So should I be happy I am taking SWA?

[BigDaddy1]

I hope so....I did not know about the A, B, and C corrals.

 

[inkkognito]

Be happy if the price is right!
(And use online check-in to get in that A corral, or kidnap an infant!).
Barb

 

[Forevryoung]

I personally think that SWA is awesome- who cares if you line up in A, B, or C? Everyone gets to the same place and the price is awesome. I agree that SWA isn't for everyone but then you pay the extra cost. I think that the people at SWA are amazingly nice and accommodating and the flights are almost always on time or early. Once we were so early (25min) that we had to wait for the plane at the gate to leave- We sat there and the flight attendants told jokes to pass the time. It was pretty funny.

 

[BigDaddy1]

care if I was separated from my kids. I am looking forward to flying SWA, just that this is my first time using them and want some assurance.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I fly SWA often and have yet to see parents and children separated. I am sure it happens, but, I am also sure it is not the norm.
Check in online the night before and you should get either a or b passes, if you have a child 4 and under you can probably preboard with the entire family.
I have, in reality, heard about other airlines rearranging their schedules and the seat assignments get messed up and the parents find they are not seated together.
The "corral" is really nothing. You always have to line up to get on a plane. This is just a bit different.
SWA is an awesome airline.

 

[simzac]

Just a suggestion for the corrals, as you call them. Get your A boarding pass by either the online after midnight method the others have explained, or by getting to the airport early enough to get an A. We do the latter. Then just have a seat somewhere near the A line, wait until just about everyone has gone through the door to the plane, then just casualy get up, have them take your A boarding pass, then trail into the plane with the other A boarders. Anyone in the A line will always be able to sit together, I guarantee it. Total time spent in the corral standing, about 30 seconds. Try it, it works. We did this both ways on our last trip, virtually no standing inside the terminal, just standing in the line from the terminal to the plane, maybe 5 minutes tops, this part would be the same no matter which airline you would fly. SWA is great. We will not fly on any other airline, period.

 

[inkkognito]

We got in the line as soon as we arrived at the airport, and it wasn't really stressful. There were two parties ahead of us in the A corral, both of whom simply sat on the floor. We stood, as we knew we'd soon be sitting for two and a half hours. I figured, what's the difference between sitting in a chair and sitting on the floor? The A and B lines got VERY long before boarding commenced. We aren't too fussy about where we sit, but it was nice to be one of the first on and get seats right up front. We don't check luggage, so we like being one of the first off when possible to get on our way quickly.
Barb

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Here's the link on the SWA website that should answer your questions on how it works.

http://southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

I love SWA and won't fly another airline unless I have to. You'll be fine!

 

[Laurabearz]

We have flown SWA many times and as much as we have tried to be seperated from our kids (what a great flight that would be eh?... reading magazines, snoozing...) SWA makes sure we are all sitting together.

 

[beccasmom]

I would just enjoy the trip - SWA is not as bad as some would have you believe. If you print out your boarding pass as soon as you can, you will immediately alleviate a lot of stress. Yes, the line-up can be annoying, but the service reps do a pretty good job of keeping everyone organized and where they are supposed to be. Having a lot of kids on an Orlando flight is par for the course. You may be pleasantly surprised at how organized it really is, even though it may look chaotic.

 

[NandP]

You will be happy... VERY HAPPY...

Southwest was rated one of the top 5 companies to work for in Forbe's 2005... so Happy Employees make for a happy customer...

And don't sweat the A-B-C... just get your boarding pass online... and if there is a seat you really have to get.. I am sure you can make arrangements with the person that took it before you... but all seats are the same... unless you end up next to the LAV.. they stink when the door opens.

 

[inkkognito]

Or the front ones, where us light-traveling carry-on devotees can get off a little quicker, or the exit rows (which have more legroom). But other than that, I was pleasantly surprised by the legroom on Southwest. While it definitely wasn't spacious, it was better than ATA's 737s, and their set pitch seemed more comfortable. The only thing I missed was the adjustable headrests, which makes it easier to sleep, but that is easily resolved with a wadded up sweat shirt.
Barb

 

[Mickey527]

I love SW and fly them quite alot when I go to FL. I have never had a bad seat and have at times been given the "C" seating.
The flight attendants will ask people to move if a family is unable to sit together and most people are willing to switch seats. I saw this happen only once when the family arrived late and were the last to board with 2 small children. They wound up sitting one child with each parent but the parents were not together.
I am flying down to FL in May and again in June with Delta Song because SW flights were $79 each way and I got Song for $54 each way. Song has those cute little tv screens and games to play during flight so it keeps the famiy busy. Peggie