3rd Seat with Southwest

[katmigordon]

The wife and I are planning to pick up an extra seat for a total of 3 between us, we would rather have it going in then be asked to get it at the gate... well that and it helps reduce covid risk if we don't have to actually sit side by side with anyone else.

My question though is does anyone know if it has to be of the same tier? Or can we get level 2 tier for each of us and the 3rd tier for the place holder seat?

 

[happycamper47]

You need a name on the seat so it will have to match one of you. It is my understanding that SW policy is they will refund the cost after you travel. https://www.southwest.com/faq/extra-seat-policy

 

[Sykes]

If you are a larger person then Southwest has a discounted Customer of Size fare that you can use to book the third seat. I think that this is the same as the "Wanna Get Away" fare but is often available even if Southwest is no longer selling the WGA fares for that flight. It's only available from phone agents, though, so you'll want to call Southwest. If you are booking the extra seat under Southwest's Customer of Size policy then you are entitled to a refund of the extra seat after you travel, though, so the only real difference is how much money you have tied up in the mean time.

 

[Evita_W]

If you are a larger person then Southwest has a discounted Customer of Size fare that you can use to book the third seat. I think that this is the same as the "Wanna Get Away" fare but is often available even if Southwest is no longer selling the WGA fares for that flight. It's only available from phone agents, though, so you'll want to call Southwest. If you are booking the extra seat under Southwest's Customer of Size policy then you are entitled to a refund of the extra seat after you travel, though, so the only real difference is how much money you have tied up in the mean time.

It is the same price, but you can write and have it refunded after travel. But this only applies if the third seat is needed due to size or actual medical need, like needing it for medical equipment.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

While trying to be delicate if the third seat is needed due to size the process has already been mentioned. If the third seat is desired due to feeling uncomfortable due to covid or otherwise SWA cannot not sell that seat (nor would they refund you if it's just uncomfortableness) and because SWA has an open seating policy and can also sell all seats on the flight you may have someone who chooses to sit in your row with you two. Most though not all flights fly out completely full these days.

SWA would not be the airline to select if you need to ensure no one sits next to you (unless it falls under the size requirement already mentioned).

 

[katmigordon]

As noted the first concern is the size issue. We both weigh a little over 300lbs and though we are both losing weight - there isn't much chance that we'll be of average size yet in September.

Lowering covid risk is just a fun little extra of an existing need.

We'll also need to preboard for medical reasons, if at all possible I need to be in one of the front seats where there is a little leg room to stretch out my damaged leg. I wonder if having the 3rd seat on the plane would allow me to keep my walker with me...?

While trying to be delicate if the third seat is needed due to size the process has already been mentioned. If the third seat is desired due to feeling uncomfortable due to covid or otherwise SWA cannot not sell that seat (nor would they refund you if it's just uncomfortableness) and because SWA has an open seating policy and can also sell all seats on the flight you may have someone who chooses to sit in your row with you two. Most though not all flights fly out completely full these days.

SWA would not be the airline to select if you need to ensure no one sits next to you (unless it falls under the size requirement already mentioned).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I wonder if having the 3rd seat on the plane would allow me to keep my walker with me...?

I don't think the 3rd seat itself allows for the walker to be in the cabin. Your medical need for it would though irrespective of how many seats you purchase. However I believe it's more about can it fit (I believe in the upper storage, under the seat or in-cabin storage all with normal size of item rules in place) for whether it can stay in the cabin. Otherwise it would need to be gate checked or you can have them send it to the baggage claim area.

You should reach out to SWA about that part to confirm but here's the webpage for that information under Wheelchairs and Other Devices subsection https://www.southwest.com/html/cust...el-needs/customers-with-disabilities-pol.html

On that webpage it also has the instructions for when you purchase your ticket how to alert them of your medical needs.

 

[Freeman867]

As noted the first concern is the size issue. We both weigh a little over 300lbs and though we are both losing weight - there isn't much chance that we'll be of average size yet in September.

Lowering covid risk is just a fun little extra of an existing need.

We'll also need to preboard for medical reasons, if at all possible I need to be in one of the front seats where there is a little leg room to stretch out my damaged leg. I wonder if having the 3rd seat on the plane would allow me to keep my walker with me...?

No offense, but these are all questions for Southwest, not a Disney Cruise board.

 

[katmigordon]

I have learned over time that it is at least as useful to ask those who have done something before you, then to ask the official channels which often give you incorrect information.

Given the number of people who fly in to take a cruise, I thought it likely somebody here might have already gone through this and might have the information first hand.

No offense, but these are all questions for Southwest, not a Disney Cruise board.

 

[anricat]

No offense, but these are all questions for Southwest, not a Disney Cruise board.

I feel like it's relevant since most people fly to the place where their cruise departs. I mean, I just posted recently about a pre-cruise hotel stay. That's also about pre-cruise travel but has literally nothing to do with the Disney Cruise itself except that it's a thing I'm doing as part of my cruise travel - same as this poster.

As fellow travelers, there were people here had this information to share and indeed some others may benefit from this information as they may also be flying in with Southwest and have need of these tips.

Now, I could see if they said they were driving in for their cruise and need to get an oil change in Alabama prior to the cruise and where should they go, that would be stretching it a bit. But we've had airline discussions plenty of times around these parts.

 

[Weedy]

Something else to think about …
Sometimes the plane you are on is coming from somewhere else and some people are on a connecting flight when the plane lands (for the first part of the flight) those staying onboard are allowed to move seats.
So even if you board early the front seats may already be occupied.

 

[DCSWO]

Maybe compare 3 seats on SW with 2 first class seats on another carrier.

 

[katmigordon]

This might sound stupid, but how do I even do that? I've only been on a flight a handful of times in my life, this is the first time I've had to arrange the flights and prior flights have always been Southwest so I have no clue what I'm doing or how to figure out what other airlines might be leaving Phoenix to go to MCO.

Maybe compare 3 seats on SW with 2 first class seats on another carrier.

 

[HeatherLassell]

This might sound stupid, but how do I even do that? I've only been on a flight a handful of times in my life, this is the first time I've had to arrange the flights and prior flights have always been Southwest so I have no clue what I'm doing or how to figure out what other airlines might be leaving Phoenix to go to MCO.

From a quick Google it looks like Spirit, Delta and United Airlines might do these. Just go to each airlines website and put in the dates you're looking at flying and check the "premium" or "first class" seats. 2by2 configuration). If you PM me the dates I am more than willing to help you.

 

[anricat]

This might sound stupid, but how do I even do that? I've only been on a flight a handful of times in my life, this is the first time I've had to arrange the flights and prior flights have always been Southwest so I have no clue what I'm doing or how to figure out what other airlines might be leaving Phoenix to go to MCO.

I usually use something like Expedia to get an idea of what the routes and times are and when and then I go directly to the website if I want to get more details. I never actually book through Expedia or Travelocity or anything like that after a horrible nightmare I had with our flights to Vancouver for our Alaskan cruise.

 

[katmigordon]

Thank you - we've used Expedia for hotel rooms before but it never occured to me to check them for flights.

I usually use something like Expedia to get an idea of what the routes and times are and when and then I go directly to the website if I want to get more details. I never actually book through Expedia or Travelocity or anything like that after a horrible nightmare I had with our flights to Vancouver for our Alaskan cruise.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

While trying to be delicate if the third seat is needed due to size the process has already been mentioned. If the third seat is desired due to feeling uncomfortable due to covid or otherwise SWA cannot not sell that seat (nor would they refund you if it's just uncomfortableness) and because SWA has an open seating policy and can also sell all seats on the flight you may have someone who chooses to sit in your row with you two. Most though not all flights fly out completely full these days.

SWA would not be the airline to select if you need to ensure no one sits next to you (unless it falls under the size requirement already mentioned).

Agreed. We used to fly SW all the time. With our Covid concerns, we called SW several times about purchasing a 3rd seat to have the space open in our row while flying, and they made it clear each time their policy did not allow for that. We knew about purchasing an extra seat for people 'of size', but were also told if the flight agent or attendant thought we lied about our 'size', they would make us give up the seat - so they apparently have people judging your size at times to determine if you're too small to be 'big'! So we have not flown SW since the beginning of the pandemic - our choice, our decision. But there are other airlines that will sell you an extra middle seat (for example, United - not sure about others). And I agree with a previous comment - we did end up comparing the cost of 3 coach seats with 2 first class, and a few times we flew first class because it was only the 2 seats next to each other, and cost no more or only a little more than 3 coach seats. And since SW has never had first class, that also eliminated them from that conversation. Hoping sometime in the future we'll get back to SW and be able to use all the rewards points we have - but they did not fit our personal needs during a pandemic.

 

[Dug720]

I feel like it's relevant since most people fly to the place where their cruise departs. I mean, I just posted recently about a pre-cruise hotel stay. That's also about pre-cruise travel but has literally nothing to do with the Disney Cruise itself except that it's a thing I'm doing as part of my cruise travel - same as this poster.

As fellow travelers, there were people here had this information to share and indeed some others may benefit from this information as they may also be flying in with Southwest and have need of these tips.

Now, I could see if they said they were driving in for their cruise and need to get an oil change in Alabama prior to the cruise and where should they go, that would be stretching it a bit. But we've had airline discussions plenty of times around these parts.

Except they are asking about policies for the airline. Those are questions for the airline.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I usually use something like Expedia t

I use Kayak for airline flights information.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

we called SW several times about purchasing a 3rd seat to have the space open in our row while flying, and they made it clear each time their policy did not allow for that.

Now, see, I just don't get that. If someone is willing to pay for a second seat, it's not like the airlines is losing any money on the sale.