First time flying southwest

[Burnedout]

As long as you realize it is a gamble, and you may end up with someone in between you and your child, who may choose to hold up a newspaper or something.

Realize if you want to try to play games with seat assignments, other people may not want to play. And you could end up miserable.

Putting someone else in charge of dealing with "your" child is kind of creepy. Not you but the poster you quoted. Not creepy molester creepy. But, I'd rather sit where I want and phooey on the needs of my child, creepy.

 

[Gracie09]

Family boarding at BWI does not get cancelled! Do you fly out of BWI? I do. They use the same gate agents over and over and they don't skip it. They announce it and the terms...each gate agt may do it a little different, some...1parent, 1child...some will allow both parents w/ 1 child...some will allow a 'slightly older child say the 6 yo and father to board along w/ the qualifying 3 yo & mother... I've seen it ALL DIFFERENT WAYS.

My issue is with the whole EBCI. Just because you purchase it does not GUARANTEE you anything other than it will check you in 36hrs prior to Your flight. That's it. People who buy ebci after you can still get a lower boarding # than you. That's Wrong IMO! They don't limit the # of ebci's that they sell on a flight so literally everyone 'could' buy one. So you could buy it and still end up with a C boarding pass. Likely....No. Possible...Yes. People have definitely gotten "B" boarding passes paying for ebci. I would be very annoyed if I paid for ebci and was then put behind family boarding!!! IMO, ALL paid for ebci should get to board before family boarding since they are charging for this service. This is one thing I don't think SW does handle fairly IMO but it doesn't affect me.
But I can assure you if I had a child under age four I would gamble it every time and do as I suggested above! And if someone chose to sit in that seat I would make them aware that I have no intention of switching seats, so "we" will be conversing back and forth while he/she sits in the middle of our conversation!

And I would make sure you knew my iPad was loaded with a nice rated r movie, probably something of the zombie brain eating variety and it will be sitting on my tray table in plain view of your child. I don't like threats.
As a parent I alone (well and my husband) am responsible for the safety and comfort o my child. If it cost me a little more to ensure, to the best of my ability, that my child is seated with me, it's the price of parenthood. On a day when everyone and their mother is traveling and at one of the busiest times in Orlando, I don't take chances. That Is my responsibility. Parents who assume people will move for them because they chose to be cheap and not take their responsibility seriously give all parents who travel with children a bad name.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Traveling on the busiest travel day of the year, to a place where millions of families are going on the same day, on an airline that doesn't reserve seats = I'm going to buy EBCI and understand how family boarding works, and will use whichever one lets me and my child board earliest.

 

[maxiesmom]

Traveling on the busiest travel day of the year, to a place where millions of families are going on the same day, on an airline that doesn't reserve seats = I'm going to buy EBCI and understand how family boarding works, and will use whichever one lets me and my child board earliest.

That is the best thing to do!

 

[stitchlovestink]

And I would make sure you knew my iPad was loaded with a nice rated r movie, probably something of the zombie brain eating variety and it will be sitting on my tray table in plain view of your child. I don't like threats.
As a parent I alone (well and my husband) am responsible for the safety and comfort o my child. If it cost me a little more to ensure, to the best of my ability, that my child is seated with me, it's the price of parenthood. On a day when everyone and their mother is traveling and at one of the busiest times in Orlando, I don't take chances. That Is my responsibility. Parents who assume people will move for them because they chose to be cheap and not take their responsibility seriously give all parents who travel with children a bad name.

Then you wouldn't have liked some of the flight attendants we have had leaving BWI!!! LOL!!
Because basically they were looking for volunteers (offering free drinks) to move to put parents & kids together and these were older kids! 10year olds!! Had it happen on 2 flights this year! Flight attendant basically said we weren't pushing back from the gate until everyone was seated and we needed two seats together for this parent/child duo!! Finally someone moved in each case, but flight attendant was budging and we weren't talking 'little" kids either!

On various ocassions I have put my bag on the seat and the attendant didn't make me move it. I guess it is a case of YMMV! My youngest is almost adult aged. I don't have to worry about travelling w/ little ones. But when a much older kid kept kicking the back of my seat recently (after the 8th time!) I Very Politely & quietly asked the parent next to her (in case she was special needs or something) if she could please have her stop. And the parent got VERY rude with me. When I got up to use the restroom I said something to the FA, he told me if it started again to let him know and He would put and end to it!! He was not amused.

Overall, I have no problem with the way SW works. On the flights I have been on, they do not make an issue about seating. AGAIN, YMMV. But if something is sitting in the seat most people don't have enough nerve to ask you to move it esp if it is a middle seat and next to a young child.

 

[maxiesmom]

Overall, I have no problem with the way SW works. On the flights I have been on, they do not make an issue about seating. AGAIN, YMMV. But if something is sitting in the seat most people don't have enough nerve to ask you to move it esp if it is a middle seat and next to a young child.

I don't think the nerve necessarily belongs to the person wanting the seat, but rather to the person who is claiming it with a bag or something.

 

[Gracie09]

Then you wouldn't have liked some of the flight attendants we have had leaving BWI!!! LOL!!
Because basically they were looking for volunteers (offering free drinks) to move to put parents & kids together and these were older kids! 10year olds!! Had it happen on 2 flights this year! Flight attendant basically said we weren't pushing back from the gate until everyone was seated and we needed two seats together for this parent/child duo!! Finally someone moved in each case, but flight attendant was budging and we weren't talking 'little" kids either!

On various ocassions I have put my bag on the seat and the attendant didn't make me move it. I guess it is a case of YMMV! My youngest is almost adult aged. I don't have to worry about travelling w/ little ones. But when a much older kid kept kicking the back of my seat recently (after the 8th time!) I Very Politely & quietly asked the parent next to her (in case she was special needs or something) if she could please have her stop. And the parent got VERY rude with me. When I got up to use the restroom I said something to the FA, he told me if it started again to let him know and He would put and end to it!! He was not amused.

Overall, I have no problem with the way SW works. On the flights I have been on, they do not make an issue about seating. AGAIN, YMMV. But if something is sitting in the seat most people don't have enough nerve to ask you to move it esp if it is a middle seat and next to a young child.

I doubt they would have actually carried through on their threat no airline employee wants to take a late (be the one responsible for a late push back). There can be investigations, fines etc. and can eventually lead to the dismissal of the employee if there are repeated violations.
And unless a butt is in a seat it is up for grabs. If there are only middle seats left I will stand in the aisle (not isle which is a geography term) and hold up boarding until you move it. I wonder who the fa will side with, the person trying to game the system (you) or the traveller just trying to take the Iraq available seat so we can push back on time.

 

[mikehn]

I dont know about other parts of the country, but I agree at BWI, there are loads of kids, which would make early boarding worthless if trumped by family boarding.

The other thing is, I've only experienced friendly, cooperative,and understanding passengers when it comes to seating arrangements. I think there's a bit of sensationalism here on the disboard when it comes to this topic.

 

[Burnedout]

Eh, if people want to sit together pay for the privilege. If you don't your priorities are showing.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I doubt they would have actually carried through on their threat no airline employee wants to take a late (be the one responsible for a late push back). There can be investigations, fines etc. and can eventually lead to the dismissal of the employee if there are repeated violations.
And unless a butt is in a seat it is up for grabs. If there are only middle seats left I will stand in the aisle (not isle which is a geography term) and hold up boarding until you move it. I wonder who the fa will side with, the person trying to game the system (you) or the traveller just trying to take the Iraq available seat so we can push back on time.

All I know is both times the FA's threat of not leaving until the parent & child were seated together worked! The FA got a volunteer each time to move and they were seated together and it only took a couple times of repeating we weren't going anywhere until that happened....Guess the people travelling out of BWI are a bunch of wusses! LOL!
On the occasion that I did set my bag in a seat, No one ever even attempted to ask me to move it, asked if it was mine or anything....actually for all anyone knew the owner could have been in the restroom. They would have to assume it was my bag and you know what happens when you assume?

 

[mickeynut1]

I think i am most concerned about each kid being with a parent....or across the isle from the 6 year old is also acceptable as he is not is too clingy. That said, I think the 3 year old should be guaranteed a parent next to him, the older one not so.

I agree that kids should be seated with their parents and if you are concerned about your children sitting next to you (or right across the aisle), then you should pay for EBCI. I am not trying to be nasty, but I would not give up any of our seats after paying for EBCI for my family just so someone else (whose chose not to pay the extra money) can be seated with their child. That sounds mean, but everyone has a choice and if someone chooses not to spend the extra money, that's their choice and it's totally fine. But those people also shouldn't expect others to give up their seats to accommodate them. It costs me $50 each way for EBCI for my family of 4 and I gladly pay it each time as it gives me peace of mind that my family will be sitting together.

 

[Burnedout]

That is it. If a parent feels a child needs them then put your money where your mouth is.

 

[MJBING]

That is it. If a parent feels a child needs them then put your money where your mouth is.

My 6 year old would teach someone a lesson on the trip, he would talk their ear off, in an intelligent way....i would not be happy though if i could not see him, so i am thinking about purchasing early boarding for the two of us as i think my wife and three year old will be granted family boarding.

 

[Burnedout]

My 6 year old would teach someone a lesson on the trip, he would talk their ear off, in an intelligent way....i would not be happy though if i could not see him, so i am thinking about purchasing early boarding for the two of us as i think my wife and three year old will be granted family boarding.

Lol, I don't mind chatting with kids. I just think people need to take care of their kids especially when they have a viable option.

 

[MJBING]

Lol, I don't mind chatting with kids. I just think people need to take care of their kids especially when they have a viable option.

My big issue is i know thanksgiving eve is a crazy travel day, not need to stress my trip and my child's initial flight to WDW over $25 for he and I to sit together....i mean, it's $25 not $100 or more...I'm nervous enough over flying this day and I will spend the cash to sit with him in a heartbeat if it GUARANTEES i sit with him.

 

[stitchlovestink]

My big issue is i know thanksgiving eve is a crazy travel day, not need to stress my trip and my child's initial flight to WDW over $25 for he and I to sit together....i mean, it's $25 not $100 or more...I'm nervous enough over flying this day and I will spend the cash to sit with him in a heartbeat if it GUARANTEES i sit with him.

But that's the thing....it really doesn't! The ONLY thing EBCI guarantees is that it will check you in at the 36hr mark before your flight and you cannot do that on your own. Since it is such a high volume travel day, there is a very good chance LOTS of others will have the same thought process as you and will purchase it as well. And then if there are LOTS of young children...Well they don't limit the number of EBCIs that they sell so it's a gamble where your boarding pass will end up.
Will you Likely get to sit with your six year old? Yes
Is it a Guarantee by purchasing EBCI? No!
OP, I wish you the Best of Luck! I still think your Best Bet is to try to put both kids in the same row with one adult. On a full flight, you could each take a middle seat if you had to that way....your 6yo between your wife & 3yo and then you could take another open middle seat. Contrary to what you read on this board, RARELY do passengers boarding the plane actually complain about a 'saved' MIDDLE seat. Now if people are saving a whole row or a aisle seat then yeah, you might hear them say something to the FA. Also suggest to your wife, she head to the back of the plane....that also helps too. Good Luck to You! I have GREAT success and enjoy flying out of BWI!!

 

[zoo2tycoon]

My 6 year old would teach someone a lesson on the trip, he would talk their ear off, in an intelligent way....i would not be happy though if i could not see him, so i am thinking about purchasing early boarding for the two of us as i think my wife and three year old will be granted family boarding.

Did you not read response on first page of this thread where someone said sometimes there is no family boarding, especially during peak travel times or at MCO where so many families travel to/from. If you want to be sure you are seated I'd certainly spend the extra and do EBCI for ALL FOUR OF YOU. I would not rely on FAMILY BOARDING during Thanksgiving from MCO or others moving for you if they purchased EBCI and you did not.

Not just directed at you. I don't understand how people spend $$$$ to go to Disney or on any vacation and then don't want to spend the extra few $$ to make sure their family sits together.

It is not guaranteed there is family boarding on any flight.
It is not guaranteed someone will move if you don't pay the extra because chances are they did.
It is not a law that parents and kids of a certain age have to sit together.

I don't know if I'd move for someone. I know I wouldn't trade an aisle for a middle or window. I wouldn't move if someone were rude or demanding. I wouldn't move if someone threatened their kid on me.

OP, I'd just pay the extra.

 

[maxiesmom]

Did you not read response on first page of this thread where someone said sometimes there is no family boarding, especially during peak travel times or at MCO where so many families travel to/from. If you want to be sure you are seated I'd certainly spend the extra and do EBCI for ALL FOUR OF YOU. I would not rely on FAMILY BOARDING during Thanksgiving from MCO or others moving for you if they purchased EBCI and you did not.

Not just directed at you. I don't understand how people spend $$$$ to go to Disney or on any vacation and then don't want to spend the extra few $$ to make sure their family sits together.

It is not guaranteed there is family boarding on any flight.
It is not guaranteed someone will move if you don't pay the extra because chances are they did.
It is not a law that parents and kids of a certain age have to sit together.

I don't know if I'd move for someone. I know I wouldn't trade an aisle for a middle or window. I wouldn't move if someone were rude or demanding. I wouldn't move if someone threatened their kid on me.

OP, I'd just pay the extra.

Exactly.

I want to add to that if a child was talking my ears off and I wasn't in the mood for it, I would simply put my headphones in. If you need your family to be seated together, do what you can to make it happen. Don't rely on the kindness of strangers. And especially don't rely on your kid annoying the person seated next to him to make them move! Really people! Just plan on your kid being so obnoxious no one will want to be next to them! What the heck kind of idea is that???

 

[Burnedout]

My big issue is i know thanksgiving eve is a crazy travel day, not need to stress my trip and my child's initial flight to WDW over $25 for he and I to sit together....i mean, it's $25 not $100 or more...I'm nervous enough over flying this day and I will spend the cash to sit with him in a heartbeat if it GUARANTEES i sit with him.

Lol I don't think anyone saw that you said you WOULD spend the $25. it is well well worth it. Heck, I pay it when I fly alone because it creeps me out that I might not get an aisle seat!!

Have a good good trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes but if you put your youngest in the window seat and you take the isle seat...I will bet BIG $$$ NO ONE will take that middle seat between the two of you and it will still be available for your older child when they board!! Your DH may not get a seat near you but at least you will be seated with both of your kids!! I would be completely okay with that! How about you, OP?

All I know is both times the FA's threat of not leaving until the parent & child were seated together worked! The FA got a volunteer each time to move and they were seated together and it only took a couple times of repeating we weren't going anywhere until that happened....Guess the people travelling out of BWI are a bunch of wusses! LOL!
On the occasion that I did set my bag in a seat, No one ever even attempted to ask me to move it, asked if it was mine or anything....actually for all anyone knew the owner could have been in the restroom. They would have to assume it was my bag and you know what happens when you assume?

I have been on many SW flights that were full..or really close to full. There was one situation where one large family boarded after me...I was lucky and got A17!!! So, plopped down in the second row. Nice to get off the plane quickly since I had carryon only. Anyway.....I watched as part of that family boarded in the mid-A group. There were probably about 7 or 8 of them. They took two seats in each row..so basically took about 4 rows. They took aisle and window seats and put some stuff on those middle seats. Okay...that worked until we mid-way through the C group. The FA made an announcement that this was a full flight and there would be no empty seats. Well...you should have seen that group scramble to get seats next to each other!!! So much moving around that it really held up the boarding process. BUT, some lucky C group people got some very nice seats in the very front of the plane!!

Or the time that the FA made the announcement that the plane would not pull back from the gate until a late arriving mother and young child found seats together. Now, I have no issue, basically, with this. BUT....I sat at the gate for 90 mins. I sat and watched that mother walk around the gate area with her child. Now, I'm going to go out on a limb here. There didn't appear to be any issue with the youngster that would warrant his not being able to board with the appropriate group and then sit on the plane and wait. BUT....appearances can be deceiving. But that mom would just walk back and forth, going into shops, into the restroom, and far from the gate. She would disappear for long periods of time. Yes, I noticed. I'm a huge people watcher. So, when my group was called, the A group, I got up and got into the line. I boarded the plane, wondering where that mom had gone to and if she was on our flight she had better hurry back. The B group boarded, followed by the C group. Now....everyone was seated, we thought we were ready to go, when this mother and child (about 4 or 5) came running onto the planed!!! And of course there were no seats together!! So, the FA made that dread announcement...'Are there any couples that would move to single seats to allow a mother and child to be seated together?'. No one raised their hand...not one person. The FA asked again. Again, no response. She then announced that the plane would not pull back from the gate until this mother and child were seated together!!! The people on that flight were not happy. But there were two singles, towards the back of the plane that were willing to move to middle seats. So, mom headed to the back and was overheard saying....'Aren't there any seats closer to the front we can take?' Seriously?

So, yes, some people just don't get it. They try all the tricks in the book to get what they want. The fact that people have selected the seats they did, for their own reasons, makes no difference to them.

If being seated with your family is that important to you, either buy EBCI (which gives you a very good shot at together seating) or book with an airline that allows you to choose your seats when booking. yes, it may cost more but that's life.