Southwest New Family Boarding (test)

[Lewisc]

Next week Southwest Airlines is going to experiment with its Family Boarding procedures on a minimum of 20 flights at the Orlando Airport (MCO) in an effort to improve the boarding experience.While the exact specifics of the trial, which runs between May 4th and 15th, haven’t been revealed, they are going to be experimenting with changing the age range for eligible children as while as when family boarding will occur in the boarding process.

Posters on flyertalk are speculating the age for children will be raised and family boarding might occur after passengers who purchased EBCI board.

 

[kamik86]

Hmm that is an interesting speculation. I think it would increase SW revenues on EBCI... as it would mean many families with small children would want to do EBCI where they didn't before since it wasn't really worth it... but now they won't know what point they will start family boarding (after EBCI could start after A40 or could start after B40 it isn't like there is a limit to how many can buy EBCI like there is on business class.) And as more families buy EBCI and push where family boarding starts back even more families will make the same decision until on some flights to orlando 3/4 of the flight will have EBCI... Its almost like raising the ticket prices by 12 bucks while at the same time looking more family friendly on paper by raising the age for family boarding...

 

[dancin Disney style]

I really wish they would have a FIRM policy right across the board on family boarding. Seems like every time I'm on a SW flight the rules on family boarding are little different. In March I travelled from BUF to MCO and back. On our southbound flight there were not a large number of families but they allowed the ENTIRE family including grandma and grandpa to board. On the northbound flight there were easily 50 people that they allowed into the family line and very few of the kids were age 4 or under. There was a family that we met in the parking lot at BUF, they ended up on our flight both south and north. There youngest child was 8....they used family boarding on both flights

 

[Disneylover99]

Posters on flyertalk are speculating the age for children will be raised and family boarding might occur after passengers who purchased EBCI board.

Since I always purchase EBCI for myself and my family, I would welcome this new policy, if it comes to pass.

 

[tjmw2727]

Very interested to see how this plays out!

I do think that EBCI should board prior to family boarding because families with children 4 and under have the option to purchase EBIC if they want a better boarding position.

Of course I wouldn't want young children separated from a parent (and I have moved to help this happen in the past). As a parent myself I also did everything in my power to assure this didn't happen when my dd's were younger, including purchasing EBCI or starting the check in process at T23.55 to have the best chance.

My next couple flights are on US Air but we are flying SWA again in August with EBCI both ways so I will be following along.

 

[ibob52]

I do think that EBCI should board prior to family boarding because families with children 4 and under have the option to purchase EBIC if they want a better boarding position.

 

[DebbieB]

On my flight in October from PIT, a family was sitting behind me at the gate and the wife said next time I'll have to remember to do checkin at 24 hours because they got C's. When they called for family boarding, the husband was watching and said come on, we're a family and got at the end of the line and got on with no question. They kids had to be 8 and 10, no way 4 or under.

I do agree that they should have some kind of guarantee for EBCI that you will be before family boarding.

 

[Puffy2]

I wish you could just pick a seat when you book like Airtran did.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I think they should lower the family boarding age to 3 years and younger. any healthy four-year-old doesn't need assistance in boarding, other than perhaps keeping him/her from running down the jet way.

and I totally agree that anyone who buys EBCI should have priority boarding before the families with older kids who abuse the system.

 

[StarDreamer]

My kids were 4 and 6 and I'm so happy I was able to sit with them because we had a lot of turbulence and they weren't aloud to get up and of course had to use the bathroom. They were in tears because they had to go so bad. I couldn't imagine not being able to sit with my kids while they went through that. Of course now I know what to expect next time, bathroom breaks right before and nothing to drink right before or during the flight.

 

[goofy4tink]

On my flight in October from PIT, a family was sitting behind me at the gate and the wife said next time I'll have to remember to do checkin at 24 hours because they got C's. When they called for family boarding, the husband was watching and said come on, we're a family and got at the end of the line and got on with no question. They kids had to be 8 and 10, no way 4 or under.

I do agree that they should have some kind of guarantee for EBCI that you will be before family boarding.

A few years ago, my dd and I were flying out of Boston's Logan Intl. As the boarding started, those with medical issues were preboarded. Okay, no problem. Then, the A-listers were allowed to board. Then, the gate attendant said that families needing a bit more addtl time could board. Well, my dd turned to me and said she had to wonder how so many families needed that addtl time...she said we're a family and I'm feeling very stressed and could use a bit more time to calm myself down!!! It was really kind of funny...she was 100% correct. There had to be about 35 people that boarded at that time, and only about 10 of them had young children with them.
If you don't have a car seat, then I just can't understand why you need to board before everyone else. And, if you have a car seat, then only one person needs to board early to install it...not the entire family.Drives me nuts....and, they're the ones that hold up the boarding process. Standing there, in the aisle, trying to settle in, getting stuff out of the overhead bin. All while there is a line trying to get past them to get seated. Happens no matter what airline you're flying.
I think that if you're going to preboard families, they need to be seated in the rear of the plane..that way they won't hinder others from boarding in a timely fashion.

Those paying for EBCI should obviously be able to board prior to every single person (other than medical preboards) that didn't pay for EBCI. And you don't get to have one person buy EBCI and then board and save multiple seats for those that didn't pay for it....that's just not fair.

 

[Disneychix]

I wish SW would just increase prices and let you pick a seat. Enough of this. Raise them all $12 and pick ahead. I'm so over this way of boarding. Their staff must hate this too. Especially when flying these "family friendly" routes.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I wish SW would just increase prices and let you pick a seat. Enough of this. Raise them all $12 and pick ahead. I'm so over this way of boarding. Their staff must hate this too. Especially when flying these "family friendly" routes.

I always wonder this too. The staff must hate it. Imagine how many people are unaware of these rules (if they didn't research) and throw fits at the gate.

 

[LisaS]

I'm sure there are some Southwest passengers who throw a fit and make the gate agents lives miserable but I've seen this on other airlines too. Southwest's boarding process is usually very orderly. I like being able to pick my seat when I board. I can choose who to sit next to and can avoid sitting in front of seat kickers.

 

[goofy4tink]

I wish SW would just increase prices and let you pick a seat. Enough of this. Raise them all $12 and pick ahead. I'm so over this way of boarding. Their staff must hate this too. Especially when flying these "family friendly" routes.

The vast majority of us really like this boarding process. People need to inform themselves prior to flying. But, and this doesn't just happen with SW, people don't, and there are always those at the gate that have some kind of issue. If people were polite and considerate, they would board when they are supposed to and not save seats for those that didn't choose to pay the extra fee. But.....because people want to sit with their families, but they don't want to spend any more than they absolutely have to, they save seats...and that can cause a ruckus if someone else, boarding before the rest of the family, wants that particular seat.
I have had seat issues when trying to take my seat on 'regular' airlines. There are those that think they can sit anywhere....'Hey, I got here first, you snooze you lose' or 'Guess you should have gotten on board faster.' Yes, both things I've had said to me when trying to take my assigned seat. The FAs straightened things out quickly. Or, those that can't seem to figure out that one side is A, B, C, the other side D, E, F. They sit in the correct row, but the wrong seat. And it always happens when I'm traveling with my dd...so, no, I don't want to take the seat that person left empty, with my dd across the aisle from me. So, stuff happens with the legacy airlines as well.

 

[Disneychix]

The vast majority of us really like this boarding process. People need to inform themselves prior to flying. But, and this doesn't just happen with SW, people don't, and there are always those at the gate that have some kind of issue. If people were polite and considerate, they would board when they are supposed to and not save seats for those that didn't choose to pay the extra fee. But.....because people want to sit with their families, but they don't want to spend any more than they absolutely have to, they save seats...and that can cause a ruckus if someone else, boarding before the rest of the family, wants that particular seat.
I have had seat issues when trying to take my seat on 'regular' airlines. There are those that think they can sit anywhere....'Hey, I got here first, you snooze you lose' or 'Guess you should have gotten on board faster.' Yes, both things I've had said to me when trying to take my assigned seat. The FAs straightened things out quickly. Or, those that can't seem to figure out that one side is A, B, C, the other side D, E, F. They sit in the correct row, but the wrong seat. And it always happens when I'm traveling with my dd...so, no, I don't want to take the seat that person left empty, with my dd across the aisle from me. So, stuff happens with the legacy airlines as well.

While I would beg to differ on the 'vast majority' of people that prefer this process, you've made my point that this style is outdated and must be grating on the FA. People are not considerate and do not care who paid what. People want to sit with their groups and don't really care who paid what to get on the plane in what order.

The FA can easily straighten out when someone is sitting in the wrong seat that was assigned. On SW, it's been my experience they do not do much about the seat savers.

Also, SW is getting very greedy as the extra fee seats now go into the "B" boarding and when coming from MCO you do get most families boarding between A and B so why did I just spend an extra $12 to get on after all these people that didn't pay?

 

[LisaS]

While I would beg to differ on the 'vast majority' of people that prefer this process, you've made my point that this style is outdated and must be grating on the FA. People are not considerate and do not care who paid what. People want to sit with their groups and don't really care who paid what to get on the plane in what order.

None of us have any statistical data on how SW passengers feel about the current boarding process. Given how full SW's flights always are and how orderly the boarding process usually is, it suggests to me that most passengers are fine with it as it is or they would be abandoning SW to fly another airline. I don't hear any grumbling about the process when I'm seated, waiting to board or when I'm in the boarding queue.

The FA can easily straighten out when someone is sitting in the wrong seat that was assigned. On SW, it's been my experience they do not do much about the seat savers.

In all of the times I've flown SW, I've encountered one seat saver. It does happen but I don't think it's become a major problem yet. My issue with airlines that assign seats is the number of times DH and I have been reassigned after choosing seats months in advance when we booked our flight. And since we have different last names, they often separate us and then tell us we'll have to ask to have it fixed at the gate. We end up with the worst seats on the plane. It's not pleasant when you chose seats toward the front of the plane but end up in the last row of seats (that don't recline and are right next to the bathroom) after choosing seats way ahead of time.

Also, SW is getting very greedy as the extra fee seats now go into the "B" boarding and when coming from MCO you do get most families boarding between A and B so why did I just spend an extra $12 to get on after all these people that didn't pay?

I hope they fix this issue. It is annoying to pay for early boarding and end up behind family boarding. DH and I have been as far back as B10 but even then, we had no trouble finding seats together. And we consoled ourselves with the fact that even though we were in the B group and behind the family boarders, if we had not purchased EBCI we would have been even further back in the B group.

 

[Disneychix]

I honestly can't believe you've never encountered seat savers but I guess if you always buy EBCI you might not be getting on the plane after or wanting the seats that these people are saving. It is a huge problem for the routes I fly.

 

[njmom76]

I have 2 young childreb (2&7) and purchase EB all the time for all of us. We also ensure that all people are in the row as car seats are being installed as we don't want to impede the flow of people boarding (the quicker everyone gets settled, the quicker we are on our way)! I have used family boarding when my EB was in the early B's. DH had the car seat and I had my then 7 month old, while my mom waited in line with my 5 yo. The gate agent realized we were all together and told them to board with us. I agree, theree needs to be some sort if consistency.

 

[supersnoop]

While I would beg to differ on the 'vast majority' of people that prefer this process, you've made my point that this style is outdated and must be grating on the FA. People are not considerate and do not care who paid what. People want to sit with their groups and don't really care who paid what to get on the plane in what order.

The FA can easily straighten out when someone is sitting in the wrong seat that was assigned. On SW, it's been my experience they do not do much about the seat savers.

Also, SW is getting very greedy as the extra fee seats now go into the "B" boarding and when coming from MCO you do get most families boarding between A and B so why did I just spend an extra $12 to get on after all these people that didn't pay?

Considering Southwest has the fastest turn-around time in the industry, I don't think you can call their boarding system outdated or confusing. It's faster than any other carrier.