Best way to get my seats for Southwest??

[EdDome]

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..

This is real interesting to me since I normally travel with my computer but don't always have access to a printer. If I check in on-line at 12:01am and don't print the boarding pass (since I don't have a printer) are you saying that I can "reprint" at the airport? How do you reprint?

 

[ducklite]

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. Barb

That's exactly the problem. I have MUCH better things to do than waste my time at the airport sitting in a line.

Yes, airport delays can be unavoidable, but at least if my flight is delayed I can go ahve a meal or a drink. not so with SW, you get there and are pretty much stuck there...and you have to get there unnecessarily early to get what I consider a "good" seat. (Aisle seat in first five rows or first class)

If I fly a legacy carrier I can get that good seat when I book, show up at the airport an hour before my flight, and not have to wait in any lines.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

Customers with elite status on a legacy airline don't really belong on SW. You're eligible for first class upgrades, preferential seating and probably bonus frequent flyer miles. It would take a HUGE discount before it would make sense for an elite flyer to consider taking SW.

The reality is if you check in early enough to get an "A" BP there really isn't any reason to line up. You can be one of the last "A's" to board and still get 2 seats next to each other and can almost always get an aisle or window seat. There are always exceptions; flights that are not originating at your airport or flights that have extensive numbers of pre-boards.

I've seen people line up on legacy carriers. They want to board before the overhead bins fill up.

That's exactly the problem. I have MUCH better things to do than waste my time at the airport sitting in a line.

Yes, airport delays can be unavoidable, but at least if my flight is delayed I can go ahve a meal or a drink. not so with SW, you get there and are pretty much stuck there...and you have to get there unnecessarily early to get what I consider a "good" seat. (Aisle seat in first five rows or first class)

If I fly a legacy carrier I can get that good seat when I book, show up at the airport an hour before my flight, and not have to wait in any lines.

Anne

 

[TheBeast]

I'm not a SWA fanatic, but have flown it enough times to agree with those that say its a good way to go . Yes, the seating is a bit of a nuisance (especially on those trips to Orlando! ) but they are on time and definately have best customer service (just look how helpful jetfxr69 is when not even working!)

For those who fly very frequently, paid for by their company, of course they like other airlines because you're guaranteed a seat and get upgrades to business or first class seating (for 2-3x cost).

My wife plans to get up at midnight to print boarding passes - I'd probably just wing it and hope for the best, but then regret my decision! That's why I love her...

Don't fret, and remember its vacation - just take it easy...

 

[momoftwins]

is trying to get out of getting up at midnight! No way dear! You don't need as much sleep as I do!

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

This is real interesting to me since I normally travel with my computer but don't always have access to a printer. If I check in on-line at 12:01am and don't print the boarding pass (since I don't have a printer) are you saying that I can "reprint" at the airport? How do you reprint?

We do this all the time, we have someone check in for us and then when we get to the airport just ask SW to print our boarding pass. They are more than happy to do it for us. So if you don't have access to a printer you still can check in early.

I try to check in as early as possible because to me the boarding of a full SW plane is like a zoo. People panic when they see that many people waiting for a plane and everyone tries to line up early. Last flight there was a huge line 1-1/2 hours before flight time. It is quite comical to watch.

 

[safetymom]

I do this with other airlines also. With Airtran you can check in 24 hours ahead and pick a seat. When I am travelling I don't have a printer so I choose my seat and have them print my boarding pass at the airport.

 

[Pinnie]

The reality is if you check in early enough to get an "A" BP there really isn't any reason to line up. You can be one of the last "A's" to board and still get 2 seats next to each other and can almost always get an aisle or window seat. There are always exceptions; flights that are not originating at your airport or flights that have extensive numbers of pre-boards.

I've seen people line up on legacy carriers. They want to board before the overhead bins fill up.

Over Easter, DH and I got "B" passes on a flight to MCO originating in DTW. We got "B" passes for our connection at BNA. There were so many families with young children, bot DH and I were able to snag EXIT ROW seats with those "B" passes!!!!

Those that think people don't line up for legacy carriers need to fly out of DTW on NWA and see the lines for "bin space". I agree with ya Lewisc!

pinnie

 

[snoopy5386]

I love southwest for the following reasons:

ability to get an exit row seat. we are 2 adults, no kids, fly once or twice a year, I love being able to get an exit row seat just by getting to the airport nice and early and sitting my butt down in the line. I will sit on the floor for an hour and read my book for this opportunity. On a legacy carrier these seats are always reserved for frequent fliers and very hard to get for lowly peons like ourselves. My dh is 6'1" and I hate to see his knees crushed by a reclining passenger in the seat in front of us in a regular seat. Me, i'm 5'1" but extremely clausterphobic and I have a hard time handling regular middle or window seats.

no change fee, credits for lowering fares that I can actually use (unlike my $75 credit from united that I can only use on flights that cost oh $750 or so).

and of course, the tv show. It really shows some of the stupid people in our world. Who goes to the airport and gets drunk before a flight anyways? I can understand 1 or 2 I guess, but some of these folks are pounding em down and then trying to get on a plane. come on people!

 

[riu girl]

SWA tv show???? Can you tell me what this is? Is this a safety pre-flight segment they show on the plane? If so, what is it all about? If SWA has tv monitors on their planes, do they also show movies or anything else??

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Suzy V.

 

[Michelina]

There is a show on A&E called Airline, it is a reality show that follows Southwest Airlines at different hubs around the country. It shows a fine sampling of the crazy people that make up our general population.

 

[Poohlovr]

I believe she's referring to the television show "Airline"--a reality type show about SWA.
There's no television of any kind on board the planes.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for the info. We don't have cable or satellite tv at home, so I am clueless when it comes to television shows. Friends/family say I live in the "twilight zone" when it comes to television programming since I don't watch any.
Suzy V.

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

Gotta have this thread marked since we are flying SW!