Flew SWA first time

[kkmauch]

LOVED IT!! Will definitely fly southwest again. We flew MSP-MCO 3/7 on a non-stop at noon. It was perfect! Checked in exactly 24hours ahead and got group A for seating. We had plenty of good choices. The crew was entertaining and very friendly. There was definitely more space than on our flight home with Sun Country. We've flown Sun Country a lot and usually prefer them to Delta for ease of terminal two and the direct flight down early in the morning. But we would fly SWA in a heartbeat over Sun Country if the price wasn't far off. We really enjoyed flying with them and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone else.

 

[CarolMN]

We fly out of MSP, too.

I always thought I would not like SWA. But after trying them a few years ago, I completely agree with you. (We do buy EBCI for the return trip so we don't have to worry about checking in at the 24 hour mark when we would probably be in a park).

Lately, the SWA prices haven't been competitive and most of their flights to MCO are not even direct, let alone non-stop. If the merger with AirTran results in more non-stop flights, that would be great! I'm willing to pay a little more for non-stop and like you, strongly prefer Terminal 2.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

So many people bash Southwest, calling it a cattle car. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their boarding method is certainly odd but since everyone lines up single file, it is the most orderly in the domestic airline business! It's on the other airlines that people board with a herd mentality, everyone congregating around the podium waiting for their "boarding group" to be called. Now that's a cattle car, IMO!

BobK/Orlando

 

[goofy4tink]

So many people bash Southwest, calling it a cattle car. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their boarding method is certainly odd but since everyone lines up single file, it is the most orderly in the domestic airline business! It's on the other airlines that people board with a herd mentality, everyone congregating around the podium waiting for their "boarding group" to be called. Now that's a cattle car, IMO!

BobK/Orlando

Have to agree, 100%!! I love flying JB, but I really, really hate the mad crush as soon as they start the boarding process. I hate having to shove my way through the large number of people standing by the jetway entrance, figuring they can scoot on quickly as soon as their group is called, if not sooner!!! Drives me nuts!! My step-mother was a medical preboard in early Feb and it was nasty getting her through that mass of people.
I really do enjoy the boarding process with SW...I haven't ever had an issue since they started with the 'pole system'!!!

 

[DonnaL]

We also love SWA...have been using them since they arrived in PHL quite a few years ago. I also have never understood why people refer to "cattlecar" boarding. We've always found it to be very orderly and totally agree about the problems with the groups of people waiting to board on other airlines. I guess it's all how you perceive it........
I just wish that SWA hadn't pulled Airtran out of ABE last fall.....since it's a much shorter drive than PHL for us. Even better.......I wish they would announce they're coming to AVP....which is pretty much right around the corner from our house...literally less than 5 minutes! Unfortunately......I don't see that happening.....so I think we'll need to continue the 2 hour trek to PHL.

 

[richmo]

...We do buy EBCI for the return trip so we don't have to worry about checking in at the 24 hour mark when we would probably be in a park.

2 comments on this:
- My observation has been that getting a good boarding position returning from MCO generally isn't as hard as it is going there. Probable reason: most people are in the same situation, in some theme park. If you have a smartphone, the Southwest app is decent for checking in...and the in-park WiFi at WDW is Ok in most places (but not all). Of course you can use your data plan too; just make sure you have access to your confirmation number.
- If you do go the EBCI route, you probably only need to do it for one in your party. Unless you get stuck with a C, one person will probably be successful holding seats for you (of course, officially you can't do that).

So many people bash Southwest, calling it a cattle car. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their boarding method is certainly odd but since everyone lines up single file, it is the most orderly in the domestic airline business! It's on the other airlines that people board with a herd mentality, everyone congregating around the podium waiting for their "boarding group" to be called. Now that's a cattle car, IMO!

BobK/Orlando

If you've only flown SW the past few years, you may not remember their old system, where you were assigned an A, B or C, with no number. The SW gate area had sections that very much resembled a cattle chute, with all the A's piling into one area, the B's in another and the C's in another. That wouldn't be so bad, except people would literally camp in these chutes, sometimes lining up an hour before the flight. Why people in A did this, I never did understand, since you had your pick of the plane anyway. You kind of had to do it if you were in B and especially in C, or you and your group would be middle seat picking.

 

[goofy4tink]

2 comments on this:
- My observation has been that getting a good boarding position returning from MCO generally isn't as hard as it is going there. Probable reason: most people are in the same situation, in some theme park. If you have a smartphone, the Southwest app is decent for checking in...and the in-park WiFi at WDW is Ok in most places (but not all). Of course you can use your data plan too; just make sure you have access to your confirmation number.
- If you do go the EBCI route, you probably only need to do it for one in your party. Unless you get stuck with a C, one person will probably be successful holding seats for you (of course, officially you can't do that).
Most of us that buy EBCI for our return flights are doing it so we don't have to worry about checking in at the 24 hr window. I hate worrying about being online since I'll be in a park at that time.
I also have no issue with saving of seats...as long as it's no more than two....so that all three are in the same row. But, other than that? It's not really fair to those behind you that paid for EBCI if you are trying to save multiple seats in multiple rows.


If you've only flown SW the past few years, you may not remember their old system, where you were assigned an A, B or C, with no number. The SW gate area had sections that very much resembled a cattle chute, with all the A's piling into one area, the B's in another and the C's in another. That wouldn't be so bad, except people would literally camp in these chutes, sometimes lining up an hour before the flight. Why people in A did this, I never did understand, since you had your pick of the plane anyway. You kind of had to do it if you were in B and especially in C, or you and your group would be middle seat picking.

I well remember those cattle chute days. And yes, I was one who was there early. Otherwise, I had to stand there, in the line for an hour or more. And I hate standing for that long. If I got there early enough, there was room to sit down and lean against the wall area. It realy had nothing to do with which seat I got once I got on the plane but more to do with being able to relax while waiting to board.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I just wish that SWA hadn't pulled Airtran out of ABE last fall.....since it's a much shorter drive than PHL for us. Even better.......I wish they would announce they're coming to AVP.

Since AirTran used Boeing 717's on that route and Southwest decided to stick with Boeing 737's post-merger only, ABE and several other cities got axed. Southwest felt it could not fill multiple 737's per day from those cities.

If you've only flown SW the past few years, you may not remember their old system, where you were assigned an A, B or C, with no number.

Never flew them during the years they had that system. But I do recall their original system where you were given a large plastic card with your boarding order number on it, based on the order you checked-in at the airport counter. No A-B-C, just 1-150.

BobK/Orlando

 

[CarolMN]

2 comments on this:
- My observation has been that getting a good boarding position returning from MCO generally isn't as hard as it is going there. Probable reason: most people are in the same situation, in some theme park. If you have a smartphone, the Southwest app is decent for checking in...and the in-park WiFi at WDW is Ok in most places (but not all). Of course you can use your data plan too; just make sure you have access to your confirmation number.

I do not have a smart phone and do not plan to get one in the near future. I like knowing we are checked in automatically and the fact that I don't have to remember to do it,

- If you do go the EBCI route, you probably only need to do it for one in your party. Unless you get stuck with a C, one person will probably be successful holding seats for you (of course, officially you can't do that).

I think saving seats is very rude and will not do it. When we do EBCI, we do it for everyone in my party.

If you've only flown SW the past few years, you may not remember their old system, where you were assigned an A, B or C, with no number. The SW gate area had sections that very much resembled a cattle chute, with all the A's piling into one area, the B's in another and the C's in another. That wouldn't be so bad, except people would literally camp in these chutes, sometimes lining up an hour before the flight. Why people in A did this, I never did understand, since you had your pick of the plane anyway. You kind of had to do it if you were in B and especially in C, or you and your group would be middle seat picking.

I have read about this, but not experienced it since SWA did not begin flying out of MSP until after they revised the boarding procedure. I like their boarding process - as others have said, it's faster ad easier than the process used by the legacy airlines.

 

[richmo]

Never flew them during the years they had that system. But I do recall their original system where you were given a large plastic card with your boarding order number on it, based on the order you checked-in at the airport counter. No A-B-C, just 1-150.

Wow, thats before my Southwest days. That's actually pretty close to the system they have now; only the A-B-C helps in that only a third or so are in line at one time.

 

[dudspizza]

Our family just flew Sun Country AND SW to/from Las Vegas last week. We had 2 free flights on SC and SW was the cheapest by $300. DW and DD13 flew SC non-stop while me and DD16 flew SW. We ended up taking 4 pieces of luggage (smaller suitcases) since SW has free bags. The flights landed within an hour of each other both ways and all worked out great.

I don't mind the SW boarding/seating procedure and if you have a A pass (we purchased EBCI both ways), you have a chance at an exit row. They have 1 row that has only 2 seats in the exit row and DD and I snagged that row on all 4 of our segments..... the only down side was that our connection on the way home was 30 minutes and we were most likely going to be last on the plane, even though we had A21-22. We landed in DEN and found out our connection was 30 minutes late! Perfect for us as we got to use A 21-22. The flight next to ours was scheduled with the same original departure and that one was totally loaded by the time we arrived at our gate......

I have no problem flying SW, but then again, I'll fly anyone as I love flying and have not had a bad flight, ever. Even with delays, cancellation, etc.... I still love to fly.... heck, I enjoy the airport and flights as much as the trip!

Duds

 

[Jestocost]

Wow, thats before my Southwest days. That's actually pretty close to the system they have now; only the A-B-C helps in that only a third or so are in line at one time.

Note that in those days, however, they only called say 1-60 and the first number that got there in that group got on board. You did not line up in numerical order.

 

[gmeh1]

Note that in those days, however, they only called say 1-60 and the first number that got there in that group got on board. You did not line up in numerical order.

Oh, I do remember those days. I like the new system better, especially with the family boarding between a & B.