Anyone Up? Panicking About Southwest "C" Boarding Passes

[summerrluvv]

I didn't want to stay up til midnight to print my pass to get A, so I just printed them and I have C!!! What are my chances of getting 2 seats together? I'm freaking out that DS might have to sit alone which would be a disaster!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I doubt it would come to that but if it did I'm sure some nice person nearby would offer to switch. I would suggest being first in the "C" line by getting to the gate a bit early. I'd also probably mention your worry to the airline staff so they can assist you if necessary.

Good luck and have a great flight and trip (maybe I'll see you there next week ). For future reference you can now get your passes 24hrs before flight time so you don't have to stay up until midnight.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Hi summerrluvv, I'm up. I think I'm catching the respiratory bug that's going around here.
Is your ds under 5? If so, Southwest allows pre-boarding. If not, I'd try to be first in the "C" line.
Good luck and have a great trip.
By the way, SW boarding passes can now be printed up to 24 hours ahead of time. You don't have to wait until midnight.

 

[summerrluvv]

Ugh I had no idea I could print them 24 hours in advance! figures! Well, we are off, our flight leaves at 630 so I don't have high hopes of being first in the C line, but hopefully we won't be separated (he is 7 BTW)

Thanks for the replies

 

[PrincessPatty]

How old is your DS, because parents with kids under a certain age can board first regardless of what your boarding pass says! Have a great time!

 

[aprilgail2]

Good luck ! Hope you both can sit together!! Their stupid system of boarding is the main reason I will never fly them...they leave out of Islip which is right near me yet I shlep into JFK to fly Jet Blue where they actually let you pick seats when you buy the tickets so you don't have that cattlecall to board like southwest....I have heard that they are going to change that and go to a normal system soon.....

 

[Marseeya]

I don't understand this "C" line. Could someone explain what you're talking about?

 

[hucifer]

Their stupid system of boarding is the main reason I will never fly them.......I have heard that they are going to change that and go to a normal system soon.....

I totally agree...I did not buy a ticket just to stand in line. I think I have enough stress with getting to the airport and getting through security. Now I'm at my gate, I have to stand in line just to get a good seat and/or find overhead storage for my carry-on? I have always hated this archaic type of boarding. I really hope they change their system because I do like Southwest otherwise.

 

[Christine]

I don't understand this "C" line. Could someone explain what you're talking about?

When you board with Southwest, they put you into the boarding groups based on first come, first serve. So the earlier you check in, the better boarding group you get. I believe there is "A" "B" and "C". When they start to board, the ticket agent will say "All those in boarding group A, please begin to board the plane" and then they will go to the other groups.

I've flown Southwest a few times and I've never found that anyone on the plane got stranded alone in their seat. Most people are really good about making last minute switches and Southwest also lets people with younger children board earlier or they will make arrangements so they can sit together. I doubt they will have a 7 year old sit alone.

 

[siouxi31]

I don't understand this "C" line. Could someone explain what you're talking about?

Southwest doesn't assign seats. When you print your boarding pass depending on the time you check in, you are assigned A, B or C status. They have 3 lines at the gate. Pre-boarders board first, then line A, then line B, and then line C. C is most undesirable because you board last and have less of an opportunity to sit together, find an aisle/window seat, and find room for your carry on luggage.

 

[salmoneous]

To Summerrluvv: If you are at the very front of the C line, you will almost certainlly get 2 seats together. If you are worried, get to the airport early.

To Aprilgal2: SW's seating policy isn't for everybody, but it saves money, cuts delays, and is preferred by most experienced SW flyers over "normal" systems. They aren't changing it.

To Marseeya: Short answer: SW doesn't assing seats. When you get on the plane, you pick whatever seat you want. To figure out when you board the plane, they break people into 4 groups: pre-boards, A, B and C. You are assigned to the A, B and C groups depending upon when you check-in for your flight. Within each group, there is an orderly line at the airport which you can get in as soon as you arrive. For tons of talk on the SW system, check out the many threads in the Transportation forum.

 

[froglady]

Carryon luggage is getting so ridiculous that I don't bring anything that won't fit under the seat, period. I'll take my chances with lost luggage; I pack my toiletries and a change of underwear, socks, and top, along with any valuables in my small carryon, (along with a book) and the rest gets checked.

 

[summerrluvv]

I'm back!! and happy to say that I was the very 1st person in the C line and we did find 2 seats together at the very back of the plane. The flight was oversold and they were having trouble getting people to switch seats around for a woman and her two small children that got on board last. After offering up some free drink coupons, someone moved.

I will say that I was really annoyed that SW offers pre-boarding for families with children FOUR and under (and even state this in the announcements) and 90% of the people in the pre-board line had children much older than four and the grandparents, aunts and uncles (or whoever they were) boarding with them. Leaving Orlando they did make an announcement that only families traveling with children 4 and under and their mothers and fathers can pre-board, no grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. It wasn't a problem on our flight though since there were like two kids on the entire flight.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Good luck ! Hope you both can sit together!! Their stupid system of boarding is the main reason I will never fly them...they leave out of Islip which is right near me yet I shlep into JFK to fly Jet Blue where they actually let you pick seats when you buy the tickets so you don't have that cattlecall to board like southwest....I have heard that they are going to change that and go to a normal system soon.....

We have flown into and out of Islip several times and it has always gone well for us. Much better than fighting the traffic to LaGuardia or Kennedy IMO. Just print your passes at the 24 hour mark and you will be good to get an A pass.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I am SO glad I just saw this post! I had no idea I needed to print passes early in order to avoid being in the C group! Thanks for the info!

 

[Marseeya]

I just read on their website that you can check in from your web-enabled mobile phone as well! There's an option if you can't get to a computer.

 

[bicker]

I really hope they change their system because I do like Southwest otherwise.

Rest assured -- they're not changing this system anytime soon. Southwest can count the profit attributable to partially making their on-time performance their customer's problem.

Liking Southwest "otherwise" is like liking Rolls Royce, except for the high price-tag.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We didn't have any problems sitting together when we had C passes before. It does all depend on the flight but as others have said, just get them early and there shouldn't be any problem.