I really dislike flying with SWA due to their boarding process

[stitchlovestink]

And I carry on an additional items which the airline cannot count that are medical. They cannot be checked because of the way baggage is handled and the pieces of medical equipment are too expensive to chance having them get broken or lost. So yes, sometimes I get the rude evil eye from someone who really needs to worry about themselves and mind their own business because I am carrying on more than 2 bags. But if they are rude enough to put their nose in MY business, I inform them I have medical equipment and that does not apply to the allowance.

 

[hisgal2]

Interesting...I've had a number of FAs tell me carry on bags should go in wheels first. I've seldom had an issue. The one and only time I had an issue was when flying on a smaller plane....they had less deep bins on one side of the plane, but regular depth on the other side. My bag, fully within the limits and actually smaller, wouldn't go in wheels first due to the way the door closed. Had to turn it around. But that's the only time.....and the FA did mention that as we boarded!!!

I think maybe it depends on the type of plane and also on the type of bag. I understand that not all bags are going to fit in the compartments the same way. I've just seen FAs try to close a door and it won't go and they'll look at the bags and grab one bag whose handle is facing out and turn that puppy around and low and behold, that little door closes. It's like they've developed a 6th sense for stuff like this (and how could they not, honestly?).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

....Also, most people put their carryons into the overhead compartment incorrectly. You are supposed to put them in with the handle going in first and the wheels sticking out towards the door of the compartment. It makes it a pain to get it out, but that is actually the proper way to do it. .....

You have it backwards. Bags are supposed to go in the overhead bin wheels first, not handle first.

 

[goofy4tink]

You have it backwards. Bags are supposed to go in the overhead bin wheels first, not handle first.

That's what I've been told as well. But...there are some configurations that only allow wheels out storage. It's usually those smaller planes that have fewer seats. Then, they usually have the bags put in sideways!!!! And sometimes handles first due to the slope of the bin. But yes, generally speaking, it's wheels in storage.

 

[charmed59]

I think some people don't want to wait at baggage claim or perhaps don't trust their luggage to be out of their sight.

I admit that if I know the particular airport is slow at getting baggage to baggage claim, I'm more likely to carry it on. I travel with a carry-on size roller bag. When visiting my daughter in Burlington Vermont (BTV) I will check it. That airport always has my bag to baggage claim by the time I'm finished picking up my rental car keys. (About 10 minutes from wheels down to driving out of the airport.)

Flying into Charlotte (CLT) on the other hand, the wait for baggage is at least 40 minutes from when the plane lands, often much longer. If I can carry my luggage on it means I'm on my way much faster.

 

[BeerMe]

I love SW boarding - unless it's not available I always fly SW now, even when there are cheaper options.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I also prefer the SW boarding. It seems much faster to me. I go out of my way to try and fly on SW for many reasons, the boarding is probably 3-4th reason (after no charges for flight changes, ability to get credits of flights go down in price, and no luggage fees).

 

[Shanti]

I hate Southwest's boarding proccedures, for the exact reasons the OP gave.

 

[paults]

Gonna vent for a minute here...

We usually drive to WDW since its only 10 hours. However, we flew this trip. The flight down was fine, but on the way back our boarding numbers were B12, B15, B55 and C1. I went to ask if my DD6 who was B55 could board with me and they told me to do family boarding. So I get in the line and was denied. Even though that's what they told me to do. They did let us all board in the first B group. Frustrating, but I was ok with it since I knew family boarding was ages 4 and below with ONE adult.

We get on the plane and practically everyone is holding seats. And it's obvious. Passed rows with bags tossed on seats to "hold" them. Very frustrating. We boarded in the first B group and are all the way in the back. I chose to follow the rules and not to buy one EBCI and save seats for my family. This entire experience was extremely frustrating. I won't be flying SWA again. They need to do a better job of enforcing me all of their rules. This is not a process, it's chaos.
Just a vent.

We did have a great trip though.

If you boarding in the first B group that would be 1 to 30 so you did break the rules. B55 and C1 can not move up. If you wanted to board together you had to moved back to C1.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Your child is too old for family boarding. Gate agent should have known that. However, they will allow the minor child to board with you in the B group. But only the minor child. If they let the entire party board together, including the C person, then that's not the policy and you got a big break.

I refuse to buy the early bird check in, but I don't care if I'm in the back of the plane.

I've seen seat saving on SW. Not every flight, but some. I also had a guy who boarded after me tell me that I had to get up and move because he and his wife wanted to sit together. And he was rude about it...not happening.

Oh yes, have seen passengers trying to save a seat for a lap baby. Also, the couples who save the middle seat in hopes that nobody will sit there and they will have an empty seat between them. go ahead and say you are going to sit there...then the one in the aisle seat will move over and you will get the aisle.

 

[Boopuff]

Also, the couples who save the middle seat in hopes that nobody will sit there and they will have an empty seat between them. go ahead and say you are going to sit there...then the one in the aisle seat will move over and you will get the aisle.

My DH and I try this tactic quite often - sometimes we're successful sometimes not... but I'll move to the middle, giving the extra person the window. DH and I get the aisle and middle. (I always like to get up at least once during a flight so the window is a nightmare for me!) But in my defense we're very pleasant about shuffling around and on a full flight we expect to.

 

[aidansmom]

For what it's worth - I just called SW to purchase EBCI for our return flight from Orlando, after checking in at exactly 24 hours for our flight out and receiving C group boarding passes. I explained to the SW agent that I was really nervous about the boarding process, as we have four kids (it's our first time flying SW and I am well aware of my error in not purchasing EBCI initially). At any rate, the agent told me that I should just board with dd4 during family boarding and save seats for the rest of my family. I'm fairly certain I won't be comfortable doing this, but I was pretty surprised that SW instructs passengers to do so.

 

[bookgirl]

For what it's worth - I just called SW to purchase EBCI for our return flight from Orlando, after checking in at exactly 24 hours for our flight out and receiving C group boarding passes. I explained to the SW agent that I was really nervous about the boarding process, as we have four kids (it's our first time flying SW and I am well aware of my error in not purchasing EBCI initially). At any rate, the agent told me that I should just board with dd4 during family boarding and save seats for the rest of my family. I'm fairly certain I won't be comfortable doing this, but I was pretty surprised that SW instructs passengers to do so.

The person you talked to is in a call center not on the front lines (hmmm kind of like calling the "desk" at your resort LOL). They can tell you lots of stuff but the attendants and gate clerks are a whole different story.

 

[DisDadDVC]

For what it's worth - I just called SW to purchase EBCI for our return flight from Orlando, after checking in at exactly 24 hours for our flight out and receiving C group boarding passes. I explained to the SW agent that I was really nervous about the boarding process, as we have four kids (it's our first time flying SW and I am well aware of my error in not purchasing EBCI initially). At any rate, the agent told me that I should just board with dd4 during family boarding and save seats for the rest of my family. I'm fairly certain I won't be comfortable doing this, but I was pretty surprised that SW instructs passengers to do so.

No offense, but I doubt it was exactly at 24 hrs. 1 minute makes a HUGE difference.

 

[DebbieB]

For what it's worth - I just called SW to purchase EBCI for our return flight from Orlando, after checking in at exactly 24 hours for our flight out and receiving C group boarding passes. I explained to the SW agent that I was really nervous about the boarding process, as we have four kids (it's our first time flying SW and I am well aware of my error in not purchasing EBCI initially). At any rate, the agent told me that I should just board with dd4 during family boarding and save seats for the rest of my family. I'm fairly certain I won't be comfortable doing this, but I was pretty surprised that SW instructs passengers to do so.

Typically they allow the entire immediate family (parents & siblings) to boarding during family boarding, so ask about that first.

 

[Boopuff]

Typically they allow the entire immediate family (parents & siblings) to boarding during family boarding, so ask about that first.

Nope..at least not on the last few flights I've been on. They only allow 1 parent with 1 under age child. Believe me a lot of families tried to argue about that. The line for pre-board was crazy and announcement was made about 1 to 1 boarding and people were turned away at pre-board and told the remaining family had to find their spot in line. These fights are full, full full and if every family was allowed their entire group to board then how can SW justify EBCI? Those people pay extra for an early boarding slot. Just because you're a family why the heck should they be allowed early boarding????

 

[jayhawk74]

I've talked with numerous OpAgents (the ones who you give the boarding pass to at the jetway) and CSAs (the people who work the gate counters) and all have told me that the new Family Boarding at Southwest is both parents and all siblings can use Family Boarding as long as one child is 6 years old or younger. Additionally those who work in Orlando have told me that if Family Boarding isn't offered, and management finds out, the OpAgent will face disciplinary action. All have said it is not worth losing pay not to have Family Boarding on every flight.

 

[jayhawk74]

These fights are full, full full and if every family was allowed their entire group to board then how can SW justify EBCI? Those people pay extra for an early boarding slot. Just because you're a family why the heck should they be allowed early boarding????

Except for flights to and from Orlando there may be only a couple of families on a Southwest flight so management in Dallas made a decision that works for the entire system. As for those who buy EBCI and get a "B" boarding pass there are more than just families that management has put in front of them. Military Personnel in uniform and any A Lister who didn't get an "A" boarding pass are boarded before the "B" boarding group.

 

[Boopuff]

From the Southwest site:

Do families get to preboard?

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 both board with the “A” boarding group.

 

[DebbieB]

Nope..at least not on the last few flights I've been on. They only allow 1 parent with 1 under age child. Believe me a lot of families tried to argue about that. The line for pre-board was crazy and announcement was made about 1 to 1 boarding and people were turned away at pre-board and told the remaining family had to find their spot in line. These fights are full, full full and if every family was allowed their entire group to board then how can SW justify EBCI? Those people pay extra for an early boarding slot. Just because you're a family why the heck should they be allowed early boarding????

I'm flying to Orlando on Saturday morning, I'll report back (unless I get an A boarding pass). In the past, they have not restricted it to 1 adult and the child. I have seen them turn away grandparents with the group.

I can't figure how they can justify paying for EBCI and then allowing multiple seat saving when only 1 person buys it.

Update: I got B22 so I'll see how they do family boarding tomorrow. I was a few seconds after 24 hours, I typed the confirmation # wrong! Ugh! But B22 isn't bad.