Calling Southwest experts...

[nyfinfan]

When Southwest cancel's pre-boarding because there are too many pre-boarder's, when do they cancel it? After the line gets too long?

Im asking because I am wondering if you are on the pre-board line, and then they cancel pre-boarding , would i than have to go to the end of the "A" line? Which I guess could be quite long by that time. Has this happened to anyone?

TIA

 

[goofy4tink]

When you checkin online, you get a boarding pass with your group on it...A, B, or C. Everyone has one, even those able to preboard. So...in the event that they cancel preboarding, and this can happen on those Orlando flights, you will just go to the group you have a boarding pass for. If you have an A, you'll get in that line. I would think that you would, in fact, end up in the back of the line though. I would also think that those who are medically entitled to preboard, or children flying alone, would still be able to preboard. But, when you see the preboard line about 70 people long, with extended families having one child under 5, well, it kinda defeats the purpose of preboarding. So...if you are medically entitled to preboard, you should be fine. But, if you were planning on preboarding because you have a young child, you may not be able to...depending on how they call it at the gate. But, families are seldom split up so much that there are kids scattered around the plane, nowhere near their parents. Usually a parent will be able to sit with a child. Now, if you have a larger group, then you are most likely going to have to be split up, rather than all be in the same section of the plane. But, if you are group A, that may still be a possibility, but you will have to head to the rear of the plane.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

If you're concerned about the preboarding being cancelled you can always get in the A line (assuming you all have A boarding passes) and wait it out. If preboarding begins then you can switch over. If they cancel it, you're already in the A-line.

BobK/Orlando

 

[CarolA]

I have never seen it fully cancelled. I have seen it dramatically limited. In other words the IMMEDIATE family can get on with the child, but not "grandma, grandpa, two aunts and an uncle".

And it is RUDE to block seats for your family of 20 in the loading area. If someone takes one of your seats pitching a fit and acting out will only make your toddler seem adult LOL!

 

[DebbieB]

I have never seen it fully cancelled. I have seen it dramatically limited. In other words the IMMEDIATE family can get on with the child, but not "grandma, grandpa, two aunts and an uncle".

And it is RUDE to block seats for your family of 20 in the loading area. If someone takes one of your seats pitching a fit and acting out will only make your toddler seem adult LOL!

I've seen that happen too, not completely cancelled. And the time it did happen, when we got on a bunch of people had bags and jackets sitting on empty seats, which I thought wasn't allowed. I didn't want to sit in the front with the screaming kids anyway, so we just headed to the back.

 

[CarolA]

There are business travelers who will just MOVE your "coat" etc. I have seem them do it.... (and I have seen a grown woman do a GREAT version of her two year old having a fit. The FA basically ignored her and started moving her things....)

 

[nyfinfan]

If you're concerned about the preboarding being cancelled you can always get in the A line (assuming you all have A boarding passes) and wait it out. If preboarding begins then you can switch over. If they cancel it, you're already in the A-line.

BobK/Orlando

That's a good idea. Thanks. It doesnt much matter to me that my wife and I sit together as long as she can sit with our 4 year old and I can sit with my 6 year old. I understand that if you dont like "cattle-call" seating that you shouldn't fly Southwest but I cant get past the fact that they would seperate a 6 year old and their parents. Seems scary to me. And why would a business traveler want to separate a parent and a child? I will do my best to get an "A" 24 hours before so hopefully we wont have any problems.

Thanks for all the response's.