Avoid Southwest!!!!

Southwest Airlines is ending its practice of allowing families with young children to board first (a practice that is almost universally observed across airlines). From an article in the SF Chronicle: "Kelly (Southwest's CEO) said Southwest will cease preboarding families with children under 4, effective Oct. 2. He said he did not think it was fair for those passengers to automatically board first."

Not fair? Okay, so let's risk separating a mother from her infant. That sounds fair, doesn't it? What's wrong with people when they fail to recognize that there are simple signs of respect in society. You offer your seat on a crowded subway to an elderly person or someone with a small child. You let people with small children board the plane first. I have a strong feeling that Good Ole Mr. Kelly doesn't hold doors open for people, either. He's certainly no gentleman making this change to their policy.

Unfortunately, I have a flight scheduled on Southwest Airlines in just a few weeks! But after that, I think I will avoid the airline. Traveling with children is more difficult than traveling without children. I don't need to fly airlines that make it even more difficult.

I'm urging everyone to write Southwest to urge them to rethink this change in policy:

Gary Kelly, CEO
Southwest Airlines
P.O. Box 36647 - 1CR
Dallas, Texas 75235-1647

If Southwest gets away with it, what's to stop other airlines from following suit?