earlybird check in SWA

[LisaS]

Sure they may turn planes over faster but I still don't think that has anything to do with open seating. People still mosey onto the plane, take their sweet time stowing their bags and picking out the right seat, etc.

I don't agree that people take their sweet time picking out the right seat. Based on my experience, most people grab the first acceptable seats they find. Why gamble that you might find something better further back if there are enough seats for your group right here. It's not like you can wander around the plane trying to optimize where you are going to sit.

And there are no delays from people stopping to check their boarding card to see what seat they are supposed to take, no scanning of row numbers and seat letters as they walk down the aisle looking for their assigned seat, no shuffling of seats due to someone sitting in the wrong seat. Boarding slows down a bit as the last passengers look for those last open middle seats if the flight is full but I still think that overall, from the orderly lines in the gate area to having everyone seated and ready to go, the process is more efficient than on airlines with assigned seats.

If planes with assigned seating take off on time whether or not everyone is at the gate, then it's no different than SWA who wrangles everyone to the gate earlier due to their seating situation. That was my point in saying I've never heard of another airline waiting for someone who was not at the gate - they are leaving with or without you, and so is SWA. It just so happens most people are probably on time for their SWA flights due to the seating.

SWA's boarding is so efficient they can schedule their planes for faster turnaround than many of the other airlines. I've been on SWA flights that pushed back early because everyone was on board so quickly.

That being said, the open seating doesn't bother me. It's probably one less thing for SWA to worry about - not having to swich seats around and making sure families are together, etc.

 

[nkereina]

I don't agree that people take their sweet time picking out the right seat. Based on my experience, most people grab the first acceptable seats they find. Why gamble that you might find something better further back if there are enough seats for your group right here. It's not like you can wander around the plane trying to optimize where you are going to sit.

Obviously we've had different experiences as far as seating goes. I've seen Bob and Sally get on and save the row next to them for their family in the higher boarding positions. John and Sue get on and head towards the middle of the plane, then decide they want to get back up front to the open seats in the second row, people flying SWA for the first time and not understanding the boarding process, etc etc. Maybe the open seating saves time statistically but not enough for it to be noticeable to most people, or even a deciding factor when booking them for most.

 

[AllyElly]

Now I am getting worrried! We are traveling in a party of 12 - 8 Adults, 4 children ages 2-6 who have never flown before. We booked airfare in the summer for our trip in January. Before booking I called Southwest and asked the best way to get tickets so that we would have the best possibility to sit with each other. The agent told me just to check in 24 hours prior and did not even mention earlybird check-in, so I assumed that we would not need it.

I know all 12 of us probably won't be able to sit together as a group, but I want each of the kids to have one of their parents next to them. Do you think this would be possible if we check in 24 hours prior? Would it even make that much of difference to add earlybird check in now, since the flight has been available to book for months?

Thank you for any help and advice!

 

[mb187143]

Now I am getting worrried! We are traveling in a party of 12 - 8 Adults, 4 children ages 2-6 who have never flown before. We booked airfare in the summer for our trip in January. Before booking I called Southwest and asked the best way to get tickets so that we would have the best possibility to sit with each other. The agent told me just to check in 24 hours prior and did not even mention earlybird check-in, so I assumed that we would not need it.

I know all 12 of us probably won't be able to sit together as a group, but I want each of the kids to have one of their parents next to them. Do you think this would be possible if we check in 24 hours prior? Would it even make that much of difference to add earlybird check in now, since the flight has been available to book for months?

Thank you for any help and advice!

It can vary depending on your departure city and time - if you're taking a SW flight that is originating before your city, and you are boarding a plane that's pretty full, every passenger on the plane already was ahead of you to check in for the flight, so you're going to have to make do with what's left.


If you're taking a flight that does not have passengers already on it - check in at exactly 24 hours ahead of your flight, or pay for ECBI. We booked our SW flights for our September trip in May, and I added ECBI 1 week before we left in September, and we ended up with A24-29 boarding positions. So i added it very late in the game and it came out just fine. When not purchasing ECBI, i have always checked in right at 24 hours, and have never gotten below B5. However, I always take the first flight out of Philadelphia, so there aren't connecting passengers on board already.

In general, the only time I've ever seen parties not at least find 2 seats together was boarding in the C group. Usually even through B, you should be able to sit 1 adult with 1 child. Probably at the back of the plane, but that's been my experience.

If the airport you're flying out of offers family boarding, which allows 1 parent and 1 child under 4 to board after A group and before B group. So if you check in at 24 hours, and end up with B or C group, AND that day the gate attendants announce family boarding, at least the kids under 4 can board and sit with an adult. (and this is not a guarantee, because they look at the overall make up of the flight and make a decision - too many families often = no family boarding on that flight).