How to keep family together on Southwest?!

[SirDuff]

They specifically say 2 adults can board with a child in family boarding - other minor siblings obviously can as well.

No, they specifically say AN ADULT:

An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.

https://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/boarding_the_plane_faq.html

 

[jo-jo]

It’s changed recently though. The flights we’ve flown this year had positions A1-15 full. We had early bird and ended up with a B boarding position. I’m not paying for early bird anymore if it isn’t going to get me an A boarding position. I’ll take my chances and log in at the 24 hour mark and see what I get.

I feel anyone that purchased early bird, should go ahead of family boarding. We have gone with our DS's family and purchase EB to be sure all 6 of us can be together. I'd be real upset if we got B's .


We don't fly that often, but on one flight there was a mom and child....almost last ones on plane....couldn't find seats together. We sat and waited while FA walked up and down plane. FA asked for someone to move.....nothing....then FA says, this plane is not moving until the mother and child are seated. After perhaps another minute, a guy gets up. It was a very uncomfortable feeling waiting to see what would happen.

 

[EscalatorKid]

It’s changed recently though. The flights we’ve flown this year had positions A1-15 full. We had early bird and ended up with a B boarding position. I’m not paying for early bird anymore if it isn’t going to get me an A boarding position. I’ll take my chances and log in at the 24 hour mark and see what I get.

It could be the airport, too. I fly out of (and subsequently return to) Buffalo and I rarely see anyone take advantage.

I just feel like $15-25 each way is money better spent elsewhere, ESPECIALLY if it's not a guaranteed A. If I'm gambling, I might as well go to a casino or buy some lottery tickets for all the good it will do me.

I'm not afraid of strangers, so if I have to sit separate, that's fine. I usually listen to music or watch videos anyways.

That being said, I don't have small children...

 

[firstwdw]

Buy early bird check in for each of you. This is what we always do and we've never had an issue. The one flight we did have an issue was when I checked in 24hours prior and didn't purchase the early bird. Not worth the stress.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've even entered a plane with people already on it

Well, of course not. I don't think SW has any flights originating where this would make sens

 

[princessebird]

You should be good. We fly SW as a family with relative frequency. The only time we ever had trouble getting 3 in family boarding was a flight from DAL to MCO in which the flight had originated in PHX. Apparently, a cheerleading squad(s) from PHX took up a good chunk of the plane. We wound up with two aisles and a middle; not ideal, of course, but it worked. The 10 or so other inbound flights have never had a problem, and we've never had a problem on an outbound.

 

[irt9206]

OP, do you have a Southwest Priority credit card? If you do, you can buy priority boarding at the gate and the cost will be refunded to your card. But I agree with what others have said that you should be fine but might be towards the back of the plane. I'm rolling the dice coming home from MCO on a flight thats already sold out. And there will be 5 of us. Couldn't justify the $125 cost. Although I did buy early boarding for the flight down but $75 was covered by a travel credit from the Southwest card I mentioned earlier.

 

[tjmw2727]

OP, do you have a Southwest Priority credit card? If you do, you can buy priority boarding at the gate and the cost will be refunded to your card. But I agree with what others have said that you should be fine but might be towards the back of the plane. I'm rolling the dice coming home from MCO on a flight thats already sold out. And there will be 5 of us. Couldn't justify the $125 cost. Although I did buy early boarding for the flight down but $75 was covered by a travel credit from the Southwest card I mentioned earlier.

Can you tell me more about this - I have the card but never heard of this refund for purchasing priority boarding.
TIA

 

[irt9206]

Can you tell me more about this - I have the card but never heard of this refund for purchasing priority boarding.
TIA

You have to go the the southwest desk at the gate where you would board the plane as soon as you see a southwest employee there and ask them if upgrading to priority boarding is available (it may not be if A1-A15 has already been sold). If its available, you need to pay with your priority card and the $40 charge for each ticket (up to 4 per year) will be refunded to your account. I've never done this but everything I have read says this is what needs to be done. Hope this helps.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would pay for EBCI. To me the small cost is worth not having to stress about finding seats together. Also, Southwest has been known to skip Family Boarding if it looks as if there is a large number of people traveling with children.

 

[wcw57]

A BIG "problem" here in Suffolk County, NY are the wheelchair travelers.....The planes from ISP to PBI have been called miracle flights because so many people get wheeled into the plane and walk out under their own steam. There are, of course, legit people in that crowd but the rest are just getting early boarding....
Don't shoot the messenger.

 

[DebbieB]

"I've even entered a plane with people already on it". Well, of course not. I don't think SW has any flights originating where this would make sens

I've seen it a couple times. I had early bird with A23 as my position. Shocked to get on the plane to find most of the front half full. Flight originated in Baltimore, flew to PIT and then to Orlando (and beyond), Baltimore folks already on. Another time, I was on the originating flight. It was PIT-BWI-MCO. When we stopped in Baltimore, they asked us to stay seated while they counted. They counted 54. After they counted, we could change seats and I walked up to the front, as did many.

 

[maxiesmom]

A BIG "problem" here in Suffolk County, NY are the wheelchair travelers.....The planes from ISP to PBI have been called miracle flights because so many people get wheeled into the plane and walk out under their own steam. There are, of course, legit people in that crowd but the rest are just getting early boarding....
Don't shoot the messenger.

Saw that one May flying home from Orlando. I could hardly believe how many wheelchairs were waiting to board--I stopped counting at 20. They had them all in the first few rows on the aircraft. Both sides. But what was impressive was how few wheelchairs were needed when we landed.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Can you tell me more about this - I have the card but never heard of this refund for purchasing priority boarding.
TIA

Make sure you understand though what the PP is talking about is a NEW card offered by SWA. If you have a Premier or Plus you DON'T have this benefit. The new card is Southwest Priority

Also: "Those already holding another personal Southwest card (business cards don’t count) cannot sign up for this card. Even without currently holding a Southwest card, those who have earned a sign-up bonus on another Southwest card in the past 24 months are not eligible for the bonus on this card."It is possible to upgrade an existing Southwest card to the priority card. The Points Guy reports that Southwest is targeting some cardholders with a 5,000-point incentive to upgrade, so long as cardholders make a purchase on their upgraded card within a certain period."

 

[georgina]

It’s changed recently though. The flights we’ve flown this year had positions A1-15 full. We had early bird and ended up with a B boarding position. I’m not paying for early bird anymore if it isn’t going to get me an A boarding position. I’ll take my chances and log in at the 24 hour mark and see what I get.

OP, do you have a Southwest Priority credit card? If you do, you can buy priority boarding at the gate and the cost will be refunded to your card.

That could be why the A1-15 have been full sometimes. DH upgraded his SW CC to a Priority card and has this benefit now. We usually just check in at 24 hrs and have been fine.

 

[tjmw2727]

Make sure you understand though what the PP is talking about is a NEW card offered by SWA. If you have a Premier or Plus you DON'T have this benefit. The new card is Southwest Priority

Also: "Those already holding another personal Southwest card (business cards don’t count) cannot sign up for this card. Even without currently holding a Southwest card, those who have earned a sign-up bonus on another Southwest card in the past 24 months are not eligible for the bonus on this card."It is possible to upgrade an existing Southwest card to the priority card. The Points Guy reports that Southwest is targeting some cardholders with a 5,000-point incentive to upgrade, so long as cardholders make a purchase on their upgraded card within a certain period."

Thanks - I have a regular swa card and I was looking into the priority card that's why I asked I have to do some more research on this when I have a chance.

 

[garnwr32229]

I’m glad I saw this. I could careless where in the plane we sit just hoping that all kids are seated near/by an adult. My kids will bc 3, 9 & 9 when we travel 1 of the 9 yr olds is very anxious. My plan is to check in at the 24hr mark and hope for the best.

 

[serenitynow]

Earlybird check in.

If it’s important to you, bite the bullet, pay for the EBCI and you can stop worrying about it.

 

[maxiesmom]

I’m glad I saw this. I could careless where in the plane we sit just hoping that all kids are seated near/by an adult. My kids will bc 3, 9 & 9 when we travel 1 of the 9 yr olds is very anxious. My plan is to check in at the 24hr mark and hope for the best.

What will you do if you can't get them all seated by an adult? I get not wanting to spend the money. But what is your back up plan?

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I’m glad I saw this. I could careless where in the plane we sit just hoping that all kids are seated near/by an adult. My kids will bc 3, 9 & 9 when we travel 1 of the 9 yr olds is very anxious. My plan is to check in at the 24hr mark and hope for the best.

I hope your best works for you - you need to prepare your kids that they might not sit by an adult if plane is full or your boarding position not good. While I am not implying or saying you stated you’d do this - it is not fair to expect or ask others who are proactive and pay for EBCI to move for you. Flights to MCO are full of families. The airlines can’t make people move for others and there is nothing saying children can’t be separated from parents. Kids are wonderful but don’t make people entitled.

Good luck and have a great trip