One adult + 3 kids on Southwest = Help?

[DrMomof3]

Yup, flying out of Islip for the 1st time. Interesting that there might not be family boarding. Hmmm. Lots to think about.

Amanda

 

[Cmbar]

I have to say that I totally agree with this...it's not right to have only one or two people pay extra and then save seats for the whole party. I have no problem with strategically sitting ie sitting in the middle in hopes that no one squeezes past you to sit in the window but don't put your carryon in an empty seat beside you, and don't tell anyone that they can't sit in that seat or that the seat is saved. Pony up the ten bucks and buy that right.

Very interesting to me that you feel sitting in a middle seat and blocking a window seat is ok, but if a family politely asks could you let my kid sit next to me is some how some offense. Never understood this "me first" attitude from people on Southwest.

And I have one question for the management of Southwest airlines. Why do you allow people to only buy Early bird for one person on a reservation? It should be all or nothing. If a family is so bold as to save a seat for a child or spouse and that is very offense to some of your travelers, then I believe there needs to be a rule that says if you have more than one person on a reservation then you need to buy EB for all passengers OR you need to implement that you need to board and SEAT in the plane as your boarding pass dictates. If you get stuck next to a screaming 2 year old then you need to suck it up for the whole flight because some of your travelers are mad there are travelers who might actually want to save a seat and sit with a family members.

I can't even imagine a world where you wish to force families to pay more for a plane trip because you need to "pay up" for a right to sit together. Boarding together as a family is MORE difficult due to Early Bird seating. I understand Southwest wanting to charge fees, but really.

Sorry can't understand where simple compassion for a family traveling has gone out the window in the name of new "rights". On our return flight last week a man, woman, and Child obviously must have been making a connection because they came on the plane at last minute. Of course there was only middle seats left. One lady sitting by the window in one of the rows with an empty middle seat offered and gave up her window seat for this lady and her young daughter to sit next to each other. She went from a window seat with an empty chair next to her to a middle seat with two adults on either side of her. I told her as I was leaving the plane that I thought it was very nice of her to do that. I am glad she let compassion rule the day and not the fact that these people didn't have a "right" to sit together.

Just my opinion.... Certainly yours to feel differently.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can't even imagine a world where you wish to force families to pay more for a plane trip because you need to "pay up" for a right to sit together

Respectfully, nobody is forced to pay extra for seats. Depending on the airline, parties of any make-up - i.e. not just families (so no discrimination), not based on age or any other criteria) who want to sit together, or any passenger who wants to be able to choose a seat prior to checking in*(depending on the airline) must pay an additional charge to do that. With Southwest, it's EBCI so they can get a jump on the hoi polloi checking in within 24 hours of the flight.

It's presumptuous to have the option, NOT use it, and then expect other passengers to accommodate you (not "you", but any passenger/party). As for the family on your (yes, this time I do mean you ) flight last week who "obviously must have been making a connection because they came on the plane at last minute", well, you could be right. Or they could be like the mother and child on one of goofy4tink's Southwest flights who were in the gate area in plenty of time but stayed in the terminal until the last possible moment, then boarded the plane and - surprise! - couldn't find two seats together!


*including but not limited to: Southwest passengers who get assigned boarding passes based on the time they check in; and (for example) United and JetBlue passengers who want certain "select" or "elite" or "extra legroom" seats

 

[tjmw2727]

snip -I can't even imagine a world where you wish to force families to pay more for a plane trip because you need to "pay up" for a right to sit together

Respectfully, everyone pays the same and has the same opportunity to "pay up to sit together" Families also have the extra option to use family boarding on SWA. Most of the legacy airlines won't guarantee seats together despite seat assignments.

If its important to me to sit with my family, regardless of the reason, IMHO then it is my responsibility to do what I can to make that happen. That could be while traveling with elders with a physical need, a child under 6 or a fearful 10 year old.

You see it most often on SWA even with the option for family boarding and EBCI and also with Airtran where folks don't want to pay $6.00 for seating assignments but want those who have paid the $6.00 to move for children, etc but it happens on the legacy airlines as well.

That said, Yes I have moved to allow a child to sit with a parent and my then 5, 6 and 7 yo has been a few rows in front on several occasions. So now I won't put myself in that position if I can at all help it. If your booking bargain fares then you can expect bargain service and all the "extra" fees that go along with it.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I too am flying alone to WDW on SW with 3 kids in 10 days! My kids are 9,8 & 5 so no family boarding options for us. I am not planning to do the EBCI. I will check in at 24 hours and go towards the back. I've never had a problem getting 5 seats on SW together so I am not worried about getting 4. I am planning to have the 2 youngest sit in the window and middle with me and oldest DS in the aisle seats.

One thing I didn't see mentioned by anyone was when you are checking in online MAKE SURE you have the box checked next to everyone's name before you click the check-in button. If you don't it will only check in the first person and you will have to go back and do the others so your boarding pass #'s won't be together.

Have a great trip!

 

[cdrn1]

Very interesting to me that you feel sitting in a middle seat and blocking a window seat is ok, but if a family politely asks could you let my kid sit next to me is some how some offense. Never understood this "me first" attitude from people on Southwest.

Very interesting to ME that you put quite a different spin on what I said...where on earth did the family asking politely come from???
I didn't say "block" a window seat; I just think it's fair for someone to sit in a middle seat and HOPE that no one else sits there as opposed to sitting somewhere and telling people "nope, you can't sit in that empty seat because I am saving it for someone who was too cheap to pay the extra 10 bucks to get on the plane before you".

I regularly travel with my grandkids, and I either pay for all of us to get on together, or I take my chances. And I would absolutely (and have) give up my seat so a family could sit together, and I would in most instances offer and not have to wait to be asked. And I am old but I get up on the bus and give my seat to people that are older, and pregnant ladies, and tired parents. No "me first" attitude here.

 

[DrMomof3]

I too am flying alone to WDW on SW with 3 kids in 10 days! My kids are 9,8 & 5 so no family boarding options for us. I am not planning to do the EBCI. I will check in at 24 hours and go towards the back. I've never had a problem getting 5 seats on SW together so I am not worried about getting 4. I am planning to have the 2 youngest sit in the window and middle with me and oldest DS in the aisle seats.

One thing I didn't see mentioned by anyone was when you are checking in online MAKE SURE you have the box checked next to everyone's name before you click the check-in button. If you don't it will only check in the first person and you will have to go back and do the others so your boarding pass #'s won't be together.

Have a great trip!

Thanks for the advice! That's very helpful! I will carefully make sure to check each box. I wouldn't have known to do that.

Amanda

 

[Cmbar]

Very interesting to ME that you put quite a different spin on what I said...where on earth did the family asking politely come from???
I didn't say "block" a window seat; I just think it's fair for someone to sit in a middle seat and HOPE that no one else sits there as opposed to sitting somewhere and telling people "nope, you can't sit in that empty seat because I am saving it for someone who was too cheap to pay the extra 10 bucks to get on the plane before you".

I regularly travel with my grandkids, and I either pay for all of us to get on together, or I take my chances. And I would absolutely (and have) give up my seat so a family could sit together, and I would in most instances offer and not have to wait to be asked. And I am old but I get up on the bus and give my seat to people that are older, and pregnant ladies, and tired parents. No "me first" attitude here.

I really don't want to argue with you. But how is sitting in a seat you don't want to, or plan on, sitting in any different than placing a purse on the seat? I am confused truly. If you wanted to sit in the middle seat by yourself why did you pay extra to get on first?

I NEVER said that people who save seats should EXPECT to have the seats they want. I am confused as to how it is a problem to have some of your family on board and paying the extra to do that and then saving them seats. Really don't understand your problem with that. How in the world did you sit together before early bird seating? Did you get to the airport and sit in the boarding lanes and allow some of your party to go to the potty before you boarded? If you did then weren't you saving places in the line?

Prices are different for all passengers. We may be on the same flight and pay different amounts, should we seat based on who paid the most for their flight. Southwest states that the early bird is for the worry free of getting a boarding pass at the 24 hours mark. I am sure that if they wanted to make sure families don't get a priviledge of sitting together then they will completely do away with family boarding (I mean how are they important that they get to board before the B class) or they will require all members on a reservation to buy early bird.

My problem is with the person (not you) who wants to sit in a window, aisle or possibly a middle seat at the cost of making sure a family is not allowed to sit together just because they feel they paid for the right to do so. I pay for the peace of mind of not having to check in at 24 hours. Not so I can make sure that if I like a seat and a Dad and a kid are in the aisle that I make sure I mess up their plans. I can't even imagine looking at a person knowing they are saving seats for their family (not saving so they have an empty seat next to them when they fly) and thinking "hey buddy you were too cheap to buy all your family early bird and therefore I have a "right" to say "tough nooggies" buddy, I'm taking your seat. I would sit in a middle seat before I would ever do that. Sorry. just how I feel. Sorry if it offends people.

 

[crashbb]

I really don't want to argue with you. But how is sitting in a seat you don't want to, or plan on, sitting in any different than placing a purse on the seat? I am confused truly. If you wanted to sit in the middle seat by yourself why did you pay extra to get on first?

I NEVER said that people who save seats should EXPECT to have the seats they want. I am confused as to how it is a problem to have some of your family on board and paying the extra to do that and then saving them seats. Really don't understand your problem with that. How in the world did you sit together before early bird seating? Did you get to the airport and sit in the boarding lanes and allow some of your party to go to the potty before you boarded? If you did then weren't you saving places in the line?

Prices are different for all passengers. We may be on the same flight and pay different amounts, should we seat based on who paid the most for their flight. Southwest states that the early bird is for the worry free of getting a boarding pass at the 24 hours mark. I am sure that if they wanted to make sure families don't get a priviledge of sitting together then they will completely do away with family boarding (I mean how are they important that they get to board before the B class) or they will require all members on a reservation to buy early bird.

My problem is with the person (not you) who wants to sit in a window, aisle or possibly a middle seat at the cost of making sure a family is not allowed to sit together just because they feel they paid for the right to do so. I pay for the peace of mind of not having to check in at 24 hours. Not so I can make sure that if I like a seat and a Dad and a kid are in the aisle that I make sure I mess up their plans. I can't even imagine looking at a person knowing they are saving seats for their family (not saving so they have an empty seat next to them when they fly) and thinking "hey buddy you were too cheap to buy all your family early bird and therefore I have a "right" to say "tough nooggies" buddy, I'm taking your seat. I would sit in a middle seat before I would ever do that. Sorry. just how I feel. Sorry if it offends people.

Not that I would purposefully split up a family, but in my opinion if it isn't worth $10 (or $6 on Air Tran or whatever) for that family to sit together, it isn't worth my changing where I sit for them to do so. Obviously, it isn't that important to them.

 

[cdrn1]

I really don't want to argue with you. But how is sitting in a seat you don't want to, or plan on, sitting in any different than placing a purse on the seat? I am confused truly. If you wanted to sit in the middle seat by yourself why did you pay extra to get on first?

I NEVER said that people who save seats should EXPECT to have the seats they want. I am confused as to how it is a problem to have some of your family on board and paying the extra to do that and then saving them seats. Really don't understand your problem with that. How in the world did you sit together before early bird seating? Did you get to the airport and sit in the boarding lanes and allow some of your party to go to the potty before you boarded? If you did then weren't you saving places in the line?

Prices are different for all passengers. We may be on the same flight and pay different amounts, should we seat based on who paid the most for their flight. Southwest states that the early bird is for the worry free of getting a boarding pass at the 24 hours mark. I am sure that if they wanted to make sure families don't get a priviledge of sitting together then they will completely do away with family boarding (I mean how are they important that they get to board before the B class) or they will require all members on a reservation to buy early bird.

My problem is with the person (not you) who wants to sit in a window, aisle or possibly a middle seat at the cost of making sure a family is not allowed to sit together just because they feel they paid for the right to do so. I pay for the peace of mind of not having to check in at 24 hours. Not so I can make sure that if I like a seat and a Dad and a kid are in the aisle that I make sure I mess up their plans. I can't even imagine looking at a person knowing they are saving seats for their family (not saving so they have an empty seat next to them when they fly) and thinking "hey buddy you were too cheap to buy all your family early bird and therefore I have a "right" to say "tough nooggies" buddy, I'm taking your seat. I would sit in a middle seat before I would ever do that. Sorry. just how I feel. Sorry if it offends people.

I don't care to argue either. I just don't think it's right to save a seat, keeping the seat from someone who chose to pay extra for the right to choose that seat if it's not yet taken.
I personally would not choose to sit next to the guy who sits in the middle hoping no one sits next to him. But I don't think the guy has a right to tell someone that they CAN'T sit next to him because he is saving the seat for someone who chose not to pay the $10 for early seating.
As to how we sat together before early bird seating...I really don't care much where I sit. The back of the plane gets there at the same time as the front. I was never one of those people who sat under the A sign for two hours...if it really matters, we fly Airtran or pay the extra for EVERYONE for early bird seating. I also have willingly given up my seat when asked. The only time I have ever refused to change a seat was on a 9-hour flight to Rome; some guy wanted my aisle seat so he could sit next to his buddy in exchange for his seat in the middle of the middle row. I told him no. Other than that, I have changed my seat numerous times, including so a family could sit together. I am all for families sitting together; I understand why they want to and I do want to sit with mine. I do what I need to to make that happen and don't sit back and expect others to accommodate me.
I just don't think it's right to save seats, whether it be on a Southwest flight or a chair at Stormalong Bay. If you want a certain seat, do what it takes to get it and don't expect others to give up their seat for you, if you couldn't sacrifice what others did to get the seat you/they want.

 

[Harlie]

We too are flying SW for the first time. I figure as long as our youngest(5) is with an adult (dh, MIl and I) our older two (10) are likly to be comfortable to sit by a stranger.....I just feel sorry for the stranger as my older 2 like to talk...and talk....and talk and DS's favorite adjective and verb is "thingy" and he uses whole sentences with both and it is humorous watching others follow along and look for dh or I to confirm what he is talking about when 3/4 of the time we don't Im actually looking forward to it lol!

 

[DrMomof3]

We too are flying SW for the first time. I figure as long as our youngest(5) is with an adult (dh, MIl and I) our older two (10) are likly to be comfortable to sit by a stranger.....I just feel sorry for the stranger as my older 2 like to talk...and talk....and talk and DS's favorite adjective and verb is "thingy" and he uses whole sentences with both and it is humorous watching others follow along and look for dh or I to confirm what he is talking about when 3/4 of the time we don't Im actually looking forward to it lol!

My DH and I often joke that we'd be more than happy to let the kids sit with strangers for the flight! Somehow I don't think it would actually work out very well at this point.

Amanda

 

[NHdisneylover]

If the OP is still wading through this thread, just one more piece of advice: make sure the kids have something NOT eletronic to entertain themselves with until after the plane has reached altitude. They will need something other than the DS/DVD player for the remainder of boarding (yes you can leave eletronics on until the doors close but do you really want to stop the movie 15 minutes in for a 2 year old and hope she handles it alright for take off ) and then for taxi/take off (and again at landing).

As far as the rest goes: saving seats is incredibly rude. I hope SW does not allow it when they see it happening and that they change their policy to require everyone on the reservation to pay for preboarding, or else none at all if it becomes a problem.

I see nothing wrong with everyone (families included) needing to pay if they want to sit together. They are your kids you take care of what needs to be done for them.

In the rather rare event that you have a tight connection and miss the early boarding as you race to the plane and cannot find seats together (someone used this as an example of why a family would need people to move), the thinking to do would be to politely explain that this is the reason that you are asking someone to switch, offer to buy the passenger a drink or snack and say that you realize they probably paid for early boarding (you have no way of knowing if they did but they may have) and offer to pay them back for their $10 as well. If you really want to sit together it should be worth all of this to you--and you still need to be polite if you are refused, but your odds will have gone waaaaaay up. Know ahead of time if it is worth it to you to deplane and get another flight if you cannot sit together (and do so politely) or not. Personally, my kids have sat alone on planes on and off since they were 3 with no issues whatsoever. I have never quite understood the big deal some parents make over this

 

[islandtimect]

Our family of 3 is paying an extra $60 for all of us to do early boarding in both directions. But I can't find any info from SW telling me how to reserve seats for early boarding. Help!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Our family of 3 is paying an extra $60 for all of us to do early boarding in both directions. But I can't find any info from SW telling me how to reserve seats for early boarding. Help!

You cannot reserve the seats ahead of time. No one can. Your $10 each buys you getting on in the first batch of people so that you can basically have your pick of seats at that time. You still have to be at the gate and ready to board when they call you to get seats.

 

[Wish_I'd_known_Walt]

I have a question. If you purchase EB, is it good for not only your intital flight, but connecting flights as well? Of course, in my case, it may be irrelevant, since our lay-over is a mere 30 minutes. YIKES!

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I have a question. If you purchase EB, is it good for not only your intital flight, but connecting flights as well? Of course, in my case, it may be irrelevant, since our lay-over is a mere 30 minutes. YIKES!

I can't say 100% yes but I am pretty sure it will because when you check-in the regular way it automatically checks you in for all connecting flights. So I figure it would be the same with the EBCI.

 

[goofy4tink]

People...this argument abot saving seats is a moot one. SW doesn't care. It isn't a huge issue, especially since most flights are now pretty full. It's amazing to see the seat shifting when a FA announces that there are no empty seats on the flight due to it's being 100% sold....this is usually just before, or as, the C group is boarding. It's actually hysterical...all those parents moving around, filling up that empty middle seat they had hoped to keep empty.

I have no problem with someone saving a seat or two...when it's within the same row. In fact, I am doing that myself in a week or so. I paid EBCI for my dd and I, but not for my dh. He is flying on a different reservation since he is flying r/t, we are not. I also wanted to see what boarding group/number dd and I got vs what I got for dh checking him in at the 24 hr mark. It is kind of an experiment I guess.

It is more of a 'do what you are comfortable doing' type issue. There are some people that are going to milk the system for all it's worth..and nothing you say here is going to change that. I know I overhead an 'argument' between a seated passenger, a standing passenger and a FA a year or so ago. It was on a JB flight. Someone had boarded early in the process and took their seat. I was seated a few rows in front of them. We were towards the front of the plane...first 7 rows. I had paid for extra legroom on that flight. Well....another passenger comes along, and looks up, then down at her bp, and up again. She says to the already seated passenger.."I think you're in my seat." The seated passenger said "No, I am not. This is MY seat." This went on for a bit, the FA finally came up to see what the commotion was. Seems the seated passenger was supposed to be towards the rear of the plane but decided that wasn't where she wanted to be, so took the first aisle seat she came to. She complained that she had boarded first, she should be able to stay in that seat, and why couldn't the other passenger just take another seat!!! It was unbelievable. The FA finally told the seated passenger that if she didn't move, security would take her off the plane. That got her moving. But, I truly think that she figured that if she was antagonistic enough, the FA would just give in and seat the other passenger elsewhere.
And this is the mentality of some people on SW...I got there first, so I will save whatever seats I wish to. It's only going to be an issue when the C group comes along and those saved seats, usually middle ones, are taken up by complete strangers..who have every right to sit there. So now, that C group person, who was going to have to sit in the middle seat, is now sitting in either the aisle or window seat in order to have the original two passengers sitting together.

 

[Pinnie]

I have a question. If you purchase EB, is it good for not only your intital flight, but connecting flights as well? Of course, in my case, it may be irrelevant, since our lay-over is a mere 30 minutes. YIKES!

Yes, your EBCI is for all segments in the flight. It is NOT, however, good for the return flight(s). You have to pay another $10.

pinnie