Nervous About Using Southwest Now

[earthyfamily]

I read in a previous post that Southwest doesn't assign seats. That it's a sit where you can kinda thing, unless you check in really really early. We have a family of five that all have to sit together. A 6 year old, a 5 year old, a 2 year old, dh and myself that suffers severe panic attacks, that get even worse on an airplane, since I'm claustraphobic as well. Not sure what to do...does anyone have problems getting seats together on Southwest....we can't afford the flight down there on other airlines. TIA.

 

[Paticake]

You will be able to preboard because of your 2 yo. You can always print your boarding passes 24 hours in advance and get to the airport early. We always fly SW and have never had a problem. You also may be able to request a medical preboard due to your medical condition, just check in at the desk. Good luck.

 

[pamjb]

I have flown Southwest 6 times within the past 2 years. Our family of four has never had a problem sitting together. You should be able to preboard with the 2 year old. But even if you can't you can find plenty of seats together towards the back of the plane.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We have a family of five that all have to sit together.

SWA seating configuration is 3 seats together in a row. You will have to split up anyway, although you could try and get seats across the aisle or behind each other.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You will probably be able to preboard - but if there are too many eligible families (known to happen especially on flights to and from Orlando): Check in online 24 hours in advance. This greatly increases the likelihood of getting "A" boarding passes, which means you'll be in the first third of the passengers to board. You can also ask the Lobby Concierge or Front Desk at your hotel, or Guest Services in a park, or a friend at home, for assistance checking in 24 hours before your return flight.

 

[Lucky82061]

I fly cattle car air all the time down to Orlando. As long as you check in online at the 24-hour mark and get the "A" boarding passes you won't have a problem finding seats together. Also try to get on with pre-boarding and you will be pretty much guaranteed seats together (across the aisle or otherwise since they are 3 seats on each side).

 

[NotUrsula]

You're worrying over nothing. In practice, Open Seating makes it LESS likely that you will separated from children, not more likely. Trust me, I fly A LOT, and I can tell you that I've never been separated from members of my party on a SWA flight, but it has happened to me PLENTY of times on legacy carriers. This is because SWA puts control in my hands.

All you have to do to assure your seating is check in ASAP after the 24 hour mark before your flight, using either a computer, a web-enabled cell phone, or the front desk at your hotel or park guest services. You don't have to be able to actually print the boarding pass at the time.

 

[chasbos]

What NotUrsula said!

We are a family of 6 who flies quite often and the only time that we ever get to sit together as a family has been with SWA!

You should not have a problem, just check in at your 24 hour mark and get A boarding passes.

Nobody else really wants to sit with your kids!

 

[DMRick]

Last time out, a family got caught in traffic and were really late. Our plane was going nowhere, because the attendant said we were sitting until someone agreed to swap seats, so this young family could sit together. It was seconds until someone agreed.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I have 4 kids, ages 2 through 14, and I know that most people on the plane would be more than happy to switch than sit with any of them while I sat in another row. I also have panic issues when flying, and need to be somewhat near DH. I figure if we ever get separated, I will simply let the person next to me know that I will be sobbing on their shoulder during takeoff and landing. My guess is........they won't mind switching.

Seriously, check in online 24 hours before your flight. With 3 small kids, they will most likely let you all preboard together. We really love Southwest, freaky obsessive checking in and all!!!

Oh, and when leaving Orlando: Ask the front desk or concierge at your resort if they will check you in 24 hours before your flight. They will usually do this for you and with A boarding passes, definitely no worries.

 

[DonnaL]

We also have used SW pretty exclusively over the past two years, I think six or seven trips and have never had a problem sitting together. Sometimes we're travelling as two, four, or six of us. You'll probably be able to preboard anyway, but, as above poster said go online and print your boarding passes at the 24 hr mark just in case they suspend preboarding on your flight because there are just too many to preboard (doesn't happen much, but, I have seen it once) If you have A's you'll be among the first 35 people (I think that's the number anyway) to board. As a poster above said "No assigned seat puts your seating in your hands" This is really true because you can choose where YOU wish to sit not where the airline tells you to with preprinted assigned seats. Relax and enjoy your flight.......SW flight attendants are the best....they'll do what they can to make your flight enjoyable.

 

[DebbieB]

With all the problems with dropped seating assignments on the other airlines, I think it's less of a headache to go SWA. You don't have to be constantly checking your reservation.

 

[jonestavern]

ditto for the printing boarding passes at the 24 hr mark& arriving early--I arrive about 2 hrs before take off~

Stand in the 'A' line when you arrive at your gate! If there is an earlier departing flight just keep an eye out to the 'A' line & drag the carryons & kiddoes & line up. If you are in 'A' group, even if you don't get to the front of the line, you will have no problem sitting together~

I am a nervous flyer, too.
In our 3 hour flight, 3 drinks are allowed , $4.00 apiece & there are coupons available.

Jean

 

[Lewisc]

Try to book a N/S flight. SW starts boarding 20-30 minutes before departure. A "legal" connection can be an hour. A delay in your first flight and neither pre-boarding nor an "A" BP will mean anything.

 

[brenda1966]

Maybe a silly question, but if I check in 24 hours early and print my boarding pass, can I still check luggage at the airport? I assume I still get into the same line to do so.

Also, Pop Century will check me in 24 hours before departure without me standing there? I'll be in the parks at the 24 hour mark. What about checking in 12 hours prior?

It's just 2 of us, but I have to sit next to DD since she is 4.

This is my first time on SW and I hope all goes well!

 

[chasbos]

Yes, you still check your luggage at the airport.

We always use curbside check in and it is great! They take your bags before you even enter the airport, give you your gate # and off you go with your hands free and only the security line to stand in!

 

[NotUrsula]

Maybe a silly question, but if I check in 24 hours early and print my boarding pass, can I still check luggage at the airport? I assume I still get into the same line to do so.

Actually, at most airports you get to use a shorter line if you want to, because all you need to do is check your bags &/or print your boarding pass (if you checked in via a method that didn't let you print a paper BP, you can "reprint" using the kiosks at the baggage-check counter.)

 

[salmoneous]

Also, Pop Century will check me in 24 hours before departure without me standing there? I'll be in the parks at the 24 hour mark. What about checking in 12 hours prior?

Some people have reported going to the concierge at, say, 9AM and asking the concierge to check them in at 3PM.

Although people have gotten the concierge to do it, I personally wouldn't count on it. The concierge might not agree, or might forget.

Guest Services in the parts will also check you in and print your boarding passes. But - again this is just me - I wouldn't want to spend park time stressing about checking-in.

If you are going to be in the park at the 24 hour mark, I think the best thing to do is arrange for a friend back home to check you in at the 24-hour mark, and then print out your boarding pass when you check your bags at the airport.

 

[alyssa810]

You can also have the front desk print out your boarding passes 12 hours prior to your departure time- is that what you were asking? Any time that we've had the front desk print out our passes, regardless of if it's exactly 24 hours before our flight, or 10 hours before our flight, we've still always gotten "A" passes. I think a lot of people don't think about getting their boarding passes as they try to soak in every last bit of WDW before they have to leave.
I've also never asked for my boarding passes to be printed out at a certain time. I've just gone within the 24 hour mark so they can do it right there.

 

[Fabooliss]

Did I see a map of Southwest's seating plans on their planes somewhere? I thought I did but I can't find it now? Anyone have a link?