Silly Southwest Question

[kristenrice]

I understand how the boarding works (A, B and C groups) and the 24-hour check in and such. I'm not sure how many seats are on the plane but, based on my best guess, is it a fair assumption that if EVERYONE in the A-B groups took window and aisle seats only, would that leave ONLY middle seats for the C group?

I ask because if that is the case (or close to it) it would stand to reason that as long as you get an A or B number, you should be able to get 2 seats together on the plane, correct?

My kids will be 11 and 9 when we fly. They have flown 4 times and so they are fairly comfortable with the whole process. We are flying non-stop out of Grand Rapids and I am pretty sure that we will get at least the B-group if I check in right at the 24-hour mark. I would assume that we would be able to find 2 sets of 2 seats somewhere in the plane, right? We don't care if we are all together but we do want to at least have one adult with each child.

On a slightly related note, my sister's family is travelling with us. Her situation is a bit different. She has two children, one will be a week shy of 3 and in a car seat, and the other will be 6. Since she has the younger one in a car seat, I presume that she is eligible for family boarding. Since their other daughter is 6, I'm not sure how family boarding works. I am under the assumption that only one parent can board with the 2yo and the other parent must board with their assigned group with the 6yo. Is it possible for one parent to board with both the 2yo AND the 6yo?

I'm not too keen on the idea of paying an extra $100 to get EBCI for our family. With my sister's family eligible for family boarding, it seems silly for her to pay for it either. We all have the SWA app on our phones and checking in at T-24 has never been a problem.

FWIW, we don't care where we sit on the plane. I tell the kids to just sit in the first set of 2 seats together that they see. We don't have huge carry-ons so overhead bin space is also not a huge priority for us.

If you were in my situation, would you pay the EBCI fee or not? To me, the $100 for EBCI would pay for one of our TS meals at WDW. If it's not going to be a true benefit, then I will skip it.

TIA!

 

[DebbieB]

I understand how the boarding works (A, B and C groups) and the 24-hour check in and such. I'm not sure how many seats are on the plane but, based on my best guess, is it a fair assumption that if EVERYONE in the A-B groups took window and aisle seats only, would that leave ONLY middle seats for the C group?

I ask because if that is the case (or close to it) it would stand to reason that as long as you get an A or B number, you should be able to get 2 seats together on the plane, correct?

My kids will be 11 and 9 when we fly. They have flown 4 times and so they are fairly comfortable with the whole process. We are flying non-stop out of Grand Rapids and I am pretty sure that we will get at least the B-group if I check in right at the 24-hour mark. I would assume that we would be able to find 2 sets of 2 seats somewhere in the plane, right? We don't care if we are all together but we do want to at least have one adult with each child.

On a slightly related note, my sister's family is travelling with us. Her situation is a bit different. She has two children, one will be a week shy of 3 and in a car seat, and the other will be 6. Since she has the younger one in a car seat, I presume that she is eligible for family boarding. Since their other daughter is 6, I'm not sure how family boarding works. I am under the assumption that only one parent can board with the 2yo and the other parent must board with their assigned group with the 6yo. Is it possible for one parent to board with both the 2yo AND the 6yo?

I'm not too keen on the idea of paying an extra $100 to get EBCI for our family. With my sister's family eligible for family boarding, it seems silly for her to pay for it either. We all have the SWA app on our phones and checking in at T-24 has never been a problem.

FWIW, we don't care where we sit on the plane. I tell the kids to just sit in the first set of 2 seats together that they see. We don't have huge carry-ons so overhead bin space is also not a huge priority for us.

If you were in my situation, would you pay the EBCI fee or not? To me, the $100 for EBCI would pay for one of our TS meals at WDW. If it's not going to be a true benefit, then I will skip it.

TIA!

Most likely but there are some factors that could throw it off.

1. The flight originated in another city. I flew PIT-BWI-MCO last year. 41 people stayed on at BWI. So the plane was almost 1/3 full when the first person got on at BWI.

2. The number of pre-boards.

3. The number of families who get on between A and B.

4. The number of people buying EBCI. I checked in at exactly 24 hours last November going home and got B27, the highest I ever got. But I was pleasantly surprised that the flight was not full and I got a row to myself.

5. The number of people who don't buy EBCI for their whole family and try to save seats for the rest.

Regarding your sister, most likely they will allow both parents & both children. But not extended family.

 

[emilymad]

The joke on Southwest is that C = Center.

We fly out of PHL and we are always on a 100% sold out flight. With buying EBCI we have had numbers as low as B35. So checking in at 24 hours you could have very high B/early C seats.

There are too many factors to really know. It all depends on how much risk you are willing to assume.

 

[WDW-BWV]

This type of anxiety is exactly why we switched back to JetBlue after SW gobbled up AirTran and limited competition and caused fares to go up for everyone! We will never fly SW because of our kids and their needs. I don't need the stress. / I. can get that at work.

 

[bumbershoot]

But everyone in a and b does NOT take window and aisle. There are plenty of families who just pile into rows, sitting right next to each other.

If I were in your shoes I wouldn't worry at all about it. And I wouldn't pay for early bird either.

Of course I sat totally apart from family on the last two flights, because United kept separating us. DH was on his own reservation but we linked it repeatedly and clicked to take him off the upgrade list, and those kept getting changed. First flight I made out like a bandit because he was upgraded to SWEET business class and I swapped with him. Second flight he mystifyingly was put with DS (after putting us all over the plane after equipment changes, a voluntary bump, and more equipment changes day after the Super Bowl) despite not being on the same reservation, and they got the comfort seats while I was back near the bathrooms.

And that was united with assigned seats. I've never once sat apart from family on SW.

 

[rdevine10]

This is exactly why I spent the $100 for the early check in. Stinks I know. We had a whole bunch of free points on SW though so it was worth it. I do MUCH prefer flying with an assigned seat.

 

[Leslieloody]

I will always pay for early bird. It's worth it not to have to worry. Then again, I only pay for two people.

 

[frozenfan5]

We always fly SW and always do EB. We have 3 kids 8 and under. This past trip over feb break we checked in right at the 24 hr mark on both legs and got around A24 which meant 2nd row for one flight and 5 th for the other. We sit the family either side by side or behind each other and being up near the front is really important to me. I like getting the heck off as soon as we land! It is worth the piece of mind for me......good luck, flying is never easy, esp this winter with all the crazy weather!

 

[TeachTink]

We always fly SW and always do EB. We have 3 kids 8 and under. This past trip over feb break we checked in right at the 24 hr mark on both legs and got around A24 which meant 2nd row for one flight and 5 th for the other. We sit the family either side by side or behind each other and being up near the front is really important to me. I like getting the heck off as soon as we land! It is worth the piece of mind for me......good luck, flying is never easy, esp this winter with all the crazy weather!

If you did EB, why did you have to check in at 24 hours? You purchased the EBCI where they check you in automatically at 36 hours, right?

 

[MatoMany]

We flew with 3 children (oldest 4 and youngest 2 months) last time I flew with Southwest. The boarding is exactly why I paid extra for early boarding. We ended up A1-A6 and took the first two rows. Later a person tried to tell me I "had to" move so she could sit there with her 6yo (umm next to my 2mo?? you crazy lady) and it made me very grateful to have paid for early boarding. I don't know what ended up happening with her but I know there was no 2 seats left together throughout the plan since it was an oversold flight.

That was my 1st and probably last experience with SW. That was one of the many things that left a bad taste in my mouth for the whole business.

 

[goofy4tink]

We flew with 3 children (oldest 4 and youngest 2 months) last time I flew with Southwest. The boarding is exactly why I paid extra for early boarding. We ended up A1-A6 and took the first two rows. Later a person tried to tell me I "had to" move so she could sit there with her 6yo (umm next to my 2mo?? you crazy lady) and it made me very grateful to have paid for early boarding. I don't know what ended up happening with her but I know there was no 2 seats left together throughout the plan since it was an oversold flight.

That was my 1st and probably last experience with SW. That was one of the many things that left a bad taste in my mouth for the whole business.

Did you pay full fare, or did you pay for wanna get away fares? Those that don't pay full fare don't get in A1-15...those slots are reserved for business select (pretty much full fare....probably 3 times the wanna getaway fare) or those that paid for fully refundable fares (again, probably 3 times that lower fare). There is no way anyone would think it would be okay for you to move in that situation.

 

[MatoMany]

Full fare.. Im thinking we got a bit of a hook up.. we were like A27 and beyond when we originally checked in and the person checking us in gave us better numbers. We were flying freedom bird (military overseas flight) into the states and then transferred to Southwest (going on leave then changing duty stations) and the check in people were great, wish I could say the same for all SouthWest employees we met on this flight.

I was a bit surprised at the lady but she was totally serious that I should move since my husband was in the row in front. I just said sorry but no, try someone not flying with a child. Wasn't her favorite person that flight.

 

[goofy4tink]

Full fare.. Im thinking we got a bit of a hook up.. we were like A27 and beyond when we originally checked in and the person checking us in gave us better numbers. We were flying freedom bird (military overseas flight) into the states and then transferred to Southwest (going on leave then changing duty stations) and the check in people were great, wish I could say the same for all SouthWest employees we met on this flight.

I was a bit surprised at the lady but she was totally serious that I should move since my husband was in the row in front. I just said sorry but no, try someone not flying with a child. Wasn't her favorite person that flight.

Full fare automatically gets A1-15 slots. The one time we paid full fare (wanna getaway care was about $120 pp one way vs full fare that was $375 pp one way!) we got A1,2, and 3. I have a feeling someone wanted to do something really nice for you guys....glad they did!
That woman was more than a little presumptuous. Man, some people have 'nerve'. Would have to give myself points if I said what I really wanted to say about her!!