My thoughts on Southwest

[connorlevismom]

We just got back from WDW and it was our first time flying Southwest. I wanted to give a quick review on what our experience was.

We chose SW because it was the cheapest we could find at the time we were going. It had one stop but we picked flights that we did not have to change planes. I also liked the first 2 bags being free.

We did purchse early bird check-in for all 4 of us both there and on the way back. The first flight we got the last 3 numbers in A and the 1st number in B. Because we wanted to board all together, we chose to wait with our 3 year old who got the B number. So we all 4 went and stood with her after A had boarded and it got the guy in B2 very agitated. He could not understand why we were all 4 standing there and thought we were all trying to budge. When we boarded we found 4 seat near each other towards the back of the plane. The plane was completely full, so there were people fighting (not literally) to get space in the overheads. We never put anything up there so it was not something we had to worry about. In the end, several people had to have their bags checked because there was just not enough room. When we got to our stopover, we decided to just stay put because we did not want to have to pack all the kids stuff up and move. However, they announced that we would have to deplane and go to a different gate. Not suer what the deal was.

On the way home - I cannot remember our exact boarding numbers but we were all in A. Found seats and it was not a problem. Again, full flight.

I have to say, the SW flight attendants are by far the best I have seen. The were attentive, happy and pretty much just very pleasant.

The one thing that will probably keep me from booking with them again (unless they are the cheapest by a fair amount) is the whole seating thing. I don't like boarding the plane and sitting there while everyone else boards. I like to know that I have a seat and where it is. That way, I don't have to worry about when they are boarding what number and making sure that I am standing in line at my number so I don't miss boarding. I was just to much of a hassle for us. I know that many people don't mind it and love Southwest. I honestly think they are a great airline. I just really wish they would allow you to pick seats. Even if you had to pay a fee for it.

 

[Jestocost]

We just got back from WDW and it was our first time flying Southwest. I wanted to give a quick review on what our experience was.

We chose SW because it was the cheapest we could find at the time we were going. It had one stop but we picked flights that we did not have to change planes. I also liked the first 2 bags being free.

We did purchse early bird check-in for all 4 of us both there and on the way back. The first flight we got the last 3 numbers in A and the 1st number in B. Because we wanted to board all together, we chose to wait with our 3 year old who got the B number. So we all 4 went and stood with her after A had boarded and it got the guy in B2 very agitated. He could not understand why we were all 4 standing there and thought we were all trying to budge. When we boarded we found 4 seat near each other towards the back of the plane. The plane was completely full, so there were people fighting (not literally) to get space in the overheads. We never put anything up there so it was not something we had to worry about. In the end, several people had to have their bags checked because there was just not enough room. When we got to our stopover, we decided to just stay put because we did not want to have to pack all the kids stuff up and move. However, they announced that we would have to deplane and go to a different gate. Not suer what the deal was.

On the way home - I cannot remember our exact boarding numbers but we were all in A. Found seats and it was not a problem. Again, full flight.

I have to say, the SW flight attendants are by far the best I have seen. The were attentive, happy and pretty much just very pleasant.

The one thing that will probably keep me from booking with them again (unless they are the cheapest by a fair amount) is the whole seating thing. I don't like boarding the plane and sitting there while everyone else boards. I like to know that I have a seat and where it is. That way, I don't have to worry about when they are boarding what number and making sure that I am standing in line at my number so I don't miss boarding. I was just to much of a hassle for us. I know that many people don't mind it and love Southwest. I honestly think they are a great airline. I just really wish they would allow you to pick seats. Even if you had to pay a fee for it.

For future reference, your entire party probably could have boarded between the A & B groups unless family boarding had been suspended.

 

[Missytara]

For future reference, your entire party probably could have boarded between the A & B groups unless family boarding had been suspended.

You have to realize with flights to Orlando mostly families, they would sometimes suspend family boarding.

Personally, I would never fly SW, because I see no reason why I cannot choose my seat head of time, even at a small cost.

 

[dsneprincess]

We, as a family of 4, 2a, 2k LOVE SW precisely because we don't have to find seats at purchase & have never had a problem with their boarding procedure.
We have not paid for EBCI & never been split up, even on full flights. At the same time, we have tried to chose seats together on JB & AT at purchase for flights & not been able to get 4 together. Last time on JB was a dealbreaker for my 12yo...only wants to fly SW because of seating flexibility. However, SW is a 3 hour drive, AT 90 minutes, JB 10 minutes. We wish we were a SW city!
To each their own, I guess!

 

[Jestocost]

You have to realize with flights to Orlando mostly families, they would sometimes suspend family boarding.

Personally, I would never fly SW, because I see no reason why I cannot choose my seat head of time, even at a small cost.

I have never seen family boarding suspended.

You are very lucky. We have no other non-stop options from our airport.

 

[Princess on the Run]

I have never seen family boarding suspended.

Me either. Even to Orlando. I heard about it here but have never experienced in in real life. I fly out of Chicago Midway and they always offer it.

 

[magicaldisney]

I have never seen family boarding suspended.

You are very lucky. We have no other non-stop options from our airport.

On two of our flights to Orlando, family boarding was suspended, so yes, it does happen.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have been on many SW flights to MCO....have yet to see family boarding suspended. I know it happens, but unless it's a really busy time (holiday, spring break, etc.) I don't think it happens as often as some here would have us believe.
Another thought....if your youngster has a B spot and the rest of you have A spots?? Switch boarding passes. Let dad take the child's and then the kiddo can board with everyone else. When the first three board, they can take, for instance, row 20, seats A, C and D. Then when dad boards he can take 20D and mom can move over to the other side, with the kids. No big deal.

I love flying SW. I don't feel the need to have a prepaid seat. I actually kind of like their boarding process. Things usually move along a lot faster with SW. There is no searching for a particular row and seat number. You can see who is where and choose a seat accordingly.
But, I realize some really want to have a specific seat before they board. And there are plenty of airlines that allow that...of course, they are now charging for aisle seats and those closer to the front seats.

 

[dawnball]

Personally, I would never fly SW, because I see no reason why I cannot choose my seat head of time, even at a small cost.

Given that no other airline guarantees you'll actually get the seats you chose ahead of time, I don't mind flying WN. At least then we're all in the same boat.

I'm also partial to people being able to "choose" if they sit with us. I travel with a well-behaved kid, who's an experienced traveler. But she's still a kid. Flying WN means that whoever sits with us knows what they're getting. This is particularly true on very early/late flights, and I've been known to offer the advice "She doesn't sleep on airplanes, and tends to provide running commentary through the flight, but I can offer you a pair of earplugs if you want that aisle seat"

 

[kamik86]

Given that no other airline guarantees you'll actually get the seats you chose ahead of time, I don't mind flying WN. At least then we're all in the same boat.

I'm also partial to people being able to "choose" if they sit with us. I travel with a well-behaved kid, who's an experienced traveler. But she's still a kid. Flying WN means that whoever sits with us knows what they're getting. This is particularly true on very early/late flights, and I've been known to offer the advice "She doesn't sleep on airplanes, and tends to provide running commentary through the flight, but I can offer you a pair of earplugs if you want that aisle seat"

Lol I would take that deal... I travel with noise canceling headphones so unless there is a screaming child I can't hear them anyway.

 

[rgf207]

You have to realize with flights to Orlando mostly families, they would sometimes suspend family boarding.

In all my SW flights to and from MCO, I've never seen that happen, ever.

 

[Minnesota!]

Couldn't one of the adults taken the B boarding pass, and the other adult and kids boarded at the earlier numbers and "saved" one spot? Or even just let that one adult find their own spot?

Anyway, I have flown on 5 SW legs and I have never witnessed Family Boarding...must have been suspended on all legs. Odd..

FWIW, I was a die-hard "I HATE SW". But I tried it, and love it.

 

[dawnball]

Lol I would take that deal... I travel with noise canceling headphones so unless there is a screaming child I can't hear them anyway.

We do EBCI, and have never failed to get someone who thinks they got a "good deal" sitting next to us. We're usually window/middle in the first 3 rows. We're clean, we're quiet (aside from the babbling), we don't overflow our seats. People who are having a bad day, or have a headache, or don't like kids - they sit somewhere else.

 

[DonnaL]

I also love SW....BECAUSE of their boarding process......it allows me to scope the situation out and sit where I choose.....actually, I like it when I receive a low B boarding pass even more than an A....please no flames here for what I am about to say......because family boarding is complete and if there are lots of small children on board it allows me to briefly check the situation as I am boarding and if it appears some of the children are cranky already I avoid sitting in that area. I feel for those situations.....but....been there, done that...both as a parent and grandparent..... and these days I enjoy traveling w/o having an overtired toddler kicking the back of my seat the entire flight.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I have been on many SW flights to MCO....have yet to see family boarding suspended. I know it happens, but unless it's a really busy time (holiday, spring break, etc.) I don't think it happens as often as some here would have us believe.
Another thought....if your youngster has a B spot and the rest of you have A spots?? Switch boarding passes. Let dad take the child's and then the kiddo can board with everyone else. When the first three board, they can take, for instance, row 20, seats A, C and D. Then when dad boards he can take 20D and mom can move over to the other side, with the kids. No big deal.

I love flying SW. I don't feel the need to have a prepaid seat. I actually kind of like their boarding process. Things usually move along a lot faster with SW. There is no searching for a particular row and seat number. You can see who is where and choose a seat accordingly.
But, I realize some really want to have a specific seat before they board. And there are plenty of airlines that allow that...of course, they are now charging for aisle seats and those closer to the front seats.

I completely agree. I work in the travel industry and I see lots of instances of assigned seats being reassigned due to equipment or schedule changes. Try telling a United 1K flyer that he now has a middle seat at the back instead of his preferred aisle seat. Not fun.
At least with Southwest, you can take some actions that might get you a great seat (EBCI, A-List flyer, business select)

 

[pooch]

I also love SW....BECAUSE of their boarding process......it allows me to scope the situation out and sit where I choose.....actually, I like it when I receive a low B boarding pass even more than an A....please no flames here for what I am about to say......because family boarding is complete and if there are lots of small children on board it allows me to briefly check the situation as I am boarding and if it appears some of the children are cranky already I avoid sitting in that area. I feel for those situations.....but....been there, done that...both as a parent and grandparent..... and these days I enjoy traveling w/o having an overtired toddler kicking the back of my seat the entire flight.

DD and I were waiting to board a SWA flight to MCO and 1 particular child was running amok with no supervision at all and yes I know, I've travelled with my own kids and grandkids, sometimes there's just nothing you can do with your little one to calm them down. Anyway, DD and I board and that family sits right behind us. We look at each other and RUN to the opposite end of the plane. Can't do that with preassigned seats!

 

[Greysword]

We just got back from WDW and it was our first time flying Southwest. I wanted to give a quick review on what our experience was.

Thanks for the trip report.

Did the WN FAs tell corny jokes? They do that sometimes .

As others have said, a pre-assigned seat isn't guaranteed, and WN has a nice alternative. It flows pretty well, and I like getting EBCI then forgetting about it, as I couldn't do any better on my own.

Glad you tried it!

 

[NotUrsula]

You have to realize with flights to Orlando mostly families, they would sometimes suspend family boarding.

Family preboarding was sometimes suspended under the old system when families were allowed to board before the A's. They no longer suspend it now that family boarding has been moved to AFTER the A's.

Personally, I would never fly SW, because I see no reason why I cannot choose my seat head of time, even at a small cost.

Well, you may not be able to see it, or want to see it, but I'll tell you what the reason is: turn-time.

SWA routinely turns flights at the gate in under 25 minutes. That is the fastest turn-time in the US domestic market, and they can do it only because they do not assign seat positions. Having that short a turn-time allows them to work in an extra flight per day at each gate they control, and THAT brings in a heck of a lot more money than seating fees ever could.

 

[connorlevismom]

I did not mean to offend anyone with my OP. I was just stating my experience and preference. It is just not for us, not a huge deal.

FTR - I have never had my seat changed by a different airline. I must be lucky?

 

[kamik86]

SWA routinely turns flights at the gate in under 25 minutes. That is the fastest turn-time in the US domestic market, and they can do it only because they do not assign seat positions. Having that short a turn-time allows them to work in an extra flight per day at each gate they control, and THAT brings in a heck of a lot more money than seating fees ever could.

I wonder why it takes so much more time when you have assigned seats... I would think it would be faster. You could board from the back to the front and not have as many people standing around while that really slow person puts up there carrier on while they are waiting to get to the back.

Actually ^ is why I love Albany airport. Its tiny but is the only one I have ever been to that uses the rear of the plane to board and deplane too. So you can get everyone on and off twice as fast. I really wish more airports did this.