Boarding Southwest

[madmar]

Flying Southwest in Jan with two adults and two children. I want to buy single tix as I'll save 35.00 per ticket. How does this affect boarding. One child is six. Are we eligible for family boarding thanks

 

[AngiTN]

I don't think you can buy single tix for a 6 yo can you?

 

[iivye]

I've bought a ticket separately for my daughter and it only made me confirm she was traveling with an adult (but she was 13; not sure if it is different for a 6 yo). Family boarding is for 6 and under so you should be eligible although sometimes they will restrict the number of people boarding with the child. The worst part about having 4 individual tickets is that you have to check in separately which will result in different boarding numbers.

 

[Fangorn]

You can buy an individual ticket for any minor - but you have to have already purchased a ticket on the same flight for an adult. When you book the minor's ticket they will ask for the confirmation number of the adult.

Family boarding is generally for ages 6 and under, but can be different at different airports and at different times - or not available at all (the latter happens regularly at MCO due to the large number of families). Technically, only one adult is supposed to board with a child 6 or under. Again, depending on the airport and the flight SW may or may not enforce that guideline. So don't forego checking in exactly at 24 hours and trying for an A boarding pass. You and the 6yo could end up doing Family Boarding while your spouse and the older child end up at the end of the C group.

Just out of curiosity, how are you seeing single tix $35 cheaper than four on one reservation? I assume you looked for 4 seats and got one price, and then got a price $35 less when you looked at a single ticket? If that's the case, then that single tix price will not be available for each of the 4 single tix. It could be available for only 1 of them, then the remaining tix will be at the higher rate anyway. It'll still be cheaper, but don't expect each of the 4 tickets to be at the lower price.

Steve

 

[FCDub]

You should read up on the boarding process: https://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/boarding_the_plane_faq.html

 

[disneyag]

Depending on the flight, I have heard SWA announce that family boarding (after group A) is for children 4 and under, or 5 and under, or 6 and under and ONE family member. Flights to MCO always seem to be family heavy. You could try purchasing EBCI, which MIGHT give you an A boarding pass.

 

[hsmamato2]

It's likely that there are only a set # of seats left at that savings..... try inputting the 4,then the 3, then 2, etc till you get the number you want..... FWIW I book separately all the time, I prefer it to keep it all separate in my weird mind. What you're probably going to get is one or two seats at reduced price, then it jumps up....

 

[Rich M]

Curious as I am traveling with an infant for the first time, they won't let me do early bird for others on our tickets but we all want to seat together so if one of us goes with the baby and the rest has to wait how would we coordinate seating together. With two 3 hour flights we plan on taking turns holding the baby.

 

[Kaytie]

Family boarder and infant head to the back of the plane. Rest of party boards according to number and also heads to the back of the plane.

 

[tjmw2727]

Curious as I am traveling with an infant for the first time, they won't let me do early bird for others on our tickets but we all want to seat together so if one of us goes with the baby and the rest has to wait how would we coordinate seating together. With two 3 hour flights we plan on taking turns holding the baby.

I would book one adult and the lap rider on one itinerary and then the rest of the party on another itinerary if you want EBCI for the majority of the party. When you get to the airport you will need the baby's birth certificate to obtain a boarding verification document (boarding pass) for the lap rider. I would also check in at T24 or as close to as possible for the adult with the lap child to get as best a boarding number as you can.

Adult and lap baby can board with family boarding (between A and B groups) or in the A group if you have an A boarding number. The rest of the family boards according to their boarding group.

As pp's said the further back you choose seats on the aircraft the better chance of saving a seat or two.

 

[Rich M]

I would book one adult and the lap rider on one itinerary and then the rest of the party on another itinerary if you want EBCI for the majority of the party. When you get to the airport you will need the baby's birth certificate to obtain a boarding verification document (boarding pass) for the lap rider. I would also check in at T24 or as close to as possible for the adult with the lap child to get as best a boarding number as you can.

Adult and lap baby can board with family boarding (between A and B groups) or in the A group if you have an A boarding number. The rest of the family boards according to their boarding group.

As pp's said the further back you choose seats on the aircraft the better chance of saving a seat or two.

We booked during the anniversary sale so its too late for that. we will just have to try to do what we can. They might let us board together. Maybe I will call Southwest and see what other options we have

 

[hsmamato2]

Curious as I am traveling with an infant for the first time, they won't let me do early bird for others on our tickets but we all want to seat together so if one of us goes with the baby and the rest has to wait how would we coordinate seating together. With two 3 hour flights we plan on taking turns holding the baby.

I wouldn't bother calling as they won't have answers for that for you. In your case, as noted, your best bet is to try for checking in at T24 for your group, you board family board with infant,head toward rear of plane and you should have no issues keeping some seats near you free....no offense,(I LOVE babies) but I don't choose to sit near people with babies on planes if I have other choices. You shouldn't have any problems. there's nothing wrong sitting toward back of plane at all,and it fills up last naturally. (my last trip we forgot to check in on time,got C passes,and just went to back of plane to find seats together without issues.)

 

[Allison]

We booked during the anniversary sale so its too late for that. we will just have to try to do what we can. They might let us board together. Maybe I will call Southwest and see what other options we have

I don't think calling Southwest is going to do anything productive for you. The other posters have given you good advice about your options.

 

[maxiesmom]

We booked during the anniversary sale so its too late for that. we will just have to try to do what we can. They might let us board together. Maybe I will call Southwest and see what other options we have

There are no other options. If you don't have Early Bird Check In make sure to check everyone in at exactly 24 hours out. One adult and the infant will be able to board with Family Boarding, between the A and B boarding groups. Heading to the back of the airplane gives you the best chance of everyone sitting together.

If you wanted guaranteed seats next to each other you shouldn't have booked Southwest, and you certainly should have paid for Early Bird Check In. The FAs won't block of seats so that your family can all sit together. It is truly open seating, and a seat without a rear in it is open for anyone to sit in.

 

[Rich M]

There are no other options. If you don't have Early Bird Check In make sure to check everyone in at exactly 24 hours out. One adult and the infant will be able to board with Family Boarding, between the A and B boarding groups. Heading to the back of the airplane gives you the best chance of everyone sitting together.

If you wanted guaranteed seats next to each other you shouldn't have booked Southwest, and you certainly should have paid for Early Bird Check In. The FAs won't block of seats so that your family can all sit together. It is truly open seating, and a seat without a rear in it is open for anyone to sit in.

I understand. We called Southwest and they said we can split it now and we can add early bird for us. We are leaning towards this.

 

[tjmw2727]

We booked during the anniversary sale so its too late for that. we will just have to try to do what we can. They might let us board together. Maybe I will call Southwest and see what other options we have

I think if you call SWA they can split off the one adult and the lap rider to a separate reservation and IIRC you may even be able to age verify prior to the trip by providing the Birth Certificate so SWA has it on record. That could save some time at the airport if so.

Then you can at least book EBCI for the rest of the party if you like.

As for boarding together you can do this for sure if it is with the Highest Boarding Group and number. Otherwise they are going to ask that everyone board in their own position. What is the makeup of the rest of the party? If it is spouse and other children your more likely to be able to board with family boarding. If the rest of the party is adults they are pretty strict about no grandparents/aunts .. new best friends LOL

 

[Rich M]

I think if you call SWA they can split off the one adult and add the lap rider to a separate reservation and IIRC you may even be able to age verify prior to the trip by providing the Birth Certificate so SWA has it on record. That could save some time at the airport if so.

Then you can at least book EBCI for the rest of the party if you like.

That would be great. We will ask for sure when we call to split it