? for moms about flying southwest!

[4fordisneyworld]

Thought I might get more moms responses over here as opposed to the transportation board.
We have never flown SW before and not sure of the plane layout. Is there a better spot to be having two small children? ( the back vs the front ) It will be a 4 hr flight so just trying to prepare!

Thanks

 

[ZeroMyHero]

We flew SW with our DD3 last May to CA and if I remember correctly, we stayed toward the front of the plane in rows 6-8. There is a website out there called SeatGuru that can tell you which rows and seats are more favorable than others on almost any airline, SW included. I would post the link, but I'm too new to do so. Google "seatguru" to find the site. Hope this helps.

 

[Aliceacc]

But remember: SW doesn't pre-assign seats, and families with young kids no longer pre-board. You'll have to choose from what's available when you board.

 

[eeyorefan74]

Just don't sit in the front row. We let DD choose last time and she picked the front row. Since there's no seat in front of you, you don't have anywhere to put carry on luggage that you need during the flight. DD likes to have access to her bag with all her activities, snacks, etc., and we had to put it up above us. Not a huge deal, but something to think about with small kids. There were also no tray tables to put our drinks on. On the positive side, we had lots of leg room!

 

[eeyorefan74]

One more thing. Remember you can check in online 24 hours before your flight. Be sure you do this pretty early so you'll have a better choice of where you sit. Just to give you an idea we checked in around 8:00 am the day before our 6:50 am flight, and were assigned numbers 31,32, and 33.

 

[ZeroMyHero]

But remember: SW doesn't pre-assign seats, and families with young kids no longer pre-board. You'll have to choose from what's available when you board.

True, but an adult traveling with a child four or younger will board between the A and B groups unless they have an A boarding pass, then you get to board with the A group, of course. If you use online check-in 24 hours before your flight, you can easily get into the A group. I haven't had a problem doing this in the past.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

One more thing. Remember you can check in online 24 hours before your flight. Be sure you do this pretty early so you'll have a better choice of where you sit. Just to give you an idea we checked in around 8:00 am the day before our 6:50 am flight, and were assigned numbers 31,32, and 33.

A warning about this one though. While "checking in online" is convenient, if something happens where you cant make the flight...you're SCREWED.

this happened to me once. I checked in online the night before, and then there was terrible traffic that made me miss my flight. Normally, if you miss your flight, your ticket is still good and you can get on the next available flight. However, since i was already checked in, the ticket was no longer valid and I had to purchase another 1-way ticket. (I didnt care too much cause it was a business trip, hahaha)

Most airlines have the kiosk to check-in which is super-quick, so i recommend that instead.

 

[puffkin]

I sit about 3/4 of the way back. Everyone crowds in the front of the plane. If you go further back there is more overhead bin room and there will likely be open seats to spread out if the plane isn't full.

Also, you cannot line up outside the front bathroom. If you have a young child that you need to wait for at the bathroom, you will have to use the one in the rear anyway.

If you are travelling with a carseat, you don't want people jostling all around you while you are trying to install/uninstall it. Also, if you are checking baggage it really doesn't matter where you sit because you will still be waiting at the baggage carousel with everyone else anyways. Or if you gate check a stroller....they never seem to get those up until almost everyone is off the plane so you would be hanging around for that as well.

 

[tjmw2727]

A warning about this one though. While "checking in online" is convenient, if something happens where you cant make the flight...you're SCREWED.

this happened to me once. I checked in online the night before, and then there was terrible traffic that made me miss my flight. Normally, if you miss your flight, your ticket is still good and you can get on the next available flight. However, since i was already checked in, the ticket was no longer valid and I had to purchase another 1-way ticket. (I didnt care too much cause it was a business trip, hahaha)

Most airlines have the kiosk to check-in which is super-quick, so i recommend that instead.

Except that with southwest seating is first come first serve based on when you check in. I absolutely recommend checking in as close to the 24 hour mark as possible when flying SWA to get an A boarding pass with a lower number and a better seat selection.

If the OP takes your sugguestion and waits to use the kiosk at the airport he/she will likely be one of the last people to board and have the worst selection of seats.

I have also had nothing but exceptional customer service with SWA. They are one of the few airlines that will work with you in terms of changing and or rescheduling flights without fees. I can't help but wonder if your experience quoted above was with SWA as dh has missed a flight on two occasions and was put on another flight with no issues and no penalties.

OP - check out seatguru.com, its a great website that shows the best and worst seats on the aircraft and why. With the exception of the bulkhead - no snack tray and no storage we just take the first available row with 3 seats available.

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

But remember: SW doesn't pre-assign seats, and families with young kids no longer pre-board. You'll have to choose from what's available when you board.

SWA still has preboarding for families that don't get an A boarding pass, they board between the A and B groups.

I have flown 3x since the boarding changes and unlike with the old system I have yet to see a family separated under the new boaridng system.

TJ

 

[Perditamarie]

Our last trip, we pre-boarded between groups A and B and sat in the back as opposed to the front. It was great...we were so close to the bathrooms (!!!) and had plenty of time to gather our stuff up at the end of the flight. I think we will try the back from now on....you don't have to walk by so many folks for bathroom breaks !

 

[Holiday Planner]

We flew back yesterday with SW and there was a family that could not get seats together as the flight was full. They asked if any adults could move to allow the family to sit together but they had a hard time finding anyone willing or able to move. You can only pre-board between groups A and B if you have a child age 4 or under. The little boy was older than this but was having a major meltdown at not being able to sit with his Mom, even if she was across the aisle from him. The boarding policy was one reason I got my Mom to check me in online for our flight home as I could just imagine my dd's reaction if she had to sit by herself.

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

I'm honestly having a hard time picturing a situation where one child and one parent can't get seats together...how awful that no one was willing to switch! It's not like a group of ten wanting seats together or something.

As far as where to sit, toward the back can work well for potty breaks, if your children are using the toilet. My DD is 15 months, so I'm not having to deal with that quite yet. I tend to sit around the middle of the plane, couple rows on either side of the emergency exits (I just like knowing they're close by). I do agree with the PP who talked about getting jostled by folks while trying to install/take out a car seat, it can be a hassle, but I always check in at the 24 hour mark to get A's, then when deplaning I let the crowds surge past. By the time the plane is mostly empty I can get the car seat out easily, and the stroller is typically there waiting. (Why it takes so long in Orlando, where they must handle millions of the things every year, is beyond me.)

 

[Holiday Planner]

Unfortunately the flight was over booked so the whole plane was full. I assume she must have been among the last to board so there were only single seats by then. They did manage to sort it out in the end so she could sit with her child, but it probably took an extra 20 minutes to sort out.

 

[Minniemouse07]

The four of us flew last month. Dd is 6.5yo and ds is 2yo.

We had dh and dd sit in one row and ds and I sat behind them. Dd and ds both sat next to the window. Ds was in his rear facing car seat and dd didn't recline her seat (she didn't even know she could!).

This set up worked out great for us. We sat about mid plane.

I agree about the strollers...they didn't come out for a VERY long time so don't rush yourself off the plane.

We didn't have to pick up our bags at MCO because we used DME, but once back in Philly they were coming off the carousel as we walked up! We were thrilled because Philly is renowned for baggage delays.

I also agree w/ checking in 24 hours ahead. We did for both legs and it was wonderful!

HTH!

 

[design_mom]

We prefer the front of the plane because once it lands those people get off first. My kids are excited to get on the plane, but they're even *more* excited to get off! (But we usually travel with a child carrier backpack, not a stroller, so we're ready to go as soon as we get off.) If you're gate-checking a stroller, then I'd think being in the back of the plane would be fine since you'd have to wait for the stroller anyway.

 

[mdurette]

I just returned from two flights with SWA. IF you have a child under 4 you will be able to board between group A and B. So, there will be plenty of seats to choose from. In Nov we got into group A with online preboard - this time I didn't even bother.

We bring my 2yo car seat. My only issue this time was on the flight going down. They require the seat be installed in the window seat - no problem. But the car seat puts her little legs just the right height to push the seat in front of her. BIG ISSUE with the guy in front of her. Can't blame him - but on the trip back I made sure we put her behind another child with a car seat so that person wouldn't feel the small pushes from her feet.

 

[lighttech]

Some great advice so far.

We traveled in Nov w/ DS 2.5 and we had the carseat. We wandered back to the middle of the plane so that we could kind of keep traffic flowing. As everyone else was getting settled into their seats farther up, we had time to install the carseat and get settled. As far as having time to get off, we just waved people past us and waited until the end. DH hopped into the empty seats in front of ours (as soon as those people filed off) and gathered our carryons and I got DS unhitched from the seat, and let him sit in DH's now empty seat while I unhooked the carseat.

I don't think it much matters all in all. Especially on the flights to Orlando. They are VERY used to families w/ it being such a vacation destination.

But the poster who mentioned small feet on seats is right. DS wasn't intentionally kicking the guy in front of him, but it just sort of happened. After a few minutes, I took off his shoes which helped a lot. DS is a pretty good listener too, so we talked about it, and with a gentle reminder here or there, he did a great job.

One other unrelated tip. If your child hasn't flown before, be sure to explain the process. We "played" airport a few times at home which really helped DS understand that he was going to have to give a man or lady his bags and that they would look at them, but would give them right back. Otherwise, I think he may have been a bit upset that security was taking his special toy bag away.

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

Oh, yes, those little feet dangling a hair's breadth away from the seat in front of them...DD is very tall for her age (99 percentile since birth) and her looong legs have caused some tense moments on flights. She's pretty good about listening to me and not deliberately kicking, but I definitely second the suggestion about putting a child in a car seat behind another one in the same situation if you can.

The other thing to remember is if the adult sitting in front of your car seat child reclines his/her seat at all, all bets are off. We had someone do this on the last flight we took and DD was pretty much pressed up against the seat back. Every time she even shifted slightly she kicked it. The guy sitting in front of her turned around after a few minutes with an ugly look on his face, but I pointed out calmly (and quickly) that she wasn't doing it on purpose, her car seat and his reclining just didn't mesh. Luckily the flight wasn't totally full and he was able to switch to a different seat.

 

[tjmw2727]

When we traveled with a carseat we always put a member of our party in front of the carseat. No issues with reclining and or kicking Usually dh and my older dd sat in front of younger dd and I. We also removed the shoes and did lots of distracting, teaching and rewarding.

FWIW I have been kicked many a time from behind but so far never by a child in a carseat. IMHO its the preschool/young school age kids that kick and or play with the tray tables. Most times a nice request to the parents solves the issue - other times not so much

TJ