OK another Southwest check in question for you experts

[funhouse8]

We are flying into MCO on an 6:05 flight June 28th. It is my understanding we need to check in at the 24 hour moark to get our boardinig assignment. It will be just my DD and myself. What are the odds that we wouldn't get a seat together. I would hate to not pre-pay and then we have to sit apart. For all you Southwest flyers have you ever not been able to sit with your family if you book at the 24 hour mark. Thanks,

 

[Jestocost]

I had about the worst number I ever have had--B20--when checking in at the 24-hour mark yesterday for a flight from Oakland to KC/STL. Even with that and with passengers continuing on from San Diego there would have been plenty of places for two people to sit together. I'm sure someone, somewhere at some peak time has not been able to find two seats together after checking in at the 24-hour mark, but it would be an extreme and very rare case.

 

[Rpsemont]

I've even checked in a couple hours late of the 24 hour mark and still gotten in the mid B's (with plenty of 2-3 seat togethers)

I agree with jestocost, I think that if you check in right at 24 hours, it probably won't be a problem.

 

[Disnydad]

This past January I forgot to check in on time and was several hours past the 24 mark when I remembered. We got B46 - 49 and we all sat together without any problems.

 

[ccgirl]

I have gotten C passes and was able to sit together, all 3 of us. It was further back in the plane albeit, but that didn't matter as long as we were together. You should be fine.

 

[keishashadow]

We are flying into MCO on an 6:05 flight June 28th. It is my understanding we need to check in at the 24 hour moark to get our boardinig assignment. It will be just my DD and myself. What are the odds that we wouldn't get a seat together. I would hate to not pre-pay and then we have to sit apart. For all you Southwest flyers have you ever not been able to sit with your family if you book at the 24 hour mark. Thanks,

jmho, if it's a must do to sit together, then pay for the early boarding & make the difference up somewhere else on the tripi stress too much & will admit it's certainly worth it for me.

 

[Huff]

The problem with paying for the early checkin/boarding is that it guarantees you nothing. It is possible to still be in the end of the A group or even in the B in some cases.

I've always checked in 24 hours before flight and always have gotten an A group. Never had a problem sitting together.

SW is my favorate airline. Rarely delayed and very helpfull, friendly staff.

 

[d1sneyf4n]

So say I check in at the 24hr mark and I get "A". Once I get to the airport I get on the plane when they call "A". We are a family of 4 so does that mean we just find the seats that work for us or do they actually give you seat numbers?

 

[goofy4tink]

So say I check in at the 24hr mark and I get "A". Once I get to the airport I get on the plane when they call "A". We are a family of 4 so does that mean we just find the seats that work for us or do they actually give you seat numbers?

When you check in, online, you will get a letter (boarding group) as well as a number (where in that group you stand). A1-15 slots go to the business select people, so the best you can do is A16 and so on.
When you get to the gate, you will see posts with numbers on them....1-5, 6-10, 11-15, and so on. There will be one big ole letter there...either A, B or C.
You will stand in the slot for your particular number, within your group. So, let's say there are 4 in your family. When you did online checkin, you got A19, A20, A21 and A22. You, and the other three in your group will go to the area that is represented by your number. Then, you all line up in numerical order. And that's how you will board the plane. When you get on the plane, you are free to choose the seat you want...as long as it is empty!

 

[d1sneyf4n]

When you check in, online, you will get a letter (boarding group) as well as a number (where in that group you stand). A1-15 slots go to the business select people, so the best you can do is A16 and so on.
When you get to the gate, you will see posts with numbers on them....1-5, 6-10, 11-15, and so on. There will be one big ole letter there...either A, B or C.
You will stand in the slot for your particular number, within your group. So, let's say there are 4 in your family. When you did online checkin, you got A19, A20, A21 and A22. You, and the other three in your group will go to the area that is represented by your number. Then, you all line up in numerical order. And that's how you will board the plane. When you get on the plane, you are free to choose the seat you want...as long as it is empty!

Thank you so much for the explanation. The boarding process makes sense to me now.