Nervous about southwest flight - family of 4.5

[Caitriona]

I keep thinking about out upcoming fight and wonder about how families sat on a Southwest plane. I've not flown since my DD was 2 and she was an only child at that point, but now we have 3 kids! We'll be on a direct flight to Orlando which lasts 2 hours 45 mins flying from the midwest.

It'll be me, DH, DD7, DS3 & DS1 (since DS1 won't have his own seat, we're essentially seating a family of 4. He's our .5 )

DS1 will be on my lap. He'll be 12 months old, and I'm using a baby b'air flight vest for during the flight. No flames, please. He's a very clingy baby and is most content in my arms and always wants to be held, so a seat would be wasted on him.

I know that we'll get to board between groups A & B, which is good, because I don't want to buy earl bird check-in if I don't have to.

What are the best seating arrangements that worked for other families? I'm wondering because the seats are only grouped together in groups of 3 on either side, and I do have other passengers in mind. I don't want to be the family with 'those' kids that annoy other passengers.

*would you sit a 7 year old girl & a 3 year old boy together (who are prone to fight, largely because our little boy is just coming out of the terrible 2's) and have an adult sit on the outside, with the other adult and baby across the aisle? Most of the time they get along great, and I am going to try to pack a lot of things that can keep them both entertained (color wonder, crayons, paper, stickers, etch-a-sketch, books...) but the last thing I want is for them to start fighting over a certain color of marker or crayon etc, even though they have their 'own' packed in their bag... or to have DS get bored and start pulling DD's hair. There is a 5 year age difference between the 2 of them, and for the most part, I'm just happy that they get along 90% of the time.. and I'm hoping that the plane ride won't be the other 10% of the time when they don't!!

*can kids sit in the aisle seat, otherwise we could have a parent sit between them with DD7 in the aisle seat and DS3 at the window - that way we can keep them separated and guaranteed to be happy, plus both would have equal attention divided amongst them from a parent?!

*would you sit one adult with each child (whoever has the baby on their lap gets to sit next to DD7)? and then expect a stranger to sit in the window seat, which also means a child would have to sit next to the stranger. But I don't know how happy I'd be if we'd sit closer in to the window, which would put a stranger in the aisle seat... but then I'd be further distance from my DH, and more difficult if we need to get out of the seat with the baby...

I've only ever really flown larger international flights with 4-5 seats in the middle row. Ha, that would be ideal!!

 

[Thumper_Man]

I would at least consider buying the EBCI at least for the flight back. This way you're not having to worry about checking in.

I would also check in at the 24 hour mark. There could be a chance your whole family gets A boarding passes. If you do, then you can just board in the A group and not board in between the A & B groups.

Yes, kids can sit on the aisle seat. SW is open seating so anyone can sit anywhere (with the exception of the emergency exit row. Kids cannot sit in the seat next to the emergency exit). How ever you feel most comfortable sitting would be up to you. If you don't want your kids sitting next to a stranger, then I would either put them in the aisle seat or seat by the window. Putting them in the middle seat would almost guarantee they sit next to a stranger. In your situation, depending on who will hold the baby (I'm guessing you) then sit with the 7 yr old and baby in one row. In the next row directly in front or behind, I would have DH sit with the 3yr. Even if you are boarding in between A & B groups, you will still be able to find 2 rows back to back that will be empty that you can occupy to sit as close together as possible.

 

[tjmw2727]

All SWA seating is 3/3 and anyone can sit in an asile seat so you have all those options available to you. If you think the children will fight then I woud absolutely separate them with one parent each or a parent in the middle seat. If your 3yo is a seat kicker then consider putting a member of your own family in front of the 3yo.

Since you are not using EBCI I would definatley be at a computer at T24 to check in for the best chance at an A boarding position. Occasionally family boarding is suspended on Orlando flights due to the large number of children that fly that route. I have seen it happen once here in PHI and twice flying out of MCO.

Word of caution on the Baby B Air - as you know you can't use it on take off or landing but many airlines also forbid the use of them at all. IIRC SWA is one of them !

Also SWA will ask for the Birth Certificate for a lap baby, IME they do this each and every time so make sure you take that along.

Here is SWA's info on traveling with baby !
http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

DS1 will be on my lap. He'll be 12 months old, and I'm using a baby b'air flight vest for during the flight. No flames, please. He's a very clingy baby and is most content in my arms and always wants to be held, so a seat would be wasted on him.

As another poster already said, you won't be allowed to use this on SWA (see link above, section on Child Restraint Systems).

You are stressing too much about seating arrangements. Once you have seats, you can move around within these seats if your children start fighting.

 

[sam_gordon]

Here's what I'd do (or try to get)...
Window - 3yo - DH - "stranger" - Aisle
Window - 7yo - You - "stranger" - Aisle

This accomplishes a couple things...
1) Each of the older kids get a window. There's plenty to watch before takeoff (and possibly after takeoff depending on cloud cover)
2) An adult is sitting next to a stranger
3) The 7yo will hopefully be more independent and won't need as much help from you since you'll have the baby
4) I would think the middle & window seats would fill up AFTER all the aisle seats (could be wrong)

Ideally you get seats directly in front/behind each other. Next best would be across. After that, as long as an adult is with each child, you're fine.

 

[Caitriona]

Thanks everyone, and I know that I worry too much and over-think things

I'm really going to need to read up more on the baby b'air. We'll be flying during his naptime (2pm - 5 pm) so maybe we'll be okay.

Initially I only read the note that they had at the top of the page, so I thought we'd be okay during the flight. Looks like I might need to return it

Note:

Devices that tie the child to another person are prohibited for taxi, takeoff, and landing, and backless booster seats are not approved for use during any phase of flight regardless of any approval labels they bear

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've flown many times with my kids when they were all ages...from 3 months+

I would be most inclined to take 4 seats straight across. That gives max flexibility to move the older ones around and also switch off with the baby. It also allows the ability to lift the arm rest and sit the baby on the seat a little.

 

[alaska8]

As another poster already said, you won't be allowed to use this on SWA (see link above, section on Child Restraint Systems).

You are stressing too much about seating arrangements. Once you have seats, you can move around within these seats if your children start fighting.

According to SWA website you are able to use the Baby B'air apart from taxi, takeoff and landing. So it can be used during the cruise portion of the flight. This is standard procedure for all US airlines. Backless booster seats are never allowed as they do not work with an airline seatbelt (only a shoulder belt)


"Devices that tie the child to another person are prohibited for taxi, takeoff, and landing, and backless booster seats are not approved for use during any phase of flight regardless of any approval labels they bear"

 

[eeyoreforever]

I have never purchased the early bird check in and only a couple of times have we not been able to sit together (my kids are older now, so not a problem for us). The only times this has happened has been when our flight originated somewhere else, so by the time we were boarding, the plane was already half full. If I were you I would just check and make sure your flight originates at your airport.

I would hate to see you not get seats together. Everyone always says that people will move to let you sit together but that is not the case. I was flying with 2 friends and us 3 were in a row. There were 2 vacant seats on the plane when a mother and her very young child (probably around 3 yrs) boarded at the very last minute. The 4 people sitting by the vacant seats refused to move in order to open up 2 seats together. One of my friends and I moved to allow the mom to sit with her kid.

I don't mean to sound negative about this, but I would hate to see you start your vacation on a bad note on the plane.

Have fun on your vacation!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

According to SWA website you are able to use the Baby B'air apart from taxi, takeoff and landing. So it can be used during the cruise portion of the flight. This is standard procedure for all US airlines. Backless booster seats are never allowed as they do not work with an airline seatbelt (only a shoulder belt)


"Devices that tie the child to another person are prohibited for taxi, takeoff, and landing, and backless booster seats are not approved for use during any phase of flight regardless of any approval labels they bear"

And further down the page it also says this :
"The FAA has banned the use on board aircraft of certain types of CRSs that may be harmful to a child in the event of an aviation emergency. These include backless booster seats, safety belt extensions (commonly referred to as "belly belts"), and vest or harness devices that attach to an adult. Although some that were manufactured before the FAA's ban may carry an insignia and/or language indicating they are approved for aircraft use, please understand that they are no longer permitted. Please note that a CRS may not be placed in any aisle seat, an emergency exit row seat, or in a row directly in front of or behind an emergency exit row."

I have personally seen an FA make a parent store the BBA inthe overhead and not allow its use. If the OP can indeed return it I would, IMHO it really does not benefit a lap child and some studies show them to be harmful.

 

[alaska8]

And further down the page it also says this :
"The FAA has banned the use on board aircraft of certain types of CRSs that may be harmful to a child in the event of an aviation emergency. These include backless booster seats, safety belt extensions (commonly referred to as "belly belts"), and vest or harness devices that attach to an adult. Although some that were manufactured before the FAA's ban may carry an insignia and/or language indicating they are approved for aircraft use, please understand that they are no longer permitted. Please note that a CRS may not be placed in any aisle seat, an emergency exit row seat, or in a row directly in front of or behind an emergency exit row."

I have personally seen an FA make a parent store the BBA inthe overhead and not allow its use. If the OP can indeed return it I would, IMHO it really does not benefit a lap child and some studies show them to be harmful.

Hmmm that's new info for me, I'm going to check with the airline I work for and see what their take on the use of the baby b air is
. As far as I know we still permit them to be used. However, each airline has its own FAA cabin inspector who interprets FAA rules so differences by airline can occur.

 

[bluenosemickey]

Not that this is a big deal, but just so you're prepared. The aisles are not directly across from each other, they are staggered. So I ususally sit to the 'rear' of the row my husband sits in with my two girls. I sit with my youngest, DS near the window and we give the stranger the aisle seat. This way, I can see my DH and DDs and if they need something, it's easy for them to get my attention.