Post all SW code request, questions, etc. here....

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Originally Posted by amomma23

Through 9/27

Thanks...however I was wonder what time...as in time of day they release the schedule - 8 am, noon, etc.

[dec2009mama]

First time flying SW, a couple of questions:
We are two adults, 17 year old and 3 year old and we bought the wanna get away fare with no seat selection and no EBCI.

~how will the boarding process work for us? No matter what prints on our passes we will be able to board between groups A and B?

~do we really have to check in 24 hours in advance? If we can really board between groups A and B no matter what is the point of checking in 24 hours in advance?

~we have two flights Orlando to Phoenix & Phoenix to Seattle, not sure if there is a plane change but I assume as with other flights we will have to get off the plane and re-board (if no plane change) and therefore lose our seats?

~should I buy the EBCI anyways? We are trying to save money though so is it necessary?

Thanks in advance for the help

[ksloane]

Originally Posted by dec2009mama

First time flying SW, a couple of questions:
We are two adults, 17 year old and 3 year old and we bought the wanna get away fare with no seat selection and no EBCI.

~how will the boarding process work for us? No matter what prints on our passes we will be able to board between groups A and B?

~do we really have to check in 24 hours in advance? If we can really board between groups A and B no matter what is the point of checking in 24 hours in advance?

~we have two flights Orlando to Phoenix & Phoenix to Seattle, not sure if there is a plane change but I assume as with other flights we will have to get off the plane and re-board (if no plane change) and therefore lose our seats?

~should I buy the EBCI anyways? We are trying to save money though so is it necessary?

Thanks in advance for the help

I believe under 5 does have option to board between A and B. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I would still check in at 24 hour mark as you may get an A set of numbers that would get you on any sooner.

If it's the same plane, I've never had to get off. In fact, after they do head count, you can even move to "better" seats.

And you probably know this, but the seats are in sets of 3 so make sure there's a plan as someone will have to sit slightly apart.

[jenseib]

You can still get put pretty far back going between a and b. I would definitely check in 24 hours ahead.

[a742246]

I believe families with children can board between A and B. That may be limited for 1 adult per child or 2 adults per child I am not sure. I would call southwest to confirm.
Anyway, as PP says the seats are 3 to a section. You can probably board between A and B if you and your 17yr and 3 yr are together. Let dear DH
get in line. LOL.
Good luck!

[1971DBday]

SW has a new sale just released. I at least got my flight to MCO for $93, now just to get a better price for coming home. Not thrilled its not a non-stop, but there is no plane change and only adds an hour to our trip.

[ksloane]

Originally Posted by 1971DBday

SW has a new sale just released. I at least got my flight to MCO for $93, now just to get a better price for coming home. Not thrilled its not a non-stop, but there is no plane change and only adds an hour to our trip.

Mine are really cheap right now too, but I don't have the money to buy them. *sigh* Hoping they will stay low for a week or at least reasonable.

[poohj80]

Originally Posted by ksloane

Mine are really cheap right now too, but I don't have the money to buy them. *sigh* Hoping they will stay low for a week or at least reasonable.

This sale only lasts until Thursday. We were going to drive for our trip in May but now are considering changing plans.

[maurene]

Originally Posted by dec2009mama

First time flying SW, a couple of questions:
We are two adults, 17 year old and 3 year old and we bought the wanna get away fare with no seat selection and no EBCI.

~how will the boarding process work for us? No matter what prints on our passes we will be able to board between groups A and B?

~do we really have to check in 24 hours in advance? If we can really board between groups A and B no matter what is the point of checking in 24 hours in advance?

~we have two flights Orlando to Phoenix & Phoenix to Seattle, not sure if there is a plane change but I assume as with other flights we will have to get off the plane and re-board (if no plane change) and therefore lose our seats?

~should I buy the EBCI anyways? We are trying to save money though so is it necessary?

Thanks in advance for the help

All four of you may not be able to board during family boarding (between groups A and B). The official SW language indicate one adult per one child under 5. But I don't know how strictly they enforce that.

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.

I've heard though that sometimes they don't even offer family boarding if there are A LOT of families on the flight or the plane is going to a popular tourist destination (like Orlando). But, I don't think that is common.

Check your reservation to see if you have to change planes. If you don't have to change planes, you may be able to stay on the plane.

Whether or not to buy EBCI is a tricky issue for me. I think most of the time it isn't really necessary if you can check-in online 24 hours prior to the flight - and, if you have some flexibility in where you want to sit. For instance, if you're OK with you and your DH each pairing-off with one child and not necessarily having to sit in the same row or adjacent rows, then you should be fine without EBCI. You still likely not be too far apart.

[itsmeamanda]

I've only flown once, but DH talked me into flying to our first trip to WDW in April. I got all four of our tickets to MCO roundtrip for $391.00 total!

We're traveling with a 4 and 6 year old. I'd love any tips that you frequent flyers could give me.

Thank you for all of your help!

[Mama Moose]

I would love to buy our tickets for $79, but it's just going to be me with my 5 and 8 year olds. Is there a chance we could separated all over the plane? I could check in 24 hours in advance with no problem, but do they help keep kids with their parent(s)?

[ksloane]

Originally Posted by Mama Moose

I would love to buy our tickets for $79, but it's just going to be me with my 5 and 8 year olds. Is there a chance we could separated all over the plane? I could check in 24 hours in advance with no problem, but do they help keep kids with their parent(s)?

I'm not saying it can't happen, but I've never been separated from my family. Now we've never had really late boarding pass numbers either. I've only once ever had a "B." Now that there's Early Bird Checkin, I pay for that to ensure we get an earlier boarding pass, but before that I just always made sure to check in at exactly 24 hours.

[Mama Moose]

Originally Posted by ksloane

I'm not saying it can't happen, but I've never been separated from my family. Now we've never had really late boarding pass numbers either. I've only once ever had a "B." Now that there's Early Bird Checkin, I pay for that to ensure we get an earlier boarding pass, but before that I just always made sure to check in at exactly 24 hours.

So, I better pay to check in earlier? Do most people do this? We are only 535 miles and usually drive, but I would love to be there in 1.5 hours instead of 8 hours!!

[ksloane]

Originally Posted by Mama Moose

So, I better pay to check in earlier? Do most people do this? We are only 535 miles and usually drive, but I would love to be there in 1.5 hours instead of 8 hours!!

I do because I don't want to take any chances of being separated and even though I've always been able to check in at 24 hour mark, I worry that my Internet will be down or something else will keep me away at the last minute. For the extra $$, I can ensure that I am checked in (and I love it for the return flight as I don't have to even think about it while on vacation until it's time to go)

[MAYNARDS99]

"do they help keep kids with their parent(s)?"

Not really, with open seating, YOU choose where you want to sit. You should have no problem getting three seats next to each other, although it could be across an aisle. Your eight year old may even want to sit by themselves next to a window. Most people would not want a five year old sitting next to them in the middle seat, and would be glad to move elsewhere.