First-time Southwest User Questions

[ebmouse]

Good morning everybody and happy Autumn! I have a two-part question for you savvy Southwest flyers. I know that you can't pick a seat but can't find any info. about A-lines, C-lines? What are these and how do I go about getting 3 of us to sit together? Also, I see some of you already got Dings w/ November dates and all of mine end on October 31st. I'm waiting for some in Nov. and wonder why I don't see any yet. Thanks for any info. you can give!

 

[goofy4tink]

There are three sets of boarding lines...preboarders (handicapped, flying with young children, or kids flying alone), A line, B line and C line. What line you get depends on when you checkin. If you checkin on-line 24 hrs before your departure time, you will most likely end up with A. Even if you checkin at 12 hrs beforeheand, you will most likely get Bs. So...if you get A's you will have no trouble finding three seats together. You may have to head towards the back of the plane. Section B's can usually sit three together but they are way in the back. It's the section C's that may have a problem with three seats together. Those in the A and B lines will usually take up the window and aisle seats, leaving the middle seats open, in hopes of it not being a full plane, giving those people in the window/aisle seats more room to stretch out.

So, checkin online as soon as you can...up to 24 hrs before departure and you should be fine.

 

[cepmom]

On SW you can check in online starting 24 hours ahead of your flight time. The earlier you can check in, the better chances of getting a "A" pass. The "A" pass allows you to board the plane first (well after preboarders ~ people with children under age 4 and people that need assistance)thus having the first pick of seats. The "B" passes goes next then "C" pass holders last. When you get to the gate, you will see the designated rows "A" "B" and "C"

I haven't seen any November Dings yet, they should be coming out soon so just keep an eye on them

 

[Pinnie]

Only chink in the picture is if you are on a plane that is making a stop that originated in another city. For instance, there is a flight that leaves Detroit heading to MCO. That flight stops in Nashville and the people from Detroit do not deplane, they remain onboard for the remaining leg of their flight. You can bet the EXIT rows will be taken along with most of the front of the plane.

The other issue is if you are making a connection in another city. For instance, I leave out of DTW, change planes in MDW and go on to MCO. I will get my boarding pass for the MDW-MCO leg when I check in for my DTW flight. IF my flight is late in getting into MDW, I could board that plane late and there wouldn't be any seats together. (Happened on a few occasions for me!)

Best advice is get your boarding pass early and get to the airport on time.

pinnie

 

[ebmouse]

Thanks for all the answers. I think I've got it. Does it pay to get in line and board with the crowd or can you just sit back, moo under your breath, and wait 'til all on line have mooved into plane and you'll still have a good seat pick? We would be on a non-stop. Also, does anyone know if POP can check us in for return flights home? Do you remember the hours of operation in that hotel? Thanks!

 

[salmoneous]

Does it pay to get in line and board with the crowd or can you just sit back, moo under your breath, and wait 'til all on line have mooved into plane and you'll still have a good seat pick?

If you have A passes and you just want 3 seats together, there is no need to wait in line. Moo under your breath or even Moo out loud. Spend some time pondering why those people are waiting in the A line - it's the great Southwest mystery that nobody can solve. (Recent flight was obviously less than half full - just A's, a handful of B's and no C's. Yet 80% of the people waiting in line for an hour. Go figure.)

Yes, it is technically possible for there to not be 3 seats together by the time you get to the back of the A's. But in perhaps a hundred SW flights, I've never seen it. I have read a few reports of people at the back of the A line who had to - horrors - sit in the back of the plane to get their seats together.

Yes - the folks at POP's lobby concierge can check you in and print out your boarding passes for the return flight. They should be open at any time SW has a flight from MCO.

 

[ebmouse]

Good laugh...thanks! Good info,too!

 

[ebmouse]

I've made 2 separate ressies for one-way flights and have been keeping an eye open for a Ding. Flight down was a non-ref. $99. which was okay...return was $196. return/refundable. If a Ding comes thru, can I book it and then cancel the other or will I have to cancel first? Thanks!

 

[cepmom]

I've made 2 separate ressies for one-way flights and have been keeping an eye open for a Ding. Flight down was a non-ref. $99. which was okay...return was $196. return/refundable. If a Ding comes thru, can I book it and then cancel the other or will I have to cancel first? Thanks!

I found the best way to handle this is:

1)select your flights for the new Ding fare all the way up until the payment page

2)open a second window and go to SW travel center page.

3)select "cancel flight" and enter the confirmation # from first flight and name of person on the credit card used to pay for first flight, but don't go all the way to cancel flight just yet

4)quickly check first window to see if your Ding fare is still available for your selected flights

5) If your Ding fare is still available, go back to "cancel flight" window and cancel flight

6) go to Ding window and click where it says "apply ticketless travel funds"

7) enter in confirmation # from cancelled flight and name of person on that credit card

that's it!
__________________

 

[ebmouse]

I don't know...sounds iffy. I would die if I lost both flights. Also, do you get a refund on your credit card for the cancelled flight or does it go into hold account for a future flight?

 

[dgaston]

If it's the same flight you can get a refund by calling customer service. If you've changed flights or dates, you will have a credit for one year for future travel.

 

[katiedid0801]

I don't know...sounds iffy. I would die if I lost both flights. Also, do you get a refund on your credit card for the cancelled flight or does it go into hold account for a future flight?

If the original fare was refundable (like your return fare) you can get a refund. It's really not iffy, I've done this numerous times and never had a problem!

 

[Luuvebugg]

We are going in about 2 weeks to Disney, (using Southwest) and we are taking our almost 4 year old daughter...do I need to go online and check in or will we be in the "A" group automatically because we have her?...Thanks for any info!

 

[byoung]

Started out booking Oct 20th and return on Oct 27th at $111 each way, have changed it now 5 times and down to $49 each way. If it goes lower will rebook again.

 

[jgmklmhem]

We are going in about 2 weeks to Disney, (using Southwest) and we are taking our almost 4 year old daughter...do I need to go online and check in or will we be in the "A" group automatically because we have her?...Thanks for any info!

You need to do the 24hr check-in just to be sure. They don't look at the ages of the children and automatically give you an A boarding pass. Most likely you will be able to pre-board with your daughter before the A line even goes, but there are some times that if the whole flight is mostly families that they don't allow pre-boards for anything other than disabilities. We had it happen to us on our flight to LAX from SLC during a break period and everyone was going to DLR for the 50th...but we had our A passes by checking in 24hours early online so we got the seats we wanted.