Question about Southwest boarding procedures

[TripletDad]

We have changed our flights from USAir to Southwest so can spend and extra day at WDW. I know that Southwest does't assign seats. There will be 7 of us DW,Triplet DDs, and my Inlaws.
My mother inlaw has a disability. Will they let us all pre board with her? Thanks

TripletDad.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

They will most definitely allow your MIL to preboard, but, they generally don't let everyone go on first. Probably your MIL and FIL will be allowed, you and the DW and DD's will have to board with the others.

 

[mcnuss]

You did not mention the ages of your triplets. If they are under 2, you will likely be able to pre-board, but that seems to depend on the staff at each airport.

The best bet for a good boarding position is to get to the airport early, and get into the "A" group, then you will be in the 1st boarding herd, I mean group.

 

[Fizban257]

Originally posted by mcnuss
The best bet for a good boarding position is to get to the airport early, and get into the "A" group, then you will be in the 1st boarding herd, I mean group.

And when you get to the gate, forget about the chairs, plop right down in the group A boarding line and camp out! Unless of course you're so early that the plane before you hasn't boarded yet.

 

[prncess674]

Have MIL and FIL preboard. Ask them to both sit in an aisle seat upon boarding that has no one in the row already. They can sit just behind each other or right across from each other. Then when general boarding begins they can hopefully each save the middle seat for a grandkid. No one will say anything if you say that this middle seat is for my child. Better yet just put a bag or purse on the middle seat and people will just move on assuming it is taken. Hopefully you will end up with 6 seats all together this way because the windows will probably stay open as well. This system works well especially if you are in the A boarding group.

 

[4greatboys]

For our trip last Sept there were 7 of us dh, me, ds 15, ds 2, ds 2.5, ds 5 months and my mil we were all allowed to preboard at the same time. Here in Houston and our return flight from Orlando.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by 4greatboys
For our trip last Sept there were 7 of us dh, me, ds 15, ds 2, ds 2.5, ds 5 months and my mil we were all allowed to preboard at the same time. Here in Houston and our return flight from Orlando.

you were all allowed to preboard because you had 2 children under 4. The original poster did not state the age of the children. He only stated that Grammy had a disability. Our assumptions were that kiddies were above the preboard age so they would have to wait. Grammy will only be allowed one person to preboard with her if they follow procedure.

 

[TripletDad]

Our triplet DDs will be 8 when we fly. Thanks for all the info.

TripletDad.

 

[Gary M]

We flew on SWA from IND to MCO, early this year and I swear over half the plane preboarded. There were small kids with large groups with them and several grey haired people, who ran on the plane with elbows flying. Most of these "older" people did not need help or were not slow getting on the plane. The system was noticably being abused. From MCO to IND I don't remember if the plane was preboarded or not. I am 61 yrs. old, with grey hair and did not preboard.

 

[kilee]

I have a question-- we dh and I have never flown before. We are going to for our October trip. I am pretty sure we will go with Southwest because they are cheaper and the only airline with non-stop to Orlando from our area.

Biggest question-- DS 10 will also be going with us. First, he has to have one of us sitting with him-- he will literally freak if he doesn't. So what is the protocol there? I can't imagine him being with a group of strangers due to no assigned seats. Also, I am alittle apprehensive as is DH about flying to begin with-- not being able to sit together is making it worse. What are the odds of us all being split up? (We are going with my parents and my sister, BIL and neice-- who is only going to be 14 months so my sister and BIL will obviously get to preboard. I don't care about sitting with the whole darn family-- just DH and DS so looking to know about that)

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by kilee
I have a question-- we dh and I have never flown before. We are going to for our October trip. I am pretty sure we will go with Southwest because they are cheaper and the only airline with non-stop to Orlando from our area.

Biggest question-- DS 10 will also be going with us. First, he has to have one of us sitting with him-- he will literally freak if he doesn't. So what is the protocol there? I can't imagine him being with a group of strangers due to no assigned seats. Also, I am alittle apprehensive as is DH about flying to begin with-- not being able to sit together is making it worse. What are the odds of us all being split up? (We are going with my parents and my sister, BIL and neice-- who is only going to be 14 months so my sister and BIL will obviously get to preboard. I don't care about sitting with the whole darn family-- just DH and DS so looking to know about that)

They will not seat you apart from your child. They will not guarantee that two adults will be together however. If you have "A" boarding cards you should have no problems getting 3 seats together but no one can guarantee it. Get to the airport early to checkin. 2 hrs is plenty time for most US airports. Since you are on the "Disney Express" it will be mostly families. Most families are willing to move a seat or two to accomodate other families. Don't fret. Book the cheap SWA ticket and have a good trip. Seats together are NOT guaranteed on any of the major airlines either.