questions about SW airlines or any airline for that matter

[digman6]

We have not flown in 6 years and are going to WDW in Dec. 2007 ( 18th-26th)
I was considering SW I have the Ding set up, but I have heard they don't give out seat #s. you just grab a spot . My Dh and I kinda concerned now , what if we get there and there are not enough seats for when our flight leaves. I mean you here of over bookings and delays all the time . how does this no assigned seat hing come into play?


we are flying out of chicago and I also noticed that since we have had this Ding set up , there has been no sign of a flight from Chicago to Orlando.

It seems the flights for when we are ging with any airline is 189.00-213.00 per tickets. I wonder if I miss the "early sale" for airfare and they are going to start to go up or if my trip is so late in the year they have not gave any deep discounts yet.

If any one can help me figure this out I would really appreciate it, its rather confusing when you have not looked at flying in 6 years.

Thanks so much

 

[Jestocost]

OK, here goes.

The legacy carriers, like American, United, etc., have their schedules posted and available for December already, but Southwest's schedule only is open through early August. The older carriers make bookings available 330 in advance, but Southwest and some of the other newer carriers don't follow that timeline. That's why you haven't seen anything for your dates through Southwest yet. What's more, Southwest doesn't follow a set schedule for when they release dates and it's tough to say exactly when they will have December flights available for booking. Generally, they come out with their schedule about four to five months in advance, but sometimes it's later.

You are correct that Southwest has open seating and allows you to pick where you want to sit from what's available when you board. Passengers are allowed to board in three different groups—A, B and C—which are assigned based on when you check in. The good news is that you can check in online starting 24 hours in advance of your departure, which usually gets you an A group boarding pass. If you're in group A, you will all get to sit together and will pretty much get to sit wherever you want. If you're in group B, you still shouldn't have much trouble sitting together, although you may have to go farther back in the plane to do so. Things get a little bit trickier in group C. If you do happen to get a B or C pass, it becomes more important that you get to the airport early (about two hours before your flight should be more than enough time, 90 minutes might even be OK) so that you can get as far up in the B or C line as possible, since people do line up within the groups.

 

[digman6]

Holy Cow sounds like this may be alot of work to get a good seat, if you get a B or C pass. I think if I know DH he is going to opt to get a set seat , he likes to know he is set so do I for that matter with 4 kids coming along.

Thanks for the help!

Does anyone know if I basiclly missed all the low air fares for the other airlines or not? Dh was hoping for airfare at 150.00 a tickets but I wonder if those days have come and gone already. I am thinking from this point on it will go up not diwn but heck what do I know its been 6 years

 

[Jestocost]

Fare sales generally occur closer to your travel date than this far in advance. American's current fare sales, for example, extend through August 24 (which, not coincidentally, is how far out Southwest is booking at this time). You are traveling during the busy holiday period, however, so fare sales are not as likely to occur, since the airlines have a better chance of booking fliers at higher fares because they have to travel. The flights you want may book up given that it's a busy period too, so the peace of mind alone may be worth a few bucks a ticket.

FWIW, $189-$213 per ticket is a pretty good price in this day and age. American is still over $350 from St. Louis for when I want to go in October.

The other thing with Southwest is that you would be leaving from Midway airport instead of O'Hare. I'm not sure if that makes a difference if you're coming down from the WI border area.

 

[Waseller77]

You said you have 4 kids - is anyone younger than 5? If so, you can pre-board before group A and be sure to get seats together...

 

[jlovesee]

I love Southwest... and have flown on many other airlines. (Northwest/Continental/American/Midwest Airlines). Alot of first time users are thrown off by the A, B and C groupings. Its different then other airlines, but I think better. All you have to do is log in about 24 hrs before your flight, check in. Get to the airport... print your boarding pass, and your done. If you are Group A you will NOT have a problem getting a good seat, seat next to your family etc. It is a mathematical certainty that if you are Group A (even the last A in line) you will be able to get a window or aisle seat, and have at least three seats next to each other. My husband figured this out... I don't have the exact math.

I every time I have flown on Southwest I have had an A Pass, I have flown probably about 15 times round trip on Southwest. I never line up until they start boarding, and we have never had problems getting seats next to each other.

On another point... I have only been on one delayed Southwest Flight, which was delayed 20 minutes tops. I can't even begin to count the number of times I have gotten to my destination early on Southwest. I have never had a flight cancelled or changed either. I cannot say the same thing about any other airline, I have had a two hour delay on Midwest, 12 HR (yes you read that right!) delay on Northwest, or as we like to call them Northworst.

Jennifer

 

[MEK]

I have flown SWA a bunch of times. Before you were able to print boarding passes in advance, my family of 4 got B/C boarding on one return trip. We were able to sit 2 and 2. Not a problem at all. All other times we sat together.

Here is the really nice thing about no assigned seats - Everyone just picks the next available seat and SITS! I swear people get in their seats faster this way!

I had a worse experience when some stupid girl took my husband's assigned seat on an AA flight. It took us awhile to figure she was in the wrong seat. She just sat there with her headphones on. She never said a word while we were trying too figure out what her seat was, so my DH could sit there. What a __________ !

 

[Poohbear123]

And will ONLY fly them to MCO in fact, I just flew them a few weeks ago. Got to MCO 10 min ahead of schedule and back to Ft. Laud 15 min before! What a great Airline! I flew Spirit ONE time and that was enough for me...never again.

 

[Disneydenise]

I think that I will try to book on SW for our trip we are traveling with a 4yo & 6 yo in our party of 8. I hope that we can get in the A boarding section.
We usually fly Spirit from AC and have never had a bad flight. I have used them for many trips to various places in the US . I really have never had a bad flight with them. I am going to Cancun in 2 weeks with Spirit I haope that it is okay.

 

[Disneydenise]

I think that I will try to book on SW for our trip we are traveling with a 4yo & 6 yo in our party of 8. I hope that we can get in the A boarding section.
We usually fly Spirit from AC and have never had a bad flight. I have used them for many trips to various places in the US . I really have never had a bad flight with them. I am going to Cancun in 2 weeks with Spirit I hope that it is okay.