Question with Southwest Online Check In for a Family

[Zippa D Doodah]

You could still end up with boarding positions not together.

Well yeah, if Southwest successfully sells EBCI to everyone

 

[maxiesmom]

Just keep in mind that when you do fly other airlines with assigned seating, you need to keep checking on those seats. They sometimes do change them around. One year I had a flight that kept changing by 5 minute increments. And my seat assignments kept changing with it.

 

[hsmamato2]

Actually, the one time my (huge) 14 yo ds got a BP in the B's,and I had a late A...The agent told him to move forward and board with me, even tho he was standing in the B line behind me,and didn't care about waiting a few minutes....If he was a little guy I would have just told the agent I was waiting till my kiddo's number came up,and watched him move with the line till he reached me....so you never really know, but I haven't ever seen any SWA horrors like I read about on this board sometimes... I do know Orlando flights are usually full of kids, so they need to stick with the rules to avoid chaos....

 

[elaine amj]

We often end up with different boarding numbers for our family because I typically book our tickets separately. Sometimes we'll all hang back with the last boarding number and sometimes a one or two of us will go on first. Just depends on the situation. Nowadays, we prioritize sitting together over being near the front of the plane so we typically hang back with the last boarding number.

One time, we forgot to check in until about 12-15 hours before the flight so we got really far back - low Bs. (we usually never get worse than high Bs). We wanted to sit together so we hung back until the last boarding number and all boarded together and found seats nearer the rear of the plane. Worked great and not stressful at all.

I do typically pay for EBCI on return flights from Orlando since so many people do. Even with EBCI, I typically get high-Bs (mostly because I don't often pay for it until closer to my flight just in case I change my plans).

 

[jayhawk74]

Just a heads up about family boarding in Orlando. For two weeks, starting May 4th, Southwest will be testing various Family Boarding procedures and these test will only be for flights out of Orlando. After the test period is complete and all the data has been evaluated Southwest will decide if they keep the current procedure or go with a new one, and before anyone asks they haven't told us what new Family Boarding procedures will be tested.

 

[elaine amj]

How wonderful (not)- we are flying to Orlando mid May. We don't qualify for Family Boarding and did pay for EBCI so it will be interesting to see how this affects us.

 

[mykidsrqts]

Just a heads up about family boarding in Orlando. For two weeks, starting May 4th, Southwest will be testing various Family Boarding procedures and these test will only be for flights out of Orlando. After the test period is complete and all the data has been evaluated Southwest will decide if they keep the current procedure or go with a new one, and before anyone asks they haven't told us what new Family Boarding procedures will be tested.

Interesting. We don't fly out of Orlando until the May 28, but I'm curious to see what they try. Thanks for the info.

 

[ilovefh]

Just a heads up about family boarding in Orlando. For two weeks, starting May 4th, Southwest will be testing various Family Boarding procedures and these test will only be for flights out of Orlando. After the test period is complete and all the data has been evaluated Southwest will decide if they keep the current procedure or go with a new one, and before anyone asks they haven't told us what new Family Boarding procedures will be tested.

Interesting. We always use family boarding so I'll be curious to see what happens. If you can, please come back and let us know what procedures they try out.

 

[mizarmour]

On our last trip, my boarding number was in the A group, and my husband was in the B group, so I just saved him a seat. So I don't worry about not getting the boarding passes the same.

 

[luvdzny]

Family boarding procedures vary by airport/gate attendant with SW. A couple of weeks ago I flew out of Milwaukee with my DD and my 13 month old grandson, we had different boarding #'s. In Milwaukee they said family boarding is considered a mom, dad, a child under 4 and any siblings. This was the 1st time we did not purchase a seat for DGS so I ask if I could board with DD so we could sit together and take turns holding him. I was told no. We waited and boarded with our boarding group. In Orlando they said a family is 2 adults and 1 child under 4 and siblings.
I am not complaining, just mentioning my experience. Both flights were sold out and on both flights we got to sit together near the back of the plane.

 

[kaytieeldr]

out? I don't really understand that.

Some discussions are more easily recalled than others.

 

[kaytieeldr]

...If he was a little guy I would have just told the agent I was waiting till my kiddo's number came up,and watched him move with the line till he reached me....so you never really know, but I haven't ever seen any SWA horrors like I read about on this board sometimes... I do know Orlando flights are usually full of kids, so they need to stick with the rules to avoid chaos....

But as you first indicated was your intention, others in this situation in the future don't have to line up at their assigned boarding spot. They can wait with the highest* boarding assignment and all get on the plane together.

*Appears to be some confusion or conflict in describing numbers. Numbers are ordinal: low numbers = 1, 2, 5, 19...[SW] high numbers = 48, 51, 59... Passengers with A21, A22, etc. have lower boarding numbers than passengers with A58, A59, B-anything, or C-anything.