New to Southwest, boarding questions...

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I booked our trip in Sept/Oct on Southwest. I put in the reservation that I require special help getting into the plane. I can't be jossled around and need assistance with balance and getting my carry-on stowed away.

How do they handle this. There are 4 in the party, and if I do the call at the 24 hour mark, do you think my DD and DS will get to sit together.

Lastly, DD is flying home alone. She is 17. She has never flown alone. Her flight is very early and since we are prone to forget stuff on vacation, do you think it is worth the 10.00 to pre-check her in and give her peace of mind? Does it work?

Thanks.

 

[goofy4tink]

Let me ask you a few questions.....
how many adults in your party??? And yes, your 17 y/o dd counts as an adult. I have considered my dd, now 16, an adult when it comes to flying since she was 13. I ask because you should be allowed to board the plane with medical preboards....talk to the gate agent when you get to the gate. I'm just not sure that they will allow the entire group to board with you. You may be able to take one other person with you, to help you out. But, you could be allowed to board together...I just can't say with any certainty.

I would be online right at that 24 hr mark to check everyone in. Or, you could just pay the addtl $10 pp for EBCI..that way there will be no need to do it yourself and you should get a pretty low boarding number. Your kids should be able to be seated together if they are not allowed to board early with you.

I would certainly pay for EBCI for your dd's flight out. It does indeed 'work'. She can either have her boarding pass printed at the front desk, or just wait until she gets to the airport. I would have the front desk do it for her....you will be there with her, so less worry for her. You can print out the boarding passes for EBCI any time after that 24 hr window occurs. She will still have to check her bags at the airport if she is bringing checked bags home with her. Early flights aren't able to use RAC. Have her watch what occurs on the flight down.....she should pay attention to what you do when you get to the airport so she can do it on her own.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You should be allowed to preboard with one person to assist you, but it is unlikely the rest of your party will be allowed to preboard as well.

 

[DebbieB]

SW doesn't seem to have a policy on saving seats so what I would do is the 2 of you preboarding take seats across the aisle from each other and save the seat next to you. One time I boarded with a low #, like A16. An elderly couple pre-boarded. When I got on, they had saved the first 2 rows by putting bags and newspapers on them. They got away with it.

I wouldn't spend the money to EBCI your DD for the return. She's alone so does it matter where she sits? I would just check-in at 24 hours, you can do it at guest services at any park or resort. I've checked in an hour past that when I was traveling alone and ended up with a mid B. I got an aisle seat in the front. When you are alone it's easy to find a single seat in the front half unless you get into the C's.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thanks for the answers.

I heard that is would be me and one other person with the "needs" assistance. Which is fine, DH can enter with me, get my bags situated and I can sit and hold his seat. As long as DD and DS can sit together they are fine. Well except for the last 2 rows of the plane. They prefer mid to front. I will be checking us in exactly 24 hours before.

DD's flight on the way home is for 8am. So I would need to call at 6am the day before? I think that might be worth the $10.00 to get her done ahead of time.

On the way home, just thought of this, DH would be on the plan with me and DS would be out waiting (he's 15). Do you think we could get away with "holding" the third seat in the row without too much problem. I could do the aisle and DH the window, leaving the middle open. Is this considered really rude? Ugh, this is all new to me. Thanks again.

 

[DebbieB]

DD's flight on the way home is for 8am. So I would need to call at 6am the day before? I think that might be worth the $10.00 to get her done ahead of time.

On the way home, just thought of this, DH would be on the plan with me and DS would be out waiting (he's 15). Do you think we could get away with "holding" the third seat in the row without too much problem. I could do the aisle and DH the window, leaving the middle open. Is this considered really rude? Ugh, this is all new to me. Thanks again.

Without early bird, you would have to get her boarding pass at 8am the day before. It probably is worth the $10.

With your 15 year old son, they would probably allow him to board with you. If not, the aisle/seat strategy is a good one, couples do it all the time with the hope that the flight is not full and no one sits in the middle.