Southwest Airlines, synonymous with free checked bags and an unconventional boarding process, is mulling over a significant revamp of its ticketing and seating system, possibly leaving flyers to bear a higher price tag. At Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport, responses are scattered, with passengers expressing varying levels of contentment or frustration with the current state of affairs.

While some passengers cling to the unique Southwest model, others are ready to see it go. To quickly get into the desired "A" boarding group, Southwest faithfuls gear up to check in right as the 24-hour pre-flight window opens—a competitive sprint that's become part of the airline's culture. "It's like the great race of who can get to A. Let's wait, let's just set my alarm for midnight. Got to get in there and just got to check in, like, ‘Oh, darn it, I got a B. I was hoping for an A,’" Joseph Beasley said, as reported by  FOX 10 Phoenix.

Southwest's potential revamp is driven by the search for new revenue opportunities—a change that frequent travelers of the airline are approaching with caution. The question looming in the air is how these changes will affect the Southwest experience that many have come to either love or simply tolerate. "Early indications, both for our customers and for Southwest, look pretty darn interesting," Southwest CEO Robert Jordan told analysts and reporters, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.

Under the current regimen, families sometimes struggle to secure seats together, causing scattered and stressful seating arrangements. “It's stressful, I think for everyone because we don't even know if we're going to be together,” Kristin Beasley voiced her concerns, as per FOX 10 Phoenix. In contrast, travelers keen on the status quo defend the established process, like Jerry Burkholder who believes, "I love the Southwest system. I think it makes everything flow smoother and I think all airlines should adapt their system."