Flying Southwest? Going on a Cruise? READ THIS

[Disneyfalcon]

I love Southwests cheap fares but I had a really hard time with their non assigned seats leaving Orlando. I had a six year old and they let us preboard on every segment except leaving Orlando. The plane was completely full and they announced three times you could not preboard without a child under 5. My 8 year old had to go to the bathroom while we were waiting and we ended up dead last in line. I watched family after family ignore the child under 5 rule and preboard. By the time I got to the ticketing agent I was furious. When he told me we would all three be sitting in separate seats I lost it. I told him, I couldn't believe they would expect a six year old to sit alone and that they told me I couldn't preboard, but didn't enforce it with the people who didn't ask permission. He felt bad and ran down the walkway to talk to a flight attendant. When he came back he said they were saving a row for us and apologized that it was the last row. I thanked him and said I didn't care where on the plane we were sitting, I just wanted to sit with my small children!

Once I boarded I saw one of the flight attendants be so rude to a person who didn't fit in the seatbelt that to this day I regret not getting their name and reporting them.

That's a total drift, I have never seen anyone else treated this way, I have usually found Southwest employees to be quite friendly.

 

[Squeakcat]

I once had Northwest Airlines tell me they had to "redo" my boarding passes upon check-in. Foolish me, I didn't check them until boarding, when I realized that had given my firstborn, then- one year-old daughter and me seats in entirely different parts of a completely sold out 747. It was only my second time flying with her and it had never even occurred to me that they wouldn't seat us togther.

 

[MommyTo5]

We are Southwest fans as well! Every single one of the employees we've encountered over the years has been WONDERFUL!!! This is a fun airline - not near as stuffy as the others! I'm curious as to why some of you say that after seeing the show AIRLINE, you wouldn't fly Southwest??? This show really makes me appreciate the hard work these people do each and everyday! Dealing with grouchy passengers and difficult situations on a daily basis can't be easy! SWA is the only airline flying direct from Kansas City to Orlando - and with small children, this is AWESOME!!! So far, we've always had a child under 4 so we've been allowed to pre-board (our family of 7 has always sat together) but when we are no longer able to pre-board, I'll just hop online and grab a boarding pass... I really don't understand why this is such a big issue to some of you.

~ Angie
MommyTo5

 

[jrabbit]

If you want to get good seats together on SWA all you have to do is look very suspicious so that you get "randomly" selected for a preboarding screening. This may not work anymore because the TSA is doing a more comprehensive screeen at the security checkpoints.

One way to look suspicous is to be a large swarthy single male with a large carryon. At least that's what happened to me and my family. We had the last boarding group and thought that the line looked better "over there". So she and the kids went over there and left me alone with our largest carryon. Then "Tag - you're IT" and I was being search (again ). I was one of the first on the plane (a bene of being searched) and saved seats for the family

 

[MommyTo5]

The plane was completely full and they announced three times you could not preboard without a child under 5. My 8 year old had to go to the bathroom while we were waiting and we ended up dead last in line. I watched family after family ignore the child under 5 rule and preboard.

I think this clearly is a problem on flights leaving Orlando. When we flew home a week ago Saturday, 75% of those in the preboarding line clearly did NOT have a child age 4 or under. This really irratated me since we ended up near the end of the line in back of several families that shouldn't have been there. I think they need to raise the age limit or not allow those families into the line. Of course, it ended up being fine as we were able to sit together as a family... I was getting worried there for awhile though!

~ Angie
MommyTo5

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I think this clearly is a problem on flights leaving Orlando. When we flew home a week ago Saturday, 75% of those in the preboarding line clearly did NOT have a child age 4 or under. This really irratated me since we ended up near the end of the line in back of several families that shouldn't have been there. I think they need to raise the age limit or not allow those families into the line. Of course, it ended up being fine as we were able to sit together as a family... I was getting worried there for awhile though!

~ Angie
MommyTo5

I agree. I was told we could not preboard in Orlando because, as mentioned before, there are so many young kids and they were very strict with their policy.

That was partly true, they were very strict announcing their policy, but they didn't even come close to enforcing it! It was so incredibly frustrating watching the "rule breakers"!

Six years old is TOO young to sit alone. Could you imagine, if you hit rough turbulence and you're six rows back wondering if your kindergardener kept their seat belt on? Or is crying their eyes out because they are scared? etc. etc.!

If they don't go to assigned seats, they need to raise the age of preboards.

Getting your boarding pass online the night before is a great option, I didn't know it was possible, thanks for telling us MCazer. I'm going to tell my sister who's flying Southwest to our cruise on Thursday.

One problem does still remain. Unless I'm mistaken, unless you travel with a computer and could log on the night before your return flight, you would still have a problem leaving Orlando.

So - go to assigned seats please!

 

[Lilo5]

Hi! I'm also a mommy to 5, and we've used SWA many times because of the $99 coast to coast deal they have. We've always pre-boarded, also. But last Nov, after being first in line at the pre-boarding gate, the attendant wouldn't let all 7 of us board at the same time. Only a parent and kids under 4, he said. So the rest of the family had to line up at the END of the "A" line, and there was already a long line. By the way, this was at the Orlando airport. And Yes, we ended up sitting by each other becasue I saved them seats. They didn't say I couldn't do that.

 

[deedz]

Personally I love Southwest. I have never been able to beat the fares, and have gotten $49.00 non-stop MHT to MCO numerous times (can't beat that!). The seat availabity can be weird but worse case scenario for me was my DH and DD sat a row in front of me, we have never been completely split up. MY DD is 8, and NEVER has been asked to sit alone. Most other flyers know about familes and always move around. Many business travelers are flying alone, and plenty of times have moved to accomodate a few seats for a family. They are great about bringing your own food on board, I like the snack boxes, and the personel has always been cheerful and accomodating. I fly SW in a few weeks, and am looking forward to it.
Just my two cents.

 

[Par8hed]

Getting your boarding pass online the night before is a great option, I didn't know it was possible, thanks for telling us MCazer. I'm going to tell my sister who's flying Southwest to our cruise on Thursday.

One problem does still remain. Unless I'm mistaken, unless you travel with a computer and could log on the night before your return flight, you would still have a problem leaving Orlando.

So - go to assigned seats please!

An option yes, but it's not great. Not if you have an early flight. I don't particularly like waking up at 1:00 A.M to print a boarding pass and then unsuccessfully trying to get back to sleep until 4 when we have to get moving.

I too really wish SWA would change this policy. I can't see where this is saving them any significant funds.
Perhaps a slew of letters from disheartened customers may prove persuasive? I,for one,intend to write them.

 

[chrisn]

We usually fly Southwest and have never had any problems at all. They are always ontime, usually early, flight crew is awesome, never had any problems with our luggage, my little one is now 7 so no more pre boarding but we've never not been able to sit all four of us, sometimes 6 or 7 together even having "B" or "C" passes. We are flying them again in 2 1/2 weeks and are looking forward to it!

 

[silver7]

Another Southwest lover here!!

The show Airline is hilarious, and it really shows how much people try to pull things over the gate attendants and flight attendants. It also shows the patience that those workers have, as well as the lengths they will go to make things right--even if it is not Southwest's fault.

Three years ago we flew them at Christmas time, and my ds (then 9) was given wrapped gifts from the crew, and Santa Elvis was there serenading the crowd (thank you, thank you very much!) How could anyone be grouchy with the lengths they were going to make sure everyone would have a good time even if there were flight delays?

 

[*Fantasia*]

SW does have direct flights it just depends which city you are flying out of- i always fly direct from buffalo to MCO

Not from DTW, they don't unfortunately. Believe me, I've been searching hi and low...but NO direct flight from DTW to MCO. Bummer!

 

[rjh8115]

Not from DTW, they don't unfortunately. Believe me, I've been searching hi and low...but NO direct flight from DTW to MCO. Bummer!

Yep, no direct flights from DTW. We're going through MDW on the way down and BNA on the way back. Not a big deal to change. We have a 1 1/2 hour layover in Chicago and a 1 hour layover in Nashville. I could have gone non-stop to MCO on Northwest, but it was a lot more money . . .

Rick

 

[tap & dap]

We fly Southwest all the time, hate the no assigned seats, but have learned the process to always get an A ticket (internet, early check-in etc) But here is why we love to fly them:

1. They still allow 3 bags at 70 lbs each. No scales, no weighing luggage they just take it. (Great for the upcoming re-positioning cruise)

2. Their people are always friendly, never met one yet that was sour.

3. Finally, they actually do not waste time, they land the plane, unload the plane and reload and go.

This past week we flew American from Chicago to Miami and then back to Chicago from Orlando, these other airlines wonder why Southwest makes money and they don't? Plus, they start all these other airlines (Ted, Song etc.). All they have to do is watch the process and the answer is easy. Southwest doesn't waste time.

On a Southwest plane you are never on the ground more than 20-30 minutes before the plane is gone again. Both of the AA flights we were on, the plane arrived over 1 hour prior to when we were going, in one case 1 hour 30 minutes in advance, to leave and they still could not get the plane loaded and ready to go before our scheduled departure.

Now here is the part that is really confusing. The actual time in the air. When you fly SWA from Midway to Orlando it is 2 hours going and 2 hours 5 minutes on the return. On AA the flight to Miami was stated by the pilot as 2 hours 15 minutes flying time. Makes sence slightly farther than Orlando to go to Miami. The return from Orlando to Chicago O'hare flight time was 2 hours 35 minutes and actually took 2 hours 40 minutes, I know it does not take 30 minutes longer to fly from one side of the city to the other. Has to be the flow of traffic into the busier airport or something. Then on AA once you land they slowly pull up to the gate and then both times had to wait for someone to move the jetway and open the door.

Have always noticed on SWA that:

1. When you land the pilots drive faster to the gate than other airlines.

2. When you arrive at the gate you never have to wait for someone to move the jet bridge and open the door.

If the rest of the airlines could duplicate these few things, I think they would be more profitable than they are, it is just as if they are moving in slow motion compared to SWA.

In short, will take the incovenience of the cattle call checkin over the rest of the airlines slow motion.

 

[TDC Nala]

If I am on Southwest by myself (haven't flown with them since Independence Air started flying from Dulles and made it unnecessary for me to to go to Baltimore for a cheaper fare), I will move for children under teen age to sit with parents.

I won't move for adults who want to sit next to each other unless they ask really nicely. I got tired of adults who demanded that I move.

 

[gottaluvdis]

Personally I love Southwest. I have never been able to beat the fares, and have gotten $49.00 non-stop MHT to MCO numerous times (can't beat that!). The seat availabity can be weird but worse case scenario for me was my DH and DD sat a row in front of me, we have never been completely split up. MY DD is 8, and NEVER has been asked to sit alone. Most other flyers know about familes and always move around. Many business travelers are flying alone, and plenty of times have moved to accomodate a few seats for a family. They are great about bringing your own food on board, I like the snack boxes, and the personel has always been cheerful and accomodating. I fly SW in a few weeks, and am looking forward to it.
Just my two cents.

I couldn't agree more. We always take SW from MHT to either Orlando or Tampa and have never had to sit apart (my DD is 8). I usually sit on an aisle with her on the window (middle seat free) and DH sits on the aisle directly behind me. I have encountered the pre-board stuff in Orlando before, and I think if the plane is sold out, they shouldn't allow pre-boarding for anyone period (strictly enforced). Since those flights are all families, it should be first come, first serve. For those who don't like non-assigned seating, it just makes room for the rest of us who don't mind it. Now that we're able to print boarding passes for a group on the same reservation number, it's even better. I'm the daughter of a pilot and have flown all kinds of airlines for many years. Most of the other airlines wish they could be as profitable as SW. SW earns high marks in my book for not ever having had a major accident, being on time every time I've used them, never losing my luggage, friendly crew members, and still lowest cost around.

 

[videogal1]

Our DD turned 4 last year and we loved be able to preboard (which is only for people w/ kids under 4)

Welll...others can preboard, too, but there are fewer of them than those with children, I guess.

 

[videogal1]

I have encountered the pre-board stuff in Orlando before, and I think if the plane is sold out, they shouldn't allow pre-boarding for anyone period (strictly enforced). Since those flights are all families, it should be first come, first serve.

Really?

and Really?

I can't imagine you would actually be one of those who would try and shoehorn a Service Dog under a seat...even though the Southwestern policy on Service Dogs begins "Since most Service Dogs are small, they are required to fit under the seat"....if not, they can go into cargo....

 

[tinkertraci]

We are a family of 5 (mom, dad and 3 kids ages 13, 10 and 8). We can't afford to fly direct unless it is with SW.

I always hope that put my 3 kids far, FAR away from me and DH.
Hasn't happened yet...darn

 

[dgaston]

Another SWA fan here. We fly most often from PVD, occasionally BDL and love the easy way to earn free flights. I even managed to earn 3 award tickets so our upcoming flight to MCO for our eastern cruise isn't adding to our cost! And SWA prices keep me a loyal customer. Even in the very old days of numbers, when my DD and I had numbers in what would have been C, we were able to sit together (in the rear of the plane). We have offered to move ourselves for families, and have observed FAs working to keep families together. It doesn't feel like a cattle call to me, but I get in line and read my book, and I'm fine.