Seating on Southwest

[Eeyore's Queen]

Can someone tell me if I get a cheap rate to fly with Southwest (or anywhere for that matter,) and book it over the internet, will they keep your seats together? I haven't flown in a while and I now have 3 kids and do not want 5 seats all over the plane. Thanks for your help. I love all of the information from this board.
It is a big help. (This is my first post.)

 

[safetymom]

There are no assigned seats on Southwest. You need to check in early to get an A,B, C boarding pass.

Welcome to the DIS boards.

 

[Eeyore's Queen]

Thanks, good to know. Now I just need the rates to come out for November.

 

[beccasmom]

Actually, Southwest does offer on-line check-in, but there are several qualifications - ticketless reservation; one adult on each reservation, so each adult must be ticketed separately; children, groups, seniors, infants and military fares must check-in at the airport. It is good to know if you meet the restrictions; I plan to use it in August when I travel alone to Orlando.


http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/retrieveCheckinDoc.html

 

[Deb T.]

Yes, Southwest offers on-line check-in so you can print boarding passes. However, it does not issue specific seats, just a letter designation for boarding. Boarding passes with an A on them goes first, then B, then C. If you are travelling with children under the age of 4, then you can "pre-board."

 

[swilphil]

Welcome, Eeyore Queen!!

When you have "small children," you get to board first on Southwest. I think right after people with handicaps. I'm not sure what the age requirement is for a small child though. The planes I've been on have had the first two rows face one another. That's nice for a family of 4-6 to be able to sit together, but half the seats won't recline.

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by Deb T.
If you are travelling with children under the age of 4, then you can "pre-board."

That may be true in MOST cases but not ALL cases. I was on a few flights out of MCO and LAX that SWA did NOT preboard families with young children because the whole plane was families with young chidren.

Get to the airport early!

pinnie

 

[5wdwnutz]

We flew SWA this past August from Norfolk to MCO, with a 2 year old and were not offered early boarding. On the way down we were split up 3 and 2 but on the way back we got the first seat with the 2 facing backward and the 3 facing forwards. It was nice to have all 5 of us sitting together.

Missy

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by beccasmom
Actually, Southwest does offer on-line check-in, but there are several qualifications - ticketless reservation; one adult on each reservation, so each adult must be ticketed separately; children, groups, seniors, infants and military fares must check-in at the airport. It is good to know if you meet the restrictions; I plan to use it in August when I travel alone to Orlando.


http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/retrieveCheckinDoc.html

If the child is flying on a web fare or eticket, they can also check in online.
The children they are speaking of are those flying on a child fare, same with seniors, infants and military and groups.

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by 5wdwnutz
We flew SWA this past August from Norfolk to MCO, with a 2 year old and were not offered early boarding. On the way down we were split up 3 and 2 but on the way back we got the first seat with the 2 facing backward and the 3 facing forwards. It was nice to have all 5 of us sitting together.

Missy

What part of the plane is that on? That sounds like it would be great -

Sorcha

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by swilphil
Welcome, Eeyore Queen!!

When you have "small children," you get to board first on Southwest. I think right after people with handicaps. I'm not sure what the age requirement is for a small child though. The planes I've been on have had the first two rows face one another. That's nice for a family of 4-6 to be able to sit together, but half the seats won't recline.

They are refitting the planes and there will not be any more facing seats.
You are allowed to preboard with a child under 5. Just the parents, and sibs.
Special needs folks, do, indeed go first.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by 5wdwnutz
We flew SWA this past August from Norfolk to MCO, with a 2 year old and were not offered early boarding. On the way down we were split up 3 and 2 but on the way back we got the first seat with the 2 facing backward and the 3 facing forwards. It was nice to have all 5 of us sitting together.

Missy

You have to ask for the preboarding. And, depending on how full the flight is, they can suspend it for young children.

 

[Eeyore's Queen]

Thanks for all of the info. My kids are 4 to 7 in age so I'm not sure that will qualify as "young children" anymore. I don't care if we are split up as long as one adult is with each child. I just wanted to make sure that if we got a good deal it wouldn't mean we have to take whatever seats are available. I will have to get to the airport early.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Eeyore's Queen
Thanks for all of the info. My kids are 4 to 7 in age so I'm not sure that will qualify as "young children" anymore. I don't care if we are split up as long as one adult is with each child. I just wanted to make sure that if we got a good deal it wouldn't mean we have to take whatever seats are available. I will have to get to the airport early.

The fact that you have a 4 year old does mean you will probably be able to preboard with the other children and your spouse.

Keep the reservations separate and you can check in online after 12:01 am on the day of your departure.

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
The fact that you have a 4 year old does mean you will probably be able to preboard with the other children and your spouse.

Keep the reservations separate and you can check in online after 12:01 am on the day of your departure.

wait - I thought that if you have a child with you you have to check in and get your boarding passes at the counter, no matter what.

Sorcha

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by sorchamac
wait - I thought that if you have a child with you you have to check in and get your boarding passes at the counter, no matter what.

Sorcha

Nope, only if you have used the children's/youth fare. If it is an internet booking you can check in online. The only kind you can book online is an adult type fare:

From the website:

Have purchased an Adult fare type

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Nope, only if you have used the children's/youth fare

I thought the prices were the same for Children as they are for adults, my kids are 5, 7 & 8 are they a different price?

Do I qualify to get on first or is the 5 y/o to old for that?

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Nope, only if you have used the children's/youth fare. If it is an internet booking you can check in online. The only kind you can book online is an adult type fare:

From the website:

Have purchased an Adult fare type

Okay Gail, I am being dense about this, so let me spell it out and you tell me if I am correct:

I am planning on booking our four flights all together under my husband's Rapid Rewards number (I'd use mine but I can't find the password). We are two adults and two children, all paying adult fares. Can I log on that morning and print out the boarding passes for all four of us?

Thanks! May today be the day they FINALLY open the schedule!

Sorcha

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mousy_in_canada
I thought the prices were the same for Children as they are for adults, my kids are 5, 7 & 8 are they a different price?

Do I qualify to get on first or is the 5 y/o to old for that?

They have youth fares which you have to call for, often more expensive than what you can find on the net.
Under 5 is for preboarding, so the 5 year old is too old.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by sorchamac
Okay Gail, I am being dense about this, so let me spell it out and you tell me if I am correct:

I am planning on booking our four flights all together under my husband's Rapid Rewards number (I'd use mine but I can't find the password). We are two adults and two children, all paying adult fares. Can I log on that morning and print out the boarding passes for all four of us?

Thanks! May today be the day they FINALLY open the schedule!

Sorcha

Nope, if you want to check in on line you need to book everyone separately.
Request that they send you your password, you can do that online.
You will not get RR points for all of you, only the person who's name appears on the RR will get credit for his flight, no everyone else's.