First time flying southwest

[MJBING]

We are Two adults, one 6 yo and one 3 yo , flying thanksgiving eve ( afternoon) from BWI to Orlando


What do I need to know re boarding / reservations/ checking in?

Thanks

 

[helenk]

With a 3 year old you will be able to board with family boarding, which is after the A boarding passes.
You should check in on line right at the 24 hour mark, if you do not get A boarding passes then board with the family boarding.
If I were you I would not bother spending the money for Early Bird check in, it is $25 each, $12.50 each way. I generally travel solo and use the Early bird check in for my flight home so that I do not have to worry about checking at the parks.
If you have not made your reservations, you should check the prices now as there is a sale going on until July 11th. I booked my early December trip as soon as the dates opened and I have seen the fares for my flights go up and down several times. If you book now and the rates go down you can use the credits towards a future flight. The credits must be used within 1 year of the date that you made the original reservation.
I love SW and fly them most of the time for my trips to WDW, I really like the fact that you can check 2 bags for free.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We are Two adults, one 6 yo and one 3 yo , flying thanksgiving eve ( afternoon) from BWI to Orlando


What do I need to know re boarding / reservations/ checking in?

Thanks

Why not check out Southwest's website? All of these questions are answered there and you'll be sure to get accurate information,

 

[Gracie09]

Why not check out Southwest's website? All of these questions are answered there and you'll be sure to get accurate information,

This make sure to check out boarding school. Just note tht sometimes family boarding is cancelled especially to places like mco where the whole plane can be families and sometimes it's limited to one parent and one kid. If you want to make sure as best you can that you all sit together purchase ebci.

 

[Gracie09]

Just notices you are flying thanksgiving eve but the ebci. Your flight will likely be overful because of te holiday.

 

[MJBING]

Just notices you are flying thanksgiving eve but the ebci. Your flight will likely be overful because of te holiday.

right....thanksgiving eve we have no problem 24 hour in advance....sales are really not applicable on this date but want to make certain each little one has an adult...

on our return trip, which is after 8pm, I am not so worried about it because it is a Tuesday and is later in the day, but that said, i do not want to have to check in 24 hours in advance.

 

[Gracie09]

right....thanksgiving eve we have no problem 24 hour in advance....sales are really not applicable on this date but want to make certain each little one has an adult...

on our return trip, which is after 8pm, I am not so worried about it because it is a Tuesday and is later in the day, but that said, i do not want to have to check in 24 hours in advance.

I honestly think you should be worried about it. You are traveling at a very busy time of year. From reports people are buying ebci more and more so the assignments at 24 hours are more likely later a or bs. You are flying to Orlando where 90 percent of the plane will likely be families so family boarding will likely be only one parent with one child or cancelled.
If you want To run the risk of being separated from your family at least your older kid, then don't buy it. But don't expect sw or your fellow passengers to move everyone around so you can sit together.

 

[Mkrop]

right....thanksgiving eve we have no problem 24 hour in advance....sales are really not applicable on this date but want to make certain each little one has an adult...

on our return trip, which is after 8pm, I am not so worried about it because it is a Tuesday and is later in the day, but that said, i do not want to have to check in 24 hours in advance.

I would buy EBCI.

Late night flights are very popular because everyone wants more time in WDW. Your home flight could be very crowded as well.

 

[MJBING]

I would buy EBCI.

Late night flights are very popular because everyone wants more time in WDW. Your home flight could be very crowded as well.

return trip is on airtran and i just read on southwest booking school that on airtan 24 hr checkin is not applicable....now, i guess i need to decide on thanksgiving eve flight....

 

[Gracie09]

You may want to search for the AirTran via sw thread.
Good luck

 

[Mkrop]

return trip is on airtran and i just read on southwest booking school that on airtan 24 hr checkin is not applicable....now, i guess i need to decide on thanksgiving eve flight....

You might have issues sitting together than. Airtran seats their passengers first and than assigns the SW folks

 

[stitchlovestink]

This make sure to check out boarding school. Just note tht sometimes family boarding is cancelled especially to places like mco where the whole plane can be families and sometimes it's limited to one parent and one kid. If you want to make sure as best you can that you all sit together purchase ebci.

OP stated they are flying BWI to MCO. BWI is my home airport. I have flown BWI to MCO dozens of times on SW and NOT once have I ever witnessed them cancelling family boarding Even when it was HALF of the plane...not from BWI. I've flown BWI to MCO 6 times just this year and not cancelled once.

OP, I would not spend the $$ on EBCI with kids your age. Definitely a waste IMO!

 

[Gracie09]

OP stated they are flying BWI to MCO. BWI is my home airport. I have flown BWI to MCO dozens of times on SW and NOT once have I ever witnessed them cancelling family boarding Even when it was HALF of the plane...not from BWI. I've flown BWI to MCO 6 times just this year and not cancelled once.

OP, I would not spend the $$ on EBCI with kids your age. Definitely a waste IMO!

On what is traditionally the busiest travel day of year there is no way I would go near a sw flight with young kids without ebci. If you want to do everything you can to ensure your needs are met (seats together) and not rely on strangers that is the price you pay.

 

[mickeynut1]

Just note tht sometimes family boarding is cancelled especially to places like mco where the whole plane can be families and sometimes it's limited to one parent and one kid. If you want to make sure as best you can that you all sit together purchase ebci.

I agree and would purchase EBCI. As many times as we've flown SWA from Chicago MDW to MCO, I have never seen family boarding cancelled, but it has always been 1 parent with 1 child under age 4, so the other parent and 6 yo would not be able to board until their allotted boarding time. Of course, anything is possible and you might all be allowed to board during family boarding, but I wouldn't count on it. If it were me, I'd spend the extra money for EBCI to be safe. Good luck.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Yes but if you put your youngest in the window seat and you take the isle seat...I will bet BIG $$$ NO ONE will take that middle seat between the two of you and it will still be available for your older child when they board!! Your DH may not get a seat near you but at least you will be seated with both of your kids!! I would be completely okay with that! How about you, OP?

 

[MJBING]

Yes but if you put your youngest in the window seat and you take the isle seat...I will bet BIG $$$ NO ONE will take that middle seat between the two of you and it will still be available for your older child when they board!! Your DH may not get a seat near you but at least you will be seated with both of your kids!! I would be completely okay with that! How about you, OP?

I'd be cool with that....there is no way they are going to let a 3 yo fly alone...so i think he is covered...it is my 6 year old...who has never flown...but i am going to check in 24 hrs in advance...

I posted this originally because it is the busiest flying day of the year...we took a flight in the middle of the day ( 4pm..ish departure). I know it is one of the worst days of the year to fly...and people are going to be vultures out there.

 

[Gracie09]

Yes but if you put your youngest in the window seat and you take the isle seat...I will bet BIG $$$ NO ONE will take that middle seat between the two of you and it will still be available for your older child when they board!! Your DH may not get a seat near you but at least you will be seated with both of your kids!! I would be completely okay with that! How about you, OP?

Not on the day before thanksgiving I wouldn't. Too many variables. Is it a continuing flight? So some seats will be filled before you even start boarding. Is the plane overbooked (likely)? Chance of people volunteering their seats for a later flight - slim to none. Chance family boarding is limited or skipped pretty good. Chance a single person may want that middle seat especially if he realizes you will likely give him te aisle or window once he sits down, pretty good.

 

[MJBING]

I agree and would purchase EBCI. As many times as we've flown SWA from Chicago MDW to MCO, I have never seen family boarding cancelled, but it has always been 1 parent with 1 child under age 4, so the other parent and 6 yo would not be able to board until their allotted boarding time. Of course, anything is possible and you might all be allowed to board during family boarding, but I wouldn't count on it. If it were me, I'd spend the extra money for EBCI to be safe. Good luck.

I think i am most concerned about each kid being with a parent....or across the isle from the 6 year old is also acceptable as he is not is too clingy. That said, I think the 3 year old should be guaranteed a parent next to him, the older one not so.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Not on the day before thanksgiving I wouldn't. Too many variables. Is it a continuing flight? So some seats will be filled before you even start boarding. Is the plane overbooked (likely)? Chance of people volunteering their seats for a later flight - slim to none. Chance family boarding is limited or skipped pretty good. Chance a single person may want that middle seat especially if he realizes you will likely give him te aisle or window once he sits down, pretty good.

Family boarding at BWI does not get cancelled! Do you fly out of BWI? I do. They use the same gate agents over and over and they don't skip it. They announce it and the terms...each gate agt may do it a little different, some...1parent, 1child...some will allow both parents w/ 1 child...some will allow a 'slightly older child say the 6 yo and father to board along w/ the qualifying 3 yo & mother... I've seen it ALL DIFFERENT WAYS.

My issue is with the whole EBCI. Just because you purchase it does not GUARANTEE you anything other than it will check you in 36hrs prior to Your flight. That's it. People who buy ebci after you can still get a lower boarding # than you. That's Wrong IMO! They don't limit the # of ebci's that they sell on a flight so literally everyone 'could' buy one. So you could buy it and still end up with a C boarding pass. Likely....No. Possible...Yes. People have definitely gotten "B" boarding passes paying for ebci. I would be very annoyed if I paid for ebci and was then put behind family boarding!!! IMO, ALL paid for ebci should get to board before family boarding since they are charging for this service. This is one thing I don't think SW does handle fairly IMO but it doesn't affect me.
But I can assure you if I had a child under age four I would gamble it every time and do as I suggested above! And if someone chose to sit in that seat I would make them aware that I have no intention of switching seats, so "we" will be conversing back and forth while he/she sits in the middle of our conversation!

 

[maxiesmom]

But I can assure you if I had a child under age four I would gamble it every time and do as I suggested above! And if someone chose to sit in that seat I would make them aware that I have no intention of switching seats, so "we" will be conversing back and forth while he/she sits in the middle of our conversation!

As long as you realize it is a gamble, and you may end up with someone in between you and your child, who may choose to hold up a newspaper or something.

Realize if you want to try to play games with seat assignments, other people may not want to play. And you, and your other child, could end up miserable.