Nervous About Using Southwest Now

[DebbieB]

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?

All the planes have seats 3 x 3.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-300.php

 

[bekkiz]

If you have a web enabled cell phone or pda, you can check in using that.

mobile.southwest.com

It only works on a phone, but give it a try and then you don't have to worry about checking in at the hotel and get you "A" passes!

Also, you can check in and NOT print your boarding passes until you get to the airport. You'll still recieve the same group, you just don't have to worry about finding a printer.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

Note that you do have to BE there at the time.

 

[Fabooliss]

All the planes have seats 3 x 3.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-300.php

Thanks! That's what I remembered seeing!

 

[shellybaxter]

As someone who has a mild panic attack disorder, I wouldn't fly Southwest unless it was a short flight and I didn't "need" to sit together with the rest of my party. I'm sure the chances of me not being able to sit with my party are slim, but the idea of it is distrubing. Its not worth the worry and possible panic if something goes wrong.
Whether I have more security with assigned seats on another airline or not - it FEELS like I have more security and that is what I need

 

[mygyky]

You should be fine provided you pre-board as you appear eligible to do or get "A" passes. We checked in while at our resort last week at exactly 24 hours and were #'s 19,20 &21. So there were many people doing the same thing to try and get those A passes. There were many pre-boards as well and you would fall in that line. I say use SW and don't worry about it.

 

[earthyfamily]

I appreciate all your answers. It's nice to know as well that I'm not the only one out there with a panic disorder. Sometimes it can seem like I'm all alone in this. Mine is rather severe and I've suffered for about 9 years from it. For the reasons Shellybaxter posted I'm going to have to seriously weigh the pros and cons. Thanks everyone!

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Since you have a child under 3 you can preboard as a courtesy after handicapped passengers and those with medical needs. When there comes a time that you can no longer use the courtesy preboard, you can get your boarding passes up tp 24 hours in advance. If you do it right away you would have a good chance at getting A. Since there are also B and C the chances of sitting together having an A assignment are good. Most likely if there aren't seats together, a solo rider may be willing to change with you. We are a family of 4 and we have always been able to sit at least 2 of us together. No seating assignments is the downfall of Southwest, but there rates are too good not to fly just because of that reason.

 

[salmoneous]

Whether I have more security with assigned seats on another airline or not - it FEELS like I have more security and that is what I need

This is not to say you are wrong - how can how your FEEL be wrong - but just to give another person's feelings.

I never worry about getting seats together on SW. Why? Because I am in control. Where I sit on the plane is entirely in my hands and up to me.

I do stress when flying other airlines. They can scrw something up and put me in a position where we don't sit together. I can show up at the airport and find out that I no longer have the seats I thought I reserved. I can show up and find out they've switched planes and reseated us apart. I can even get on the plane and find someone else in "my" seat because the airline accidentally double booked it. I've seen every one of these scenarios on legacy carriers. (Of course - it isn't all bad - the time somebody was in my seat I got moved to First Class).

People who don't fly SW frequently fear open seating because of the lack of control. What's ironic is that frequent SW flyers love open seating because it gives them control.

 

[PatMcDuck]

New SW flyer here. I thought you checked in for baording passes at midnight the day before your flight. I am wrong, its 24 hours before the flight? So for an early morning flight, check in the mornig before?

Also, I have a 7:10 am flight, I really need to get to airport at 5am?? Yikes. I need to leave house before 4am. I must be NUTS, lol.

 

[byoung]

We like Southwest A, B, or C seatting. It's great.

 

[chasbos]

The best thing about a 7:00 a.m. flight - you are in the Florida sun by 10:00!!!!

And your first day of vacation is a full one!

 

[salmoneous]

New SW flyer here. I thought you checked in for baording passes at midnight the day before your flight. I am wrong, its 24 hours before the flight?

Midnight was the old rule. I remember going to bed and setting an alarm for 11:55 PM to check in at 12:01. The new rule is 24 hours before the first leg of your flight.

As for time to get to the airport - what airport are you flying out of? I'm very comfortable getting to a small or mid-sized airport (where most of SW flight start) less than 2 hour early - especially for a 7:10 flight. As long as I'm in the building an hour before flight I'm not worried. But if going to a bigger airport - especially if there is potential for traffic or parking problems - 2 hours early is a very good idea.

 

[chasbos]

I would not want to show up less than 2 hours early for the 7:00 a.m. flight out of BUffalo and I consider it a small airport!

I am always amazed at the amount of people in the security line at 5:00 a.m.! And even more amazed at the people having a fit because they are being called to make their flight and they are not even through security yet!

But then again security has rushed them ahead of everyone so they could make there flight.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

We alwats fly southwest out of Providence. We usually take the first flight around 7 so I we try to get there around 5:45. The baggage checkpoint is the longest for us to wait. We have to wait until our baggage gets cheked by security before going onto the next security checkpoint. However where our children are no longer the age to make us eligible for preboard, I would definately get there earlier unless we were assigned A.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am flying out of Philly, so that is a pretty big airport I think, so I will leave a little earlier.