last minute questions..

[puffkin]

One thing I have noticed flying SW to MCO - there are usually so many families that they did not do family boarding at all. Just A, B, C.

I would also just plan on all boarding together. SW is QUICK at boarding/departing...no real down time to have to cool your heels.

HAVE FUN!!

I fly SW PHL to MCO a lot and we have never not had family boarding. I know it can happen, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. But I agree, just board the plane together. THey are very fast at boarding so it will probably be more of a hindrance having someone wait.

 

[MandiC]

Just a note, family boarding is AFTER group A with Southwest so you won't be the first people on the plane with family boarding. I highly suggest paying for Early Bird check-in with Southwest, we did and I'm glad we did.

 

[Mrs Lapo]

Southwest's boarding process is very efficient and not at all like other carriers. You should plan on boarding the plan together, as a family. As inexperienced flyers, you'll need time to settle in, and your son should be fascinated by the new experience on an airplane.

Even if you're planning on using family boarding, please check in for your flight right when it's 24 hours to your flight time. You may find that you're in the A boarding group, which will allow you to board BEFORE family boarding.

I just checked in and I'm in group C I hope they do family seating!!! My worst nightmare is not being able to sit together!!! I should have gotten up early to check in right at 6am

Another question though, can my 10 yr old carry on a back pack? I was going to put all their stuff into a back pack for them so it was less I had to carry.

 

[JessM]

I just checked in and I'm in group C I hope they do family seating!!! My worst nightmare is not being able to sit together!!! I should have gotten up early to check in right at 6am

Another question though, can my 10 yr old carry on a back pack? I was going to put all their stuff into a back pack for them so it was less I had to carry.

I would absolutely have your 10 year old carry on a back pack. Everyone can carry on 2 items no matter what age. I might have your 5 year carry her stuff in a little back pack too. It would probably be helpful to keep everyone's stuff semi separate since you'll be in 2 rows.

 

[MandiC]

The thing I love about Southwest is every passenger gets a carry on and a personal item (in addition to the 2 checked bags you can utilize). We didn't want our kids responsible for too many things so we only had them bring a personal item, which was just a backpack sized bag that they had their stuff in (and a change of clothes, toothbrush, ect...stuff they would need if there was an issue with our luggage the first day we were in Disney). I brought a backpack as my carry on and my knitting bag as my personal item and had no issues.

They always do family boarding, I'm not sure the 'rules' to go with it because we've never utilized it but I am fairly sure your whole family can board at that time (but definitely go to Southwest.com and check to be sure! don't want any surprises at the airport). I imagine you even if there aren't spots together someone will move for you, people are usually understanding of families with children...and they don't want to sit by a child without a parent LOL Plan ahead how you will seat your family, we only traveled with our older two children. I sat in one row with our younger daughter (she's an anxious kid) and dh sat a few rows ahead of us with our older daughter (just a FYI you may not be able to get rows next to each other, we did Early bird and were in group A, which is before family boarding and we couldn't get rows right by each other). So plan on someone taking two kids and the other parent taking one and board that way. Southwest has 3 seats per row on each side of the plane.

 

[Mrs Lapo]

Thank you. I had looked up the seating and knew it was only 3 seats across. I have to tell you though, I'm not above begging or crying to get someone to switch with us if we are not able to all sit together. I can understand not being in back to back rows but there is no way my girls can sit alone. They've never flown before. We were planning on my husband taking the girls and I'll have my son. Or I might have the youngest and my husband will take our oldest. Depend on if my middle daughter wants Mommy or Daddy when we board. She is usually a Daddy's girl but if she is scared then she wants me.

I'm trying not to stress it but it is slightly easier said than done. And I will definitely let them each take a back pack now with their bathing suits, change of clothes, ipods, headphones etc. I was trying to cram it all into my back pack & was starting to feel like a pack mule. DH is probably going to carry on our laptop. I absolutely hate packing!!! I always over pack. I'd rather be safe than sorry. It's the Girl Scout in me