extra seat ?

[feenie]

Hello,
We have purchased an extra seat for our upcoming flight on Southwest airlines. We have flown in the past with no problem, but since they are more strictly keeping to the Customer of Size policy We thought it would be better all around.
So, My question is this. DH and I are traveling with an 8 year old when we go in November. Can we sit all three in a row and just forget about the extra seat once we board? We will fit comfortably in one row, since the 8 year old is super skinny and DH is average size....
Also, I read somewhere that people with an extra seat can pre-board so they can be assured that they can get their 2 seats together... Can the rest of the party board at this time as well.... (and is this cheating if we don't use the extra seat after all )
thanks!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

You should read Southwest's Customer of Size Q & A http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html
and call them if you still have questions. Among other things, this Q & A answers the question why each passenger is entitled to the entire seat or seats he/she purchased.
Since you are paying for (apparently) four seats for the three of you, you are entitled to and should use all four seats. And chances are only the COS will be permitted to preboard, not your entire party or even your immediate family.