First time on Southwest with kids, HELP

[designermv]

We are SUPPOSED to fly out of BWI on Wednesday, February 10. That is assuming we don't get another blizzard on top of the one we're getting tomorrow. It will be me (38), DD (5), DD (12 weeks) and my mother (68). My 12-week old will be flying as a lap infant (no flames please). We did not pay the extra $10 for EBCI. The flight is at 6:50AM.

We usually fly JetBlue so I'm not quite sure how Southwest's boarding policies work and I'm not sure I have the brain cells to try and comprehend it right now.

1) Can I do online check-in 24 hours out?
2) Would I be better off paying for EBCI so we can all sit together? My 5-year old will not want to be separated from me.
3) Are we eligible for family boarding or does my daughter being 5 disqualify us?

Thanks so much!

 

[chicagoshannon]

From what I've read on here you wont' be able to use family boarding because your daughter is 5 and your baby doesn't have a seat.

You can check in 24 hours ahead of time.

I'm not sure how busy your airport is or if it's a layover stop. If there is a chance that it's a layover and the previous people don't deplane you might want to do the ECBI.

 

[maurene]

I *think* you should easily qualify for family boarding even if you're baby is a lap child. If you're worried, you might try calling SW. Their website says nothing about the child having their own seat in order to qualify for family boarding. What might happen, is they refuse to let your older DD preboard with you and the baby. In that case, grandma could board with her later. Or you might try the 3 of you family-boarding together and grandma comes later (with her assigned number). I would be so disappointed in SW if they refused to let a mom with a baby and 5 yo board during family boarding.

I'm having the same debate with myself about EBCI (and I fly out a week from Saturday). But I definately qualify for family boarding. Still, most of the first hand experiences I've read from moms say that they have no problem sitting together even if they board in the mid-Bs. Also, the later you purchase EBCI - the less advantageous is becomes - because I believe they assign boarding positions (under EBCI) based on fare class and when EBCI was purchased.

 

[Mish]

You will qualify for family boarding. Also if you check in 24 hours prior you should have no problem getting A or B boarding then you will be able to get seats together. Also we flew last Nov for the first time on Southwest and I was so nervous we would not sit together but we did. And I saw them moving people so that people with small children could sit together. I would not worry they are very accommodating. Michelle

 

[WDWjen]

We just flew last week and they had family boarding. we had checked in almost 24 prior (about 10 mins late due to computer glitch) and we got B48 and up (5 seats). We did not pay for EBCI.

It was a connecting flight so there were already people onboard when we got on. We boarded between A and B because my youngest is 4. We had to walk all the way to the back of the plane but we did get seats together (3 and 2)

If there had not been family boarding we would have not gotten seats together. MY 6 yr old would not want to sit by herself. I would have had to ask someone to move. I was glad they had family boarding.

MY advice.. be ready to check in BEFORE the 24 hour mark and as soon as your time comes up - the exact minute- click on the submit button. YOu should get a A or B boarding pass and be okay. By the way, on the return I was at the hotel at 24 hrs prior and the concierge desk just did it for me and we got A boarding passes.

If you are really concerned and want grandma to sit with the kids you could just buy one EBCI ticket and save the other seats. SW has NO policy on saving seats, they dont allow it or deny it, but if someone wants your seat they can take it...

Check in exactly at 24hrs and you should be OK. have a great flight!

 

[Erica09M]

From what I've read on here you wont' be able to use family boarding because your daughter is 5 and your baby doesn't have a seat.

You can check in 24 hours ahead of time.

I'm not sure how busy your airport is or if it's a layover stop. If there is a chance that it's a layover and the previous people don't deplane you might want to do the ECBI.

To the bolded: That is false, according to the SW agent I spoke with this morning. Lap children qualify you for family boarding, even if your other children are 5 and older.

 

[Virtucomp]

I never qualified for family boarding when we started flying and at times had B passes. We never had a problem seating the four of us either across the isle or right behind. We usually grab three seats together and I sit in one seat closest to them. It is more a matter of how far back you sit. If you want to be together and don't care where you are in the plane you will have no problem.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Your flight is early enough that it won't be a connecting flight. Therefore, you shouldn't have anybody getting connecting boarding passes.

You can check in at T-24 and should be able to get decent boarding pass numbers. If you don't get A's, then you can family board as a back up plan.

However, you will be required to bring a birth certificate for your baby to prove that she is over 12 weeks of age and show it to the clerk when checking your bags.

 

[E-Stop]

I fly SW regularly for business. My advise is to check in online exactly 24hrs before the flight to assure you get group A passes in case they do not let you family preboard. then print those passes up you will see the letter A and a number (16-XX). That number is your spot in line for the A group (A1-15 is for business select) when its time to board they will call the A group 1st, you line up in the order your number dictates, and you march onto the plane. I always try to go for the seats over the wings on the right side of the plane as they offer much more legroom then anywhere else on the plane. if your A number is low enough you stand a very good chance of snagging those seats as everyone tries to get seats in the 1st couple of rows. from what I have seen, since it is open seating, is that the window and aisle seats get taken 1st, then the B, C, and stand by groups are left to fight over the very unpopular middle seats. Best of luck to you. SW is a decent no frills airline with friendly staff.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

I fly SW regularly for business. My advise is to check in online exactly 24hrs before the flight to assure you get group A passes in case they do not let you family preboard. then print those passes up you will see the letter A and a number (16-XX). That number is your spot in line for the A group (A1-15 is for business select) when its time to board they will call the A group 1st, you line up in the order your number dictates, and you march onto the plane. I always try to go for the seats over the wings on the right side of the plane as they offer much more legroom then anywhere else on the plane. if your A number is low enough you stand a very good chance of snagging those seats as everyone tries to get seats in the 1st couple of rows. from what I have seen, since it is open seating, is that the window and aisle seats get taken 1st, then the B, C, and stand by groups are left to fight over the very unpopular middle seats. Best of luck to you. SW is a decent no frills airline with friendly staff.

Children under the age of 15 or 16 are not allowed in the emergency exit row seats.