Our first time with Southwest

[kteesmumma]

We have never flown southwest. We have a trip planned in May and was gonna drive to Disney from Boston, but we got an AMAZING deal from Southwest and are able to fly for 707.00 RT for all 4 of us.

Now I understand that when you do the 24hour online check in, is when you get your boarding groups. My husband and I are traveling with a 4 year old and 8 year old. My 8 year old is a bit young for her age with maturity, so I would not feel comfortable at all having her get on the plane herself. I am praying we get in the A Category, but what if our numbers are far apat from each other, will it be possible for all of us to board together or at least one adult with a child? We have a layover..when we do the onine check in will I get boarding groups for each leg of our trip?

Also we will be gate checking a stroller, do I need to have a plastic bag for it if I am gate checking it? How long does it usually take for them to get them off the plane when we de-plane?

Thank you for anyone tha can help.

 

[Bobo912]

If you have one confirmation number for the 4 of you, chances are your boarding passes will be sequential or very close to it. You can always line up with the person who has the highest boarding number. Even if you boarded with the lowest number, probably nobody would say anything. People line up a little out of order all the time. The only time I've seen anybody stopped was when a B tried to board with the A group. If you don't get an A boarding pass at least one of you will be able to board between the A's and B's with the 4 year old. And all 4 of you may be able to board then.

When you check in online you will get boarding passes for each leg of your trip.

It's been awhile since I've taken a stroller on a plane, but when I did, I didn't have a plastic bag and I see strollers at the gate all the time without them. It's been about 7 years since I took a stoller on an SWA plane, but as I recall there was almost no wait - maybe just a minute or two. That may not be typical though.

 

[Vijoge]

We have flown with children multiple times. I always check in at exactly the 24 hour mark and have always gotten A boarding passes. Sometime the numbers are not sequential, but they are close (A38, 39, 41 for example). Seating has not been a problem. If you do this I don't see any reason why you would have a problem finding two, or more, seats together. If you're really concerned just pay the extra $10 pp for EBCI.

If you gate check your stroller it will be waiting for you at the door of the plane when you get off. We did not put ours in a bag and it was fine.

 

[osukristin227]

Families with children under 5 years old board first.

 

[Vijoge]

Families with children under 5 years old board first.

No, families with children 4 and under board between the A group and the B group.

 

[trip]

 

[disneyfaninaz]

SWA doesn't want minors boarding by themselves. If you don't have sequential boarding numbers, just line up together, explain to the gate attendant that you have a minor and you will all be able to board together.

 

[kteesmumma]

Thank you everyone for the tips. I am sure everything is gonna be ok, just wanted to get more info on the matter. I am just happy I was able to get such a great price on the tickets.

 

[EskiLvr]

You can also check out the Early Bird Option on SWA - there are links to it right on their main website. For $10 a person each way, you can basically guarantee that you have an early seating assignment (low numbers in the A group) without having to worry about jumping on checking in right at the 24 hour mark. For us, it's worth the total of $80 for the ability to be one of the first on the plane - it lets our son who has a real issue with noise to be able to pick a spot in front of the engines (he's deaf in one ear and has super sensitive hearing in the other - a real double whammy). Having said that, we've also checked in at the 24 hour mark and never had an issue. We fly on SWA whenever possible!

 

[cuppycake]

We're a family who also always checks in right at 24 hours and it hasn't been a problem for us. We do fly nonstop though, so if you have a connection, I can't speak for that.

We end up with late A boarding passes, and even once when I had an early B because I didn't check in until 20 hours, we were still fine. Worst case, you would almost certainly (with B's) be able to find 2 and 2 seats together.

We're considering doing the early check in ($10) for the flight home just to make things less stressful, unless I can convince my sister to sit at the computer at our 24 hour mark and check in for us

You should be fine, momma!

 

[kteesmumma]

Thank you..this makes me feel alot better...

Now what about checking in for our flight home? I know that Disney offers Check in for participating airlines at the resorts. How do I go about doing this and how will this affect my boarding group?

 

[Vijoge]

Thank you..this makes me feel alot better...

Now what about checking in for our flight home? I know that Disney offers Check in for participating airlines at the resorts. How do I go about doing this and how will this affect my boarding group?

You will still need to either check in at the 24 hour mark or pay for EBCI with SWA. Disney will transport your luggage and print your boarding passes.