Anyone here actually been DENIED pre-boarding on Southwest with children under 5?

[mdhkitten]

I have flown Southwest countless times in the past, a few of those with my daughter who is now 22 months old. I am a single mom, and when we travel my mother comes along. My daughter has flown as a lap child only, so she isn't occupying a seat. When we went to WDW last year, I had no problem with pre-boarding of my mom and daughter from MCO. I count my mom as my "helper" since I don't have a husband. Anyone who has flown with a child under 2 knows how restless that they can get, even if you bring toys or snacks for them. I would rather sit next to my mom because if Emily acts up, she won't be disturbing two strangers next to her. When the plane lands we are always the last people to deplane because we don't want to get in anyone's way, and we're in no rush. I have read on here lately that people have heard that they weren't pre-boarding at MCO anymore. I would love to hear from families that have actually had pre-boarding experiences in the last few months to tell me what happened in your situation. I called Southwest and they said that they're still doing pre-boarding at MCO and that I wouldn't have a problem with my mom boarding as well. I would just like to know from someone who has had experience first hand. Thanks for your help!

 

[ZuZugal]

We pre-boarded w/my 2yo DS in November and had no problems. I can't imagine not having a pre-board. It is offered for people in wheelchairs (usually older folks) or for those w/disabilities. I haven't heard of the "no pre-boards" at MCO.

Anyone else??

 

[dudspizza]

I think what people have said is that they "could" suspend preboarding if there are so many people using it that it slows things down. There have been reports of the preboard line being a lot longer than the A, B, and C lines.

I would suggest still checking in to get a A boarding pass to guarantee that you are sitting together, just in case you are unlucky enough to be on a SW flight that suspends preboarding.....

Duds

 

[Pinnie]

This past Thursday, I was on a SWA flight from MCO to MDW and the gate agent was adamant about preboarding people needing assistance first and then PARENTS ONLY of children 4 and under. He told all grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to go to the right A, B or C line. I don't know what will happen on your flight. It was Easter week, the planes were jammed and every seat was filled. Maybe if you are flying at a less busy time of year, things will be different.

Keep in mind that preboarding of families is a privledge and not a right. Get those boarding passes early and by all means, GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY, just in case!!!

pinnie

 

[bjakmom]

Last oct we had an extremely grumpy gate agent that would NOT let me preboard with DD and DGrD(2). They made DD board by herself with little one, gate-check stroller, diaper bag, etc - she asked us which of us was the mom and I said I was the grandmom and she said "Parents only!" When I pointed out that DD needed help, she nastily said "I'm sure the mother can handle getting her child onto the plane!" She was the only nasty SW agent I have ever encountered and it was at MCO, where there was a huge pre-load crowd - so maybe that's why they made such a big deal about it there. So be prepared that it's possible they may keep your mom from pre-boarding - DD was able to save the 3rd seat for me - no one made a fuss - who wants to sit next to a 2 yr old that's not theirs if they don't have to!

 

[mdhkitten]

who wants to sit next to a 2 yr old that's not theirs if they don't have to!

My thoughts exactly! I don't think that anyone wants to sit next to me holding my 22 month old daughter (actually, maybe my mom doesn't either! )!

 

[txaggiemomof3]

For some reason I thought I had heard that preboarding was for families with children 3 and under. We will be flying with a 4, 6 and 9 yr. old who have never flown and I would be very relieved if I didn't have to worry about not getting seats together. I will definately do the early check-in via computer 24 hrs. before our flight but I read somewhere that if you book one-way tickets that they will not let you do that??? I am really considering paying extra to fly Continental for just the convenience of assigned seating!

 

[ducklite]

I've checked in online with a one-way ticket on SW.

I've seen pre-boarding completely suspended at Orlando. I also saw where only children three and under were allowed to preboard, and then only with parents, no grands/aunts/uncles. As long as you had an "A" pass there's no problem getting your seats together, preboard or not.

BTW--I've NEVER seen truly disabled passengers denied preboarding--wheelchairs, blind, etc., but I have seen people who were elderly and that was their only "disability" denied.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

Again I agree with Anne. I have seen Air Cda and United both disallow children to preboard in MCO - reasoning is that many flights are mostly families and children.

And re the elderly, while I have sympathy, I live in a city which is a huge tourist draw for the elderly, so in summer season 3/4 of the flights are over 65. Again, they suspend preboarding for elderly.

I'm not being harsh, just realistic - they can't 'preboard' 2/3 of a flight, or 3/4 of a flight.

 

[Paticake]

We are flying over Thanksgiving weekend with my DB.SIL,DN 8 y.o. and DN 5 y.o. We will either fly SW out of Manchester or JB out of Boston. I was concerned that if we fly SW that my niece who appears outwardly healthy but has Diabetes and a seizure disorder would be unable to pre board. I called SW customer service and they said to just have my SIL get a note from the dr. and give it to the gate agent.

 

[NotUrsula]

They made DD board by herself with little one, gate-check stroller, diaper bag, etc -

Even though they would not allow add'l members of the party to preboard, there was no reason that you could not have carried some of the gear on board for her anyway -- it would have gotten down the jetway 10 minutes later, but that's not a big hardship.

Just FYI, if you are using a carseat you cannot be refused for preboarding, though they may allow only one adult to board with the child and carseat. This is because there are FAA restrictions on "legal" seats for carseat installation.

 

[rigs32]

I saw a barely showing pregnant woman make a stink about pre-boarding (she was allowed to), yet there was a *very* pregnant woman who was patiently waiting in the B line who only shrugged as the other woman went by.

I have had flights where only the parent was allowed on, but they were allowed to save seats for the entire party. What's the point of splitting them up then? DH and I were at the start of the B group and found the last two seats together - way in the back of the plane. Next to a family that changed a poopy diaper in the seat area making it not so easy to breathe.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, wow - I thought we were several decades beyond where pregnancy was considered a disability! My

 

[treehugger]

Can someone settle a dispute that I am having with DSis about lap babies? She claims that if the plane is in an emergency situation where passengers have to assume the crash position the lap baby must be put UNDER the seat in front of you? Also she claims that since every seat has one oxygen mask that there will be none for the baby (or parent), same thing with floatation device. We don't have kids but she says this is why she always purchased tickets when her children were infants. BTW, she is a true drama queen.

TIA

 

[mdhkitten]

Can someone settle a dispute that I am having with DSis about lap babies? She claims that if the plane is in an emergency situation where passengers have to assume the crash position the lap baby must be put UNDER the seat in front of you? Also she claims that since every seat has one oxygen mask that there will be none for the baby (or parent), same thing with floatation device. We don't have kids but she says this is why she always purchased tickets when her children were infants. BTW, she is a true drama queen.

TIA

I've flown with my daughter several times as a lap baby on Southwest, and the FA's always tell me that I would put an oxygen mask on myself first and then one on my daughter, so I'm guessing there is more than one for each seat. Never heard of putting a baby under the seat in front of you either! LOL My baby couldn't fit with all of the diaper bag, purses, already under the seat! I figure that if there was any type of problem that I would lean forward over my baby to protect her (that's what I would do instinctively, anyway).

 

[mdhkitten]

I saw a barely showing pregnant woman make a stink about pre-boarding (she was allowed to), yet there was a *very* pregnant woman who was patiently waiting in the B line who only shrugged as the other woman went by.

I flew every month when I was pregnant and lugged along a carry on suitcase each time, and never even considered that I should be able to pre-board. It seems that the suitcase got a little harder each month to put in the overhead compartment! The only thing that I learned that I like while pregnant (especially farther along) was to sit in the aisle seat. Normally I liked the window, but when you have a baby on your bladder and have to pee ever 15 minutes, you hate to have to inconvenience the other passengers by needing to get by them! LOL

 

[momsully]

Can someone settle a dispute that I am having with DSis about lap babies? She claims that if the plane is in an emergency situation where passengers have to assume the crash position the lap baby must be put UNDER the seat in front of you? Also she claims that since every seat has one oxygen mask that there will be none for the baby (or parent), same thing with floatation device.

There is one extra oxygen mask in each row so the baby would have an oxygen mask. They do not allow two lap babies in the same row for this reason. In an emergency landing situation they will ask you to place the lap baby on the floor and will not allow you to keep the baby on your lap. I'm not sure about floatation devices as the seat cushion is often your floatation device so she might be right about that.

 

[Pinnie]

SWA now has vests in case of water landings. I don't know how many there are in a row, however.

There are 4 oxygen masks in a row of seats, so that limits lap babies to one per row.

Yes, in the event of an emergency landing, the lap child will be placed on the floor so he/she will not be a projectile in the cabin.

pinnie

 

[Alice28]

I traveled out of MCO in Sept with my 3 children, ages 6 months, 4 years and 8 years. My parents were with me. The gate person did NOT let my parents come with me. I was not happy. I had the stroller to navigate my daughter in, the carseat (which she was sitting in as it fits in the stroller), diaper bag and my purse. My DS's could carry their own backpacks. I realize my parents could have carried some of the stuff, or had my DS's go with them, but if it were my DH he could have come with me.... but since he was in Iraq, my parents were the next best thing.

Normally I LOVE Southwest and always fly them- I have flown I don't know how many flights with my children the last 8 years, and never had a problem pre-boarding as long as one of them was a baby. I always go to the way back anyway, so it's not like I'm denying anyone a prime seat up front. I can see why MCO has to crack down on some preboarding families, like if all the kids are 4 and over....from Portland to MCO, it was not a problem having my parents preboard with me.

 

[Lewisc]

The purpose of pre-boarding is to accomodate those passengers that require additional time boarding. That purpse is lost when a significant portion of the plane pre-boards.

I've been on flights where pre-baording was not allowed for famlies with young children. I think an exception was made for parents who paid for a seat that was going to be used by a child who was using an approved car seat.