. Regardless of the moral/ethical issue here, which you can take or leave, I think we're in a time where forging any kind of airline-related document would not be looked upon lightly if discovered.
  • demon0, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I would usually do this, but not for an airline. They take security way too seriously for me to try a simple scam that will give me a better seat. I don't want an air marshal body slamming me when he finds out I cheated the system. At the very least, if discovered, you could be forced to be in one of those interrogation rooms where you have to answer silly questions like "Do you have a bomb?". Oh, and you have to take off your shoes and get frisked.
  • wuxia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7By changing it to an A will simply mean that you get to sit by the window. Southwest's new theory for boarding and de-planing is being tested to help with turnaround time. Less time on the ground and more time in the air.
    They plan to board all window seats first and then aisle seats last.
    Google it or check this one story about it:
    http://www.vindy.com/content/business_tech/294364681888453.php
    • iSEPIC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The problem with that is with most families or groups. They sit together, e.g. a b c or whatever.. so are you going to let your kid go board first w/o you because he/she has a window seat and you have an isle? I think not. Like communism, this looks great on paper.
  • Langford, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2The page header and footer will be different when you print the saved page, but maybe nobody will notice. Or you could alter it also.
    • jpatch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Possibility: You could "print" your ticket through PostScript to a PDF file that you edit yourself. Same header and footer, different Boarding letter.

      Reality: Save yourself the trouble and just be freakin' patient!
  • Manhigh, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3In all honesty I'd worry about Homeland security getting involved since it essentially involves tampering with a boarding pass.
  • ilopez, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1This doesnt work unless you purchased your Ticket Online.

    If you have a boarding pass, or you have to actually goto a kiosk instead of going to the Terminal, you obviously cant change the graphic.

    The terminal gate people just take a quick gander at what label it is, and then scans the ticket in.
  • Jeffrey903, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4If you do this and are caught you could just play dumb. It's possible that a computer glitch gave you an A but the barcode read B (if it is embedded in the barcode). It's not like you changed the name on the ticket.
    • AdamWeeden, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Why do some people seem to always go by the mantra "cheat, and if you get caught, lie." Why can't some people do the moral thing and just make due with what you have. A crappy seat on a plane is not the end of the world.
  • szembek, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I wouldn't trust some random Blogger page with correct information on this. Are you positive this info isn't in the barcode? Do you trust this blogger? Even so why cheat the system that is in place for a reason? Worst case scenario they don't let you board the plane at all beacuse they suspect some form of forgery.
    • Wamzlee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hmm...I'd wait to try it when I get a free ticket through my freuqent flyer miles, then I have nothing to lose.
  • dsander, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4what about the number on the bottom left that shows the number you checked in at. "20 = 20th person" I think after 50 it switches to a B. You would need to change that just in case there was a attentive person at the gate.

    What are the legal ramifications for altering a boarding pass?
    • kavery, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I'm sure the hefty fine you'll get will signifcantly offset not getting to see the Grand Canyon from the A window seat.
    • szembek, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1+100 diggs from me. This is a surefire way for them to see you tampered with your boarding pass.
  • WorldBuilder, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5This is 100% useless and pointless. No matter when your group gets called, you're going to get on the plane regardless. If you're in group A you get on the plane first and then wait for everyone else. If you're in a later group, you wait outside and then get on. Either way, you get on. The only thing you will gain is the opportunity to have your overhead luggage in the spot of your choice. But the tradeoff is that you'll be waiting longer in the small ass seats on the plane instead of the slightly less comfortable seats in the terminal waiting area.

    I can't believe the blogger wasted electrons and time to post something so dumb...

    Not to mention the blogspamming...
    • WorldBuilder, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5On top of that, I can't believe I wasted electrons and time writing my comments on this...
    • crash331, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5It's a pretty big deal, especially if you fly with a family. We had C tickets when we went to Vegas, and I got stuck by some fat dude and didn't get a window seat. It was a big deal then because I was 13 and my parents were like a mile away and it was my first time ever flying. That trip sucked.

      We got there earlier for the return trip and we all get to sit together and I got a window seat.
    • WorldBuilder, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2crash331,

      Where you sat on your trip has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with what boarding group you were in. You sit where your ticket says you sit, which you knew as soon as you bought your tickets. The only way anyone can sit in a seat (on any flight) other than what your ticket says is if another passenger is willing to trade with you (or you change your seat beforehand with the airline). Boarding groups don't matter at all.

      You folks can mod me down all you want to, but I travel every week and boarding groups matter not. Not at all...
    • swhitt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4do you have any idea how southwest works? there are no assigned seats. it's first come first serve. so you want to be in the first group so you get to select your seat.
    • AdamWeeden, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@WorldBuilder

      while I agree this is a waste of a digg article, you seem to show some ignorance in regards to SouthWest's mode of passenger placement. No assigned seats exist on SW (at least the last time I or anyone I knew flew on it). Boarding group A goes in first and gets whatever seats they want, then B, etc.
    • WorldBuilder, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1swhitt,

      All the SW flights I've ever taken (and I mainly fly Delta) DO have assigned seats, so I don't know what flights you're taking. Perhaps it's different depending on where you are, but I have a hard time believing that.
    • japostoles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@WorldBuilder,

      None of the Southwest flights have assigned seating. I think you are mistaken. San Diego is currently running a test of the assigned seating model, but every other airport is currently using open seating.

      More info: http://www.southwest.com/san-boarding/index.html
    • crawf061, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2worldbuilder... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Airlines#Southwest_Experience
    • Beanlover, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3SWA has NEVER had assigned seats that I know of. I've been flying on them off and on for over 15 years.

      I'm just glad they got rid of the plastic numbered boarding pass thingies.
    • enola, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I fly Southwest exclusively, because they're the only airline flying non-stop from where I am, to where I always go. They don't offer assigned seats. At all. Your comment would be valid were that not the case, but with Southwest, you're wrong.

      http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

      Note the last bit on the page: "Because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, general-boarding Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C." General-boarding Customers who choose an emergency exit seat must meet all requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines."
  • phillytim, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1i wouldn't recommend doing this...not on something that costs a chunk of change like an airline ticket. they could check or authenticate your pass at any given time, and probably kick you off altogether if there was something fishy. take care in not messing up your trip ticket, when you've probably made all kinds of reservations elsewhere in your destination. not prudent!
  • iamsjn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Sounds like a great idea but like the others, something about this just doesn't smell right. Messing around with the airlines isn't a wise idea. Considering that you can't even joke around with the employees, without risk of being carted off to a cell somewhere, I'd think twice about doing this.

    Besides, I couldn't do it anyway. For some ungodly reason, I'm on a terror watchlist. Everytime I fly, I've gotta be interrogated & cavity searched. It isn't fun.

    SjN
  • CheeseIsGood, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Southwest announced in June that they are trying new boarding systems and may replace the "A,B,C" group system:

    http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/prindex.html
    "Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) will soon begin a limited test of several boarding methods to see how much time is required to "turn" the aircraft if Customers are holding an assigned seat. This test is being conducted on select departures from San Diego starting July 10 and running for several weeks. The test is part of Southwest's ongoing look at assigned seating and how it could possibly be adapted to Southwest's unique business model."
  • kida001, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This is a great idea, and can save some time. Not sure how the airlines would look at this because you are altering a boarding pass even if it is something as small as a boarding time. Just beware, its not worth missing your flight because your being interrogated ;)
  • allofadoodah, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I flew with them last week, when I printed out the boarding pass I thought of the same exact thing. I was traveling with an child so we boarded before A did. They hardly look at it anyway so changing it to an A from a C is not going to be noticed by anyone. Airport security could care less about your seating priority and are more concerned about your shoes and 120 film.
  • theoallardyce, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Someone is going to Guantanamo bay for this, guaranteed.

    What the ***** you think America is some kind of 'land of the free' where you can pull this kind of *****? You think just because there is no law for something then it must be legal?
    • stealthboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"You think just because there is no law for something then it must be legal?"

      Well, strictly speaking, that is true. But I think the point you're trying to make is just because there is no law against something doesn't make it moral.
  • tsunamisteve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Cool, but the time you spend changing the HTML is about how long you'll spend waiting if you're a B Group.
  • kavery, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Since Southwest is a discount airline, you think you'll get a discount fine as well?
  • tunercircle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Why spend time altering your boarding pass? Just arrive early. It's just like the lame excuse being late. Either you have to do this and that, leaving early is the only answer.
  • stealthboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3So basically this is just a way to cheat and cut in line. Very mature, people.
  • ngageguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Call me weird, but unless you get the seat near the Emergency exit, who cares where you sit? You all get there at the same time. I fly SW all the time and have sat everywhere, I still get to the airport at the same time as everyone else, same snacks and drinks as everyone else, who cares if I am one of the first 40 people to get on? Sheesh.
    • shayne321, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@ngageguy:
      There are a couple of decent reasons one might WANT to do this (however I agree with the others that it's definitely slimey, if not illegal - essentially you're falsifying travel documents).

      Primarily if you are traveling with your S.O. or family, often by the time group C boards there are no seats left together on the plane. When my Fiancee and I flew to Vegas on Southwest last year, we were in group B and ALMOST didn't get to sit together.. The reason it was a big deal is it was her first time to fly, and she wanted me close by to reassure her.

      Second, I posted about this above: If you're traveling for business and don't intent to check baggage, usually by the time group C boards the overhead bin space is full. This means a gate agent checks your bag on the spot and you have to go to the luggage carosel like everyone else when you get to your destination.. This can have some unintended consequences: obviously it takes you a lot longer to get out of the destination airport.. Also, if you have medications or something else in the bag you intended to keep with you it can be a problem.. And lastly, there's also a chance the bag will get lost or re-routed to the wrong city if you're changing planes, so you could be showing up for your important business meeting without your important suit.
  • mexter, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Whoever does this is a snake... on a plane.
  • capitocapito, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Definitely fraud, and so simple it's hilarious. Dugg.
  • uptown, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Digg needs a new bury option ... "Do not pass go, do not collect $200"
  • energetik, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3There is a very easy and very legal way to do this, but it costs $5.
    Wired did a story on it a while back:

    http://www.boardfirst.com/

    Enter your conf. number, name, etc. and they "wait in line" for you.
    Works everytime.
  • huankiat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3or you can simply check-in 24 hours prior to the flight schedule. It's suppose to be first-come-first-serve! And what's the point to check-in early if everyone is basically in Group A?? Cutting the line is just not something you should do!
  • enclave2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This is just like cutting in line. And cutting is a dick move.
    I fly southwest all the time. Southwest makes flying so easy. You can print out your ticket, at home, 24 hours before your flight. The sooner you print out your ticket, the more likely you will be in group A. If you take to long to print it, and get group b, or c (though I've never been on a flight that even included a group c), then just get in line and sit down.
    For those that don't know groups a,b,c and just the order in which you are seated. Southwest doesn't assign seats. So you show up with a bording pass that says group a, for example, and you get to stand in the line that goes on the place first. Then you sit any where you want on that plane. The process repeats for b and c.
    What I never understood about flying is that people always want to be the first on so they can get that perfect seat up front. I've seen people waiting in the group a line, before the check-in people even showed up. Who cares where you sit?! The plane is going to the same spot for everyone and eventually, you'll all get off.
    I usually sit in the back and just watch every one stand and try to rush each other out of the door when we finally land.
    • TechScribe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If I'm flying with carry-on only, I like to sit near the front in order to get out of the plane sooner.

      If I have checked bags, I don't care and sit in the back of the plane, take my time getting out, and spend less time at the baggage carousel.
  • bheron, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I fly Southwest all the time. Their policy on this is that, if you or someone else modifies your boarding pass in any way, then it's void. This is on the ticket when you print it out, so you have been warned.

    I don't know about you, but it seems rather foolish to risk loosing money by being thrown off the flight because of something stupid like this, especially when you can simply check in on-line EARLY and get an "A" placement.

    Please don't forge your Southwest airline tickets. It's rude, and it can cost you money. :)

    Later, GJC

    • rakous, on 12/24/2007, -0/+0I have the ticket right in front of me with a nice A, I see no where on the html page or the ticket itself where it says that. I think I will enjoy my window seat.
  • theoallardyce, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7This is computer hacking and because this involves doing something on or related to the Internet it will be a federal crime involving a computer network. Next is modifying a ticket for personal gain - that's fraud right there. Interfering with a commercial aircraft. Boarding an aircraft without permission. Lying to airport or security staff. Causing disruption to a commercial service. Causing an obstruction and tampering with a security credential. Anything involving a plane will probably come under the PATRIOT act and will of course be a federal crime and since you've tampered with security credentials whats to say you haven't tampered with anything else? Ooops you're now unidentified which makes you a non-uniformed enemy combatant and you are now eligible to wear a bright orange jump suit and get a free flight to Cuba.

    How do you like being in the A group now you terrorist scum?
    • dustedbunny, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2So if I change my boarding pass I get a complimentary orange jump suit AND a trip to CUBA?

      Sweet deal.

      [/sarcasm]
  • neverender, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10From Southwest's site:
    " Any change made to this reservation by you or any other person will void this boarding pass."
    http://www.southwest.com/help/online_checkin.html
  • energetik, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3http://www.boardfirst.com/

    that is all.
  • kavery, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Why does the seat matter when you'll just be whacking off in the bathroom of the majority of the flight?

    I don't speak from experience.
  • WorldBuilder, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1...
  • saroth, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Of course, you could just change your seat.
    • rakous, on 12/24/2007, -0/+0No you can't, it is open seating which means first come first serve.
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