First Time on SW...

[disneegrl4eva]

Can somebody walk me through the cattle herd process???...Ive never flown SW before and the jist of what I know is this...Im not given a boarding pass number on it...I get one of 4 groups...A,B,C or D...A being the best D the worst and I need to make sure I am on the phone 24 hours prior to my departure to help me get a good group..I didnt get the EB so Im going au natural here...now what I dont know is: once I get to my gate...do I have to line up then? and I go on according to my group number and then the number where Im at in line? how does it work? I am well aware that if its a packed flight that my chances of getting an empty seat are slim to none but those of you who are SW vets...where on the plane is my best shot for getting an empty chair next to me??? back or middle?? I know definitely not the front...anything else I should know?? please feel free to post...thanks

 

[DebbieB]

Can somebody walk me through the cattle herd process???...Ive never flown SW before and the jist of what I know is this...Im not given a boarding pass number on it...I get one of 4 groups...A,B,C or D...A being the best D the worst and I need to make sure I am on the phone 24 hours prior to my departure to help me get a good group..I didnt get the EB so Im going au natural here...now what I dont know is: once I get to my gate...do I have to line up then? and I go on according to my group number and then the number where Im at in line? how does it work? I am well aware that if its a packed flight that my chances of getting an empty seat are slim to none but those of you who are SW vets...where on the plane is my best shot for getting an empty chair next to me??? back or middle?? I know definitely not the front...anything else I should know?? please feel free to post...thanks

It's no longer a cattle herd process, it's very orderly. It's actually quicker and more orderly than other airlines. There is no jockeying for position at the gate like other airlines.

There are 3 groups - A, B, C. I don't think you can call for your position, you have to do it online (or cellphone). If you wait until you get to the airport, you will most likely get C.

You don't line up until your letter is called. You then find your number within your letter group and everyone boards. A has 1 to 60, B has 1 to 60, Remainder are in C (usually about 10 to 20).

Most flights are full, having an empty seat next to you is unlikely. But the most likely spot is in the back.

 

[helenk]

Southwest now gives you a number assignment with your letter. So you can get an A, B or C boarding pass and each letter assignment has a number from 1-60.
You do not line up hours before your flight like you did years ago, the gate person will call passengers that have the blue medical boarding pass, then the A 1-15, (the business select group) after that they call the remaining A boarding passes usually 16-30 and so on. You will line up in numerical order as best as you can and board when your group is called. After the A group comes the families with children under 3 or 4 I forget the age. After that the B's board and then the C's.
I check in right at the 24 hour mark going to WDW, and I have always gotten an A boarding pass or a high B. Coming home I use EB because I do not want to lose any park time while in WDW, I have always gotten an A boarding pass using EB.
I like the SW system, everyone gets to their seats rather quickly and the flights I've been on leave right on time or even a bit early.

 

[puffkin]

It is very orderly the planes board much faster than other airlines I have been on. It is so much nicer now with the sequential boarding than with the cattleherding they used to do years ago.

I usually sit at an empty gate or two away at the airport so as to not be around the crush of people who cannot seem to relax and feel the need to crowd around the gate agent. Drives me insane. That way we can all spread out and relax. Then when I hear them calling the medical/blue slip boarders we gather up our stuff and head over to our number. Very stress free and easy.

I have never paid for EBCI either since we have no problems accessing our computer or my iphone to check in right at 24 hours (we fly SW 2-3 times a year). We have never gotten higher than a B10 boarding position.

 

[gmeh1]

Here is a cute little "boarding shool" link for SWA. It explains, in detail, how the process works. http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/airport-experience/boarding-school/

You can go to any guest services location at the parks to be checked in, they will do it for you and print your boarding pass. Just bring your info with you.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Here is a cute little "boarding shool" link for SWA. It explains, in detail, how the process works. http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/airport-experience/boarding-school/

You can go to any guest services location at the parks to be checked in, they will do it for you and print your boarding pass. Just bring your info with you.

that boarding school thing was cute...thanks everyone for your answers...one more question...does the same thing work where I get the same number on the connecting flight as I get for my first flight? Or am I given a different one??

 

[Jestocost]

that boarding school thing was cute...thanks everyone for your answers...one more question...does the same thing work where I get the same number on the connecting flight as I get for my first flight? Or am I given a different one??

When you check in for your first flight you will receive separate boarding passes and different numbers for each leg if you change planes en route. The good news is that you get to check in for both 24 hours before your first flight so you get a head start on those who are checking in 24 hours ahead of your connecting flight and will get a better number.