Southwest -- Not a good Boarding # -- Is there hope?

VillainFavs

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 13, 2016
Just logged in--right at 24 hours--literally sitting here waiting for the clock to change.

And we got.....B50-B53. Never had numbers anywhere near this. We always check ourselves in going down and pay for EBCI for the ride home.

We're a family of four. Is there any hope at all that we'll get seats together? Anyone else been through this? It's me, DH and two teenage boys. So not the end of the world if we're not together, but would just like to be.

Hoping to at least put the two boys together--so they can play games and whatever. Then DH and I will just find seats as close as we can.

But will it still be possible to get a row of 3 and an extra nearby? Or even two and two next to one another?

I'm just not looking forward to this at all...
 
I got numbers like that with my 14 year old when we flew to Phoenix this year and we had to sit pretty far apart.
 


14 and 16
I'd let them know you hope they can sit together, but it might not work out. Have them head to the back of the plane.
I'd try to get them together, and then see what's available for you and your husband.
 
One problem now is the family boarding changed from 4 years and under to 6 years and under. Then people stretch it even farther, making the family boarding line long. Then you have couples who sit aisle and window, leaving the middle open for as long as possible. Then you have the seat savers. I had B26 last year and got the second to last row. I was flying myself but hate sitting n the back. I didn't want a middle and hoped to find a window so I went all the way back but didn't find any so I took an aisle.

Where are you flying from? Another issue could be people already on the plane.
 
You can pay to get higher numbers at the airport, but its not cheap.
 


Flying from Providence, so don't think there will be anyone on already. And I think it's like $40 a person for earlier numbers at the gate. Guess we'll just try to make the best of it! Maybe it will be a lot of families filling in every seat and leave a couple open rows at the back!
 
How long is the flight? (I didn't see where you're flying from)

Embrace the fun! My kids are about the same age and we had the same issue.

They ended up sitting across the aisle from each other and I was a few rows back.

Made for some fun conversation later!

Embrace the vacation and the fun of it all!

Brian
 
Flying from Providence, so don't think there will be anyone on already. And I think it's like $40 a person for earlier numbers at the gate. Guess we'll just try to make the best of it! Maybe it will be a lot of families filling in every seat and leave a couple open rows at the back!
You could always pay for two people to board early and they could each save a seat...
 
Just logged in--right at 24 hours--literally sitting here waiting for the clock to change.

And we got.....B50-B53. Never had numbers anywhere near this. We always check ourselves in going down and pay for EBCI for the ride home.

We're a family of four. Is there any hope at all that we'll get seats together? Anyone else been through this? It's me, DH and two teenage boys. So not the end of the world if we're not together, but would just like to be.

Hoping to at least put the two boys together--so they can play games and whatever. Then DH and I will just find seats as close as we can.

But will it still be possible to get a row of 3 and an extra nearby? Or even two and two next to one another?

I'm just not looking forward to this at all...

that's disappointing, especially where you are flying during the week. Hope you can find seats together.
we are flying out of PVD on a Saturday in November but bought EBCI.
 
Between more people buying EBCI and the age change for family boarding, those that check in at the 24 hr window are getting boarding slots further and further back! I used to buy EBCI only for our return flights. Not anymore!!
You might find pairs of seats in the rear of the plane.
If you're really concerned, buy two A1-15 slots when you get to Green. It will be about $40 pp, but they can then board early in the process and each save a seat. If you do that, I would take seats in the middle of the plane. I would take a window and a middle...put a jacket in that middle seat to save it. If you try for a window and an aisle, you may very well have a stranger sitting between you! Flights are now almost always full.
 
We always do EBCI for the return flight but have never had trouble on the flight going down. Live and learn. I guess it's EBCI both ways from here on out.
 
We always do EBCI for the return flight but have never had trouble on the flight going down. Live and learn. I guess it's EBCI both ways from here on out.
I used to do the same thing but last fall I ended up with a B boarding pass, several spots behind my sister. In addition to the many families boarding between A and B, there was a large family of seat-savers that had boarded in the A group and the only seats that my sister could find together were 3 rows from the back of the plane. Thankfully, there were only the two of us and we would have been fine sitting apart. For anyone who feels that they need to sit together, I highly recommend purchasing ECBI when flying PHL <-> MCO.
 
That is why i get the ebci. This way I don't have to worry about the 24 check in point and I am not worried about my boarding position. Good luck with this
 
we just flew on a Weds out of PVD, 3pm flight and there really wasn't very many families in the family boarding. We had B24-B30 and there was still probably six empty rows in the back when we boarded. You may be okay, just in the very, very last row. ;)::yes::
 
Wow I really don't know what to do. We are flying out of PVD next Tuesday and we never have bought EBCI for either leg of our flight(and we go end of August every year), but with a 9 & 7 year old I'm getting nervous. We always get B's within seats 1-20 so it's never been an issue. I may have to reluctantly add EBCI.
 
Not to be rude, but you know this prior to booking... so I am not sure where the surprise is? If seating is a priority and makes you nervous, choose another airline that assures you get seat assignments.
Because you would think checking in at the earliest possible time you would get decent seating... and "not to be rude" generally means you know you are being rude- so just save it.
 
You can pay to get higher numbers at the airport, but its not cheap.

Flying from Providence, so don't think there will be anyone on already. And I think it's like $40 a person for earlier numbers at the gate. Guess we'll just try to make the best of it! Maybe it will be a lot of families filling in every seat and leave a couple open rows at the back!

I think the price and availability of this depends on the airport and airline, and whether any A1-15 business select options are open. If all the business select positions are filled, this option won't be available. Last time I upgraded was a late night flight out of Midway and they charged me $30 to upgrade to A4 as there were only 3 business select travelers that flight.
 

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