Help understanding how Southwest will work - Gail/anyone??

[momoftwins]

OK, we only fly once a year and this is nervewracking to try and figure out all this travel stuff.

Dh, myself, DD & DS (7yrs) all have individual reservation numbers. So am I to understand that at 12:01AM on the day of our flight, I can go online get our boarding passes for the PVD to MCO loop - AND at the same time will be given one of those A B or C numbers? Is this right? My only concern is that three of us end up with one code and the last one another - aack? How am I going to do this to make sure one of the kids is with one of us?

So, assuming what I just said is correct, what happens on the way home? We do not have a computer to bring to WDW. Will we just check in at the airport and get an A B or C code there? We have never flown with a stopover. Do your codes (the A B or C) get reassigned before you get on the second leg of your flight?

Will there be any other documents I will need to print to bring with me to the airport? I do love SWA, but I am just so inexperienced at flying.

Thanks and have a great night.

 

[Lewisc]

I think Gail is in Disney.
If your party has different boarding groups (some A and some B) you will (generally) all be allowed to board in the lower group.

Internet check in is optional. You can either try to use a computer in your hotel or check in at the airport.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think you can preboard and forego the A/B/C thing since you are traveling with a child.

 

[Pinnie]

Her children are too old to pre-board.

From what I understand, you will NOT be able to get a boarding pass for you connection online. That you will have to get when you land at one of the SWA kiosks or at the gate.

If your flight is just a stopover and you are NOT making a connection, you will be able to stay on the aircraft.

pin

 

[ZuZugal]

On our last trip, we arrived in plenty of time at the airport on our trip to Orlando to all receive A boarding passes. Then, we arrived at MCO for the flight home 3 hrs ahead of flight time, and all received C passes. This scared the heck out of me. (Our kids were 6 and 8 at the time.)
I begged and pleaded but they told me "most people will give up a seat when they see you have a child to sit by". Luckily, we found 2 pairs of 2 seats together in the very back of the plane. DH sat w/one chld and I w/the other. I just wonder if anyone would have given up their seat for me to be by my 6 year old. We will still fly SW, but I need to find a better way of assuring A boarding passes also.

 

[cujochurch]

We will be traveling for the first time with kids (nieces). What is the age limit for preboarding? and does the whole group get to or just kid and one adult?

 

[Jestocost]

Pre-boarding with kids is pretty much a thing of the past and it hasn't ever been available in Orlando (at least not on most airlines and not for a long time).

 

[Erin12303]

If they choose to allow preboarding with children for your flight, the children need to be age 4 or younger.

I didn't check the SW site yet.....is the online check-in available at your specific airport?
If it is available, could you get the boarding pass for one adult, then both kids, and then the last adult? That way the worst case is a split but both children should be able to be with at least one adult.
Just a suggestion.
Good luck!

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

Make sure you are at the airport 2 hours in advance like they tell you to be. Start standing in line at least 45 minutes before they start checking in people.( Usually only one person in your party needs to stand in line until they start checking in) That way when they start passing out boarding numbers you will get the lowest number possible. This is your best chance to get all your seats together. in my own opinion.

The last time I flew southwest everyone with children under the age of 12 were place in the front half of the plane. And the people who did not were placed in the back.(of course given these limitations you do get to pick your own seat.) This may have changed or it just might have been done so by the flight crews preference. In any case this was my experience.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Jestocost
Pre-boarding with kids is pretty much a thing of the past and it hasn't ever been available in Orlando (at least not on most airlines and not for a long time).

Not sure what airline you fly, but, today they preboarded children 4 and under at MCO on SWA.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Kimberlyfamilyfv
Make sure you are at the airport 2 hours in advance like they tell you to be. Start standing in line at least 45 minutes before they start checking in people.( Usually only one person in your party needs to stand in line until they start checking in) That way when they start passing out boarding numbers you will get the lowest number possible. This is your best chance to get all your seats together. in my own opinion.

The last time I flew southwest everyone with children under the age of 12 were place in the front half of the plane. And the people who did not were placed in the back.(of course given these limitations you do get to pick your own seat.) This may have changed or it just might have been done so by the flight crews preference. In any case this was my experience.

You don't get a number you get a pass that reads "A", "B" or "C" and since it is open seating, you select where you want to sit.
I just got off the "flight from he**" with one kid that screamed from the minute he got on the plane until we landed when the little beast fell asleep. I have never flown SWA where they boarded the folks with kids in the front half and others in the rear.
Open seating means just that, open seating, get it and grab it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Erin12303
If they choose to allow preboarding with children for your flight, the children need to be age 4 or younger.

I didn't check the SW site yet.....is the online check-in available at your specific airport?
If it is available, could you get the boarding pass for one adult, then both kids, and then the last adult? That way the worst case is a split but both children should be able to be with at least one adult.
Just a suggestion.
Good luck!

You cannot use this if more than one person is listed on the reservation. Apparently, you have to make separate reservations for all in your party and then check in for each one.
It is good for all legs of your flight on that day.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by momoftwins
OK, we only fly once a year and this is nervewracking to try and figure out all this travel stuff.

Dh, myself, DD & DS (7yrs) all have individual reservation numbers. So am I to understand that at 12:01AM on the day of our flight, I can go online get our boarding passes for the PVD to MCO loop - AND at the same time will be given one of those A B or C numbers? Is this right? My only concern is that three of us end up with one code and the last one another - aack? How am I going to do this to make sure one of the kids is with one of us?

So, assuming what I just said is correct, what happens on the way home? We do not have a computer to bring to WDW. Will we just check in at the airport and get an A B or C code there? We have never flown with a stopover. Do your codes (the A B or C) get reassigned before you get on the second leg of your flight?

Will there be any other documents I will need to print to bring with me to the airport? I do love SWA, but I am just so inexperienced at flying.

Thanks and have a great night.

Hi,
From what I have read, you need individual reservations, meaning that you cannot have more than one listed on each reservation.
If you get all A's and one B, for example, you can save seats, and one adult can wait with "odd" pass. You can do this for both legs of your flight. If you choose not to use this option, you will have to check in on the second part of your trip.
Yes, you will need ID for your flight.

 

[Erin12303]

QUOTE]You cannot use this if more than one person is listed on the reservation. Apparently, you have to make separate reservations for all in your party and then check in for each one.[/QUOTE]

The original post did state that they all have separate individual reservation numbers.
I think the order of collecting your boarding passes online is important.
If you surround the kids with two adults, at least one adult will be able to board with the kids if the letters change.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Erin12303
QUOTE]You cannot use this if more than one person is listed on the reservation. Apparently, you have to make separate reservations for all in your party and then check in for each one.

The original post did state that they all have separate individual reservation numbers.
I think the order of collecting your boarding passes online is important.
If you surround the kids with two adults, at least one adult will be able to board with the kids if the letters change. [/QUOTE]

Yes, I know the OP said she had individual reservation numbers, but, I also realize that other people will probably read the posts.
Just covering my bases.
All the info is on the website.

 

[Erin12303]

Gail-
Gotcha-cool beans!
Erin

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Erin12303
Gail-
Gotcha-cool beans!
Erin

Just wanted to add, all reservations have separate numbers but can be on the same page, that is when you cannot use the online checkin, IE: just got back, the reservation had one series of letters with Dee and I listed on the reservation, with different reservation numbers.

IE: HXBWSW is the "main 'number' ".
For Dee the number:526-2779591776-0
For me: 526-2779591775-6
As you can see, they are different numbers.
As such, you cannot use the online checkin.

Each person would have to have a number such as the "main number".

I sure do hope this made sense. It has been a long day.

 

[maps]

i'm assuming since i have young kids and can preboard, then there is no advantage for me to check in online?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by maps
i'm assuming since i have young kids and can preboard, then there is no advantage for me to check in online?

Even with young kids I would check in online, assuming you all have separate reservations, because they don't always preboard folks with kids 4 and under. If the pax all have small children, they will only preboard folks with special needs.

 

[Pinnie]

I totally agree with Gail here. I hvae been on flights from MCO (Esp on a Sunday) where the gate agent has said that since most of the flight is full of families, there will be NO preboarding except for special needs.

I have also seen this at LAX on 2 occasions!

pin