question on SouthWest Air

[lovin'Mickey]

They do not have perferred seating....has anyone ever not been able to sit with there family. They have the best rates but I never flew them so I do not know how they board or if you get seperated. We are a family of 5. Any suggestions would be great! Or hints on how to stay near each other on the plane!

 

[dianemb]

We have always flown USAir but didn't want to risk it this time so we choose Southwest air from our AAA travel agents suggestion. I know you can call starting at midnight the day of your flight. They group you into A B or C and that is the way the plane is boarded. I read on these boards if staying at Disney you can go to the lobby at midnight to do this for the flight home. We are traveling with just one child and hope that at least one of us will be able to sit with him each way. I can only hope that there would be a nice person on the flight that would be willing to change seats if it comes to splitting up.

I wish you good luck and hope it turns out fine!!!

ENJOY!!!!

 

[pooh4evr]

Well how old are your kids if you have 1 under 5 your family will get to pre board, so getting and A,B or C ticket is not needed. I saw on the board before we went that Orlando airport doesn't pre board but they did when we went!

 

[kenziesmom]

My DH or I have always been able to sit by DD 6 on any airline. They were always very helpful!!!

 

[talicskai]

I flew them in May for the third time and have always sat with my family ~ even if you get a B boarding card. This last time I got up around 8am and went next door to our hotel (country Inn & Suites) to a 24 hour business center and pre-printed our boarding cards. It literally cost me $1.24 US and I got A cards. children 5 and under get to pre-board so you will always get to sit together. I would try to be at the airport 2 hours prior and you should have no problem. We had 2.5 hours in Orlando and with the HUMUNGUS line for security we were only at the gate 45 minutes prior to departure.

Teresa

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

No need to panic. I fly Southwest as least once a month. As long as you check in early and get an A boarding pass you'll be able to choose your seats. I've even been a B and C before –– always got a window seat as a B. The C time was a time I left early and stood stand-by. I didn't care where I sat –– with food poisioning I just wanted to go home!! The hardest part is if you have an early morning flight and don't want to stay up until midnight. I always have my night owl brother do it from his computer on my trips home.

Also, if you have internet access from your resort in your room, go ahead check in ––*you don't have to print out your boarding pass. The ticket agent can reprint it at no charge and if you are not checking baggage, you can also reprint your boarding pass using a self check-in kiosk. Check with concierge as well ––*many will do this as a courtesy for guests.

If you have children under five, you'll be able to preboard. You won't need a blue preboard authorization card –– just get in the preboard line. And for those with strollers who will be checking them at the gate, go ahead and get the little luggage tag BEFORE you get in line ––*you'll hold up the As and everyone else behind you in preboard by not having it already on the stroller before you board.

 

[Zoesmama03]

We have but we were all adults and did not have a high boarding number.

With kids you should be able to preboard.

 

[NJDisneymom]

we flew southwest in May and I made sure to get A boarding passes only to find out it didn't matter. If you have small children in your family you board first anyway. There was never an issue of not sitting with the family.

If your kids are older just try to get an A boarding pass and you should be fine!!

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I have flown SouthWest several times and have never not been albe to sit with my family. I think with kids you should be able to preboard if not I'm sure there is someone who would be willing to move in order to keep you and your kids together.

 

[liznboys]

We flew SW with our kids for the first time in May, it was a piece of cake! We never bothered with the A, B, C Boarding passes since we could preboard before everyone anyway. We had our pick of seats both flights.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

It helps if your flight originates at your location. When we flew out of BWI, we often had problems on SW flights because the flights did not originate at BWI. We have 3 children, dh and I often have to split the children up and sit separtely. However, one of us has always been with each of the younger children. Be forewarned that you can be separated on any airlines. We have twice had seats booked seats together on Delta only to have them changed at the last minute. Last fall, dh and 4 yo were seated 10 rows behind 2 yo dd, 12 yo ds, and me. On another trip, 12 yo ds had to sit 4 rows behind me. He didn't seem overly upset by it, though.

 

[MayMom]

I was a flight attendant with Southwest based in Chicago a few years ago. They always work hard to accommodate families and will preboard you with young children. My best advice is GET THERE EARLY!! And be sure and tell them that you have children and need to sit together.