Happy belated Southwest birthday.
Luck of travel…
Southwest has used a number of industry non-standard boarding mechanisms. In Austin, even as far back as college, I would arrive early, when possible, and get that first boarding group. Little plastic boarding pass, about the size of a letter-size envelope.
Flying Phoenix to Dallas-Love, I would get off one plane in Albuquerque, then board a separate flight for Dallas, with at least a one-hour layover. I got that cool, number one boarding pass, one time. It’s bad luck for me.
That time, the plane pushed out of the jetway, stalled, then rolled back. Everyone off, and I didn’t have such a cool boarding pass the second time.
Flying in from family in Seattle, I had a number one pass. With a three hour delay in Albuquerque. Again.