Flying SW with a toddler

[la79al]

I have been looking around on the boards and I am starting to get nervous about flying to DW with my DD. We are flying SW and I have not gotten the early bird check in thing but will be at my computer at exactly 24 hours ahead to get the best we can get. I am nervous about the 3 adults being grouped together because the toddler is either going to sleep or go crazy. It's only a 2.5 hour flight but that is a very long time for my DD to sit somewhat still. Getting her a seat and strapping her in in any way would be 10 times worse and I would rather not pay for EBCI for all of us both ways. I am considering getting it just for me, picking out a seat in the middle and hoping no one thinks that sitting next to my writhing child looks like fun. Please tell me that I am worrying for no reason, that we will all be able to sit together and between the 3 of us we should be able to keep DD occupied for the ride.

 

[Mrs D]

I have been looking around on the boards and I am starting to get nervous about flying to DW with my DD. We are flying SW and I have not gotten the early bird check in thing but will be at my computer at exactly 24 hours ahead to get the best we can get. I am nervous about the 3 adults being grouped together because the toddler is either going to sleep or go crazy. It's only a 2.5 hour flight but that is a very long time for my DD to sit somewhat still. Getting her a seat and strapping her in in any way would be 10 times worse and I would rather not pay for EBCI for all of us both ways. I am considering getting it just for me, picking out a seat in the middle and hoping no one thinks that sitting next to my writhing child looks like fun. Please tell me that I am worrying for no reason, that we will all be able to sit together and between the 3 of us we should be able to keep DD occupied for the ride.

My Mom is a SW reservation agent here's her advice:
Business Select boards first, Then A group then families with small children, then B group, C group. The are 60 seats in the A group (15-20 for business select). Planes hold 137 passengers.

If you do your online check in 24 hours in advance chances are good that you will get an A group boarding pass. You should have no problems getting 3 seats together in this situation. Even if you should have B or C group you would board right after A group due to traveling with a small child.

HTH!

 

[VirataMama4]

ALL of you will be able to board after group A, if you happen to get groups B or C. So, it shouldn't be a problem for you. HTH

 

[Goofy_Dad_24]

We have gotten group B or C before with a small child, so used the family boarding directly after group A. There were still PLENTY of empty rows when we got on the plane. You are worrying for no reason.

 

[crysplefty]

My husband is a firefighter and he has flown to the fire academy in Maryland quite a few times to take some courses for different certifications. Everytime he flies SW. There have been a couple times when he forgot to check in early and went online 8 hours before his flight to check in and he still got group A. And like the others said, if you don't make it into group A you will still be able to load the plane after group A.

 

[LISAVWL]

I was nervous the first time we flew SW with the little kids. we've now flown SW for years with the kids -- since the youngest was about 6 moths old. We're 2 adults with 4 kids and we've never had a problem getting sets together. We chose to do EBCI on our return flight in Oct only because we were not going to be near a computer at the 24 hour mark -- well worth the money IMHO. Have a great time and no worries!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Oh we've flown with DD2 three times, the first with Air Tran (yuck) and Southwest twice. I just made sure to get online and check in around the 24hour mark.(Once I even checked in from Pop from my non-techie cell phone.) If you don't get "A" you just board before "B" because you have a little kiddo. Easy as pie. Don't worry. You'll be just fine.

 

[tjmw2727]

You should be aware that with family boarding only immediate family is eligible and on flights with lots of 4 and under's they can limit it to one adult with each child. I have seen this done only once however, unfortunately it was in Orlando. SWA will expect that one adult with each child is sufficient.

Don't shoot the messenger - just the facts as I have experienced them!!

Now, that said... if you check in at T 24 you "should" be ok unless you are on the 2nd leg of a connecting flight. If so passengers on the first leg get a head start as they get both boarding passes at t-24 of the first flight.

Worst case, with you in family boarding and some adults in the B boarding if you head toward the rear of the plane you should be able to get seats together. Maybe across the aisle or the row in front etc - keep an open mind hope for the best but prepare for otherwise just in case.

Only you can determine if EBCI is worth it for you and if your willilng to take a chance on splitting up or if you really want/need some help.

Lots of folks are opting to purchase the EBCI on the way back from Disney because of the convenience of not having to check in at T-24 and the large number of families on that route.

HTH

 

[Heidijs]

I'm confused, doesn't SW let you log into your reservations and pick your seating? We're flying NWA and we can log in 90 days prior and pick our seats. I did both flights as soon as the 90 days hit so we're all sitting together.

 

[Schmeck]

Do you still get to board after A if have a lap child only? It's not like you have to get two seats next to each other - you don't have a purchased seat for that child.

 

[tjmw2727]

I'm confused, doesn't SW let you log into your reservations and pick your seating? We're flying NWA and we can log in 90 days prior and pick our seats. I did both flights as soon as the 90 days hit so we're all sitting together.

No SWA does not assign seating, it is open seating, first come first served. You can log in 24 hours in advance and get you boarding order, like a virtual queue.

More detailed info can be found on the website.

 

[Heidijs]

No SWA does not assign seating, it is open seating, first come first served. You can log in 24 hours in advance and get you boarding order, like a virtual queue.

More detailed info can be found on the website.

Thanks, I'll never fly SW airlines! They just came to our airport and they're not that cheap anyway.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks, I'll never fly SW airlines! They just came to our airport and they're not that cheap anyway.

That's too bad - I think they are a great airline!

We fly at least 8x a year, sometimes more. On the legacy airlines I have had my seat assignments changed (separating me from my kids), flight times changed, flights canceled and layovers added to non stop flights. So much so that SWA is now my airline of choice.

With SWA I get on time departures, schedule changes are rare, friendly FA's, no charge for changing or canceling flighs and no charge for up to two checked bags per person.

On SWA I have yet to be separated from my kids, I just get online 24 hours prior and get my boarding pass or pay the extra $10 for automatic early check in. Then I board and select my own seats

 

[Heidijs]

SWA in Minnesota only offer connecting flights to most places we go so we usually pass and NWA is the same price if not cheaper, except the free bag deal. That's sweet!

 

[LISAVWL]

That's too bad - I think they are a great airline!

We fly at least 8x a year, sometimes more. On the legacy airlines I have had my seat assignments changed (separating me from my kids), flight times changed, flights canceled and layovers added to non stop flights. So much so that SWA is now my airline of choice.

With SWA I get on time departures, schedule changes are rare, friendly FA's, no charge for changing or canceling flighs and no charge for up to two checked bags per person.

On SWA I have yet to be separated from my kids, I just get online 24 hours prior and get my boarding pass or pay the extra $10 for automatic early check in. Then I board and select my own seats

I totally agree -- and don't forget that bags are free! That's a huge savings for my family of 6!