general questions about flying SW& flying out of PVD

[poppinspal]

I've never flown Southwest or even looked into flying it so now I have tons of questions. I poked around the threads here but I guess I'm just looking for answers in one place.

First, I've been getting emails about their deals. I'm wondering if there is any differences between the deals on that and "ding deals." Granted the emails are coming out with prices that are I believe $54 one way so thats nothing to complain about.

Second, from what I understand seating is first come, first serve or how ever you want to say it. I am not one of those people who freaks out on planes but I will admit I like to have someone I know sitting next to me. Will it be hard for two of us to sit next to one another even if we board in the last group?

Third, I keep reading that with SW it's suggested you check in online 24 hrs in advance. First of all how does that work? Do you print out a boarding pass or do you get one when you get to the airport? And what happens if I have no access to a computer while down in WDW? What do you suggest then?

And here are just my small questions about Providence airport. How long does it take to get past security here? Is it any worse then Logan? Any other things I should be aware of?

Just want to have all my facts before I book.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay, here goes...
The security lines at Providence move pretty quickly, but I would plan on being in the security line about 90 minutes before my flight departure time.
Now, as to the boarding process. The first to board are those with any 'special needs'...those with young children (under 5 I believe), those with any handicaps.
Then, those with A boarding passes get boarded, then those with B, and lastly those with C passes. If you want to be sure of sitting together, then I would do an on-line checkin. If you don't have a printer, you can still check in and then get the boarding pass printed at the airport. If you are either in the A or the B group you should have no problems. Usually, those that board in groups take up seats together, those traveling by themselves grab either the window or the aisle seats, leaving a lot of empty middle seats for those in the C pass line. But, when I flew last August, I was in the A group and saw some C's being able to sit together.
If you want to checkin online at WDW, you can have the front desk of your resort do it for you. I did that at POP at 2 in the morning after an EMH night.
If you see a fare that works for you, grab it. I have yet to get a ding fare, but have gotten some good online fares.
Try not to worry too much and have a terrific trip!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I flew SW for the first time last Aug. I was a bit worried about flying with them the first time but I was very happy with their service. I flew with my 4 year old son so I did preboard. I flew out of Manchester NH and the airport there was great. Easy to park and very little wait to get through security. My son had been randomly selected for extra screening but they took one look at him and let us both go through.

I also flew SW twice out of Providence in May. The first trip was with 2 adult friends. We printed boarding passes at home for the flight down and had the hotel (POFQ) print them for the return flight. Both times we were in the "A's" and easily sat together.

I also flew with my DD for her 7th birthday. I was a bit more concerned this time as we had to sit together and she was too old to preboard with. On the flight down we were "A's" but on the return I got the boarding passes at Pop the morning of the flight as my DD had fallen asleep on the bus back to the resort the night before. W were "B's". We were first in the "B" line and asily sat together. On both flights down and home we did have someone sitting with us that was seperated from their companion so I assume they were "C's".

Both flights out of Providence were great. Easy to park and parking was only $56/week. On one trip I didn't wait at all to check my bag with the skycap and the other I waited for just 1 person ahead of me. On both trips there was no wait to get through security. I found Providence a much less stressfull airport to fly out of-compared to Logan. Manchester was just as easy and about the same distance from me but I live south of Boston and would have to drive through the city to get to Manchester so Providence is easier for me to get to on a weekday.

Now that I flown with them a few times I actually like the unassigned seats. They board the plane so fast. It really works very well.

I just booked tickets for our family trip in Aug. I did book using Ding and was able to get $44 each way or $105.60 round trip non stop after all fees. I see that it is now $59 or $135.60 RT which I would have been pretty happy with but that $30/ticket times 7 tickets is $210 savings for me. Well worth using Ding!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Just wanted to add....

On my adult trip May 1st I originally booked without ding at $59 or $135.60 RT but then got a ding of $49 or $115.60. I used the $60 credit ($20 per RT ticket times 3 passengers) to purchase tickets for my May 19th trip with my DD which I booked at the $135.60. I never did get a Ding on that trip and was very happy that I had booked at $135.60 before the fares went way up. I forget how much but I think they went way over $200.

SW is great about giving you the credit and the credit goes to the person who purchases the original tickets. Other airlines make you pay a change fee and you have to use the credits on the exact same travelers.

 

[jnshakun]

Poppinspal, I'm so glad you asked these questions as I've been wondering the same about Southwest. I still don't understand what a "ding" is. Perhaps someone can help......................

 

[cepmom]

Poppinspal, I'm so glad you asked these questions as I've been wondering the same about Southwest. I still don't understand what a "ding" is. Perhaps someone can help......................

Ding is a program you can download from SW. It sits on your desktop and usually every day (sometimes several times a day with different specials)it will actually "ding" and a little envelope will appear on the icon. You click on the icon and a message pops up telling you there are "ding" specials. Then click on the message and it will bring you to a page to see what cities are included and all the pertinent details. The specials are usually only good that day until a certain time and only good for a certain time period....ex ~ Saturdays only from 7/1 - 7/31 or Monday through Saturday 8/1 - 8/31 etc~ you never know what you will get.

You can only access these specials through the Ding program...you will not see them if you go through the regular reservations window

I just got a Ding the other day for $44 in August...we had previously booked at $122, so the Ding saved us a lot!

 

[rdsx28]

PVD is great and very easy to get into and out of. I live in central Mass and prefer this over Logan. The parking is so much cheaper and the security is quick. I also had our return boarding passes printed out at our Disney Resort(Coronado Springs). I believe I also read that a few other hotels have put printers in the lobbies to do this a s well. I found most people to be very accomodating so that if there's a problem they will switch seats so all can sit together. I love SW and would reccommend them highly! If you go to SW web site they explain Ding in detail! Good Luck finding some great fares!

 

[ptmmg]

this is my first time flying SW ( dh has a lot and loves them) we are flying out of Providence and got the "ding" for our departure and and $59 for return in total we are paying $722 for 6 nonstop roundtrip tix (with great times). I was looking into jetblue out of Boston it would have cost us almost double nevermind the parking issues with Logan!
good luck