Flying on Southwest for the 1st time

[laurabelle]

I couldn't resist the $39 each way fares so I booked a trip for Jan. I have never flown on Southwest before, and it's just me and my two dds (11 & 8) I saw when I booked that I can do the boarding passes online beginning just after midnight the day of our flight. Is that when I get to select seats? I'm concerned about us sitting together, as my inlaws flew SW a few years ago and were not seated together, and I remember them having to line up (the earlier the better!). We aren't checking any bags, just doing carry ons. And, when we fly out of MCO, I won't have internet access, so I can't do the online check in. Any advice? Will I have to get to the airport really early?
Thanks!

 

[ironz]

You don't get to select specific seat assignments. They group people in 3-4 groups, starting with the letter A, then B, and so forth. The earlier you check in (online or in person), the earlier you get to board the plane. group A boards first.
If you check in early on line, you most likely will get A boarding passes...then at the airport, you line up by your letter designation (A,B,C). All the A's will board first...since the plane won't be very full, there should be no problem sitting together...you just might be a little further back, depending on how many people get in line in front of you.

I'm sure it will be fine...and enjoy your trip!!! $39~ what a great rate!!

 

[NotUrsula]

You cannot select seats, ever. If you checkin online in the wee hours, you will all get "A" group boarding passes, which means you will be in the first boarding group after the preboarders. Getting "A" group pretty much assures that you will be able to get contiguous seats. Heading straight for the rear of the plane when you board will make it even more likely.

If you are not travelling with a laptop, you can visit your hotel's concierge or front desk to check you in for your flights on the morning of your return, just bring your confirmation pages for them to use to pull up the ressies. (Tipping the concierge for this service is a nice gesture, btw.)

 

[Mymatisse]

What you may want to do is inform the SW staff that you are flying with young children and they may be of some assistance as far as keeping you all together.

 

[laurabelle]

You cannot select seats, ever. If you checkin online in the wee hours, you will all get "A" group boarding passes, which means you will be in the first boarding group after the preboarders. Getting "A" group pretty much assures that you will be able to get contiguous seats. Heading straight for the rear of the plane when you board will make it even more likely.

If you are not travelling with a laptop, you can visit your hotel's concierge or front desk to check you in for your flights on the morning of your return, just bring your confirmation pages for them to use to pull up the ressies. (Tipping the concierge for this service is a nice gesture, btw.)

Thanks everyone! I just changed my ressies to POFQ and asked if I could get access to a computer to get my boarding passes and print them out and the CM said that they don't at POFQ, but the Contemporary does. Do they have concierge services at POFQ? I'm thinking my other option is to have hubby (who will be home working that weekend) do the online check in for me and fax the boarding passes to me. Do you think they would get them to me that way?

 

[ironz]

That could work...or just get to the airport 2 hours ahead for the return flight.

Plus...there is always the option...if there are no 3 seats together even if you get "B" boarding passes...of asking people to please move. I believe that most people, if told that you are trying to sit with your kids would change seats to allow that to happen.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just have your DH do the online checkin. A hard-copy to hard-copy FAX is likely to be poor-quality and not scan at the boarding gate, but if he saves the printing screen as a PDF file and faxes THAT to the hotel's front desk, you should be good to go.

 

[FallDisney]

DD (7) had an A pass and the rest of us had a B pass. They let us board with the A group. Said they didn't split up families just because they didn't have some boarding group. The four of us sitting together wasn't a problem, even when we had C passes on the flight to MCO and the flight was full.

 

[Tinkim]

Usually you can't beat the price on Southwest but the seating leaves something to be desired. When we flew to Orlando in Jan there were 11 of us. On leaving MHT, some very nice flight attendant gave my friend A passes for all of us so we sat together. We even moved around so a father could sit with his young son. The people at MCO were not so nice. We didn't get A boarding passes and while I didn't expect all 11 of us to be able to sit together we were scattered all over the plane. My DH sat alone. My two boys (9&10) sat way in the back of the plane. I did get a seat with my DD though because she was only 6 and I wasn't going to let her sit alone. My mom sat alone. My friend sat with one of her daughters and the other two daughters sat alone. Maybe it was just a bad day with cranky travelers but don't expect anyone to move around to accommodate you. The flight attendants didn't offer any assistance either. Hopefully with being able to print the boarding passes the night before this can be avoided. I just printed my brother and nieces' boarding passes this week for him at 12:30 a.m. and they had A boarding passes. I told him to ask at the front desk at Pop if there was somewhere he could do this for the return flight. Good luck.

 

[chrisn]

We are a family of 4 and usually always fly Southwest. We've always been able to sit together. Just check in a little early and you'll be fine. I'm going to check in online at home at 12:01 am but on the way back I'm not going to worry about it.