Help!! No-fly list and SWA!

[jiminy14]

I believe that the boarding passes do have your name on it, however, in almost all the times I have flown SWA, the gate agent has simply collected the pass from the person, put it in a pile, and then scanned it after everyone in that particular line has boarded the plane.
As for saving seats, if your daughter is near the back of the plane she shouldn't have any problems. Problems arise when people start "saving" the prime seats such as the exit rows and the bulkheads. I flew back from Orlando once and encountered such a problem. A pre-boarding family got on and proceeded to save seats for the rest of their party(about 12 people with "C" passes) in the exit rows. They simply put their carryons on all of the seats. The flight attendant refused to do anything about it and there was a lot of grumbling from "A" pass passengers.
Keep in mind that the overhead space fills up quickly and passengers with "C's sometimes find there is no room for their luggage. On our last flight, the attendants were strictly enforcing the carry-on limit and checking any bags that they considered to be over-sized.

 

[CarolA]

Gate agents at SW are trying to haul you own. As far as I can tell they just look at the letter and keep moving!!! Plus if the agent asks, whoever is boarding can just point at "Amelia" and explain.

 

[i like stitch]

Gate agents at SW are trying to haul you own. As far as I can tell they just look at the letter and keep moving!!! Plus if the agent asks, whoever is boarding can just point at "Amelia" and explain.

I remember an agent addressing me by name, but then again, I was one of the last in line and by that time, there was a long line in front of me.

I've flown some swa flights with no empty seats which I think is driving my worries about us being able to sit together. Hopefully, DD will still not be on the no-fly list, we'll get her the A pass, and either she or DH will use that pass to find seats at the back of the plane. Seats in the back will more likely have the room for our carry-ons, and I like sitting closer to my stowed luggage! We'll make it work one way or the other. Too bad it has to be a bit of a hassle...

 

[Lorix2]

what a is "no-fly" list?

 

[ksumn1]

The No Fly list is actually a little misleading title.Most people can travel it just makes it a little more difficult. It's a list assembled by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) an/or an airline that tags people for more stringent security checks. It can be because you have a very common name, because someone with the same or similar name has done something to raise a security flag, etc. It means you can't do online check in to print boarding passes, that you have to physiclly check in at the ticket counter at the airport, show your id and many times you get hed up at security for a little extra "attention." No one's really sur eexactly how you get on or off the list, we just know it's there. It's something that has came about more because of 9-11. There are bad people, of course who should never be allowed to travel, but also llots of people like i love stitch who are just everyday people on the list. Maybe have DD bring along a few boxes of Godiva chocolates to "share" with the flight attendants and see if they'll be a little more helpful.

 

[i like stitch]

Maybe have DD bring along a few boxes of Godiva chocolates to "share" with the flight attendants and see if they'll be a little more helpful.

I like the chocolate bribery (err, I mean, open display of gratitude) approach!

DH just returned from his trip said that he got A passes because he arrived at airports 3hrs before departure and that the gate agents took his passes without looking at his name. He also said the flights were quite full. So our plan will be to get at airport early, have DH get DD's A pass if we can't get A passes ourselves, and he'll get the seats.

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[seashoreCM]

I work for an airline ... I have to deal with upset passengers who are on the no fly list and WANT OFF! ty:

I think you can hand out the choicest seats not yet taken to these passengers. If the airline you work for is Southwest you can give them blue preboarding vouchers, no?

New SOuthwest rule, ordinary preboarding passengers may not take non-bulkhead exit row seats and upon request by an a regular boarding passenger the F/A must reseat the preboarding passenger.

 

[OntFamily]

I really don't understand why the swa counter can't "over-ride" the computer and get those innocent no-fly passengers an A-pass!

How would the check in agent know you are "innocent"? Take your word for it? How secure would this make you feel if you knew the system could be overridden by check in agent..... This would be an easy flaw to exploit.

 

[Lorix2]

ksumn1 - thank you very much for you're detailed explanation

 

[Rpsemont]

Try not to worry about it. We have flow SWA many times and sometimes even gotten C passes. There was only once that when we got on and made our way to the back of the plane that I realized there were only middle seats left. DD was 9 at the time and when I seated her and said I'll be right over there and pointed a row away, and she said "you're not sitting beside me?" the lady in that row graciously offered to move. (My next line would have been - "Now try not to spill your soda this time!" LOL! But alas, I didn't have to use it.) Get there as early as you can and stake out front place in the B line and hopefully you won't have a problem.

 

[tjmw2727]

That is such a bummer....

I have been trying to think of what I would do in your case as I fly alone with my dd's often, they are 9 and 11. We are using SW in October for the first time and I have had to think on my feet as well. My 11 yo will be fine but my 9yo is a young 9 and will want me next to her. She also gets motion sick and that makes her afraid to fly. (Dramimine works but she only remembers the embarassment before we knew to give it to her).

If I were you I would do alot of talking and teaching with dd about the possiblities and what could happen and what she is willing to do to sit with 1 or both of you.

In your case I would print dd's boarding pass asap so she gets group A. If she is comfortable doing this have her board and pick an empty row of 3 toward the back. Then I would print out 2 8x11 sheets of paper with something like.... Please let my mom and dad sit here and am only 9 and would really like to sit with them. Have her sit in the asle and put them in the middle and window seats.

This way if your dd is shy like mine she won't speak with anyone or have to deal with rude passengers or carry extra carryons. Anyone who will sit on that peice of paper IMHO is just plain rude. If someone climbs over her to sit in one of the seats in her row it will probably be the window. Then at least you or dh can have the middle. My best hope is a row of 3 but I will settle for 2 and 1 if my 11yo is close by.

Have a great trip and your dd will definately rise to the occasion.

TJ

 

[i like stitch]

If I were you I would do alot of talking and teaching with dd about the possiblities and what could happen and what she is willing to do to sit with 1 or both of you.

In your case I would print dd's boarding pass asap so she gets group A. If she is comfortable doing this have her board and pick an empty row of 3 toward the back. Then I would print out 2 8x11 sheets of paper with something like.... Please let my mom and dad sit here and am only 9 and would really like to sit with them. Have her sit in the asle and put them in the middle and window seats.

This way if your dd is shy like mine she won't speak with anyone or have to deal with rude passengers or carry extra carryons. Anyone who will sit on that peice of paper IMHO is just plain rude. If someone climbs over her to sit in one of the seats in her row it will probably be the window. Then at least you or dh can have the middle. My best hope is a row of 3 but I will settle for 2 and 1 if my 11yo is close by.

What terrific suggestions! Thank you.

Given my DD, it would be much easier for her to put the paper on the seats than to verbally ask strangers not to sit next to her, no matter how much we coached her on what to say and do.

Hope all goes well with your flight in October. I really do like flying swa.