Please tell me about southwest

[connorlevismom]

I have never flown Southwest before. I am now, however, looking at using them for our October trip.

We normally fly Sun Country because we really like them and they are direct from MSP. Our only other direct option is Delta and I will not fly them unless I absolutely have to. At the moment, they are both near $700 PER TICKET for the time that I am going. Southwest is $392.00 per ticket, but it involves layovers.

So what do I need to know about SW? What is their seating situation? How do you make sure you get to sit with your family? Do they have upgrades your can purchase at the airport? Are the planes nice?

Basically I am looking for any information anyone wants to give me.

Thanks!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

....What is their seating situation? How do you make sure you get to sit with your family? Do they have upgrades your can purchase at the airport? Are the planes nice?

Did you check WN's website? Most of your questions can be answered there. Or do a search of the boards - in just this forum alone there are probably hundreds of threads about this airline.

 

[backyardponder]

I fly SW on most of my trips. They tend to be on time and rarely cancel or change a flight.

Seating for many is an issue. Southwest is kind of like taking a bus. You get in line, and board the bus...oh, sorry, plane. You pick the seat you want.

Position in line is important to some for seat assignment. They board in groups, A, B, then C. If you have little kids, they usually board them between A & B. If you have little kids, and have an A position in line, then you would board before the kids which are boarded between A & B.

Position in line is determined, for the most part, when you check in. If you check in on line, 24 hours before your flight, chances are you'll get an A or low number in B and, thus, will have a good selection of open seats, thus you'll sit together. Also, if you have a connecting fllight, when you check in for your first leg, you will be checked in and get boarding numbers for all legs.

You can pay for EBCI (I think it stands for early booking check in) which automatically checks you in before the folks who check in at the 24 hour mark. It is $10 per person each way. If there is a connection, then the $10 covers all connecting flights.

Is EBCI worth it? If you have small kids it might be. At a certain age, in my opinion, kids should be able to sit by themselves if necessary. Also, is it that important for the whole family to sit together? That is a personal decision. I never pay for EBCI and if we get split up for a 2 hour flight, it isn't the end of the world.

One other thing, if you have a connection, and if it is a tight connection, then they may have started boarding and you may have lost your place in line. You can, of course, go to the head of the line which is waiting to board if you have lost your place...but...if the flight has almost completely loaded, then you may be split up.

Sometimes if there is a late boarder with little kids, the flight attendants will ask if anybody would be willing to move around so the kids can sit with their parents. Folks flying Southwest tend to be quite friendly and are usually willing to do this. Sometimes that earns them a free drink as well!

With all that said, I love Southwest and they are my prefered airline. No baggage fees, efficient operation, once their schedule is out, they rarely change it (I've had nightmares with United lately).

Since you are traveling MSP -> MCO, my guess is you will probably connect at Chicago's Midway. The best place, IMO, to grab a sandwich is at Potbelly's, which is at the junction of the A & B concourse, near security. You'll see most of the airline employees grabbing something to eat there.

Southwest flights at MDW, for the most part, use the B concourse. They do have some flights using the A concourse. It can be quite a hike between the two...just be aware.

Good Luck with your choices.

John

 

[bizer]

If you are willing to drive a little I would fly out of Madison. I booked our tickets for December through Frontier for $240 RT pp, non stop. We will drive to Madison from SE MN but the money we will save is worth the drive.

 

[PebblesMK]

I have never flown Southwest before. I am now, however, looking at using them for our October trip.

We normally fly Sun Country because we really like them and they are direct from MSP. Our only other direct option is Delta and I will not fly them unless I absolutely have to. At the moment, they are both near $700 PER TICKET for the time that I am going. Southwest is $392.00 per ticket, but it involves layovers.

So what do I need to know about SW? What is their seating situation? How do you make sure you get to sit with your family? Do they have upgrades your can purchase at the airport? Are the planes nice?

Basically I am looking for any information anyone wants to give me.

Thanks!

Southwest has been one of the best flights that I've flown on, it doesn't hurt that their rates are good too. Check out this thread and it may help you save some money with their Southwest card. ttp://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2919198

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I fly SW on most of my trips. They tend to be on time and rarely cancel or change a flight. ..

Y0u can pay for EBCI (I think it stands for early booking check in) which automatically checks you in before the folks who check in at the 24 hour mark. It is $10 per person each way.

For Jan-Feb 2012 (most recent available statistics), WN had 1.12% flights cancelled (1,056 total) and 10.96% were late. The average departure delay was almost 60 minutes, as was the average arrival delay. Numbers are from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

EBCI = EarlyBird Check-In

 

[DebbieB]

Our fight last Friday night MCO-PIT was originally delayed 2 hours 35 minutes. They gave us each a $100 travel voucher good for 1 year. We ended up being another 45 minutes delayed due to a mechanical problem. Left at 11:00pm instead of 7:35pm. They notified us of the original delay around 1:30pm. The $100 made it easier to accept....

 

[kamik86]

I have never flown Southwest before. I am now, however, looking at using them for our October trip.

We normally fly Sun Country because we really like them and they are direct from MSP. Our only other direct option is Delta and I will not fly them unless I absolutely have to. At the moment, they are both near $700 PER TICKET for the time that I am going. Southwest is $392.00 per ticket, but it involves layovers.

So what do I need to know about SW? What is their seating situation? How do you make sure you get to sit with your family? Do they have upgrades your can purchase at the airport? Are the planes nice?

Basically I am looking for any information anyone wants to give me.

Thanks!

Since I didn't see anyone address the upgrade question. Technically yes you can upgrade to business select at the airport, however that just changes your place in line (Business select gets the early As) all the seats are the same (except the exit row), there isn't a business class or first class or anything like that.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

I have never flown Southwest before. I am now, however, looking at using them for our October trip.

We normally fly Sun Country because we really like them and they are direct from MSP. Our only other direct option is Delta and I will not fly them unless I absolutely have to.

Thanks!

Just a note on terminology, direct and nonstop are two different things.

Did a spot check on SWA, and didn't see any nonstops from msp, so I guess you mean direct.

 

[MrsJD]

I, too, am looking for tickets out of MSP but for november. SW hasn't released flights for my dates yet and I generally fly Delta. I was wondering if Delta's prices tend to drop a little once SW releases their schedules and prices?

SW's website seems confusing. Too many options maybe? I will def be keeping my eyes out for some cheaper tickets though. I have already changed my vacations dates by one day because of plane ticket costs. I am looking at $448 for nov 16 to nov 23rd. (fri to fri).

 

[Minnesota!]

We flew them for the first time in Feb and we we really liked them - surprisingly. I was nervous going into it b/c I really like Airtran's model, but I needed cheap flights.

They were good, very quick to load/depart, and the employees were friendly as all get out.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Since I didn't see anyone address the upgrade question. Technically yes you can upgrade to business select at the airport, however that just changes your place in line (Business select gets the early As) all the seats are the same (except the exit row), there isn't a business class or first class or anything like that.

Yes, I addressed it (post #2) - that is why I added the laughing figure! Business select is not really an upgrade.

 

[akclayton]

I enjoy Southwest. I use it all the time for work and when I travel most of the time, I use them. I prefer not to use Delta or Continental. My parents enjoy Jet Blue also. Maybe check into them as well if you have that option at your airport.

You can purchase Early Bird Check In which as a pp said, it's $10 each way per person. They check you in before the 24 hour mark. If you don't purchase it, you can check in at the 24 hour mark. the closer you check in to that point, the better boarding number you can get.

You can also purchase the business select tickets. It's a bit more that a general anytime ticket. But business select tickets are A1-15 usually on the flights. So you can have your pick of almost any seat.

I've also while in airports or prior to arriving get text messages or phone calls on any delays, etc. about my flight if they were to occur. You can sign up for this on your reservation and it's free of charge. I've found out things on this before they've announced it at the airport.

They are usually pretty good at sticking to their schedules or within 20 minutes of it. Weather can play a big factor in that though. I've been on flights that have been behind and have had people aboard with connecting flights. The attendants and employees on the ground are good at keeping you updated in the cabin on the status. I've even seen a few cases where they wouldn't make their flight but the SW already had a backup plan for that person in place for when they landed. I've also been on a flight that delayed 30-40 minutes because we were the last flight out that night and an incoming flight was late with 8 people on it. We waited on those people so they were able to still get to their destinations.

The flight attendants and other employees are always friendly.

 

[backyardponder]

For Jan-Feb 2012 (most recent available statistics), WN had 1.12% flights cancelled (1,056 total) and 10.96% were late. The average departure delay was almost 60 minutes, as was the average arrival delay. Numbers are from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

And your point is what? How does this compare to the industry?

 

[connorlevismom]

If you are willing to drive a little I would fly out of Madison. I booked our tickets for December through Frontier for $240 RT pp, non stop. We will drive to Madison from SE MN but the money we will save is worth the drive.

Madison is an almost 5 hour drive for us so that is not really going to work. I would rather have a layover than drive 5 hours with 2 kids in the car.

Since I didn't see anyone address the upgrade question. Technically yes you can upgrade to business select at the airport, however that just changes your place in line (Business select gets the early As) all the seats are the same (except the exit row), there isn't a business class or first class or anything like that.

Thank you, this was very helpful. I did not know all the seats were the same. Is there ample room in the seats? Leg room, I am talking about. I have longer legs and my knees are always almost hitting the seat in front of me and usually do when the seat is reclined.

I, too, am looking for tickets out of MSP but for november. SW hasn't released flights for my dates yet and I generally fly Delta. I was wondering if Delta's prices tend to drop a little once SW releases their schedules and prices?
SW's website seems confusing. Too many options maybe? I will def be keeping my eyes out for some cheaper tickets though. I have already changed my vacations dates by one day because of plane ticket costs. I am looking at $448 for nov 16 to nov 23rd. (fri to fri).

Well, Delta is $668.00 for my dates in October and SW is $392.00, so I don't know that SW has any impact on Delta or Sun Country. They are both insane!


Thanks for everyone that responded, we might take a chance on SW this time. I am not paying $700 per person for a direct flight.

 

[akclayton]

Thank you, this was very helpful. I did not know all the seats were the same. Is there ample room in the seats? Leg room, I am talking about. I have longer legs and my knees are always almost hitting the seat in front of me and usually do when the seat is reclined.

My dad is 6'2 and doesn't have a problem. You can also call them and ask for a big quote. They will allow a person of size to purchase "2" seats. I don't think it's full price for both seats though. It's worth checking in to. I think overall, the seats are comfortable. Also there are seats in the middle of the plane at the emergency exit. They have more room than any other. You may want to try to get one of those seats if it's available when you board. The kids can't sit on the aisle but can sit in the one behind you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

And your point is what? How does this compare to the industry?

You may look up these statistics yourself here (I can't do all the work for you!):

http://www.bts.gov/xml/ontimesummar...marySelect.xml?tname=OntimeSummaryAirlineData

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

My dad is 6'2 and doesn't have a problem. You can also call them and ask for a big quote. They will allow a person of size to purchase "2" seats. I don't think it's full price for both seats though. It's worth checking in to. I think overall, the seats are comfortable. Also there are seats in the middle of the plane at the emergency exit. They have more room than any other. You may want to try to get one of those seats if it's available when you board. The kids can't sit on the aisle but can sit in the one behind you.

WN's person of size policy doesn't help someone who is very tall, just wide. It is full price for buying two seats, although they will refund one seat if the plane isn't full.

When you are traveling with children, you may not sit in the emergency row seats, even if your kids are in a different row. Kids can sit in an aisle seat.

You can get WN's seat sizes here:

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/information.php

Seat width is 17 inches (on the smaller side), seat pitch (leg room) is 32-33 inches.

 

[Mousemom234]

Living between airports, we have options. We fly SW, Jet Blue and have flown AirTran, but since the merger, they're looking like SW-Lite.
While Southwest is no longer my first choice, it doesn't suck.

Yes, the seating is a bit like the bus -- think of it as pre-Disney training
However, you usually can't beat their pricing by much, and in our case, it's often the better choice for non-stop.

My DH is a 'person of size' and has never had a problem squeezing into s SW seat. That said, we've always managed to sit together, so I don't mind if he overflows the seat a bit. I don't know what might happen if we were sitting apart.

On the trips we've flown with them, they're pretty good about keeping families as close together as possible, and we've been moved a few times after choosing our seat - not really asked, not really told - just that feeling that we'd be mean if we didn't move. It's not that much of an issue, we all get to MCO eventually, and I'd rather move than hear an unhappy kid - or his mom.