[Fatnino]

The way to do southwest is not only to check in 24 hours before the flight, but also to book a flight with a nearby stopover where you continue on the same plane. When the other passengers get off, whoever is left on the plane can go sit wherever they want. Grab yourself a front row seat right next to the door. You can even get off the plane to look around at the stop over airport, you just have to sign out with a stewardess. Then you get to board first. Like first-first, before the preboarding/military/babies. Then everyone at the boarding gate can imagine what a big VIP you are.

[kube-system]

I book direct when I can. My preferred method is to play the 24 hour check-in gamble, and then size up the crowd at the gate.

If it looks like a small crowd, pleasant group of people, and a decent boarding position, I roll with what I got.

If the crowd is huge, cranky, with too much luggage, and I have a bad boarding group, I go to the counter and buy an A-list upgrade.