GREAT News for Southwest Flyers!

[LVTravel]

Originally posted by NYDisneyMom
I believe most major airlines now allow passengers to print their boarding passes online. So, it's not just SW. But you're right, I'm sure on the return flights home it may be a problem for many. I'm going to make sure the hotel we're staying at after the cruise has a computer/printer I can access.

You are correct in the statement that most airlines allow boarding passes online. However, most airlines have preassigned seats AND will allow all under the same itinerary code to print their passes at one time. I just flew AirtTrans from BWI to MCO and printed all passes for my group of seven with one click on my mouse after I had put in the reservations number.

Southwest needs to upgrade their reservation system.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by LVTravel

Southwest needs to upgrade their reservation system.

Yes...you're right. It's far from perfect, but it's a start!

I was told by the customer service rep that she thought it was going to be an FAA requirement that every person has their own reservation number -- I took that to mean now just for Southwest but for all airlines. It'll be interesting to see how this all unfolds in the coming months.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Does anyone think that SW will one day assign seats beforehand?

I would love to fly SW since we can pick it up at an airport 10 minutes away; however, when traveling with a large group, we want to be all sitting together and that is not guaranteed.

 

[SandraLee]

NYDisneyMom . . . I'm not sure about everyone having their own reservation number. I fly Delta all the time and here is what they do. Everyone MUST have their own frequent flyer number. I can book, pay, and assign seats all on the same reservation number. When I go to on-line check in for the flights, I must log into each person's account and get the boarding passes. So, when I book myself and 2 children, I keep it all together until checkin time. Then, just log into each person's account and print the passes. VERY easy.

As far as not flying SW just because you can't sit together. . . That could happen on any airline depending on when you book. And, it really doesn't matter that much. We all get to the same place at the same time. LOL I do like to sit with my younger kids, but other than that, I don't really care. I *do* think that SW should assign seats. I can't believe they save much money using the current 'grab your seat' method.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR
Does anyone think that SW will one day assign seats beforehand?

I would love to fly SW since we can pick it up at an airport 10 minutes away; however, when traveling with a large group, we want to be all sitting together and that is not guaranteed.

We're also very close ti MacArthur (probably less than 3 miles) so SW is the most convenient for us. When the kids were little, though, we did take Jet Blue once and I absolutely loved that airline! wish they were out here too!!

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

SandraLee: My point was that I would not book it if we could not sit all together (I do believe young children, which I have, should sit next to their parents). When we fly Jet Blue, I am able to reserve the seats immediately. I know I am paying for the guarantee and I am willing to pay for it.

NYDisneyMom: MacArthur airport is the airport that I was talking about also. It takes us about an hour to get to Kennedy. I too hope one day Jet Blue leaves out of MacArthur.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR
I too hope one day Jet Blue leaves out of MacArthur.

Me too..but I'm afraid it'll never happen. Southwest pretty much owns MacArthur now. They paid millions and millions to build the new wing, so when it opens SW will have at least 7 gates at McArthur (they're actually trying to get 8 out of it). So, Jet Blue won't ever be coming out this way. The best we can hope for is Southwest pays less attention to training their flight attendants on how to be annoying and more attention on what the customers really want!!

 

[Mjasp]

Originally posted by DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR
I too hope one day Jet Blue leaves out of MacArthur. [/B]

I don't think Jet Blue will be coming out to Islip either. They are currently working on flying out of La Guardia. Read it in Newsady last week.

Now we have to hope SW lets you assign seats online, how can that cost money. Although I must say that we are a family of 4 and my kids are 8 and 12 and we have been flying SW since they first came to Islip and we have NEVER had a problem of getting 2 rows in a row for us to sit. We have always sat together. And if you are an Islip resident, for $20 a year you can park in the residents lot for free.