Boarding SWA ??

[mrsschlep]

This is our first ever vacation and the closer it gets the more nervous i am getting instead of excited. Can you tell me what I am supposed to do when I get to the airport? Check bags, go through security, and how do I board the plane? We will have 3 kids DD7, DS5 and DD15months. Will we get to board first? Where do I go when i get on the plane if there are not assigned seats? Do i go to the front or do I sit near the back, which is better? I would perfer if a wing weren't blocking our veiw. Sorry for all the questions and TIA for all you help!!

 

[kellyann]

If you have children under age 5, you are allowed to board first. This is a major advantage because you get to pick where you sit and you can all sit together. There is usually a designated area for pre-boarders where you wait, this means you don't have to wait in the A,B or C lines. We always sit in the front with our 3 kids. Sometimes the planes have club seating which means the first two rows face each other. This is nice because our family can all sit together that way! Hope this helps!

 

[cindy21494]

We have not flown with SW yet, but I do suggest sitting in the front of the plane, especially with three children. For some reason we always get stuck in the back of the plane and we have to wait for everyone else to get off first.

When you get to the airport, go to the check in counter and get your boarding passes and check any luggage you will not be bringing on board. You will then proceed to the security check point. After security, follow the signs to your gate. If you are not sure where to go, just ask any SW representitive. Since I have not flown SW before, I would ask where you should wait for preboarding.

Have a great trip!

 

[safetymom]

I would suggest checking in from home to get an A boarding pass. Sometimes if there are a lot of families they don't do pre boards for families with small children. If you already have an A pass you wouldn't have to worry about it. Also if you have an A or preboard you won't have any problems finding room in the overhead bin.

I would sit nearer the front of the plane. That way you won't have a problem waiting for everyone to get off.

 

[3Mousketeers]

Mrsschlep - I'm in the same boat - flying with my 2 DS's almost 7 and 5 and DD 18 mos. AHHHH!!! I've flown Southwest before, Safetymom, and don't recall being able to get a boarding pass ahead of time. Can you do it online? When? I could just call SW I suppose but I bet you know from reading all your posts!

 

[safetymom]

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/retrieveCheckinDoc.html

Yes you can check in online and that way you don't have to get to the airport real early to get an A boarding pass.

 

[cindy21494]

Can you do your boarding pass on-line even if you need to check your luggage at the airport? We may be using them if US goes under before our trip this month.

 

[safetymom]

Yes you can do online check in. Then when you get to the airport you can check your luggage. No problems.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

The way that I understand it...you can't get your boarding passes on-line unless all of your reservations were made separately. So, if I go onto SWA's website and buy tickets for my whole family, I will not be able to get my boarding passes ahead of time. I would have to make each reservation separately (everyone has their own reservation number) in order to take advantage of early check in from home. The problem with this, as I understand it, is that if something happens to your flight ie. cancelled, overbooking, etc., SWA is not required to put you all on the same flight b/c you all have different reservation numbers. PHEW!!!

Am I understanding this correctly?

 

[safetymom]

You can call and have it fixed that you all can check in online.

 

[3Mousketeers]

I just read the fine print of my e-mail confirmation and it states on top (can't believe I missed this Safetymom) - that you can print boarding pass online (it gives you the link to do it). We have one confirmation # and 5 passengers (not separate reservations) but it looks like it can be done. Checkout www.southwest.com - it even references multiple passengers. Thanks for the tip - this will be make life much easier when traveling with 3 kids!

 

[dudspizza]

Southwest changed their policy a month or two ago to allow multiple passengers on the same confirmation number to check in online.

You no longer have to have separate conf. #'s.

So, check in online soon after midnight to get the A passes just in case you are not allowed to pre-board. Then, when you get to the airport, inquire about pre-boarding. Simple.

Duds

 

[Liz]

Would you guys mind explaining the A, B, C boarding pass thing a little more?

I've never flown on SW. We are traveling with another family who has flown SW before. We found some great rates but they don't want to book it because we would have a big problem sitting together. They said when they flew SW before people even got rude over the seating and they didn't want to deal with that again. They never arrive at things very early so I doubt they were at the beginning of any line for seats.

I'm assuming people with the "A" pass go first? Can you print these at home even if you aren't a family with small children, etc? How far in advance before your flight can you print them?

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[dudspizza]

You have the concept right.

There are A, B, and C lines for boarding. You are assigned one of those when you check in. Best option to get one is to check in online at home right after midnight before your flight. Anyone can check in online

Seating is first come, first served. The allow disabled or people with young children to pre-board, then they start with A, then B, and finally C. People with a C pass may not get to sit together.

Many people love SWA, others don't like the cattle call seating. SWA claims it saves them time and money by doing this.

I personally would do it if I was saving a ton, but if the difference isn't too much, I would pay more for an assigned seat, but that is just my opinion.

Duds

 

[Liz]

Thanks Duds! Do you know how far in advance you can print the boarding passes at home? Another poster mentioned something about just after midnight. Does that mean you can only do it the day of your flight? That would work outbound but coming home we wouldn't have access to a computer.

 

[Az Pirates]

The earliest you can print the pass is midnight the day of your flight.
We have been able to still get an A boarding pass just by getting to the airport at a reasonable time - but no guarantees.

btw, we've flown southwest quite often and have only seen them do the no pre-boarding for families w/small children once. Unfortunately, our youngest no longer falls into that category... so we will be waiting on line with everyone else next flight.

 

[Pinnie]

Rumor has it that SWA will be changing it's policy on pre-broarding soon. Keep tuned!

pinnie

 

[polyfan]

I read the online section and it says that you can only do it if you have an adult fare, so if you have a child you can't do it online.

 

[mickey4ver]

My family was just in for the holiday with the grandkids, and they were NOT able to do online checkin because of having a toddler and an infant...but they were allowed to board first, they called for those with small children, so they got very good seats.

 

[soleglo]

You can only print your SWA boarding pass beginning at 12:01 a.m. the day of departure. You definitely want to be in A, esp on a long flight. I had A for a flight with my two sons to San Diego from Chicago, but due to my late arrival at the airport ended up boarding with C and we were scattered all over the plane. I personally prefer assigned seating and read an article stating SWA is going to have it eventually.....................months away thou