Our 1st SW flight & I have only one complaint

[justme73]

Ok, I have a dumb question to ask...I was reading this thread about SW boarding etc and would like someone to please explain to me what it is all about? Southwest doesnt have assigned seating I take it? We (me, hubby and son who is 2 1/2) will be going to WDW in Sept and w/SW running the sale right now, for the 3 tix it would be 380 total! So we were planning on getting these today, however after reading this I wanted to make sure that we would be seated together? How does this all work w/them, we have never flown SW before. Thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by justme73
Ok, I have a dumb question to ask...I was reading this thread about SW boarding etc and would like someone to please explain to me what it is all about? Southwest doesnt have assigned seating I take it? We (me, hubby and son who is 2 1/2) will be going to WDW in Sept and w/SW running the sale right now, for the 3 tix it would be 380 total! So we were planning on getting these today, however after reading this I wanted to make sure that we would be seated together? How does this all work w/them, we have never flown SW before. Thanks!

It is open seating. With a little one you will most likely be preboarded, therefore, there will be no problem sitting together.


This should explain it ia little better.


http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

 

[madge]

It is parents, sibs and small kids, not parents, kids, sibs, aunts, uncles, grandparents and your new friends you met today.

ever since we started flying, at least one of our kids has been under 5. we have always boarded together. as I was reading this thread, I was beginning to think that maybe we should split up (DH with the carseat/baby, me with the older two). I couldn't figure out how he would get the car seat strapped in while holding our youngest. we have always pre-boarded as a family when we fly SWA, and no one ever said anything to us.

that said, last year when we flew, our daughter was a lap baby. we never even considered "holding" a spot in the area where we were sitting....it didn't occur to me to even think about trying something like that.

I don't know if I have ever been on a flight to Orlando that wasn't a) full or b) full of kids.....

I also know in some places they have stopped the pre-boards on flights to MCO because of the number of kids. not Southwest planes, but other airlines in general.

 

[jjarman]

Originally posted by MOMTOMOOTOO
It certainly did not inconvenience me as I was able to preboard with my children who had PAID tickets. Perhaps though it did inconvenience the 70 y/o couple who waited on line withn their PAID tickets and wound up in the back of the plane seperated.
I am sure it appeared that all the choice seats were PAID for and taken, when this was not the case. I think people traveling with infants should just be more courteous.


That is one of the advantages/disadvantages of flying Southwest. If you want a guaranteed seat, fly on another airline. It is really that simple.

As far as you not buying your babies a seat that certainly is your right, although I would never do such a thing. I mean why put them in harms way on purpose? As Gail pointed out it is not just for a plane crash, it is for the safety and comfort of all passengers.

Me holding my child in my lap never put him in danger and sure did not disrupt the comfort of all the other passengers, not even the people sitting beside me.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

we have always pre-boarded as a family when we fly SWA, and no one ever said anything to us.

and they probably won't. Again, it is parents, sibs and the little ones.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by jjarman
Me holding my child in my lap never put him in danger and sure did not disrupt the comfort of all the other passengers, not even the people sitting beside me.

You might not be saying that if you had been on this flight. http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/08/06/plane.turbulence.ap/index.html or this one http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/07/12/military.turbulence/index.html or this one http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/07/29/pan.am.turbulence/index.html or this one http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/02/united.turbulence/index.html

I could go on, but I think you get the picture.


Anne

 

[sln88]

You might not be saying that if you had been on this flight.

well, then the airlines should not allow carryons in overhead bins either.....

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Originally posted by jjarman
Me holding my child in my lap never put him in danger and sure did not disrupt the comfort of all the other passengers, not even the people sitting beside me.

You ARE kidding right?

 

[alexturner74]

I don't have a child, but if I did, I would never just hold he/she on an airplane and not have them in their own seat. I personally do not think that any person could safely hold their child during severe turbulance, hard braking, or an emergency situation.

Various links to browse:
http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2001Conference/files/CrashCabinSafetyComponentTesting/MSperberPAPER.pdf
http://www1.faa.gov/avr/afs/cabinsafety/ACOB's/ACOB218.rtf
http://www1.faa.gov/index.cfm/apa/1439
http://www1.faa.gov/avr/afs/cabinsafety/csindex.cfm
http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2001Conference/files/EvacuationExperiments/CCorbettSLIDE.pdf
http://www.momsview.com/discus/messages/41/11459.html
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/airplanetravel.aspx
http://www.flightattendant-afa.org/kidscrs.htm

 

[dcfromva]

Here's another link to a similar discussion on this board...



- DC

 

[shamrock30]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Ah, yes they do. They do make announcements frequently and I have personally seen them stop people with small kids and their 86 relatives from all boarding together. It is parents, sibs and small kids, not parents, kids, sibs, aunts, uncles, grandparents and your new friends you met today.

That's been your experience but it hasn't been mine. There often aren't many of us left after the pre-boarding.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by shamrock30
That's been your experience but it hasn't been mine. There often aren't many of us left after the pre-boarding.

I hasn't been the case always with us either. Not much you can do if they allow people to do it.