1st Time SW Flyer - Questions

[kimkoz]

We're flying down to MCO for our spring break/Easter. Prices are crazy but its the time we're going.

We can save $400 right now by flying out of a different city only 2 hours away. Easy trip so I'm open. However I have never flown SW. We normally fly Jet Blue

Jet Blue - 1600 for 3 tickets n 1 lap child * 1 stop
SW - 1200 FOR 3 tickets n 1 lap child. *direct

Things I dont' understand are

Do you not have confirmed seating? If not have you ever had a problem sitting with family? We're 2 adults and 2 children?

Do car seats/stroller fly free in the undercarriage?

Do they have tv's per seat for view?

I'll buy the ticket online for cheaper but then do I just call ahead and tell them that I have a lap child. Jetblue has this as an online feature so I'm not sure.

Thanks. I'm new to this board but very much appreciate this. I'm already learning my lession never to fly spring break again. Missing my $200 round trip tickets I bought non spring break time.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I have never flown SW, but I have enough knowledge to answer some of your questions.

You have a confirmed ticket, but seating is done by boarding numbers. SW offers an early boarding feature that you can purchase at time of ticketing and it will automatically check you in and assign you a boarding number. If you do not do the early boarding feature you will need to check in starting at the 24 hour period and you will be assigned a boarding number (ie. A34 or B16). When SW boards they board the lowest letter and lowest numbers first and then move up the numbers. The later you check in for your flight the greater chance you will be higher up the list (ie. C30) and sitting a whole group together can become problematic.

Strollers can be gate checked free of charge and SW offers two checked bags free for each passenger.

No TVs in the seats like JetBlue and they have average seat pitch (distance between your seat and the one in front of you) but no "classes", all seats are basically coach. The seatpitch is less then JetBlue if you are used to flying them.

I cannot comment on the lap child as I have no children and when I travel with those with children eligible for being a lap child they still buy a seat.

 

[Taja]

As PP noted, no assigned seats on Southwest. No amenities. They do serve snacks (peanuts or pretzels) and non-alcoholic drinks at N/C. There is a fee for alcoholic drinks. I'm thinking they went to a cashless cabin--CC or debit card required. Could be wrong. There should be something on their website about it.

You will need to check in online at T-24 hours. That's 24 hours prior to your flight. That will give you the best opportunity to get at least one adult into the A group. Family boarding (one child under age 4) is between Group A and Group B. Some people have reported that on flights to/from MCO family boarding can be suspended, as there are so many families with young children. Or it may be restricted to one adult with the young child, with the others in the group/family using their boarding passes.

Even if you are in Group B (60 people per group), you shouldn't have any problems sitting together, but you will be farther back in the cabin. All SWA planes are configured 3+3--three seats on each side of the center aisle.

When we traveled with a lap child in 2007, one adult had to check in again with the infant (need birth certificate) at the counter prior to security. Check the SWA website--they had good instructions then and probably do now!

Spend a little time on the SWA website checking out all of the information for traveling with infants.

 

[allgoodgifts]

I love SW. I fly them all the time (like twice a month), for work and for regular travel.

It's open seating. Just as the others have said, the key is to check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight so you'll get an early boarding group. Do that, and you'll have no problems whatsoever. Even if you miss it by an hour, you'll probably be fine.

(Ha, had to pause in my reply to go check in for my next flight tomorrow.)

They have gone cashless; you can purchase alcohol with credit cards if you want it. Regular drinks are free. Bring your own food; they don't have much other than snacks in the cabin.

You can buy the tickets and add the lap child once you get to the airport. You'll need some sort of documentation. I've always used my kids' shot records.

They have no TV's anywhere, in the seats or in the cabins. No in-flight entertainment at all (although the flight crew can sometimes be very entertaining with silly safety briefings and announcements - they have a reputation for this).

Be sure to get on the frequent flyer program. It takes 8 roundtrips to get a free ticket, no matter how short or long the roundtrips are.

And finally, keep checking back on the prices for your flights. Sometimes the prices drop, and Southwest will allow you to rebook your flight with NO CHANGE FEE AT ALL for the cheaper flights. The only catch is that they give you a credit, not a refund. So you will need to use it for a future flight.

 

[terbethk]

I have a question....
we're only flying SW (never flown them before) on our return flight from MCO back to Milwaukee...
I'm not going to have a computer with me at wdw, and I'm not sure if I can do it on my iphone (and I'll probably forget, we're going to MNSSHP right at the 24 hour mark).
There is another option right? Paying 10-20 dollars? Does this reserve specific seats, or just that you will board sooner than most?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I have a question....
we're only flying SW (never flown them before) on our return flight from MCO back to Milwaukee...
I'm not going to have a computer with me at wdw, and I'm not sure if I can do it on my iphone (and I'll probably forget, we're going to MNSSHP right at the 24 hour mark).
There is another option right? Paying 10-20 dollars? Does this reserve specific seats, or just that you will board sooner than most?

The fee you are referring to is Earlybird Checkin (I mentioned it above, but not by title). When you do this, you are automatically checked in to your flight at the 36 hour mark, pretty much guaranteeing a low boarding number. The price is $10.00 per person one way.

 

[kimkoz]

We're going to opt to get the early boarding too. Honestly whats 10 more dollars at that point. lol

I'm back and forth between Airtran and SW. Prices are changing daily of course. Waiting for a check to clear and I'm buying the cheapest I can get. If there is only a 20-40 dollar different which airline would you chose. Of course I'm also figuring in baggage fees for airtran

Also for those traveling with booster seats or car seats but not using them on seats how do I check them. Put them in a clear bag and check at counter?

Thanks again for all this help. I'm new to this site and love it already. Addicting much though.