Nervous about flying Southwest with kids

[aidansmom]

Hi! So, we have always flown Jetblue with our four kids (3,6,9,11), but for our upcoming trip Southwest is proving to be much more economical and (seemingly) more convenient. The problem is, I am very nervous about their seating policy.

If we purchase the early bird boarding option, will we be very safe in assuming that we will be able to sit together? We certainly don't mind sitting in the back of the plane and probably wouldn't even mind if our 11 year old had to sit on his own. We would be very uncomfortable with the other kids flying separately, though.

Does anybody have experience with flying Southwest with young children that they could share (bonus if you flew out of Manchester, NH - this would be our first time using that airport)? Thanks so much in advance for any help!!!

 

[stevepete]

We have been flying SW out of MHT for years and never had a problem getting seats together (2 and 2 behind each other). Assuming you have been flying out of Logan, you will love the difference flying out of Manchester. Just getting to the airport is a much more relaxing experience not to mention the airport itself is much smaller and easier to navigate. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[rwdavis2]

You'll be safe if you buy the early boarding option.

 

[sayheyrenee]

I don't know if this info will help much but wanted to put it out there.

From Phila to Orlando and return. May 2013 we flew down on a Wednesday and return home on a Monday.

myself and DD (then age 3) was able to use family boarding which boards between A and B. We had Low B's and this moved us up. DH had to board with his number because only 1 adult could go with the one child. (Funny thing happen as my husband had all 3 of our carry ons like a pack mule so we could get in easier. The SW agent almost did not let him board until they verified we were in the flight).
We were in the front of the plane and three seats together. I just place my daughter at the window and me on the end leaving the middle seat. Most people keep walking past since they are not going to pick a middle seat over the back half of the plane still empty.

We do not pay for the advance check in.


We fly again this August and hope it goes as smooth. We will choose the back part of the plane now that DD is potty trained and it's easier to use the back bathroom.


Hope someone else has more info for you.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I'm thinking the planes are three seats across on each side... so you have five or six (Don't know if you have a husband or another adult traveling with).

Since you have a child under four, ask when you get to the gate if they will let you all board with the family boarding (which is between A and B group). I would think they would accommodate since you have so many children.

Regardless, I would still get the EBCI in you can afford it ($12.50 per person per flight).

So if you are the only adult I would suggest sitting in the aisle with the 3 & 6 yr old next to you and the 9 & 11yr old across the aisle from you.

 

[aidansmom]

Thanks so much for your replies. I feel very reassured.

stevepete - that is exactly what I wanted to hear! We have always flown out of Logan and I have absolutely no experience with the smaller airports (or Southwest), so no idea what to expect with Manchester - what you describe is precisely what I was hoping for.

 

[aidansmom]

Do I need to purchase the EBCI for the 3 year old or does she automatically board early?

 

[stevepete]

Aidansmom I would call SW and ask if you need to get early check in. It's been a few of years but for some reason I remember my entire family boarding because my youngest was under the age of 5. Things could have changed since then (or maybe we got lucky) but why spend the money on early check in if you don't have to.

 

[goofy4tink]

Most likely scenario....you all get to board together, in between the A and B groups, in family boarding. But.....the gate agent can suspend family boarding. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen. And they will most likely let all 6 of you board together, but again, they could say just one adult, one child. Probably wont happen, but it could.

I would be very tempted to buy EBCI in any case. Especially heading home. It's nice not to have to worry about checking in while at the parks.

 

[bumbershoot]

Do I need to purchase the EBCI for the 3 year old or does she automatically board early?

No one boards *early* with a child unless they are in B group or beyond. Small kids can board between A and B groups.


While I don't have more than one kid, this just isn't something I worry about. There are still lots of spaces left after A, and since you're happy to head to the back, if I were in your shoes I would bet that I would be fine.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Southwest seating policy always makes me feel better about seating. So many times, airlines change their equipment and the seats together so carefully picked out, are canceled. The airlines can do this anytime they want and don't have to give any explanation.

With Southwest I can decide to buy the EBCI, or just check in right at 24 hours.
I tend to buy EBCI so I don't have to wait by the computer. Then I choose whatever seats I want as I board.

 

[wgeo]

First off, MHT is a great airport and it's so much easier then Logan, you can hardly compare them. When we lived in NH we did Logan once, and then would only fly MHT it was so much better.

Yes with a Southwest there is family boarding, but if the money for Early bird checking isn't a problem for you I would recommend purchasing. That way you know you won't have problems getting seats together and you don't have any worries about remembering to check yourselves in to the flight, it really makes the whole process stress free, in my opinion.

Fwiw. I've flown SW with my kids a lot, although I only have 2 kids, and we've had great experiences every time.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

the one thing to remember is if flight starts somewhere else people will already have seats. plane could be over half full before it gets to your airport. I would look for an early morning flight so the plane over nights at your airport. yes I have been only an Southwest flight where A group did not mean seats together as plane was 3/4 when it arrived to our airport.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But it's unlikely a Manchester flight will have passengers onboard from some other airport.

 

[EskiLvr]

My boys (16 and 15-in-a-month) have been flying since they were toddlers, and they will emphatically tell you that they prefer Southwest. We've flown United, Delta, US Airways - but SWA is far and away their favorite. We pay for EBCI, never have a problem getting exactly where we want to sit (DS1 needs to sit in front of the engines to minimize engine noise through his hearing aids), and they've been marvelous when we've had weather delays (always kept us informed, never made us feel like we had to sprint to make our next flight). After sprinting through both O'Hare and Atlanta in one year, they've decided they prefer flying through the less populated airports.

(And, to be honest, SWA just has a happier "vibe" when you fly with them - and my boys picked up on that when they were about 10 years old. Can make a difference to an impressionable kiddo.)

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

We've made four trips from Providence to Orlando and back, four of us traveling, but my youngest was already 5 by our first trip. We've never had a single issue. I do the check-in at 24 hours from home and usually end up with an early-to-mid B seat. For the flight home, I do pay for the early bird check in. Just find it easier than having to worry about the 24-hour mark while in the parks.

We've never had an issue sitting all together. The planes are set up 3 seats on each side of the aisle. On our very first trip, we sat me with one boy, husband with the other, across the aisle from each other. It was okay, but we did learn something. For our boys, it's actually better if they're sitting together. They talk, play games, keep each other entertained. So now we always sit me and the two boys together, husband right across the aisle. Never had a flight where we couldn't do that.