Best way to get my seats for Southwest??

[Pinnie]

If you have a child under 5 you will be allowed to pre-board regardless of the boarding group (a,b,or c) you hold. The order for pre-board is anyone that needs special assistance(wheelchairs and such), unaccompanied minors, and then families with small children.

I disagree. I have seen preboarding suspended at MCO and LAX on SWA for families with young children at the gate because almost everyone had one!

Also, just because you may hold an "A" or "B" boarding pass on SWA doesn't always mean there will be seats together. For instance, a flight to MCO may originate at DTW, fly on to MDW and pick up pax and then on to BNA to get another group. Those that got on in DTW and MDW do NOT deplane at BNA and it may be half the plane. (Been there, done that route a few times!)

pinnie

 

[SB in KY]

My favorite SW "Preboarding Circus" was last Easter afternoon...packed flight MCO to IND and when they got through "preboarding" the gate agent was laughing so hard he cried and as they make the usual announcement about people holding A passes could now board he says...."What the heck, there are only 16 passengers left to board, might as well let them all get on now"!!

And when we go to board (me and DD's ages 14 & 16) he chuckles and says..."Gee what's wrong with you...didn't you need to preboard too?? Everyone else with kids this age seemed to think they should!!"

Oh well....we didn't sit together, but our consolation prize was that we could see where all the screaming babies and obnoxious toddler/mother duos were seated and we sat someplace else!! (and before I get flamed...I LOVE babies and toddlers...just don't want to sit by unhappy ones for a long ride in a confined space!!)

 

[inkkognito]

Even if you have an A pass and there aren't a lot of pre-boarders and you are first in the A line, other things can happen (for details, read my other post that I made this morning, but suffice to say it involved weather, gate changes, and aircraft changes). Since ATA is gone, we are flying SW between MCO and MDW a LOT, but so far the pre-boards have been fairly tame compared to some of the horror stories, and we've had a good choice of seats.
Another take on wanting to sit by the front...many of us are NOT on vacation! My husband and I travel back and forth frequently for business, and we've met many others in the same situation. We only bring a carry-on, so getting off more quickly means getting to our destination more quickly. It's not worth stressing over if we can't get a front seat, but we're certainly happen when we get one (at least my husband is...I prefer the exit row). So far I don't think we've been farther back than row 5 except once when I was alone and took the exit.
Barb

 

[mommi97]

Thanks for the all the great tips. I will be looking for seats before row 12 I think. But now I am nervous after everyone's posts that we may not be able to pre-board, I have a 2, 4, and 7 yr old. I hope we don't get split up. I don't think they will make my younger two sit alone, but then again, I don't think anyone will want to sit next to my ADHD/OCD 7 yr old either......

 

[jetfxr69]

they will not split you from your younger children. they are too young to sit alone. They will split you from your 7 year old if needed however. If there is not 3 seats together they will ask for volunteers to move to the single seats to accomodate you and your young kids. Usually they get someone to help them by offering to buy them a drink. You will eventually hear the following " this plane cant leave the gate until all passengers are seated, so unless someone moves to allow this mother to sit with her children, we will be here a while!". the flight attendants will do what they can to help you out.

 

[riu girl]

I have read that you can call SWA and tell them that one of your kids is special needs (the 7 year old ADHD/OCD). Have it noted on the passenger manuscript that you must be able to pre-board and all sit together due to this. If not noted on the passenger manuscript then the FA's may not be as helpful.

 

[Fire14]

they will not split you from your younger children. they are too young to sit alone. They will split you from your 7 year old if needed however. If there is not 3 seats together they will ask for volunteers to move to the single seats to accomodate you and your young kids. Usually they get someone to help them by offering to buy them a drink. You will eventually hear the following " this plane cant leave the gate until all passengers are seated, so unless someone moves to allow this mother to sit with her children, we will be here a while!". the flight attendants will do what they can to help you out.

I have never had issues on SWA but I'm cracking up at this commet since the computer( I assume) for another airline decided to move our seats around and have now created a mess they have 2 adults sitting in row 4 and a minor age 6 sitting in row 17 aisle. I just find this funny and scary. I do plan to try and fix it at airport otherwise my DH can sit with a 6yo or he can go sit in row 17. I will not let a her sit alone and cause problems.

 

[DisOrBust]

I still would like to know what possible cost savings or customer service benefit this circus has for SWA. Really my 10yo said she rather stay home after watching airline!

 

[gw_lit]

Let's see... Southwest is profitable, stable, has an excellent safety record, and receives good marks for customer service. In my experience, their schedules are more stable, without the constant changes that some airlines always seem to have. Their agents and cabin crews are some of the friendliest around (and I have many, many frequent flyer miles on several airlines, so I've seen a lot of airline employees.)

The Airline show definitely shows the worst situations. Heck, I was once in Tampa waiting for a flight home on a "major" airline. Several police officers came and met the arriving plane at the gate, and escorted a traveler off the plane that was so drunk that he had a "boo-boo" all over himself and his seat because he thought the plane was going to crash while landing.

 

[Lewisc]

I still would like to know what possible cost savings or customer service benefit this circus has for SWA. Really my 10yo said she rather stay home after watching airline!

Lack of assigned seats gets customers to the gate early which improves the turnaround time. Lack of assigned seats simplifies the reservation process. People who book their flights closer to the departure gate still have an opportunity to get the seats of their choice by checking in early.

SW has no change fees, good internet sales, reasonable fully refundable fares, good on time performance, still allows customers to check 3 bags and rarely changes a schedule once it's been released.

The lack of assigned seating isn't the zoo or circus people who haven't flown SW expect.

 

[ducklite]

I have flown SW and consider it a zoo. That said, I fly often. On my preferred carriers I can usually get preferred seats and first class upgrades. Those two factors make flying elsewhere more appealing to me.

Anne

 

[Swan]

After reading this post I wish I had never booked on SW airlines. My kids are 12&10. They are flying for the first time and my 10 y/o son is as scared of flying as I am. I will not be able to print off the boarding pass since we are staying at a Houston hotel the night before. I only care that my Son is not alone. I guess I will have to start preparing them in case. Wish me luck.

 

[Lewisc]

After reading this post I wish I had never booked on SW airlines. My kids are 12&10. They are flying for the first time and my 10 y/o son is as scared of flying as I am. I will not be able to print off the boarding pass since we are staying at a Houston hotel the night before. I only care that my Son is not alone. I guess I will have to start preparing them in case. Wish me luck.

Many hotels will either print your BP as a courtesy or give you access to a business center where you can print your BP, possibly for a small charge. Have a friend print your BP and you can just re-print it when you get to the airport.

Otherwise just get to the airport 1.5-2 hours before your flight. You should get an "A" or "B" BP. If you get a B just line up with the early birds. You should be able to get 2 seats next to each other even if you're a B. If you wind up with a B BP you might not get 3 in a row. People will often switch seats for families with small children but not necessarily for a 12 year old.

 

[nygrl]

Thanks for the all the great tips. I will be looking for seats before row 12 I think. But now I am nervous after everyone's posts that we may not be able to pre-board, I have a 2, 4, and 7 yr old. I hope we don't get split up. I don't think they will make my younger two sit alone, but then again, I don't think anyone will want to sit next to my ADHD/OCD 7 yr old either......

my ds was 8 on our last trip and i was told he could not and would not have to sit alone.. they are very helpfull in keeping families together. at least from my expierences.. and i also have never seen them suspend pre boarding!

 

[gw_lit]

After reading this post I wish I had never booked on SW airlines. My kids are 12&10. They are flying for the first time and my 10 y/o son is as scared of flying as I am. I will not be able to print off the boarding pass since we are staying at a Houston hotel the night before. I only care that my Son is not alone. I guess I will have to start preparing them in case. Wish me luck.

Please, don't stress over this. Go to the front desk of the hotel and ask if they will give you access to a computer so you can check-in for your flight. Most places will gladly give you access to a computer at the front desk or in their business center. (I'd even suggest calling your hotel today and asking for their general manager if you will be able to use a computer... that should easy your mind.)

If they can't, or won't, give you access to a computer, make sure to get to the airport at least 2 hours before your flight, and check-in, this should get you an A or B boarding pass. And as an earlier poster stated, get in line as soon as you can. One of you can hold your place while the others take potty breaks or get food. When you get on the plane, just find the first row with three seat open in a row... you'll probably have better luck near the back of the plane. You should be able to get three seats on the same side unless you get a C boarding pass, or at worst get two seats on one side, and another seat across the aisle.

Honestly, don't stress over the seating... you'll be fine!

 

[dgaston]

I'm another happy SWA flyer who says don't stress too much. I love SWA for the opportunity to earn flight rewards on just leisure travel. In the old days, DD and I once had numbers 122 and 123 (definitely C boarding passes) and we were able to sit together, but way back in the plane. Just two days ago I flew from BWI to PVD and got a B pass at the airport. I had no trouble finding a seat together with my friend. I also have talked to travelers from Nashville to Houston who were astounded that SWA flew a flight that didn't have a lot of people on it. I like it that the schedule published is flown.

Hope that reassures you.

 

[zurgswife]

I love Southwest.....

For Swan...I second the idea to have someone else print you boarding passes at 12:01 am if you are nervous and just have them re printed when you arrive at the airport...If you are an afternoon or evening flight....I've printed mine at 7am without incident....or call the hotel and ask if they would be able to do it for you...at 12:01am the front desk shouldn't be busy..

 

[inkkognito]

Like Anne, I used to get frequent flyer perks on another airline (ATA), where I had achieved Elite status, so SW was a rude awakening for me. But really, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I've done a few flights on them now, and I haven't even seen flight attendants need to ask people to move around yet in order to accommodate families. I always get my boarding pass at 12:01 a.m. and make sure I am first in the A line. But last week, when a combination of weather and a change of aircraft resulted in my getting flipped from first to last in the line, I still got row five aisle. That means there were plenty of seats nearby for all of the B boarders, and I didn't see any Cs complaining. And that was with a mostly full plane. Sure, I prefer assigned seats, but for the prices I've been getting lately, I can tolerate the cattle call.
Barb

 

[mommi97]

wow I didn't know that could be done, I will give them a call and check it out, I don't see any problem getting a note from his dr. either.

 

[Swan]

Thanks everyone for encouragement. I have came up with an idea for the trip there. Since we have to drive I am taking an old printer that I have that will work with the laptop. I can leave it in the car. I am not sure what we will do on the way back, but by that time the kids will be experienced. There are four of us so if only two are sitting together everything will be great.