Looking for help from frequent flyers of SouthWest Air *Added another Question*

[phillymummer]

Trading boarding passes with Mom makes the most sense! Very clever!

If you are ever awarded these again, let DD use the free ticket, and buy one for Mom or Dad instead......

Definitely! Hindsight is always 20/20! :

Are you sure they won't check IDs when they check boarding passes right before boarding? I passed the idea onto my hubby. He flew in March (he forgets which airline. He flew for work, they took care of all travel arrangements.). He said he had to show his license with his boarding pass before getting onto the plane. I don't want to cause a scene or get hauled off by the TSA. That would NOT be a magical way to start a Disney vacation!

 

[MaleficentRN]

Like a previous poster suggested, if one of my kids got a better boarding number than me or DH, one of us would take their boarding pass, go all the way to the back and sit in the aisle seat. They usally weren't far behind and the kids could sit with at least one adult.

 

[gmeh1]

They don't do it on every flight but I believe that in between B and C they board families with small children regardless of baording position. I'm not sure what the cut-off fro "small" is but you might check into that.

The "family boarding is between A & B and it is for children 4 years and younger. http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=boarding_school

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Family boarding is 4 and under and only for child, sibs and parents. Not the whole party ie aunts uncles gparents etc...

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

No, family boarding is for one child aged 4 and under and one adult only, according to WN's own policy:

An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the "A" group has boarded and before the "B" group begins boarding.

http://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/boarding_school_faq.html

And yes, seats can be saved on WN. There is no policy against this.

Definitely! Hindsight is always 20/20! :

Are you sure they won't check IDs when they check boarding passes right before boarding? I passed the idea onto my hubby. He flew in March (he forgets which airline. He flew for work, they took care of all travel arrangements.). He said he had to show his license with his boarding pass before getting onto the plane. I don't want to cause a scene or get hauled off by the TSA. That would NOT be a magical way to start a Disney vacation!

No airline checks your id against your boarding pass, unless you are on an international flight and they check your passport on boarding. Perhaps the flight your husband was on had some kind of threat or they were taking extra security measures, but this is not the norm.

 

[kda]

[Are you sure they won't check IDs when they check boarding passes right before boarding? I passed the idea onto my hubby. He flew in March (he forgets which airline. He flew for work, they took care of all travel arrangements.). He said he had to show his license with his boarding pass before getting onto the plane. I don't want to cause a scene or get hauled off by the TSA. That would NOT be a magical way to start a Disney vacation![/QUOTE]

I fly a few times a year (not a frequent flyer) and have rarely been asked to show my ID with my boarding pass. That said, I just flew over Labor Day weekend and TSA agents on one of the four flights were checking everyone's ID against their boarding pass as we boarded. This was United Airlines.

 

[Sweettears]

[Are you sure they won't check IDs when they check boarding passes right before boarding? I passed the idea onto my hubby. He flew in March (he forgets which airline. He flew for work, they took care of all travel arrangements.). He said he had to show his license with his boarding pass before getting onto the plane. I don't want to cause a scene or get hauled off by the TSA. That would NOT be a magical way to start a Disney vacation!

I fly a few times a year (not a frequent flyer) and have rarely been asked to show my ID with my boarding pass. That said, I just flew over Labor Day weekend and TSA agents on one of the four flights were checking everyone's ID against their boarding pass as we boarded. This was United Airlines.[/QUOTE]

If they do check IDs at the gate they usually announce it before boarding begins.

 

[dsneprincess]

I would be sure to let the Attendant at the ticket counter & gate know your situation, they will probably have an answer or solution. SW employees are the BEST!!! I have seen many people trade seats if asked & usually no one wants to sit with someone else's kid. A long time ago, DS & I flew to need DH in MCO, we were on a flight that stopped in BWI & continued on. When we checked in ticket agent put us on the direct flight that hadn't left yet & called up to gate to tell them we were on our way. We boarded last, but were able to get 2 seats together through a swap arranged by FAs.

I don't agree that it is always the parents that cause e problem with splitting up. My DS12 will NOT sit next to anyone he doesn't know, regardless of the person's age, ie. He wouldn't sit next to an unknown 12yo. He loves to fly SW because in 25 trips, we've never had an issue finding seats together! Our August trip on JB, only had 2 seats together at purchase, 1 separated by 1 row & rest were extra legroom, which cost $35 extra, he was so freaked out that he wanted to stay home rather than go on vacation & I kept telling him no big deal, 1 row, etc.....no dice, he was totally stressed over idea. Luckily, at checking 24 hours prior, someone had changed their seat & he was able to sit with DH.

I would speak up over & over again, & ask about the boarding pass swap as well. Idk if ticket agent could, perhaps, change your number & DD, but you don't know what is possible until you ask & explain situation nicely. You will see TSA at gate, if they are going to check everyone, which I have personally never seen, but anything is possible. I would sit way towards the back as most people like to be upfront & you will have more people looking for seats there if you are trying to save.

Good luck! Have fun!

 

[phillymummer]

thank you for that advice, dsneprincess! I have decided to just check in my daughter at the 24-hour mark and when we get there I will determine if they are checking IDs. If not, then I will switch with my daughter and hopefully save a few seats. If that doesn't happen, I am hoping someone will be kind enough to swap a seat so one of us can sit next to her. I am going to sign her up for EBCI for the flight home since I will not be near a computer at the 24 hour mark. Hopefully I will be able to save a few seats then.

We are not on a nonstop flight, but we are on a direct flight (one stop, no plane change). How does that work? Do we have to get off of the plane and back on again or do we stay on the plane? If we have to unboard, how do we re-board?
Do we get our same seats or do we have to try to get seats together again?

I really don't like flying on a different airline!

 

[kda]

When on a direct flight, you remain onboard while people depart and after there's been a count of remaining passengers, you get to select any seat you want.

 

[phillymummer]

Really, we don;t have to get off of the plane? Will more passengers get on? What drives me crazy about this "direct flight" is that the stop is in Fort Myers, Florida! Is there any chance of the flight taking off early, so we can get into MCO early? C'mon, a girl can dream, right?

 

[kda]

Really. SWA is known for very quick turnarounds, and these stops are often ~ 30 minutes for passengers to get off and new passengers to board. The few direct flights we've been on haven't allowed "through" passengers to disembark because there was no time.

It's always possible that the direct flight will get switched to one that you do have to switch planes. This has happened to family members several times.
They did have plenty of time to make their connecting flight.

SWA is also known for efficient boarding and does pretty well with on time take off and landing a little early. Good luck!

 

[Princess on the Run]

Definitely! Hindsight is always 20/20! :

Are you sure they won't check IDs when they check boarding passes right before boarding? I passed the idea onto my hubby. He flew in March (he forgets which airline. He flew for work, they took care of all travel arrangements.). He said he had to show his license with his boarding pass before getting onto the plane. I don't want to cause a scene or get hauled off by the TSA. That would NOT be a magical way to start a Disney vacation!

I fly SWA all the time (just did today) and they have never asked for ID at the gate -- only at security.

Also, when I fly with my kids (now 7,5 and 3 but they have been flying since before the youngest was born) my theory is always that if someone won't move, I will put a child who is potty-training between them and they can enjoy their flight. Someone ALWAYS moves.

 

[Princess on the Run]

We are not on a nonstop flight, but we are on a direct flight (one stop, no plane change). How does that work? Do we have to get off of the plane and back on again or do we stay on the plane? If we have to unboard, how do we re-board?
Do we get our same seats or do we have to try to get seats together again?

After everyone gets off, they count who is still on to make sure it matches their records. Then they tell you that you can move. At that point, there is usually a rush for better seats and the bathroom. You usually have about 5-10 minutes before the new passengers board. I always use that chance to move up to the row closest to the front (except the front) as possible so I can get off fastest when we land. Also, if you didn't get seats all together the first time, that's a way to make sure you have them for the rest of the trip and actually getting off the plane.

No need to worry, SWA is awesome!!

 

[jenndisney]

Here's a solution for you if you're using EBCI. Once your past security you board first using your daughter's boarding pass and she boards with your DH using your boarding pass. The attendant taking the boarding pass doesn't usually ask for ID since that was already asked for back at security. This will allow you in the plane first and you can try to save them seats. This also ensures your daughter don't board alone. It's open seating so no guarantees you'll be able to save them seats, but most of the time people usually don't mind.

This works great. I have done it in the past. I fly SWA all the time for work. It is super easy. I have seen tons of people give up their seat to allow a family to sit together. It will be fine. The odds of a plane full of complete jerks is slim to none. Have a great trip.

Edited to add: I fly weekly and in the past three years I have NEVER been asked to show my ID once past security. I have also never seen it done to anyone else.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Really, we don;t have to get off of the plane? Will more passengers get on? What drives me crazy about this "direct flight" is that the stop is in Fort Myers, Florida! Is there any chance of the flight taking off early, so we can get into MCO early? C'mon, a girl can dream, right?

kds is right. We just did this when flying to Seattle 2 weeks ago. We stopped in Nashville, most got off and we had to stay in our seats until after the head count, then people could move. We arrived in Nashville extra early so they said we could get out and walk the airport a little since it was too early to start boarding the newcomers. We walked a little bit to stretch and went back to our seats. We had great seats from having bought EBCI the 1st day flights were released for that date so we kept our same seats.
Make sure your dd knows to not get off the plane at the first stop if you do become separated.