The preboarders who have a medical disability can't sit at the exit rows per the FAA. At SWA jumpseaters, deadheaders, and other non-medical preboarders aren't allowed to sit at the emergency exits because SWA wants to save those seats for passengers who paid extra for the A1-A15 boarding positions.

In a nutshell...

No assigned seats, so everyone boards per their boarding number. That means whoever boards first gets their choice of seats. We split the groups into A and B. If you fly a lot, you pretty much automatically get an "A-list" boarding number as a frequent flyer perk. But you can also pay for boarding preference which puts you near the front of the A boarding group. Every else is on the B list, and those numbers are assigned based on when you checked in. Check-in starts 24 hrs prior, so whoever clicks fastest gets a better boarding position and therefore more seat choices.

Thing is, anyone on the A list either "earned" that position by flying with us a lot, or they paid extra money for the boarding position. So as a matter of good business practice, you don't annoy the A list pax any more than you have to. A dedicated A list pax will get coupons for free drinks (worthless now) and somewhat less worthless coupons they can hand to any SWA employee that gave them exceptional service, that can be turned in for SWA employee perk points.

Story time for context... A customer service "save" I had a few months ago, our A-1 pax (first on the plane after pre-board) was in and settled, but another pax turned her carryon sideways so the overhead baggage compartment door wouldn't close. So not realizing she was A-1, an FA was going to pull her bag and gate check it. Whoops. I was in uniform commuting home from a trip and saw the whole thing and heard her mutter "A-1 boarding and they're gate checking my bag?" So I put on my superman cape, jumped up and re-arranged a few things to make SURE our A-1 pax didn't have to gate check her bag. She probably flies more than I do, no reason why she needs to gate check her only bag FFS. Anyhow, she appreciated the effort and I got a few employee perk points for simply noticing that we weren't taking good enough care of an A-list pax and fixing it so she didn't have to waste any time at baggage claim that day.

What all that means is that while JS non-rev can pre-board without ****ing anyone off, please don't cut into line in the middle of the A list boarding because those people paid extra for those boarding positions and it's probably going to get someone upset and maybe cause a complaint that has to be followed up on. If you miss pre-board, a reasonable plan is to hop in line between A and B lists.

Or if you don't care, just walk up and try to board whenever you like... Seen that too, success/fail depends entirely on gate agent reaction to how you present yourself. Extra courtesy is usually extended to non-rev wearing full company uniforms as long as they're not being disrespectful, but some gate agents don't care.

About a year ago I was in uniform going home on a revenue ticket and paid for the upgrade to business select to board first on A1-15 and I got yelled at by the FA for sitting at the exit and row and told me he was going to tell the captain. Told him I had a business select ticket, he kept at it until it finally dawned on him I paid for it. I guess it’s always assumed if you’re in uniform you’re non-reving. Didn’t expect that at all.

Exactly the tribal knowledge non-rev SWA bologna I’m referring to. Even IF you were only flying standby and not on a paid ticket, how are you supposed to know that you shouldn’t sit in the exit row?

We have our own “special” way of doing everything and expect OAL to know about it. Dumb.....

That is one thing that really torques me off. Our FAs EXPECT that other airline employees riding on us either as jumpseaters or ID90s know the quirky way we do things and they get angry when they sit in a bulkhead or emergency exit row.

It happens so infrequently I personally would just let the person sit there. In fact, I would love to see the Captains brief the FAs "hey, if we have any guests from other airlines - either cockpit or cabin jumpseaters - feel free to let them sit in the exit row." Simply to return the favor.

I'd love to see the front row be an exit row as long as we are changing things. No other airline moves everybody out of first class and allows preboarders to sit there. And in an emergency you're just going to have to repeat those people and put an ABP there anyway...

Ok off the soapbox.


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It would cut down on fake disabilities too. That or make preboarders wait to get off last so we don’t have 100+ people waiting for wheelchairs

I had this exact same experience flying corporate. Operated into airport, full paid DHD to another airplane on biz select ticket and the FA flips out when I sit in the exit row. I explained and she still insisted I move on the optics of sitting there in uniform.

Incredibly dumb

Please tell me you told them to go pound sand. Please, please please.

I’m not chalking this up entirely to a SWA-ism. If you are in the airline biz, or travel regularly you know darn well that the exit row seats are highly desired for the extra leg room. If you are non-revving you have some real stones to plop down in one.

Plenty of OAL agents have put me in an exit row or biz class while jumpseating/non-revving when they could have shoved me into a basic coach middle seat. Having our FAs return the favor, or at least not freak out on OAL peeps when they don't have the secret SWA decoder ring is just good hospitality.