First time flying with SW, what do I need to know?

[kamik86]

A few things

Early board may be worth it for your group. Yes you can all board family boarding but you have a group that really must all sit together. I don't do EBCI for me unless I won't have internet at 24 hours but that is because I only fly with adults.

Snacks vary on SW. sometimes you only get peanuts. sometimes its peanut free and you get a bunch of choices. Generally you get more choices on long flights on really short flights (ALB to BWI... an 1 hour flight wheels up to wheels down) they only give peanuts or pretzels because there isn't time for everyone to decide what they want and for them to still get to everyone.

They also serve drinks. Although as with any flight it is technically possible for the turbulence to be bad enough that the flight attendants are made to sit for most of the flight and nothing is served. I recommend you have some water or juice just in case.

 

[Minnesota!]

It's very orderly.... everyone lines up, goes on to the plane in that order. You just get on, stow your carryon if need be, and grab the first available seat.


With traditional airlines, everyone mills around the gate, and when your section is called, it's a free for all. Even though everyone has assigned seats, they want to be first on.

Traditional airlines just seem a lot more chaotic. I know with SWA, we board and sit and within a few minutes we are pushing back. For other airlines (we fly Delta and Sun Country when needed...), it takes a lot longer to get underway. Maybe because people figure they have an assigned seat already so they are not in any hurry to actually show up? Where with SWA, if you are late, you are sitting middle of two people you don't know?

Who knows - I just find SWA so much smoother. My DH flew them this weekend to LGA and said the same thing...so smooth. In, on, stow, sit, fly.

 

[tabrizia]

Can I ask, what is it about the boarding process that you prefer? To me it sounds chaotic and crazy! I'm kind of picturing me walking down a row of people, carrying a baby and a toddler and all manner of accompaniments, waving my boarding pass, trying to find the right place to stand!

Honestly it is super easy to find where to stand. I also find it far less chaotic then Delta or other airlines where you are assigned a seat. The area where you line up for SouthWest is actually labelled, on each pillar with which numbers should be there. So if you are A 40 for instance you can look and see where it says to stand for position 40 to 50 for instance. It is really easy, and far less chaotic then everyone trying to get into line at the same time when they board zone 2 for instance on Delta, while zone 3 and 4 block the path to get in line.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Honestly it is super easy to find where to stand. I also find it far less chaotic then Delta or other airlines where you are assigned a seat. The area where you line up for SouthWest is actually labelled, on each pillar with which numbers should be there. So if you are A 40 for instance you can look and see where it says to stand for position 40 to 50 for instance. It is really easy, and far less chaotic then everyone trying to get into line at the same time when they board zone 2 for instance on Delta, while zone 3 and 4 block the path to get in line.

SWA starts with medical pre-board passengers (mostly wheel chairs and an escort for each). Then they load the first half of the A listers, then the 2nd half. Next it's family boarding. Then they do the B group (again, one half at a time,) then the C group. It's more orderly than you would think.

 

[DebbieB]

When I was at the airport on Saturday, I noticed that United has poles in the gate area for zones. Great idea! That way a zone 5 person is not standing up front blocking the way when boarding starts.