Guide to Southwest Air - Please help us Newbies!

[goofy!]

Hi all,

Southwest is new to the Denver area, so I am clueless on how it works. I did a search on all the Southwest posts and I think I am starting to get an idea of how they work. But I thought all you good folks could post your tips here in one spot, so that Southwest Newbies like myself could learn about it in one place.

Things I would like to know more about:

1) Many here book one-ways and from what I gather - you can then get a credit if the fare goes down?

2) How does the no assigned seat thing work? What are the tips about checking in, getting in line, etc. I gather there are 3 boarding assignments and I think somebody posted that 1-40 get A, 41 - ?? get B, etc.

If you have a large group travelling - (we have 8) - is it better to do this in smaller reservations so that when you check-in, you have a better chance at A or B?

3) I think I figured out Dings, as I got my first one today. But are there any hints or tips about it?

4) Hints on getting the best deals through Southwest.

5) can people post links to their important threads, such as the historical release dates, historical dings, etc.

6) Any hints or tips you can share about your experience with Southwest.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

1) I've started booking all my flights as one-way. From what I've read here, if the fare goes down, and you've booked a round trip but can only take advantage of the decrease on one leg of your journey, you can rebook only the portion that's cheaper and leave the other leg the way it is. But if a DING comes up and you can only take advantage of it on one leg, then you have to rebook the entire flight. I don't know if that's true, but that's what I've read.

2) Check in as soon as you can. Their policy is you can check in 24 hour before your flight is scheduled to leave. Disney concierge will check you in and print your boarding passes for you. I've done it, and so have many others here. Or you can have someone back home check you in, and you can print your boarding passes when you get to the airport. I recently upgraded my cell phone so I can use it to check in. It worked just dandy on my trip earlier this month.

When you get to the airport you'll see lines set up for pre-board, A, B, and C. I've noticed that the first folks get in line about an hour before takeoff. Trust me, there won't be any question when to get in line.

I'm sorta new with Southwest myself, so I'll let the more skilled travelers answer your other questions.

 

[goofy!]

Thanks. That is exactly what I was looking for.

So, in their gate, they have marked areas to start lining up at for your boarding letter? So, you can get there anytime and get in line?

Or do they wait until a set time before boarding and then call all "A's" to line up, all "Bs" to line up, etc?

If you have a layover - if you are an A or B in the originating city, are you automatically an A or B in the connecting city? Or do you check in for each segment and get boarding passes separately?

We really don't care where we sit in the plane - we have often sat in the back - but with a party of 8 and lots of kids, we want to maximize our chances of sitting together.

Thanks!

 

[Katienphil]

Are any of the kids under 5? If so...you can board early and save seats for the rest of your party (or they may even be able to board with you).

We are traveling with a young child and we're hoping the 4 adults that are going can all board at the same time earlier then everyone else.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

We have our first SW flights booked for July. We have a 3yo so I assume we can pre-board. I thought about trying for the Bulkhead seats, but a friend told me there are no trays on those seats - not even the ones that come out of the armrest like on other airlines bulkhead seats. Can anyone confirm?

If that is the case I will not try for the bulkhead since my 2 kids need the tray to color on, set their drink on, etc.

PLMK!

 

[klmall]

We found out last summer that the time for the check-in has to match the time in the TIME ZONE of the departing flight.

This isn't always a problem but was for us since we were camping in Idaho and had no access to a computer and my poor DH and DS had to set an alarm clock to get up in the middle of the night in their eastern time zone to check our Scout group in for our return flight from Spokane.

It really paid off though because the first leg of our flight had a delayed departure due to mechanical problems and they held our plane in Las Vegas for us so we slipped right into the "A" corral in LV! Whew! Our group gave a collective thanks to my bleary eyed DH and DS!

 

[Mom2Casey]

My turn, ha ha... ok so this would be my first too and your opinion does matter to whether I call back SW and purchase the tickets.

1. I have a 6yr old daughter and I have all intention of doing online checking to better our chances but do we really need to stand in line for an hour prior to boarding?? She will get moody and will complain about her feet hurting and want to sit down. I am not so worried about DH sitting alone but she will cry if she is alone and I would pity the people around her.

2. The flight from Manchester leaves at 7:05, I am not sure with this seating arraignment thing how early I should be at the airport. I am 20 mins from there so I thought about leaving my house at 5:10ish which with the shuttle at the airport should get us there by 6, sufficient?? And return flight is at 3:20 and not sure on that end.... perhaps be there for 2?

Any advice would be helpful as I am petrified to fly SW but they are offering NS however the prices aren't as good as I would like but advice has said t book and get the credit as tickets will sell out fast. Is that true?? I have 144 each way per person... oh wait, 2 coming home are at 124 and the other 144.

 

[WillCAD]

1) Many here book one-ways and from what I gather - you can then get a credit if the fare goes down?

SWA basically books all flights as one-ways. When you book a R/T you are really booking two one-ways. This eliminates price differences and makes it easier to change one leg of a flight.

If the fare goes down, you go back to SWAs web site and do a flight change. The procedure is the same as if you actually wanted to change to a different flight; just select the same flight to get the lower fare. Your confirmation number will stay the same, and you will get a credit for the difference in price. NOTE: If you actually want to change your flight (to leave later or earlier, etc.), the procedure is also the same. SWA does not charge change fees like other airlines.

2) How does the no assigned seat thing work? What are the tips about checking in, getting in line, etc. I gather there are 3 boarding assignments and I think somebody posted that 1-40 get A, 41 - ?? get B, etc.

SWA seating works just like general admission seating at a concert or ball game. However, letting a whole planeload of passengers on at the same time would be chaos, so they issue boarding passes in the 3 lettered groups, and call each group in turn. This way only 1/3 of the passengers are trying to get seated at one time, cutting the chaos down to 1/3. People with special needs, and families with small kids, qualify as Pre-Boarders; they go on the plane before the A group.

If you have a large group travelling - (we have 8) - is it better to do this in smaller reservations so that when you check-in, you have a better chance at A or B?

Sorry, I have never flown with a group bigger than 2.

3) I think I figured out Dings, as I got my first one today. But are there any hints or tips about it?

Sorry, I also don't use Ding.

4) Hints on getting the best deals through Southwest.

The best deals I have gotten have been from the SWA web site. I keep my eyes open for price changes and re-book to get lower fares when SWA has a sale. They also have an email newsletter that announces the system-wide sales and specials. And when there is a sale, someone always seems to post about it on the DIS boards.

5) can people post links to their important threads, such as the historical release dates, historical dings, etc.

Sorry again - don't have any saved.

6) Any hints or tips you can share about your experience with Southwest.

Check in as early as possible to get the A boarding passes.

Get to the gate as early as possible. People start lining up in the boarding queues as much as 30-45 minutes before scheduled flight times, and the closer you are to the front of the A boarding queue, the better choice of seats you will have.

Don't get bent out of shape if your group of 8 can't all sit together. There are 200 other people on the plane, all with their own groups, needs, seat preferences, phobias, and attitudes, and if you wind up having to split your group into 2 or 3 smaller groups because someone has already staked out a window seat and won't move, just smile, sit down, and try to enjoy the flight.

If you get stuck with a B or C boarding pass, and there are nothing but single seats left when you get on the plane, don't be afraid to ask people to move so that your kids all have an adult from your group sitting next to them. Many people will be courteous and move for you. If you can't get an adult seated next to each kid, you can also ask the flight attendants to try moving people around.

With a group of 8, it is in your best interest to pack light. Take as few checked bags and carry-ons as possible, because the sheer logistics of checking, carrying, and picking up all of those suitcases can be quite difficult, not to mention the time, trouble, and confusion of getting your carry-ons through security. Of course, this advice applies to any flight, not just SWA; but on the last few flights I have taken, people have been filling up the overhead bins to the point that some of the last people on the plane had to have their carry-ons gate-checked, and some passengers were tossing other peoples stuff around to make room for theirs without regard to fragility.

Early = slow and relaxed = low stress. Late = rushed and confused = high stress. Be early.

 

[judykay53]

We've flown SWA twice since September Last year we did not check in until we arrived at MCO and got B passes. When people started lining up we just parked ourselves down on the floor and the kids played with their stuff. We had two adults and two kids.We were able to sit one adult with one child and the plane was full.

On the pre boarding pass, I don't know exactly how many they will let pre board with the kids. On one of our legs they made an announcement for those to pre board and said " That doesn't mean grandm, grandpa, aunt , uncle, cousin". So you might be prepared for only a specific number preboarding. I'm sure someone else can clarify this.

When we got the B passes and started boarding I was thinking we will never be able to sit together. Suprisingly, those planes just seem to go on forever.

Have fun and think about all the money you saved by flying Southwest

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

1. I have a 6yr old daughter and I have all intention of doing online checking to better our chances but do we really need to stand in line for an hour prior to boarding??

If you are an A, you will be able to sit together. They only allow 50 passengers to board as an A, and the planes are so large that two seats together won't be a problem. Even if you're a B, you should be able to find a single passenger with two seats next to them. If you get in a bind, ask the flight attendants, but I think you should have absolutely no problems with it being just the two of you.

I fly SWA about 12-14 times a year. I absolutely love it, as the cheap fares cancel out any trepidations I might have. WillCAD answered many of your questions, but here's my take:

1) Check in 24 hours in advance. You will print out your boarding passes, and they will designate which line you will be in -- A, B or C. Once you get to the airport. I would book your tickets a couple at a time, so you have less confirmation numbers to keep track of.

2) If you find a lower fare, for instance a Florida Fare Frenzy or a DING! fare, you will be able to cancel your initial reservation and rebook, usually getting an expirable credit to use for a future flight. The reason people do TWO One ways is because you may not be able to rebook both of your one-ways at a cheaper fare. For instance, my flight down is on a Tuesday. There's a good chance I'll get a DING! or a sale fare for a Tuesday flight. However, my return is on a Sunday, and the Internet One-Way fares were sold out a mere hour after the schedule was opened, and it probably will be "sold out" (meaning SW didn't offer any seats at the sale price initially ) at any cheaper fares in the future. So there's a good chance that I won't be able to find an available sale fare for the return. If I book them as ONE reservation, I may get a cheaper fare on departure, but the return fare may even be HIGHER than my original reservation. So I book them seperately.

3) There's a chance you won't be able to save seats for your whole party even if some of your party boards early. That's a big point of controversy and debate for many frequent fliers. If an A boards first, he or she should generally get first choice of his or her seats, and often the flight attendants won't let people save a big chunk of seats because it slows down boarding, especially for 8 seats. I've seen people physically pick up jackets meant for "saving" seats and move them. I wouldn't have the nerve, but I'd be grumbling.

I suggest moving to the rear of the plane. Most single A passengers will take an aisle or window at the front of the plane. Couples will sit together. But if you go to the rear of the plane, by the time the rest of your party boards, who should be As if you check in early enough, they should be able to join you, as the As before them will probably have taken seats at the front of the plane. Plus, you'll be near the lavs if one of the kids has to go to the bathroom and guaranteed overhead storage and will have time to strap in car seats, get kids setting in, etc.

4) Go to the front desk 24 hours before your return flight if you're staying on property. Guest services should be willing to check you in. Print out a separate sheet of paper with confirmation numbers and names that you can leave with them, and I always put a line to write in my room number and cell phone number as well. If you aren't able to get your boarding pass, you will at least be checked in as an A and will be able to have them printed at the airport. If you're staying off property, have a friend check you in at home or go to the business center and just do it yourself.

5) For the best rates, sign up for their Rapid Rewards and internet notices online. Every Tuesday, an email is sent with that week's sales and specials (including rental cars). DING! fares have been restricted to certain days of the week lately. They're usually sent out for a six-week or less time period.

6) Interesting tip -- on your boarding pass, in the bottom lefthand corner, there's a number. That shows the order that you checked in. If it has an R after it, that designates that it's a reprint.

If there are any other Qs, I'd be happy to help!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

2. The flight from Manchester leaves at 7:05, I am not sure with this seating arraignment thing how early I should be at the airport. I am 20 mins from there so I thought about leaving my house at 5:10ish which with the shuttle at the airport should get us there by 6, sufficient?? And return flight is at 3:20 and not sure on that end.... perhaps be there for 2?

NO! Did I say that loudly enough? You need to arrive at MCO at least two hours in advance, even if you have boarding passes. First, if you don't, you need to check in; whether you have them or not you still need to check luggage. But here's the kicker - Security can take as little as two minutes, or as long as 45 minutes to an hour,,, then you still have to take a tram to your wing and walk to your gate. If you arrive at two and it takes you twenty minutes to check in and forty five minutes to get through security and ten minutes to get from there to the gate, it'll be 3:15 - and Southwest may have given away your seats.

 

[DrTomorrow]

A few points ( we fly out of PHX, so we use SWA a lot):

1. The bulkhead seats DO have the folding armrest trays. We've used them before.

2. Saving seats for 8 is going to problematic. Officially, there is no seat saving (first come, first served means exactly that). I have witnessed (I saw it, not a friend of a friend) that, if a FA gets involved, they will NOT allow seat saving. Now, if you put a coat on a middle seat, and politely explain to someone that you need it for a family member, you may get a nice person. However, if the plane is full (and most SWA are), and you are trying to save the ever-popular aisle seats, be prepared....

3. SWA allows childrent to board first with members of immediate family only. The announce this loudly - just like judykay53 said, no Grands, Cousins, Aunts/Uncles, etc. I asked a SWA gate agent about this, and she said that too many groups had tried to leverage one 3YO into early-boarding for 7 or 8 people. NOTE: they will be EXTRA SERIOUS about enforcing this on flights to/from MCO, as Disney-related flights can easily be half-filled with children. Check out the early boarding line if you don't believe me.

Be well!

 

[judykay53]

Very good tips here. Anyone else?

 

[mitsguy2001]

I used a website called www.boardfirst.com which will automatically check you into your flight 24 hours in advance, increasing your chances of getting an A pass. It costs $5. You are not charged the $5 if it fails to get an A pass. I think it is a good idea so that you don't have to worry about being at a computer exactly 24 hours in advance, and it gives you peace of mine. Since Southwest flights are typically inexpensive, even adding $5 to the flight cost is still a very good bargain.