I really dislike flying with SWA due to their boarding process

[Minnesota!]

They don't skip it on our flights to MCO out of BWI and BWI has become a major hub for SW. We have at least a dozen flights a day to Orlando. I can't remember them skipping family boarding in YEARS now. I think it was a mistake though to increase the age to 6!!! That makes it even worse!!

I have flown them out of MSP, MDW, MKE, and STL...so who knows. I just know I would not count on it if I had kids in that age range

 

[stitchlovestink]

Well this is just one person's opinion but I think if you pay for EBCI, you should be GUARANTEED to board BEFORE family boarding.
BWI is so popular that is becoming a problem there. EBCI often go well into the B groups (like sometimes into the 20s). The FAIREST thing to do would be to eliminate family boarding and families have the option to buy EBCI just like everyone else. A level playing field for ALL!

 

[Disneytam]

I know I always say it, but I have never been on a SWA flight to MCO where family boarding was an option. Too many families.

I would love if this was true but we fly direct flights from Albany NY to MCO and they always have family boarding. Your right though that most everybody loads with the family boarding.

 

[Disneylover99]

Well this is just one person's opinion but I think if you pay for EBCI, you should be GUARANTEED to board BEFORE family boarding.
BWI is so popular that is becoming a problem there. EBCI often go well into the B groups (like sometimes into the 20s). The FAIREST thing to do would be to eliminate family boarding and families have the option to buy EBCI just like everyone else. A level playing field for ALL!

That will never happen.

Imagine the number of parents who didn't buy EBCI crying foul because they were amongst the last to board. Then the flight would be delayed as FA's scramble to negotiate with passengers already seated to move so that children can sit with their parents. Even as it stands now, there is always one family every single flight that I've been on looking for people to move, to accommodate them. Take family boarding away, and there will be several parents begging others to move.

I do agree that purchasing EBCI should trump family boarding though.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I agree, EBCI should trump family boarding, too. (And I never buy EBCI). Because there would still be seats for the families to sit together (in the back part of the plane).


And I fly SW often, and I prefer their boarding process.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That will never happen.

Imagine the number of parents who didn't buy EBCI crying foul because they were amongst the last to board. Then the flight would be delayed as FA's scramble to negotiate with passengers already seated to move so that children can sit with their parents. Even as it stands now, there is always one family every single flight that I've been on looking for people to move, to accommodate them. Take family boarding away, and their will be several parents begging others to move.

I do agree that purchasing EBCI should trump family boarding though.

Too bad. They should pay for EBCI or fly an airline with assigned seating.

 

[DebbieB]

I've flown PIT/MCO many times and have never seen them waive family boarding. I think the age change has made it worse. When I was flying to MCO last Saturday, I bet family boarding had at least 30 or 40 people. I had B22, very few people were on the other side of B and very few waiting for C.

 

[Boopuff]

I just don't get why any parent of a small kid wants to sit while the entire plane boards. I think EBCI should board before family boarding and that family boarding should be 1:1 as listed on SW boarding page. I call BS that entire families with entourage get to board before everyone else! It's amazing how large some families are. I can see parents and two kids. But once you get into gigantic families... mom, dad, kid 1,2,3 aunt, uncle, grandma etc.... that's crazy and unfair!!!

 

[DebbieB]

I just don't get why any parent of a small kid wants to sit while the entire plane boards. I think EBCI should board before family boarding and that family boarding should be 1:1 as listed on SW boarding page. I call BS that entire families with entourage get to board before everyone else! It's amazing how large some families are. I can see parents and two kids. But once you get into gigantic families... mom, dad, kid 1,2,3 aunt, uncle, grandma etc.... that's crazy and unfair!!!

On my flight last Saturday, they specifically said "extended" family was not included and I have seen them turn away grandparents. Not that it really matters, they just save seats for them.

 

[sam_gordon]

I just don't get why any parent of a small kid wants to sit while the entire plane boards. I think EBCI should board before family boarding and that family boarding should be 1:1 as listed on SW boarding page. I call BS that entire families with entourage get to board before everyone else! It's amazing how large some families are. I can see parents and two kids. But once you get into gigantic families... mom, dad, kid 1,2,3 aunt, uncle, grandma etc.... that's crazy and unfair!!!

Regarding the bolded, I quickly see a couple of reasons... for those who have car seats you can get those settled. You also get your choice of seat location, and you have access to space in the overhead.

 

[Baklava]

I just don't get why any parent of a small kid wants to sit while the entire plane boards. I think EBCI should board before family boarding and that family boarding should be 1:1 as listed on SW boarding page. I call BS that entire families with entourage get to board before everyone else! It's amazing how large some families are. I can see parents and two kids. But once you get into gigantic families... mom, dad, kid 1,2,3 aunt, uncle, grandma etc.... that's crazy and unfair!!!

Because in addition to your own carry on and settling, you have someone else's to attend to. A parent with a 3 year old has to get the kid's bag into the bin along with their own, help the kid buckle up, soothe any worries, find the juice box/stuffed animal/coloring book to keep the kid happy... and it's all easier if you don't have people breathing down your neck or shoving past you because they're impatient.

I absolutely agree on no extended family and the rest of your stuff, but there are good reasons why boarding early is attractive to parents of small kids, regardless of whether it's fair or not.

I paid for EBCI. I am also traveling with a 5 year old. I definitely think the people who pay for EBCI should board before family boarding. While I appreciate the courtesy of family boarding, the part of me that shelled out $100 would be really irritated if I was traveling without a little kid and got bumped by someone with a first grader. 6 is awfully high for a neurotypical, able-bodied kid to qualify you for family boarding.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Because in addition to your own carry on and settling, you have someone else's to attend to. A parent with a 3 year old has to get the kid's bag into the bin along with their own, help the kid buckle up, soothe any worries, find the juice box/stuffed animal/coloring book to keep the kid happy... and it's all easier if you don't have people breathing down your neck or shoving past you because they're impatient.

I absolutely agree on no extended family and the rest of your stuff, but there are good reasons why boarding early is attractive to parents of small kids, regardless of whether it's fair or not.

I paid for EBCI. I am also traveling with a 5 year old. I definitely think the people who pay for EBCI should board before family boarding. While I appreciate the courtesy of family boarding, the part of me that shelled out $100 would be really irritated if I was traveling without a little kid and got bumped by someone with a first grader. 6 is awfully high for a neurotypical, able-bodied kid to qualify you for family boarding.

But it is happening A LOT on the Orlando flights out of BWI and is only going to get worse as people catch on that the age has now been increased from 4 to 6.
There are a lot of times EBCIs are getting B boarding passes. And then add in that the flight may not have originated there, so there may already be passengers on board occupying seats...meaning even less options!!
If SW is going to keep it this way, they really need to go back to the 1 parent/1 child!! I could see exceptions if a parent is flying solo and has 2 children say a 4 y.o. and an 8 y.o. Then by all means let them all board together. But if there is a 2nd parent...get your butt in the general boarding queue with child #2.

 

[Boopuff]

Flying SW tomorrow from Chicago to Orlando. I'll pay attention to the boarding groups. I'll post my findings when I return! We did get A boarding and paid for EBIC. Ended up at the tail end of the A group! Lots of people must be going the EBIC route!!

 

[Baklava]

But it is happening A LOT on the Orlando flights out of BWI and is only going to get worse as people catch on that the age has now been increased from 4 to 6.
There are a lot of times EBCIs are getting B boarding passes. And then add in that the flight may not have originated there, so there may already be passengers on board occupying seats...meaning even less options!!
If SW is going to keep it this way, they really need to go back to the 1 parent/1 child!! I could see exceptions if a parent is flying solo and has 2 children say a 4 y.o. and an 8 y.o. Then by all means let them all board together. But if there is a 2nd parent...get your butt in the general boarding queue with child #2.

And I don't disagree with any of that. I was addressing why parents would *want* to board early with a small child, not whether it was fair. Boopuff asked why it was desirable.

(And I'm travelling with a 5 year old. Family boarding and the higher age benefit me directly. I still agree that limitations are more fair than not. The crew should have the option of making exceptions, but if they want to say only one parent per kid or 4 and under or after all EBCI, all of those seem reasonable to me, although personally inconvenient.)

 

[FreeTime]

It might be difficult to manage but an off the wall thought I have would force the hand of parents who want to sit with their kids to pay the extra and limit the advantage concerns that people have over EBCi with B group and family boarding. Maybe you could pay extra like $15 to get family boarding priority. This would only be available to families with children under X. Then you board right after the A listers. If you don't want to pay that, then you risk being being the EBCI and if you don't have a seat together, then you are out of luck. Harsh? Maybe.

But as I posted earlier on this thread, it would avoid the lap baby parents trying to take an extra seat so they don't have to hold their kid. It would avoid EBCI folks from get to mad when they are behind a bunch of family boarders. Etcetera. I guess the hard part to manage would be people like me who would want to pay $15 to get ahead of the EBCI. But if you combine the idea someone on this thread head about having a dedicated section of the plane, that might solve it.

A listers can sit where they please. Priority family can only sit in rows X-XX (based on the number sold in advance) and no empty seats would be permitted then the EBCI would have plenty of places to select.

 

[stitchlovestink]

It might be difficult to manage but an off the wall thought I have would force the hand of parents who want to sit with their kids to pay the extra and limit the advantage concerns that people have over EBCI with B group and family boarding. Maybe you could pay extra like $15 to get family boarding priority. This would only be available to families with children under X. Then you board right after the A listers. If you don't want to pay that, then you risk being being the EBCI and if you don't have a seat together, then you are out of luck. Harsh? Maybe.

But as I posted earlier on this thread, it would avoid the lap baby parents trying to take an extra seat so they don't have to hold their kid. It would avoid EBCI folks from get to mad when they are behind a bunch of family boarders. Etcetera. I guess the hard part to manage would be people like me who would want to pay $15 to get ahead of the EBCI. But if you combine the idea someone on this thread head about having a dedicated section of the plane, that might solve it.

A listers can sit where they please. Priority family can only sit in rows X-XX (based on the number sold in advance) and no empty seats would be permitted then the EBCI would have plenty of places to select.

2 issues....if they are paying extra, they are going to complain and say they should not be blocked into certain rows and no empty seats...what happens when the ones left are window and isle seats in different rows???
And since they can buy EBCI Just Like Every Other Passenger, I say....do away with family boarding altogether and they can buy EBCI just like anyone else can IF IT IS THAT IMPORTANT to them.

 

[pens4821]

I need to stop reading this thread. I paid for EBCI for peace of mind of us all being able to sit together. Well, close as we're a family of 5- four adults one 8 year old (we'd like to have at least 3 seats together- then 2 somewhere else). I will be pissed if we end up with a mid to high B boarding group with a lot of families getting on before us.

I don't think there is a simple solution to the problem. Someone is going to be mad. Best thing I would say, is no families until all EBCI are in. From a selfish standpoint, I paid for that benefit, and if you want to be with your kids (like us with my nephew), you should too. If you do that, then you're risking everyone getting the EBCI though, then what? I really don't know what the answer is. I don't care if I'm in the last row, as long as we're with my nephew, it'll be ok.

 

[Yellowjj]

They need to discontinue this "Family Boarding" nonsense. If you have a car seat and need extra time you can pre-board. A four year old is old enough to stand on a regular line for boarding. I've seen many flights where the parent's have done just that once the child is capable of walking and that's usually by age 2. American, Delta and United don't have this problem.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ok maybe its not a law. However one time when that person with a car seat was the one with the late connection the FA did say they could not move the plane until they had two seats together and that one must be the window seat. So someone was forced to give up their window seat for a middle seat.

Southwest doesn't have an easily loadable policy on the placement of carseat+adult. AA's policy is that if there aren't adjacent seats available, they will stow the car seat (not move passengers) http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/childrenTraveling.jsp

Regarding the bolded, I quickly see a couple of reasons... for those who have car seats you can get those settled. You also get your choice of seat location, and you have access to space in the overhead.

That all gives parents a free advantage over other passengers.

 

[sam_gordon]

That all gives parents a free advantage over other passengers.

OK? I responding to the poster who was wondering why someone would want to board early with a child. If you don't like the way Southwest (any airline or any business for that matter) does business, don't use them.