Question about flying Southwest

[korie99]

We've never flown Southwest before, and I'm just noticing that they don't let you pick your seats? I do see the extra $10/pp charge for early bird check-in that "greatly increases" your chances of getting the seats you want, but I'm wondering is it hard finding 4 seats together? We'll be flying mid-January - obviously don't want my 6 year olds sitting alone and would prefer if we were all together.

TIA!!

 

[Jestocost]

If you purchase EBCI to get checked in 36 hours before your flight or if you check yourself in right at the 24-hour mark, you almost certainly will be able to get four seats together in some configuration. Note, however, that with SWA's planes you'll always be sitting 2 and 2 or 3 and 1 even if you boarded first.

Your kids aren't young enough to allow you to do family boarding (assuming they offer it) between the 'A' and 'B' groups, but even if you wind up in the early part of the 'B' group there should be plenty of seat pairs around the plane and maybe even a few full three-seat rows farther back.

 

[Chrisvee]

I used to fly Southwest a lot for business in the northeast and one of the flights was one that continued on to Orlando. Unless something has changed recently, they assign boarding position based on time of check in. If you time it so that you check in online right at the moment it opens (24h out) then what I've founded is the highest number you can expect is somewhere in the A20s (given the reserved spaces for early check ins). That should be good enough to get you 4 seats together based on my past flying history.

However if you wait even half an hour, you may end up in high A or B boarding and have difficulty finding more than two seats together. I hope this helps!

 

[backyardponder]

As others have said, as long as you check in at the 24 hour mark, you'll have no problems sitting together. Worst case is if you can't get a seat with your child, ask if anyone would be willing to move. Passengers on Southwest are quire friendly and someone will do it for you.

If you have phone which supports it, you can download an app so you can check in while at the parks. Otherwise, guest services at any of the parks, or your resort concierge can check you in.

You don't have to print the boarding passes when you check in if you don't have a printer handy. You can print them at the airport.

 

[mom2brooke76]

Like Jestocost said, the seats on SW planes are 3 on each side, so you won't be able to sit on the same row.

 

[Jestocost]

I used to fly Southwest a lot for business in the northeast and one of the flights was one that continued on to Orlando. Unless something has changed recently, they assign boarding position based on time of check in. If you time it so that you check in online right at the moment it opens (24h out) then what I've founded is the highest number you can expect is somewhere in the A20s (given the reserved spaces for early check ins). That should be good enough to get you 4 seats together based on my past flying history.

However if you wait even half an hour, you may end up in high A or B boarding and have difficulty finding more than two seats together. I hope this helps!

Things have changed quite a bit recently. For one, SWA now reserves spots A1-A15 for passengers who purchase more expensive Business Select fares (although there frequently are only a handful of passengers and a bunch of empty spots). For another, they now sell Early Bird Check In service for $10 per ticket (each way) that checks you in automatically 36 hours before your flight and 12 hours before you can check yourself in. As a result, at many airports you will almost never get in the A20s checking in at 24 hours and at a few airports on some flights you can get in the Bs even using EBCI.

That said, you also shouldn't have much difficulty getting four seats together with a pass anywhere in the As and even into the low B's on most flights. The higher your numbers the farther to the back you may have to go to get them.

 

[pershing]

That said about checking in online, I would also say: Don't be late!

Last trip, we had a couple with 4 yes I said 4 young kids. They showed up with their A boarding passes after everyone had boarded. Only single seats left. Wife pissed off the whole plane by demanding the flight attendant 'make' people move. Consequently, no one would volunteer to move. She snottily stated she hoped those stuck next to her children enjoy them.

I felt bad for the kids but not enough to move. Anyway, one of my DS is autistic the other diabetic.

That's why I show up early and why I'm at the computer 24 hours prior pressing check in for all I'm worth.

 

[5Dreamers]

We will be flying with Southwest for the fist time in May 2012 and were also wondering if it is worth the $10pp for the 'EarlyBird Check-in". There will be 5 of us (2 adults, 3 kids) and I'm a little worried about getting seats together.

I'd appreciate any info:
1. Will we get tickets in the mail or do we have to print something off?

2. While travelling we won't be able to check-in till we get to the airport for our 2nd and 3rd flights later in the week. Is this OK or will we run into problems? Should we get a friend from home to do check-in for us and then print when we get to the airport? Is that even possible?

3. Can any credits can be applied toward purchasing the 'EarlyBird Check-in".

4. Lastly, if you buy the "EarlyBird Check-in" for 1 person of the 5 (lets say DH), can he 'hold' the seats for the rest of us?

Thanks,

 

[kitnrose99]

5dreamers:
1. You can either print off your boarding passes at home when you check in or at the check in area at the airport. I tend to check in at the 24 hour mark, print, forget and leave it in the printer, and have to hit the kiosk when I get there. No problems.

2. BY ALL THAT IS HOLY, GET SOMEONE TO CHECK YOU IN AT THE 24 HOUR MARK. No, seriously, with 5 of you flying you'll want A passes. If you wait until you get there then you'll be left with C. Though if you've had too much family togetherness, that can be a good thing ... The one exception is if legs 2 and 3 are part of one single trip from A to B. If so, SW notices that and checks you in for all three parts at once. But that doesn't sound like your situation. So give a trusted friend your confirmation # and the right date and time. Done it plenty, no problem. Actually, unless you can call and remind trustworthy friend ahead of time, I'd get a trustworthy backup to check you in at 23 hours prior. Just in case. It won't mess up anything and you'll be fine if trustworthy #1 fails you. Or use the $$$ you saved from checked bag fees to do early bird check in.

3. Sorry, don't know.

4. If you really want to risk it or if the rest of you have As (but then, why do it?). There's no seat saving and while people will let that pass while there's still a lot of window/aisles, by the time you're part way through the Bs it's dicey. And if the rest of you are Cs then too bad. SW does really try to keep everyone together and SW passengers are the best I've found on any airline but that's a LOT to ask of people when there's five of you. A parent and one child whose previous flight was late? People will make room, I've seen it happen. But to hope a full row of people will get up and take those left over middle seats just because you didn't plan for early bird or A group? In their shoes you'd be annoyed too.

Also plan ahead just in case your rows aren't right together (though if you get A boarding or early bird, you're almost certain to be fine - but better prepared than not).

With all that, I love SW and their odd boarding ways. And if you just plan ahead a smudge, you'll have a great time as well.

 

[Danibelle]

For a party of 5 (and difficulty with 24 hr. checkin), I would spring for the EBCI for everyone (for all segments )and enjoy my trip. It is worth it for the peace of mind. Really, it would be too much to expect people to move over for your family if you get a C checkin position. And saving seats? That is a no no.

 

[dbragas]

Check out the SW Boarding School on their website:
http://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/boarding_school_faq.html

 

[5Dreamers]

Thank-you Kitnrose99, Danibelle, and Dbragas for your replies!

No saving seats, got it!
I think I'll spring for the EBCI for our 3rd flight since it is on a long weekend, and take our chances with the 24-hr Check-in for the first 2 flights (trusting a friend- or two- to do it for us for the 2nd flight).

We'd rather all sit close together, but we're ok if my DH and I have to split up into 2 areas of the plane, as long as the kids sit with one of us.

I really appreciate all the info.

 

[goofy4tink]

I used to fly Southwest a lot for business in the northeast and one of the flights was one that continued on to Orlando. Unless something has changed recently, they assign boarding position based on time of check in. If you time it so that you check in online right at the moment it opens (24h out) then what I've founded is the highest number you can expect is somewhere in the A20s (given the reserved spaces for early check ins). That should be good enough to get you 4 seats together based on my past flying history.

However if you wait even half an hour, you may end up in high A or B boarding and have difficulty finding more than two seats together. I hope this helps!

If one buys EBCI ($10 pp, per flight), SW checks them in at the 36 hr mark, vs checking oneself in at the 24 hr mark. With so many people now buying EBCI, you could find yourself in the mid-B group if you check yourself in at the 24 hr mark. Boarding positions 1-15 are saved for business class people (they have paid the regular fare vs non-refundable get-away fares), so the first position available is A16.

We will be flying with Southwest for the fist time in May 2012 and were also wondering if it is worth the $10pp for the 'EarlyBird Check-in". There will be 5 of us (2 adults, 3 kids) and I'm a little worried about getting seats together.

I'd appreciate any info:
1. Will we get tickets in the mail or do we have to print something off?

2. While travelling we won't be able to check-in till we get to the airport for our 2nd and 3rd flights later in the week. Is this OK or will we run into problems? Should we get a friend from home to do check-in for us and then print when we get to the airport? Is that even possible?

3. Can any credits can be applied toward purchasing the 'EarlyBird Check-in".

4. Lastly, if you buy the "EarlyBird Check-in" for 1 person of the 5 (lets say DH), can he 'hold' the seats for the rest of us?

Thanks,

1. You will be able print your 'boarding pass' online at the 24 hr mark. Or, you can just wait until you get to the airport. Whether or not to purchase EBCI is up to you. It does get you a boarding position with a lower number than those waiting to check in at the 24 hr mark. SW checks in all EBCI people at the 36 hr window.

2. I would actually do EBCI for all those flights. Then, SW will have checked you in, and you can just print up your boarding pass when you arrive at the airport. Definately worth the cost if it means no worries for you.

3. I don't believe so.

4. One person shouldn't be saving seats for more then one or two others. So, in short, no. Besides, let's say your dh bought the EBCI and boarded at the A34 spot, while the rest of you ended up with B34, B38, B39 and B50...it could happen. BPs are not always sequential. So, now your dh is sitting there, tryiing to save the 2 seats next to him, and then the 2 seats across the aisle from him...he won't be a popular person, and a FA may very well tell him he can't save those addtl seats across the aisle.


IF it is important to you that you get to all be seated together, then buy the EBCI for each person. Many people are now buyng EBCI.....can you imagine how they are going to react if they have done the correct thing, and bought EBCI for their entire group, while someone else only pays for one person but that one person starts saving mulitiple seats??? You must take responsibility for your group. Since the seats are 3 and 3....if there are four in your group, someone is sitting by themselves.

I like to always buy EBCI for my return home. It's not a case of when I get on board, but a case of my not wanting to worry about where I am at the 24 hr window in WDW. I let SW check me in and forget about it until I check my bags and then see the boarding pass.

 

[5Dreamers]

Thank-you Goofy4Tink for your reply!
I have now purchased EBCI (for all 5 of us) for our return flight as it is longer and is on a long weekend. We're still thinking of trying to check in at the 24 hour mark for the first 2 flights as they are shorter. We figure, if we don't have a good experience on our first flight (which is a connecting with 2 short flights), we can then buy the EBCI (if we do it right away) for our second flight that is two days later.

At first, not having seats assigned seemed to be a nightmare, but now I feel better about it. It's great to have a place like the DIS with nice people willing to help those of us who are new at it all!

 

[Kim1964]

Just a note: Even with EBCI and getting on the plane early, it doesn't mean you'll be able to keep the seat you chose. On both of DH's flights in August he was forced to move by flight attendants for people with children who didn't pay EBCI and got on the plane at the end of boarding. So, instead of the window seat he wanted and sat in when he got on the plane early (a privilege for which he paid), he was forced into middle seats for both flights. SWA refused to refund the EBCI fees after making him give up his seat. (We won't be flying them again.)

In your case, if you sit two and two instead of 3 and 1, you'll probably be better off.

 

[OldsDr]

I always fly SW and will never not get EBCI for my flight home. The flight down is easy to remeber to check in at 24 hrs. Well on vacation I forgot. Luckily 45 minutes later we still got Bs and were able to borad between A and Bs because of the kids. But lesson learned for the future, the brain is not as swiched on during vacation as it is before vacation.

 

[Jestocost]

Just a note: Even with EBCI and getting on the plane early, it doesn't mean you'll be able to keep the seat you chose. On both of DH's flights in August he was forced to move by flight attendants for people with children who didn't pay EBCI and got on the plane at the end of boarding. So, instead of the window seat he wanted and sat in when he got on the plane early (a privilege for which he paid), he was forced into middle seats for both flights. SWA refused to refund the EBCI fees after making him give up his seat. (We won't be flying them again.)

In your case, if you sit two and two instead of 3 and 1, you'll probably be better off.

That's very unusual. Your DH must have encountered two of the very few SWA FAs that would do that or two very unusual situations.

I have never seen a passenger forced to move from a seat in this situation. I have seen children and parents forced to sit apart in this situation.

 

[tjmw2727]

That's very unusual. Your DH must have encountered two of the very few SWA FAs that would do that or two very unusual situations.

I have never seen a passenger forced to move from a seat in this situation. I have seen children and parents forced to sit apart in this situation.

Agree - we fly SWA almost monthly and I have never seen a FA force a passenger to move - offer a free drink or two definately, but it is always the passengers choice.

In fact they will rarely even intervene if a family who could have used family boading boards last except in the case of a late connection.

While I certainly don't doubt the OP this is an exception not the norm on SWA. I would be contacting SWA for a refund of my EBCI with names and dates. FWIW I have found SWA's customer service to be outstanding.

 

[ccgirl]

I just use my web enabled phone to check in. The boarding position is assigned when you check in not when you print them out. I have yet to get split up from my 2 children, even with a "C" boarding pass. Granted, we were in the next to last row of the plane. My DH just sat away from us. I'm sure that didn't bother him. If you had connecting flights, I would purchase the EBCI so they check you all the way through. Keep in mind that if you have an A for your second flight and don't get there until they are already boarding it doesn't come in as handy. I really do not have a problem at all flying SW.

 

[Kim1964]

Agree - we fly SWA almost monthly and I have never seen a FA force a passenger to move - offer a free drink or two definately, but it is always the passengers choice.

In fact they will rarely even intervene if a family who could have used family boading boards last except in the case of a late connection.

While I certainly don't doubt the OP this is an exception not the norm on SWA. I would be contacting SWA for a refund of my EBCI with names and dates. FWIW I have found SWA's customer service to be outstanding.

I did contact SW about refunding EBCI, explained the entire story with names, dates, and flight numbers, and twice they told me tough luck. So, I am patiently waiting for JetBlue to release their May dates.