Flying Southwest

[benson11]

I'm asking for everybody's opinion on this. I'm debating flying southwest for my trip to Orlando this July. I've flown Southwest with my friends before so I know how the boarding works, but I've never traveled with my wife and 4 kids before with Southwest. If I get an A boarding pass, will I have any problem with getting seats together (considering there may be a lot of pre-boarders). I would be able to get the boarding pass 24 ahead of time going down, but don't know if it will be possible getting one early on the way back due to getting access to a computer. If I do get a B or C pass on the way back...is it that big of a deal to sit seperately seeing that I would be saving almost 50% on any other airline. Also, my kids range from 14-9 so they it's not like they are infants. Any opinions would help. Thank you.

 

[dthogue]

We just flew Southwest home from Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday with our family of 5. I was able to access the on-line check-in at our hotel so we were able to get A's for our sold out flight.

If you get a B or C, I would recommend getting to the airport a little earlier and head directly to the gate and stand/sit in line. I was watching people as they boarded and for the most part it wasn't until the very last of the C group was on board that people had to start separating.

With the ages of your children, it shouldn't be too big of a deal to split up, just have a plan on who needs/wants to sit together when you board.

We always fly Southwest - the fares are too hard to pass up. You might also want to check on Airtran - there fares are usually reasonable and they assign your seats prior to check in.

Tammy

 

[jonestavern]

you can go down to check in to have them print out your boarding passes--our only experience with this is at the on site resorts, so can only speak to that.
even as 'A' boarding passes, we line up. Get there early

You could split up 3 & 3 & if you're an 'A' should have no difficulty securing seating together

Have a super trip!

Jean

 

[salmoneous]

Couple of questions here. First, does a family of 6 have to all sit together? Personally, I see no reason you can't split into groups of 2-3 near each other, which would be no problem unless you are in the C groups or the back of the B's. With an A pass - even if you are at the back and there are lots of preboarders - you'll have no problem getting seats right near each other (though you may have to, horrors, sit in the back of the plane).

Question 2: How to get "A" passes. Log in 24 hours ahead of time. If you at Disney, the lobby consierge at your resort can help you check you in and print your boarding passes. If you are, say, in the parks at the 24 hour mark, the trick is to have a friend back home check you in. When you get to the airport, you'll have to go to a kiosk to print your boarding passes, but your A status is locked in.

For half the price, it's a total no-brainer to me. But, then again, I'd pick Southwest over other airlines if the price were the same or even a couple bucks more.

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with everyone above.......we are a family of six also (sometimes..... when dd and dgs go with us). At other times .....four. We have always gotten
A's, but, don't always sit together. Past trip DS (age 16) chose to sit on his own (he enjoys talking to other people on flights). Other DS and DH wanted to sit in an exit seat because of the increased leg room. I didn't (you know the talk about "in the event of an emergency.......) so I sat behind them. I don't think you really need to worry about it with your kids ages. Maybe you
or DW could sit with the youngest and then two and two. I mean with six people flying you're talking SUBSTANTIAL savings by using SW. One hint.....
keep checking the prices on a regular basis even after you purchase since SW
will give you credit to use on future flight if the price goes down.....we're sitting on a $240.00 credit now. So, we know on our next trip at least two of us will fly on that credit.

 

[benson11]

I really don't have a major problem splitting up if we had to...I just would rather not if we didn't have to. Getting to the airport early is not a problem...I always get there a long...long time before our flight. I am renting a house with a computer but I don't believe they have a printer. So it's possible to check in online without printing the boarding pass, and hopefully locking in my A status...then printing it at the airport?

 

[salmoneous]

So it's possible to check in online without printing the boarding pass, and hopefully locking in my A status...then printing it at the airport?

Yep. See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=967944 for a little more detail.

 

[blessedby3]

We were an extended family group of 8 flying to MCO the day after Thanksgiving. Our flight was pretty full and had LOTS of preboarders, but with our A passes we had no problems getting 3 seats, 3 seats, and 2 seats right together. We got a whole row across and DM and DF sat in 2 seats right in front of us. We also got A passes coming back and the flight was again packed, but with less preboarders. I definately log on at exactly 24 hours prior to our flight time. We also got in the A line as soon as the first person got in line. We just had the kids sit on the floor. We love SWA and their Fares!! I would go with them for sure.