Attention Southwest People

[SirDuff]

I don't think you have to actually go up to the customer service agent. I think the app assigns it and updates your barding pass in the app. I think you only have to approach the actual agent if there is an issue. If you don't check in online before a certain amount of time before the flight, you would have to check in with the customer service agent. I am not sure when you ahve to do it by but you can do it as early as 24 hours before your flight.

So, at check-in, not at the gate. The PP I quoted said at the gate which is no more than maybe half an hour before boarding (depending on when the gate agents get there).

 

[china mom]

So, at check-in, not at the gate. The PP I quoted said at the gate which is no more than maybe half an hour before boarding (depending on when the gate agents get there).

So, here is my understanding of how it is working. You need to check in on the app anything after T-24 but I don't know how close to flight time that holds. You are assigned your seat. I assume that the better seats are assigned first so check in early. If you do not check in on the app, you need to check in with the Customer Service Agent at the gate (they might also do it at bag drop but I am not sure).

Also not sure but this might be dependent on your fare bucket but you supposedly can ask the CSA at the gate for a seat change somehting like 2 hours before your flight but you will not get an extra legroom seat unless you pay for it.

If you still don't like your seat, you are stuck there for take off but after the seat belt sign goes off, you can ask a flight attendant to move to another seat but don't just move on your won, they change it on their tablet. You cannot move to en extra legroom seat even if you are crammed 3 to a row and the front is emtpy.

I have only flown two legs so far since the assigned seating but have been reading up on it and am pretty sure this is how it is working (at least until they tweak it)

 

[sam_gordon]

If you do not check in on the app, you need to check in with the Customer Service Agent at the gate (they might also do it at bag drop but I am not sure).

Don't you have to check in to get a BP? And a BP is required to go through security? How would one check in at the gate?

 

[leebee]

I called SW about this to get clarification. He said that even though my DD22s ticket is booked with my DH’s points, she will still need to pay to check a suitcase because he is not with. The charge is $35 or $70 round trip - this I’m unhappy with. I’m not sure what we are going to do. We may just use our carry on suitcases and if we buy anything on our trip that doesn’t fit, we’ll just stop at a UPS Store (or an equivalent) on the way to the airport and ship it home.

@slo Can you get a SW credit card for Katie? Would that qualify her- as she'd be a cardholder- for the free bag? Only other option I can see would be 2 backpacks (personal item each) 2 carry-ons and the biggest suitcase that would be under the weight limitation. PITA, for sure.

 

[china mom]

Don't you have to check in to get a BP? And a BP is required to go through security? How would one check in at the gate?

That is a very good question. I am going by what I have read. I am checked in at T-24

 

[china mom]

That is a very good question. I am going by what I have read. I am checked in at T-24

Quoting myself as a thought crossed my mind. At my home airport, TSA does not check my boarding pass - neither paper or digital. We just give them our driver's license, they insert into a reader and off we go. I'm sure it checks against the passenger lists but do you have to be checked in to make that work? I don't know.

 

[guy_incognito]

Are you paying for a better seat or are you taking the LONG walk?lol

I have always despised the cattle call and avoided SW at all costs, only taking them when the route pretty much dictated it.

I am flying SW in a couple weeks, and looking at my boarding pass with a seat # is such a nice thing. No more seeing 2 dozen wheelchair-bound folks lined up to board first that find Jesus and can walk the moment they get to the plane and on the Vegas end of the flight. No more trying to explain to some rude jerk as we are mooing for the call that his number is behind you. And so on.

Of course, all we need now are flight attendants that will not allow people in the back to put their carry-ons at the front, and it will be great.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

you can ask a flight attendant to move to another seat

It's been pretty much reported you can't move around. I suspect if you asked to move from a Standard seat to a Standard seat in the row in front of you or a Preferred seat to a Preferred seat in front of you that could be different, but it's not just the Extra Legroom seats, it's moving from your seat period that is being met with a no. And keep in mind charges for a seat vary for a window, aisle and middle seat.

I've been on airlines where they will try and move you within the exact class no problems and then other airlines where they may allow a move to a different class for a fee (British Airways or Air France allowed for that can't remember which one but the passenger was trying to escape a crying baby right by them) and another airline who had a very blasé attitude about switching though that was PLAY Airlines that is now defunct (the passenger moved from an aisle seat several rows back to our row in the Exit Row which required an upcharge to sit there when done at booking and should have required a verbal understanding of duties but didn't occur). I think it's United?? can't remember that won't allow a move even if the passenger is willing to pay, not sure about how Delta or American handles that I just remember hearing stories about United (or at least I think it was United).

 

[china mom]

It's been pretty much reported you can't move around. I suspect if you asked to move from a Standard seat to a Standard seat in the row in front of you or a Preferred seat to a Preferred seat in front of you that could be different, but it's not just the Extra Legroom seats, it's moving from your seat period that is being met with a no. And keep in mind charges for a seat vary for a window, aisle and middle seat.

southwest does not charge any different fare based on window, aisle or middle. The fare classes are extra legroom (first six rows and exit rows), preferred, (normal legroom but front half of the plane and basic (back half of the plane.

It has been reported that FA's have allowed people to move after the seatbelt sign is off and only to non extra legroom seats.

I've been on airlines where they will try and move you within the exact class no problems and then other airlines where they may allow a move to a different class for a fee (British Airways or Air France allowed for that can't remember which one but the passenger was trying to escape a crying baby right by them) and another airline who had a very blasé attitude about switching though that was PLAY Airlines that is now defunct (the passenger moved from an aisle seat several rows back to our row in the Exit Row which required an upcharge to sit there when done at booking and should have required a verbal understanding of duties but didn't occur). I think it's United?? can't remember that won't allow a move even if the passenger is willing to pay, not sure about how Delta or American handles that I just remember hearing stories about United (or at least I think it was United).

Southwest does allow changes at the gate with extra fees but once boarded, they do not collect any fees for seat changes - but don't allow "upgrades" to extra legroom.

 

[china mom]

Don't you have to check in to get a BP? And a BP is required to go through security? How would one check in at the gate?

I think I figured it out. If you are booked on the flight but not checked in on the app, you probably get a boarding pass without a seat assignment but then have to check in to get our assignment.

 

[focusondisney]

You don’t have to use the SW app. You can check in with the website online & print a boarding pass.