Southwest Family Boarding--Did Age Change?

[gwynne]

I just happened on this thread today and it reminded me of something that happened on our SW flight in July. We had purchased EBCI and had A 19-22. A young lady (18-22ish?) stood directly in front of me. I noted as she handed her boarding pass to the gate agent that her boarding number was C30. The agent saw it too and stopped. He looked at her and told her to go ahead. She took a seat very close to the front of the plane. Do people do this very often? Was something else going on? It was at the start of our vacation and I didn't think about it again until today reading this thread.

Who knows? My best guess is that she didn't like C30 and decided to board in the A group.

 

[KJMAX1]

My point, which some of you seem to not understand is that, if we board early, the one adult per one child under 5 scenario, I have two of those ages, and I have to put a carseat in each row, and I sit in one row, and my son is in the other. That still leaves seats open to others sitting by the kids because each seat has to go in a window.

I was very nice in my first post, until I was sternly told that people will NOT move if you want to sit by your child. I was accused of NOT preplanning to which I obviously am. I was accused of being neglectful for not buying a preboarding pass, which guarantee you NOTHING! The SW agent said if everyone buys them it wont matter anyway because everyone will believe they are preboarding. Furthermore, I pointed out that groups of 10 do not allow preboarding anyway. So please, don't tell me I'm being rude.

I was responding to someone about the child boarding first, and I was stating what I was told. I had no idea people would be so territorial over a seat. Im not asking to break up a group, I was trying to plan how to sit, so people wouldn't have to be burdened by a child that isnt there's, sitting next to them. Getting up for the bathroom, opening sodas, what if the child pukes, what if they Are scared, those types of things. Some of those you CANNOT predict because find it odd anyone would want to sit next to someone else's child. I usually don't fly a class of planes where its random seating. Maybe SW is a bargain airline, if you will, but I usually have assigned seating. This will be a new experience for my family as we have never had to deal with people who do this, and it will be interesting. I'm actually trying to believe and hope people really are nicer than I've seen what's written about here. I cant imagine people purposefully picking a seat next to a carseat, but you never know as its been pointed out here.

Thank you to those who sent reassuring notes and posts. I really appreciate it as it gives comfort to a family just trying to plan ahead.

 

[supersnoop]

My point, which some of you seem to not understand is that, if we board early, the one adult per one child under 5 scenario, I have two of those ages, and I have to put a carseat in each row, and I sit in one row, and my son is in the other. That still leaves seats open to others sitting by the kids because each seat has to go in a window.

Carseats can go in the middle and window seat in the same row.

 

[charmed59]

Here people tend to go with worst case scenarios. I'd say you have a chance of boarding the whole family with your husband and DD in medical preboards. I've never seen groups that big in medical pre-boards, but if there are lots of small children I could see them letting that go.

The most likely scenerio is your husband and daughter board with pre-boards, and you and the rest of your family will be allowed on with family boarding. This is especially likely if the other 4 children are not teens, as they really don't like leaving kids under 12 or 13 on their own.

If there are a ton of families, they might only let two adults and the pre-schoolers on, or they may cancel family boarding altogether. I think this happens once in a blue moon, and when it does happen you can assume everyone is trying to get families together since they are going with this type of boarding because everyone is a family.

If I were you, I'd try to get Dad and DD in one row, saving the middle seat for another child when they get there. Putting the carseats next to each other, with mom on the aisle, and three children across the aisle, and let the other adult (your eldest son?) sit alone and have the flight off. This way there are no children sitting next to strangers.

 

[shamrock30]

KJMAX1, I think there may have been a misunderstanding when you asked your question at purchase time. Maybe you should call again and ask about purchasing early bird check-in for each person in your group. It is not a pre-boarding pass, but it should ensure that your group can be seated near each other.

 

[gwynne]

KJMAX1, I think there may have been a misunderstanding when you asked your question at purchase time. Maybe you should call again and ask about purchasing early bird check-in for each person in your group. It is not a pre-boarding pass, but it should ensure that your group can be seated near each other.

There are some nice pluses to booking with SW group travel.
"Groups receive access to special discounts off published fares through our dedicated Group Travel Reservations Centers. In addition, there are no Saturday night stay or minimum stay requirements and no blackout dates."

It looks like no EBCI with group travel discounts is still the policy.
"At this time, EarlyBird Check-In is not available to Group passengers. We recommend that all Group passengers check in online 24 hours prior to departure to provide the best chance of improving their boarding position and seat selection onboard the aircraft."

https://www.southwest.com/html/air/business-groups/group-travel.html

 

[shamrock30]

Oh, I see. Thanks, gwynne.

 

[charmed59]

I just happened on this thread today and it reminded me of something that happened on our SW flight in July. We had purchased EBCI and had A 19-22. A young lady (18-22ish?) stood directly in front of me. I noted as she handed her boarding pass to the gate agent that her boarding number was C30. The agent saw it too and stopped. He looked at her and told her to go ahead. She took a seat very close to the front of the plane. Do people do this very often? Was something else going on? It was at the start of our vacation and I didn't think about it again until today reading this thread.

I'd guess she either gave up her seat on an overbooked flight earlier, or missed her connection due to a SW snafu. People seldom end up with C30 even if they checked in when they arrive at the airport an hour before the flight, which makes me think she just got that boarding pass. The agent stopped, looked up, realized it was the person he just rebooked onto the flight, and let her on.

 

[n2mm]

Or she could've been the security person for that flight? Just saying.......

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My point, which some of you seem to not understand is that, if we board early, the one adult per one child under 5 scenario, I have two of those ages, and I have to put a carseat in each row, and I sit in one row, and my son is in the other. That still leaves seats open to others sitting by the kids because each seat has to go in a window.

I was very nice in my first post, until I was sternly told that people will NOT move if you want to sit by your child. I was accused of NOT preplanning to which I obviously am. I was accused of being neglectful for not buying a preboarding pass, which guarantee you NOTHING! The SW agent said if everyone buys them it wont matter anyway because everyone will believe they are preboarding. Furthermore, I pointed out that groups of 10 do not allow preboarding anyway. So please, don't tell me I'm being rude.

I was responding to someone about the child boarding first, and I was stating what I was told. I had no idea people would be so territorial over a seat. Im not asking to break up a group, I was trying to plan how to sit, so people wouldn't have to be burdened by a child that isnt there's, sitting next to them. Getting up for the bathroom, opening sodas, what if the child pukes, what if they Are scared, those types of things. Some of those you CANNOT predict because find it odd anyone would want to sit next to someone else's child. I usually don't fly a class of planes where its random seating. Maybe SW is a bargain airline, if you will, but I usually have assigned seating. This will be a new experience for my family as we have never had to deal with people who do this, and it will be interesting. I'm actually trying to believe and hope people really are nicer than I've seen what's written about here. I cant imagine people purposefully picking a seat next to a carseat, but you never know as its been pointed out here.

Thank you to those who sent reassuring notes and posts. I really appreciate it as it gives comfort to a family just trying to plan ahead.

If I wasn't allowed to purchase EBCI and I had 7 kids on a flight I would choose a different airline. That's what we did when our kids were younger. We flew AA and had assigned seats. We didn't bother with SW or EBCI. It wasn't worth the stress for us when our kids were younger.

Now my kids are 15 and 9. We will fly SW and bought EBCI for both of our flights. Even if we get some crazy late boarding they will be ok sitting alone if it comes to that. If it did come to that I would request a refund from SW for my EBCI.

 

[LoveMMC]

We flew sw today. I got b37-41 by checking in right at my 24. They boarded priority (about 15) A1-60 then we boarded in family with our two year old. The lady was strict only allowing immediate family members and there was one argument. Two different men bought eb for themselves but not their children. She wouldn't board the children (who were like 11/12 she said there were lots of families on this flight and it's not fair for them to try to skip them. She was awesome.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Or she could've been the security person for that flight? Just saying.......

Probably not; too young and Air Marshals usually board first.

 

[Lovinallthingsdisney]

I have found the boarding process to be so varied between airports that one REALLY needs to be prepared for any scenario. Last year my teen daughter injured her knee the day before our flight. She was cleared (medically) to fly but was on crutches. While waiting at our gate, we were approached by SW staff and told that she would need to pre board because of the crutches. We went to the counter and they gave us a pass and said it was for all 3 of us. (We already had A 30ish positions). On our return flight(from MCO), we again had A positions, but I presumed that she would "have" to pre board again...still on crutches. When we went to the counter, we were informed that she was not "required" to pre board. If she chose to, they would allow her and only 1 other. Since we had A's, we just decided to wait. It was not a big deal....but totally opposite to our departure experience. So as said, I think a lot of "policy", be it family boarding or medical, has to do with particular airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

We flew sw today. I got b37-41 by checking in right at my 24. They boarded priority (about 15) A1-60 then we boarded in family with our two year old. The lady was strict only allowing immediate family members and there was one argument. Two different men bought eb for themselves but not their children. She wouldn't board the children (who were like 11/12 she said there were lots of families on this flight and it's not fair for them to try to skip them. She was awesome.

I would have either been on the phone, or at my computer sending an email, telling SW how awesome that experience was. I would have told them that I would continue flying SW if this was going to be the procedure.

I have found the boarding process to be so varied between airports that one REALLY needs to be prepared for any scenario. Last year my teen daughter injured her knee the day before our flight. She was cleared (medically) to fly but was on crutches. While waiting at our gate, we were approached by SW staff and told that she would need to pre board because of the crutches. We went to the counter and they gave us a pass and said it was for all 3 of us. (We already had A 30ish positions). On our return flight(from MCO), we again had A positions, but I presumed that she would "have" to pre board again...still on crutches. When we went to the counter, we were informed that she was not "required" to pre board. If she chose to, they would allow her and only 1 other. Since we had A's, we just decided to wait. It was not a big deal....but totally opposite to our departure experience. So as said, I think a lot of "policy", be it family boarding or medical, has to do with particular airport.

And this is the issue. There is no consistency. If they made a rule, and then adhered to it, passengers would know what to expect. As it is, they try to work the system in their favor simply because each airport and each gate agent has a different take on the 'rules'.

 

[Plaid Princess]

I would like to see SW actually enforce their own rule, whatever that age may be and also only allow 1 adult with one child and 2 adults with more than 1 child. The exception would be a family with a lot of kids. More adults if there were say 6 kids or more....in a case like that though I would think that they would need to preboard and go straight to the back of the plane to have the time and space to get settled.

Enforcing the family boarding rule takes up dangerous time. Boarding agents are held responsible for departures that are delayed for any boarding related reason... Including super slow groups or loading wheelchairs. Many are not going to risk a delayed flight to argue about ages.

The prevailing thought, years ago, was to keep your kids off the plane for as long as possible, so as to get as much excess energy as possible expended!!

This makes for much happier kiddos for sure!

 

[kjetjl]

After we purchased our tickets, we were considering options for boarding with a 5 year old and almost purchased Early Bird for 2 of us (parent ,5 yr) but then I read about Southwest testing and possibly changing family boarding ages, so I held off. Then I completely forgot about it. We leave in a few days. We are a family of 8. DH,me, six kids age 16,15,12,9,5,3. I am NOT worried about the 16,15,12 or 9 year old. They will sit by themselves if need be. I am assuming the 3 year old can board during family boarding with my husband.
I am worried about my 5 yr old. She could sit by herself but it would not be ideal. This is what I am debating doing.
1. Purchase Early Bird for the 5 yr old- but from everything I read probably won't get her much considering it is so close to our flight date.
2. If she gets A boarding, have her board with my husband and 3 yr old during family boarding.
3. If her Early Bird gets her B seating, can we try to have her board with her Dad and 3 yr. old sister?
4. If her Early Bird gets her B seating, have my husband sit my 3 year old in the window, him in the aisle and "save" the middle for my 5 yr old. She would then have to board with the rest of us.
I know I should have just booked the Early Bird when we booked but I didn't.

I just want to get a feel if this "plan" is doable......

 

[DebbieB]

After we purchased our tickets, we were considering options for boarding with a 5 year old and almost purchased Early Bird for 2 of us (parent ,5 yr) but then I read about Southwest testing and possibly changing family boarding ages, so I held off. Then I completely forgot about it. We leave in a few days. We are a family of 8. DH,me, six kids age 16,15,12,9,5,3. I am NOT worried about the 16,15,12 or 9 year old. They will sit by themselves if need be. I am assuming the 3 year old can board during family boarding with my husband.
I am worried about my 5 yr old. She could sit by herself but it would not be ideal. This is what I am debating doing.
1. Purchase Early Bird for the 5 yr old- but from everything I read probably won't get her much considering it is so close to our flight date.
2. If she gets A boarding, have her board with my husband and 3 yr old during family boarding.
3. If her Early Bird gets her B seating, can we try to have her board with her Dad and 3 yr. old sister?
4. If her Early Bird gets her B seating, have my husband sit my 3 year old in the window, him in the aisle and "save" the middle for my 5 yr old. She would then have to board with the rest of us.
I know I should have just booked the Early Bird when we booked but I didn't.

I just want to get a feel if this "plan" is doable......

I would get in the family boarding line with the 3 and 5 year old. They probably will not even ask the age of the 5 year old. I saw a family with kids probably 8 and 10 board with family boarding, no questions asked. I've never seen them enforce 1 adult with 1 child, it's always been the entire family (parents & siblings) in family boarding.

 

[DIXIEDIVAMOM]

I have had this experience as well at MCO. I bought the EB and ended up with a B boarding number . The problem came when we noticed the people lining up for family boarding and the line was longer than the regular B customers in their numbered slots. The "family" boarding included grandparents and older children as well , like teenagers. By the time the B numbers were boarded there were few seats left and as usual in the very back of the plane. People were complaining to the agent especially the customers with a C number but the gate agent would not explain why this was happening. I wrote to customer service and complained that there was no point in my buying EB if the rules for pre board were going to be ignored especially out of the MCO airport. The response was it was the gate agents call. Really!!! Then throw out the rules if you are not going to follow the ones you have posted on your website. I fully understand that there may be an occasion where the rule needs to bend a little but not for that many people out of an airport where there will consistently be way more "families".

 

[thiabelle]

Flew out of MCO to PHL yesterday. Completely full flight and gate agent was very specific about family boarding being only for children under four and parents. They actually said that grandparents, teenagers, and other assorted people could board in their letter/number order. Did state that siblings on the younger side could board. I don't know how it played out cause DD and I were A19 and A20. I will say the little kids were the least of the issues in the waiting area. There were three dogs on the flight and one was yappy. Another dog was just a puppy and the owner thought it was a good idea to let it out of its' carrier just as we were getting ready to board. It was running around like a- well like a puppy. Poor thing looked scared and excited at the same time!

 

[turtle27]

QUOTE - JMHO, I think kids even as old as 12 should be able to sit with a parent. Maybe not both parents and the entire family together, but certainly one parent & child. If DH & I were flying without kids, I would sit apart from him if it meant a kid could be by a parent.

I agree. In my opinion, this is a safety problem which I wish be addressed by the FAA. How old does a child need to be to sit by himself/herself on an airline without an adult responsible for the child sitting next to or nearby? In the event of an emergency, I doubt a 5 or 6 year old has the ability to put on an oxygen mask and know how to exit the plane! I am not sure what the correct minimum age should be, but I agree a young child should be required to sit next to or near an adult responsible for the child. Not necessarily the entire family, but at least one parent/adult able to assist the child in the event of an emergency. Just my 2 cents.[/QUOTE]

I flew by myself when I was 6. I knew how to get the oxygen mask and how to exit the plane. It's not rocket science.