Could you please explain SW seating policy?

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I've never flown SW before and I'm considering it. I've read on here about A, B, C seating. Some people always want A some people wanted an A but were still happy w/ a B.

What does it all mean?

TIA

 

[CRCrazy]

Southwest doesn't assign seats when you buy a ticket. When you check in for your flight, either at the counter, kiosk, curbside check in, or online, you will be issued a boarding pass.

That boarding pass will have either an A, B, or C on it. When you get to the gate - you will see three signs, for lines of people, marked A, B, C. There is also an area for pre-boards, for people with disabilities or children 4 and under.

When the plane is ready to board - preboards will go first. Then the people in the A line will board, then B, then C. If it is an originating flight (i.e., empty), then the preboards, and the A passengers have first opportunity to choose their seats - they are pretty much guaranteed the opportunity to sit whereever they choose. Then the "B" passes are allowed to board, and finally the "C" passes.

If a plane is a continuing flight - some, or most, of the seats may already be taken, so you may have a hard time finding seats together if you have a larger party size.

The earlier you check in - the better your chances for that "A" boarding pass.

 

[pwmini]

When you check in you get a boarding pass, it will have either an A, B or a C on it. When you get to the gate there are signs hanging from the ceiling with A, B, and C. People line up under there respective letter.
When boarding, they preboard people with children, people needing assistance and the like, then they board all the A people, then the B's then the C's.
With their open seating policy, obviously you want an A if you can get it to get the "best" seating for your situation... But I've had B's before and had no problem. I've seen people traveling together with C's and they were unable to sit together.
So the earlier you can check in the better, I'm flying tomorrow am to MCO, and am planning on getting to the airport at 5:30 for my 7:30 flight. But from "hanging" out here I now know that I could have booked my arrangements seperately and printed my boarding passes at home the night before. Maybe next time.
Hope this helps.

Sue

 

[vossjemi]

Does printing them out ahead of time get you a pre-board or an A seat?

 

[pwmini]

An A. I'm pretty sure pre-boards are determined by need at the gate.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

This makes it perfectly clear and I understand perfectly.


Thank you.

 

[gw_lit]

Q: Does printing them out ahead of time get you a pre-board or an A seat? A: An A. I'm pretty sure pre-boards are determined by need at the gate.

Correct in that pre-boards are determined at the gate. Internet check-in ahead of time does not necessarily mean that you will get an "A" boarding pass. Supposed "A" passes are distributed between internet, ticket counter, kiosk, and curbside check-in. If you want the best chance to get an "A" check in at 12:01 a.m. on the day of your flight. Next best would be get checked in at the airport using either the kiosk, ticket counter or curbside check-in at least 2 hours before your flight.

Neither of these methods will absolutely guarantee that you'll get an "A" boarding pass, but they should help your chances tremendously.

When you get to the gate there are signs hanging from the ceiling with A, B, and C.

This is true at most airports. Here in Little Rock (and at a few other airports I've been to, but can't recall at this time) they don't have the overhead signs with A, B and C, but just make announcements when boarding each group. Of course, the group herd mentality still occurs and everyone with C passes charges to the door when the A's are called. (Of course, this occurs on any airline when boarding by rows, group numbers, or whatever method.)

 

[maryliz]

If you want to do an on-line check-in, each passenger in your party must have a separate reservation number. you can call SW and have them split the ressie to give you this option. A word of caution though, we considered it and now will not because if your flight was cancelled and they had to rebook you on other flights, ressies made under one number will be all put on the same flight. If you all have different ressie numbers, they don't have to guarantee you this. Since we're going in Jan out of Buffalo where the sn** often flies, I don't want to take the chance of being split up. As well, pre-boards aren't guaranteed for those with small children ... it will depend on the make-up of passengers on that particular flight. We have a 4 yr old DS so we're hoping for pre-board, but we know it's not guaranteed so we'll get to the airport plenty early for our 7:30AM flight.

Mary-Liz