Is Southwest bad for a family traveling together?

[connie254]

I need 4 seats, 2 in 2 rows are fine. I hear about a "cattlecall" when the seating starts because the seats aren't assigned. Someone at work doesn't like them but I can't get much as to why out of him and usually he's a blabbermouth. What is it that makes Southwest different?

 

[maps]

Southwest does not have assigned seating they have rows called A, B and C at the gate. Depending on when you check in will determine which row you get. If you want the best chance of getting an A you could try checking in online exactly 24hrs before your flight.

Once you've been assigned a pass you go wait in line at that section (A, B or C) and you're boarded in that order. If you're looking for 2 seats together you'll probably be fine with Southwest. It's people who have 10 people in their group who check in last minute and then expect to all be seated together that are usually unhappy.

I know others could probably explain the whole boarding thing better than I did but I tried to just sum it up as best I could!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Southwest does not have assigned seating, so potentially you COULD be split up. It mostly depends on you though. I've never had a problem and have never been split, but I've always had "A" boarding passes.

Southwest issues A, B and C boarding passes. The C passes usually are given to people who arrive late and check in late, the C pass holders are the mostly likely to be split up because they are last to board the plane. But with Southwest you can go on-line 24 hours before your boarding time and pre-print your boarding pass and chances are you will get an A pass. If your flight is at 7pm Friday, go online at 7pm on Thursday (the day before your flight)and print your pass, then as long as you are at the gate when they begin boarding, you and your A pass will be first go get on (after handicap folks and people needing assistance) and you can choose your seats. Even with a "B" pass though, you should have no problem getting two sets of two seats.


The ONLY problem is if you arrive late to the airport for whatever reason, traffic jam, overslept, whatever....Then, even if you have an A pass, if you arrive late, after the A passes board, you could have a problem getting the seats you want together. The key is to print up the boarding pass the day before and to be at the airport on time.

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

One other note in addition to the ones about. Southwest is very good at helping people move around to get families together. You should not have a problem.

 

[lovesdumbo]

But with Southwest you can go on-line 24 hours before your boarding time and pre-print your boarding pass and chances are you will get an A pass. If your flight is at 7pm Friday, go online at 7pm on Thursday (the day before your flight)and print your pass, then as long as you are at the gate when they begin boarding, you and your A pass will be first go get on (after handicap folks and people needing assistance) and you can choose your seats. Even with a "B" pass though, you should have no problem getting two sets of two seats.

Boy do I feel stupid but I do LOVE these boards. I thought you had to wait til midnight the day of the flight.

I was resistant to use SW because I didn't like the "idea" of no assigned seats but when I found airfare for $115.60 I decided to give it a try. We tried to get our boarding passes at home but they wouldn't let us because of my DS. I didn't actually do it so I don't know exactly what it said but when we got to the airport we realized that they had chosen DS for extra security. I don't know if we could have gotten the passes for everyone else. They took one look at my DS(4) and we were through security. I was able to preboard with DS. Families with children under 5 are allowed to preboard but that is mom/dad/siblings. Not aunts/uncles/grandparents. I was really happy with SW service. They had a nice snack box and they even gave DS a nice activity book and pencil. I would fly with SW again and in fact have more $115.60 RT non stop tickets for May. Now that I know that I can print passes out 24 hrs ahead its even better!

Since you want 2 & 2 I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm sure someone would move rather than sit with your child.

Can the Disney hotels print your boarding passes for the flight home?

 

[kpk89]

The other thing -- you didn't mention whether your family of 4 includes little kids, but if you have children age 4 & under in your group, you get to go in the "pre-board" line, even before the A pass people.

 

[EmmaAndQuinnsMommy]

Families with children under 5 are allowed to preboard but that is mom/dad/siblings. Not aunts/uncles/grandparents. I was really happy with SW service. QUOTE]

We get to preboard if we have a child under 5??! I have a DS, who is 3 - does that mean we get to board before this A B and C stuff?

 

[maps]

yes you do

 

[CarolynNC]

We get to preboard if we have a child under 5??! I have a DS, who is 3 - does that mean we get to board before this A B and C stuff?

There have been reports of suspension of preboarding in Orlando when so many families were scheduled to fly. You might want to get your A pass just in case. Normally preboards are allowed.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

It should be noted... even with assigned seats, you're still not guaranteed to sit together. How many posts have we seen on here with folks flying a legacy airline with a equipment change or something, and they end up all over the place?

I like open seating because I can choose who I sit next to... or, rather, in my case, I can avoid sitting in front of the toddler who just realized his feet just barely touch the seat and its fun to kick!

 

[nybound]

Can the Disney hotels print your boarding passes for the flight home?

Yes. Just ask at the front desk. I did this at the Poly last year.

 

[philaround]

Yes. Just ask at the front desk. I did this at the Poly last year.

I did this at POFQ last year.

Now we know for sure that this can be done at a deluxe and a moderate. Does anyone have any experience at a value with getting a boarding pass printed?

 

[salmoneous]

Yep, the values print boarding passes - I got mine at POP last year. And yep, I actually like SW better than assigned seats. I never sit near a screaming baby, never in front of a restless seat-kicking 9-year old. Never have to share my "space" with the 350-pound man.

PS - lovesdumbo - the rule used to be 12:01 AM, but SW changed it to 24 hours last year.

 

[Pinnie]

It should be noted... even with assigned seats, you're still not guaranteed to sit together. How many posts have we seen on here with folks flying a legacy airline with a equipment change or something, and they end up all over the place?

I like open seating because I can choose who I sit next to... or, rather, in my case, I can avoid sitting in front of the toddler who just realized his feet just barely touch the seat and its fun to kick!

AMEN Tyler!!!!

Also, DH and I were at the front of the *B* line on a flight from MCO to BNA this past summer and we managed to snag the EXIT ROW because all the preboards and A passes had families with kids under 18.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Yep, the values print boarding passes - I got mine at POP last year. And yep, I actually like SW better than assigned seats. I never sit near a screaming baby, never in front of a restless seat-kicking 9-year old. Never have to share my "space" with the 350-pound man.

PS - lovesdumbo - the rule used to be 12:01 AM, but SW changed it to 24 hours last year.

Thank you for reassuring me that I haven't completely lost my mind. In fact your comment reminded me to look at my email confirmation from my 1 & only SW flight and it says 12:01 day of flight. It is nice to know the 24 hr rule. That should make things a lot easier!

What happens if the 350 pound man comes in after you?

 

[SomePixiedust]

Be aware that if you have youth tickets for your children (and assuming you don't qualify for pre-boarding) you cannot check in on line 24hrs ahead. You must do it at the airport before your flight, so if that is the case, you need to get there a few hours early. (This is probably why lovesdumbo wasn't able to print out boarding passes in advance). But just because you have children doesn't mean you purchased youth tickets for them, so you'll have to check on that.

 

[Rachael Q]

Be aware that if you have youth tickets for your children (and assuming you don't qualify for pre-boarding) you cannot check in on line 24hrs ahead. You must do it at the airport before your flight, so if that is the case, you need to get there a few hours early. (This is probably why lovesdumbo wasn't able to print out boarding passes in advance). But just because you have children doesn't mean you purchased youth tickets for them, so you'll have to check on that.

I saw that you can' only check in online if have purchased an Adult fare type (Customers holding reservations for group, infant, youth, or military fares, and those requiring an additional seat must proceed to the airport for checkin)

If you book a child fare as apposed to an infant or youth fare does that mean you can still use online check in?
If am reading right a youth fare is "Youths who are at least 12 years of age but who have not reached their 22nd birthday"
An infant fare is available that enable a Customer to reserve a seat for an infant (under two years of age) and use his/her FAA approved car seat.
A child's fare is for Accompanied children ages two through 11

So if 2 adults, a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old, have booked 2 adult and 2 child fares, then they can still use online checkin?


Thank you

 

[lovesdumbo]

Be aware that if you have youth tickets for your children (and assuming you don't qualify for pre-boarding) you cannot check in on line 24hrs ahead. You must do it at the airport before your flight, so if that is the case, you need to get there a few hours early. (This is probably why lovesdumbo wasn't able to print out boarding passes in advance). But just because you have children doesn't mean you purchased youth tickets for them, so you'll have to check on that.

NOPE. He was just randomly selected for extra screening.

 

[Goofy4]

We traveled with 13 in Oct. and it all worked out.

Yeah, I'm always amused by the "pre-boarding for families with young children" in Orlando.

 

[NotUrsula]

So if 2 adults, a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old, have booked 2 adult and 2 child fares, then they can still use online checkin?

I'm not sure, but honestly, unless you are buying your tickets at the walk-up price, or you like throwing money away, you are not going to be purchasing a child fare. Of the "special" fare classes, only the senior fare is any kind of deal. The child and youth fares are usually 10-15% off the full walk-up fare; and you can just about always do better than that with any kind of advance purchase fare.