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

[KateP85]

We usually fly first class with United, so I understand flying with SW might be a little different! I've read their website, but not 100% sure on a few things, so I'm hoping some seasoned SW flyers can help me out.

Do we need the Early Bird check-in? It will be myself, my husband, my 3-year old son, and a 2-3 month old baby (who isn't actually here yet!) as a lap baby. Do they have family boarding? We don't care whereabouts on the plane we sit, but we do need to sit somewhat together. I certainly don't mind paying for it if it really makes a big difference.

Does SW serve drinks or snacks, or should be bring our own? The flight is from Orlando to NYC, so a little under 3 hours.

Do any of the seats have TVs or entertainment systems?

Thanks so much for any help anyone can offer!

 

[DaretoDis]

They do serve drinks and snacks. Soda, juices, et. al....adult beverages for those so inclined. Snacks can be peanuts, pretzels, Lorna Doones, or assorted other crackers.

Most flights have wifi where you can watch free TV...NBC, CBS, MSNBC, FOXNEWS, CNBC, and other entertainment channels. Movies are available, but I think it costs. Music is free, and they have quite a selection. No TV in the seats, and no power outlets.

 

[rwdavis2]

Early Bird? If you want to be as sure as possible you can sit together then buy it. Family boarding occurs between groups A and B. The serve drinks and very small snacks. Some have TVs but not all planes.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

As for EBCI me and my husband never buy it and check in on the 24hr mark and get good boarding positions usually the A group
Yes they do Family Boarding between group A & B boarding.
SWA has free drinks and snacks
No TV in the seats but they offer free TV on some not all flights that you can view on your own device. They no long offer music as an entertainment option which I found out on yesterdays flight.

 

[gwynne]

We usually fly first class with United, so I understand flying with SW might be a little different! I've read their website, but not 100% sure on a few things, so I'm hoping some seasoned SW flyers can help me out.

Do we need the Early Bird check-in? It will be myself, my husband, my 3-year old son, and a 2-3 month old baby (who isn't actually here yet!) as a lap baby. Do they have family boarding? We don't care whereabouts on the plane we sit, but we do need to sit somewhat together. I certainly don't mind paying for it if it really makes a big difference.

Does SW serve drinks or snacks, or should be bring our own? The flight is from Orlando to NYC, so a little under 3 hours.

Do any of the seats have TVs or entertainment systems?

Thanks so much for any help anyone can offer!

You'll probably hear some folks tell you not to bother with Early Bird.
If I were you, though, I'd buy it. With it, you are more likely to receive A boarding.
I guess the "risk" is you end up in B boarding and wasted 37.50 each way. In that case, you'd just join the family boarding line at the beginning of B boarding.

 

[JessM]

Everyone already answered your questions but I wanted to add that SW has Disney Channel on their free tv. They also have some disney series you can watch for free. My cousins love it I thought your 3 year old might too! You just need to bring a device to watch it on such as an ipad, kindle, phone, etc.

On the 3 hr flights you normally get a pack of crackers (Ritz thins I think) and a little bag of peanuts or pretzels. You might want to bring your own, they don't sell the snack packs like United does.

 

[DSLRuser]

just know you saved a ton of money, bags fly free.

 

[epsmith921]

On our last southwest flight, we got sodas and juice/water free and the snacks were actually quite varied. Flight was 2.5 hours. We had peanuts, cheese nips, and pretzels I think. They were also willing to give us extras of anything. Our daughter was a toddler at the time so the snacks were right up her alley.

I really liked it. I did bring an empty sippy cup through security for her but beyond that and an iPad I was good to go.

 

[supersnoop]

If you're used to paying for First Class on United, just buy the "Business Select" fare which gives you one of the first 15 boarding positions. I wouldn't bother with EBCI in your situation.

 

[KateP85]

If you're used to paying for First Class on United, just buy the "Business Select" fare which gives you one of the first 15 boarding positions. I wouldn't bother with EBCI in your situation.

I considered this, but other than the early boarding positions, are there any other perks? We pay for first class because of the larger seats, the quieter cabin, included food and alcohol, and as I understand it, SW Business Select doesn't come with any of that. In which case, I'm fine with the EBCI.

 

[KateP85]

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied! I think we will buy the EBCI, it's a small price if we have the chance to all sit together (although it was quite nice to imagine me sitting alone while DH had the two kids!)

We'll definitely pack some snacks for DS, but it's great they serve drinks. Thanks for the heads up about the Disney channel shows too, DS will love that, we'll be sure to pack the iPad!

 

[Disney_Obsessed11]

My first time flying was this past May and let me tell you, I was 10000000% petrified. We flew southwest mainly because your first two bags (up to 50lbs) fly FREE!! How awesome is that! We didn't do the early bird check in, but the seating is basically first come first serve. You go online and check in and you get assigned a group. Because you are flying with children you will most likely be the first group to board!

They give you peanuts--which I thought were the best peanuts I ever had in my life, as well as drinks. The flight attendants are super nice and are willing to get whatever you ask for! They do have entertainment like wifi and you can watch some TV stations, but a lot of it you have to pay for. We were only flying for two hours so I just watched the flight tracker on my phone and looked out the window in awe that I was actually on a plane going to WDW.

We flew from Buffalo, NY to WDW without any stops, it said it was going to be about a 2.5 hr flight but it took only like an hour and 45 minutes!! Flying for the first time was not as scary as I thought it would be, and I feel like Southwest made that happen for me. I would DEFINITELY recommend flying with them, and will probably be the airline I fly with from here on out! Super great flights!!

 

[supersnoop]

I considered this, but other than the early boarding positions, are there any other perks? We pay for first class because of the larger seats, the quieter cabin, included food and alcohol, and as I understand it, SW Business Select doesn't come with any of that. In which case, I'm fine with the EBCI.

Each Business Select ticket comes with one alcoholic beverage in addition to the early boarding position. You could also pay $40 for one of those spots when you get to the gate, if they're still available.

 

[Allison]

Because you are flying with children you will most likely be the first group to board!

Family boarding is after A group boarding.

 

[hsmamato2]

OP I don't think you will have a big problem sitting together, b/c you have 2 young kids- even if you don't pay for EBCI, you will still get family boarding, which is after A group, so around 60-80 seats filled at that point.... unless you are set on sitting close to the front,I can't imagine a problem. You do NEED to be online at 24 hours (plus a few to have your screen up and ready to hit 'checkin') to try for that A boarding..... whether you get it or not depends on how many EBCI passes people bought.....

If money is no object,you can pay the extra. But I personally wouldn't,and just do family boarding between A and B if needed(like you got B boarding pass at 24 hrs)
SWA boards disabled/elderly first- the A list- then boarding groups A,B,C -the boarding line holds 60 people each round(well organized by 5's,no worries)

 

[hsmamato2]

oh, and maybe it's just me, but esp. with small kids I pack a lot of snacks and things to keep them busy.... you just never know what the trip will bring,delays,etc can happen! never just rely on a bag of crackers....

 

[KateP85]

oh, and maybe it's just me, but esp. with small kids I pack a lot of snacks and things to keep them busy.... you just never know what the trip will bring,delays,etc can happen! never just rely on a bag of crackers....

Lol I'm with you, there will be plenty of snacks packed! I always worry about being delayed or held up on the plane somehow with a hungry child, it's not a pleasant thought!

 

[tabrizia]

oh, and maybe it's just me, but esp. with small kids I pack a lot of snacks and things to keep them busy.... you just never know what the trip will bring,delays,etc can happen! never just rely on a bag of crackers....

I always do a snack bag for mine even for a 90 minute flight. They rarely eat much from it, but I like knowing they have it just in case. I use a gallon ziplock per kid and put there stuff in there and then in their backpack. They normally get to chose 1 small bag of candy at Target which goes in there, plus granola bars, maybe a cliff bar, goldfish, sometimes fruit, a squeeze apple sauce and something like veggie sticks individual bags. That way I don't need to worry if there is a delay or other issues since they all have a bunch of snacks to keep them happy.

 

[Minnesota!]

My one suggestion is to pack double the amount of diapers, wipes, formula, snacks, changes of clothes, you think you will need for the flight into your carryon. A minor delay anywhere can set off a long chain of events that can delay you for a while. (8 hours in Atlanta for us a few years back...). Rather have them and not need them then the reverse...


Otherwise, LOVE SWA. They are great and easy...I was nervous the first time too, but it has been a breeze and we much prefer their boarding to anyone else's now..

 

[KateP85]

My one suggestion is to pack double the amount of diapers, wipes, formula, snacks, changes of clothes, you think you will need for the flight into your carryon. A minor delay anywhere can set off a long chain of events that can delay you for a while. (8 hours in Atlanta for us a few years back...). Rather have them and not need them then the reverse...


Otherwise, LOVE SWA. They are great and easy...I was nervous the first time too, but it has been a breeze and we much prefer their boarding to anyone else's now..

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!

This will be DS's 16th flight, so he is a seasoned flyer, but it will be baby's first flight! The first time DS flew he was 5 months old, and it was just him and I on a long-haul trip from Florida to England; we flew first class, and I spent the whole flight worried he would disturb people. So I'm quite happy this flight should be a little more relaxed in case it turns out this baby does not take to flying so well!