Now for the idiot parent who can’t control their beastie and it kicks my seat, pulls my hair, screeches, throws food or other items or does something else incredibly annoying, I have have no problem embarrassing the parent until they figure out how to control their kid. I have also been know to make formal complaints to flight attendants when the situation has been completely out of control. Someday an airline is going to make a child-free section in the plane and for that I will be eternally grateful.

I recently got a paper ticket that was hand-written - issued by a major airline at a major hub. Not only was it a paper ticket for a common fare type, unable to be e-ticketed due to computer restrictions, but apparently the ticket also couldn’t be printed.

I can imagine the logistics for ensuring e-ticketing works even on complex tickets at remote, third world locations.

In the San Antonio test, Group A includes 60 passengers who line up in groups of five just before boarding. Group B customers don’t line up until the first group is aboard.

The test will include various modifications to the gate area to see if a divider is needed and which signs are easiest to read.

Also, with regard to your use of the automated check-in systems: There’s nothing illegitimate about them. It’s your reservation. Manage it however you see fit.

For more details on these services that guarantee you a spot in the A-group, sometimes even for FREE, see here.

Now let’s see those sites fight it out to see who can guarantee group A, spots 1 through 5!

Looks like they are keeping the A-B-C groups but also pinning a spot number inside the group’s pecking order in an effort to keep the crowds from dashing like mad to the front of the queue once the first brave soul stakes their claim to the No. 1 spot an hour and a half before boarding begins.

I can see this helping not only the crowds but also those crafty people that doctor their B/C passes to A-status with a sleight of hand and the Southwest online check-in. Having several people showing up to the gate with the same A1 printed on their ticket could raise a flag or two. Full Disclosure: I did use an automated boarding pass retrieval service to (somewhat) legitimately nab an A-pass on my pair of Southwest flights.

Now, with the numbers are assigned at check-in, it’ll be all the more important to scramble online 24 hours before your flight.

FYI, Southwest only abandoned the plastic card system in the summer of 2002. It seems like ages ago.