Need advice from SW "regulars"

[puffkin]

We fly SW all the time out of BWI (hub airport) or PHL and never pay for EBCI. I check in at 24 hours (takes about 2 minutes of my day) and we have always been A or B. We have never NOT gotten seats together. We actually prefer the back of the plane too.

I flew US Air on business in November and their boarding was much more hectic than SW. Not to mention a lot of people ended up not getting the seats they paid for due to some maintenance issue on another aircraft and them overbooking our flight. Craziness. Give me Southwest anyday

 

[pooch]

We are flying in August and this is what has me worried. We did purchase EB for all four of us, but if it is a connecting flight, I'm afraid of being separated from my six year old and he is on the autism spectrum. My daughter is older, and though she wouldn't want to sit by herself, she would be OK. We are flying BDL-MCO on the second flight in the AM.

are almost exclusively originating flights to MCO so it is unlikely there will be anyone on the plane already. Telling you not to worry won't stop you from worrying BUT I can assure you that you won't be separated from your son. I fly SWA out of BDL to MCO all the time and as long as you aren't the end of the C's, you'll be fine. Head to the back of the plane, it lands first!!! It seems to me that the people who have trouble with SWA boarding are at much larger airports than Bradley and on the 2nd leg of connecting flights. Trust me, you'll be fine

 

[DebbieB]

They've changed the process. I can't remember the specifics, but it used to be more of a cattle call...the earlier you arrived at the gate, the better boarding position you'd have because you'd line up for boarding immediately (someone correct me if I'm wrong...I think I only flew on SW twice under the old system, and that was 7 or so years ago). Now, you're assigned a boarding number at checkin, and they have stanchions up in the gate areas where you line up in a neat line in order based on your boarding number.

Before you would just get a letter - A, B, C. When you got to the gate, you got in the line for your letter. First come, first served. People would "camp" on the floor. Family Boarding was before A. In a way that was good, all the kids were in the front and I always said I would head to the "adult" section in the back . When they went to the letter/number system and starting charging for early bird, they moved the family boarding to between A & B so that they would not get a free jump ahead.

 

[Lewisc]

FYI - AirTran's last flight is 12/28/14, they will be completely merged with SW.

The problem you could run into at BWI is it is a hub airport, the plane could be half full with continuing passengers when you board. For example, I flew PIT-BWI-MCO last year. They announced there were 41 continuing passengers. After the others got off and they did a head count, we could move to any seat. Then they started boarding the BWI passengers.

That's half the issue. BWI has a lot of connecting passengers. Connecting passengers can get their BPs 24 hours before their first flight, 2 or 3 hours before the 24 hour window opens for passengers originating from BWI.

 

[davale4]

If you purchased EBCI, I think you will be fine. Just head to the back of the plane. We have gotten beginning Bs and still had plenty of places to sit, even with the connecting people staying on.

My daughter is on the autism spectrum and she qualifies for pre-boarding. I board before the A group with her. However they will only allow one adult to pre-board with the disabled passenger.

are almost exclusively originating flights to MCO so it is unlikely there will be anyone on the plane already. Telling you not to worry won't stop you from worrying BUT I can assure you that you won't be separated from your son. I fly SWA out of BDL to MCO all the time and as long as you aren't the end of the C's, you'll be fine. Head to the back of the plane, it lands first!!! It seems to me that the people who have trouble with SWA boarding are at much larger airports than Bradley and on the 2nd leg of connecting flights. Trust me, you'll be fine

Thank you so much. He was the reason we got EBCI. Then I began to read that even with that, we could still get separated . I feel somewhat better.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Thank you so much. He was the reason we got EBCI. Then I began to read that even with that, we could still get separated . I feel somewhat better.

No, I highly doubt that. A simple explanation to the gate agent should allow you to get priority boarding as a guest with a medical need who will require more time to board.

I know you already paid the EBCI but I would still make the effort to chat with the gate agent about your son and see if you will be allowed to board first with him.

Good luck!

 

[davale4]

No, I highly doubt that. A simple explanation to the gate agent should allow you to get priority boarding as a guest with a medical need who will require more time to board.

I know you already paid the EBCI but I would still make the effort to chat with the gate agent about your son and see if you will be allowed to board first with him.

Good luck!

I guess I'll wait and see how far we are on the boarding process. As long as one of us sits with him it's ok. He is high functioning and is used to flying, but it still makes me nervous not to have him next to me. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

there is no way to know before you get to airport but if flight is a second leg of a flight, coming from another airport, those already on board will be able to switch seats before you board. if less than 20 people boarding at your airport I would be worried about seating together even with EB. yes I have been one of those already on plane that was over 3/4 full. end of A group could not sit together, some unhappy families that had paid for EB and could not find seats together. so yes it can happen, which is why I like early flight where plane overnights at my airport

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well--like it or not we're flying SW. So we shall see what happens on flight day.

But in all seriousness I have to ask--this is better than having a real assigned seat???

 

[rwdavis2]

Well--like it or not we're flying SW. So we shall see what happens on flight day.

But in all seriousness I have to ask--this is better than having a real assigned seat???

Since Southwest instituted boarding groups and numbers I believe it is better. That way you don't worry about having the airline change your seat. Or if they change aircraft your seat disappears and you end up in a middle seat.

 

[mb187143]

Well--like it or not we're flying SW. So we shall see what happens on flight day. But in all seriousness I have to ask--this is better than having a real assigned seat???

I fly all the time for work and to visit family/vacation. Probably 3-4 times/month. I have never, ever, not once in probably the last 5 years, been on a plane/in my seat/pushed back from the gate on time as often on any airline as I have been with southwest.

I have had my seat number changed numerous times on united and USAir. I have had people walking right up my back down the jetway and, since I'm tiny, try to get their suitcases over my head into the overhead bin before me on USAir, just to claim the limited space - that most recently happened just last month. I've had people just take my assigned seat so they could sit with a traveling companion, or because it was better than their assigned seat. Since the legacy airlines charge bag fees, many travelers feel compelled to try defy the laws of physics with their carry on bags so they can avoid the fees.

Southwest is extremely orderly with boarding. They pre-board those with special needs first. The A group lines up in order from 1-60 and heads on to the plane next. If they're offering family boarding, that follows A (have personally seen this suspended from PHL-MCO a couple times, more often recently than in past years). B group lines up in order 1-60 and gets on, followed by C group. By the time C group gets on, the flight attendants are usually all over the cabin pointing out empty seats to get them seated. It's extremely, almost unbelievably smooth.

So yes, I think southwest has the better system. Whenever I have a choice of who to fly, I choose southwest. Lately their prices aren't as low as in the past but the process is so much better, I don't mind paying a bit more.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Gotta say--I never had my seat changed in all the years I flew on airlines with assigned seating.

Nor anyone trying to sit in my seat!!

I'll report back after this SW flight and we'll see how it went---

 

[DebbieB]

Gotta say--I never had my seat changed in all the years I flew on airlines with assigned seating.

Nor anyone trying to sit in my seat!!

I'll report back after this SW flight and we'll see how it went---

It has happened to me many times, especially on Delta. If there is a time change on a flight, somehow you get moved from the seats you picked to the back of the plane. You have to constantly watch your seat assignments. At least 3 times that I remember, when I was boarding a flight, after they scanned my boarding pass, a slip popped out with a new seat number. Of course, a less desirable seat. I think as a solo business traveler, they figured I would not care.

 

[kydisneyfans]

New flyer here, have been deathly afraid for 40 years. I accompanied my wife on a business trip in Feb and flew SW. We were group B10-11 and had no problem sitting beside each other. That was a must on the first flight. My flight back home was direct and alone, and since the first flight was somewhat rough, the attendant radioed to the next flight to let me priority board.

Since then, I have had 8 more flights on SW and 2 on US Air. I'll take SW any day of the week. There have been a few flights that were delayed quite a bit, you can't control the weather. SW is a much better experience. The cattle call occurred with US Air, not with SW.

I have upcoming trips on SW to Orlando, BWI, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Orlando again later this year, and SW is the first place I look now.

 

[nkereina]

But in all seriousness I have to ask--this is better than having a real assigned seat???

From my perspective as the customer, I'd rather be able to get an assigned seat just so I know ahead of time. I liked AirTran's model of paying $6 for an assigned seat, it worked well.

From the airline's perspective, I'd imagine they'd run into less situations where there are unhappy people who are stuck sitting apart or in the middle. The Flight Attendants wouldn't have to direct people to open seats. Things like that. But I guess managing seat assignments has challenges too.

In the end, I'd prefer assigned seating but it won't stop me from flying Southwest.

 

[DebbieB]

New flyer here, have been deathly afraid for 40 years. I accompanied my wife on a business trip in Feb and flew SW. We were group B10-11 and had no problem sitting beside each other. That was a must on the first flight. My flight back home was direct and alone, and since the first flight was somewhat rough, the attendant radioed to the next flight to let me priority board.

Since then, I have had 8 more flights on SW and 2 on US Air. I'll take SW any day of the week. There have been a few flights that were delayed quite a bit, you can't control the weather. SW is a much better experience. The cattle call occurred with US Air, not with SW.
I have upcoming trips on SW to Orlando, BWI, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Orlando again later this year, and SW is the first place I look now.

That reminded me last week of my flight on American. The gate agent at the next gate had to make multiple announcements saying if your zone has not been called to please step away from the boarding area. People cram up to the line so that they can jump in as soon as their zone is called so that they can get the coveted overhead space. With SW, it's very orderly. You can't go up to the boarding posts until it is time for your group (there's no reason to). No need to get out of your seat at the gate and cram up to the boarding line.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I fly all the time for work and to visit family/vacation. Probably 3-4 times/month. I have never, ever, not once in probably the last 5 years, been on a plane/in my seat/pushed back from the gate on time as often on any airline as I have been with southwest.

That may be your experience, but has no basis in fact.

http://www.businessweek.com/article...-is-trying-to-fix-a-problem-with-late-flights

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/arti...9974/your-southwest-flight-was-late-they-know

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...rlines-southwest-network-dallas-based-airline

And I'm sure you know that arrival time is more important than the time the aircraft left the gate!

 

[Lewisc]

From my perspective as the customer, I'd rather be able to get an assigned seat just so I know ahead of time. I liked AirTran's model of paying $6 for an assigned seat, it worked well.

From the airline's perspective, I'd imagine they'd run into less situations where there are unhappy people who are stuck sitting apart or in the middle. The Flight Attendants wouldn't have to direct people to open seats. Things like that. But I guess managing seat assignments has challenges too.

In the end, I'd prefer assigned seating but it won't stop me from flying Southwest.

Original reason Southwest didn't like assigned seats. Southwest originally flew short flight, many routes were intra-Texas. Passengers without assigned seats got to the gate early. That meant quicker turnaround. Southwest was able to squeeze an extra flight per plane /day.

Current issue. Seats have to be held back. Full fare business fliers, who book near flight time, can't be stuck with middle seats. Parents with a young child can't be split. Let's not debate this issue. We'll start with a parent who buys a seat so an infant can sit in a car seat. We can next add famlies which Southwest already thinks should be given preferential treatment, famlies with a child under 5. I've read anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 the seats would have to be held back.

Problems:

Passengers may not book the flight if seats aren't available. Southwest might lose the booking to another airline.

Southwest will need more people answering the phone and explaining what "get your seat assignment at the gate" means.

Southwest will need enough GA to handle seat assignments and changes. Hiring people will increase costs.

Guess wrong, don't hold back enough "good" seats and Southwest might lose some lucrative business fliers. Guess wrong and hold back too many seats and Southwest may lose some fliers who don't like the available seats.

Assigned seats is a solution looking for a problem which doesn't exist. The current system works.

 

[mb187143]

That may be your experience, but has no basis in fact. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-19/southwest-is-trying-to-fix-a-problem-with-late-flights http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140430/NEWS10/140439974/your-southwest-flight-was-late-they-know http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-02-13/site/ct-southwest-airlines-delays-0213-20140213_1_southwest-airlines-southwest-network-dallas-based-airline And I'm sure you know that arrival time is more important than the time the aircraft left the gate!

That's why I recounted my experience... Because it is what I have personally experienced. I happen to fly to and from the same airports frequently, which definitely scopes my perspective and doesn't necessarily match the experience flyers will have from other airport combinations.

Though all accounted for in the end with the statistics you linked, there are differences that can be attributed to flight paths and airport combinations that can produce better than average (and, obviously, worse than average) results for individual flyers.

And, of course, the arrival time is more important than push back, but the question was specific to having assigned seats vs open seating and which is easier (probably neither if you look at the stats) - you can absolutely push back from the gate early and still happen to sit in line to take off and end up arriving late. Or, you could be on a flight where people are battling for their assigned seats and overhead space and end up pushing back 20 minutes after you were supposed to, and end up taking off right away and arrive earlier than expected. Lots of different things can happen that can change an on time flight to one that gets in late.

 

[Iamthequeen]

Gotta say--I never had my seat changed in all the years I flew on airlines with assigned seating.

Nor anyone trying to sit in my seat!!

I'll report back after this SW flight and we'll see how it went---

I fly SW from BWI all the time (as often as I can) and have never had an issue finding seats together. I also download edthe boarding pass to my iphone on my last trip and it was very easy to get through security and boarding that way - and I didn't have to search for a printer.

I have had someone sit in my seat the last time I fly USAir. My sister and I were flying back from Hawaii via Phoenix. The plane was nearly fully booked by a middle school group, so my sister and I could not sit together. I was assigned to a middle seat, but when I got to the seat, someone else was sitting in it. He told me that he wanted to sit with his wife and baby and said I could have his seat - on the aisle in the row behind. I was not about to argue with him! Why they didn't book all three seats together is beyond me, but I was happy. BTW, the middle school group was very well behaved on the flight. They were headed to Gettysburg.