Southwest Airline Question...

[scrappingtwinmom]

We are flying out on SW on Sunday and my son is 6 and autistic. I was thinking it would be good to try to sit in the bulkhead (I think that's what they are called) seats because there is a wall in front of you instead of a person with a seat to be kicked. BUT I need to have either a tray table or some place to put the dvd player for him. I need to know if those bulkhead seats still have a tray table? If so where does it come from? The seat?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Andyjo0930]

It comes from the side of the seat, it pulls out and then up.

 

[Shenandoah Mickey]

Yes...it should pull out of the armrest of the seat, but they are typically a bit flimsy. You also may want to pre-board the airplane...with Southwest they don't assign seats and the bulkhead and emergency exit rows typically get taken first.

Enjoy your trip and have a magical vacation!

 

[brymolmom]

You might not want to plan on those seats and prepare for the real possibility of not getting them...in my experience with SW, those on the plane first (those requiring wheelchair assistance) - get those seats. So unless your son also has physical issues - I believe they let those who really cannot get into the other seats (due to physical issues with legs and really requiring that extra leg room). Maybe you'll get lucky and not have any people with physical issues on your flight.

Also, I do not know what SW requires for preboarding...I know they only allow preboarding for those with kids aged 4 and under (I have a 3 and 4 year old and was getting a LOT of comments from others about preboarding last time I used them). But with a 6 year old...they might not even allow you to preboard - maybe unless you have a doctor's excuse? I would call to see what they require.

Have a great time!

 

[scrappingtwinmom]

Thanks for the info everyone. He uses a chair for travel and the parks and we have a dr. note so I'm sure we'll get to preboard. I'll have to do a quick check of the situation to see if it is a good place for him before everyone else gets on.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you go to the gate agent and ask for a disability preboard they will be happy to give you a blue sleeve. This entitles you to preboard regardless of age. (Under the ADA they cannot require proof of what the disability is.)

Then line up in the preboard line; blue-sleeve preboards go before families. If you have a large number of older folks in wheelchairs on the flight you still might not get a bulkhead, so try to get there early anyway.

 

[blessedby3]

I was going to say that when we flew SW last there seemed to be more preboarders than regular seat people. Lots of people in wheelchairs and lots of families. If it is the same case when you go I wouldnt get too set on getting those bulk head seats.

 

[kate0305]

I have been on SW planes where the tray table would not come up out of the armrest area too. In that case, we just put the DVD player on someone's lap when the seat belt sign was lit, or on the floor with both kids sitting on the floor with it (there is a lot of space in that area on the floor). I have had more luck getting that row than not with pre-boards. Good luck.

 

[Hannathy]

Decide if no seat in front is worth not having access to things during the flight. If you are in the bulkhead everything has to go overhead, you can't keep a bag of snacks, etc down because there is no seat in front of you to put it under and if you are on a flight that keeps the seatbelt sign on you won't be able to stand up and get anything. With kids I always would rather have my stuff over the room but you have to decide with your son. If kicking is a problem could someone from your party sit in the seat in front of him so it isn't a problem?

 

[scrappingtwinmom]

That's a good point. We will need access to all our stuff. I think I'll have my sister and the girls sit in front of us and then if he kicks the seat he's only bothering his sister Plus I can hang the dvd player from their seat. You guys are so smart! Thanks for helping me think it all through.

Tami

 

[mom2prince&princess]

Also, I do not know what SW requires for preboarding...I know they only allow preboarding for those with kids aged 4 and under (I have a 3 and 4 year old and was getting a LOT of comments from others about preboarding last time I used them). But with a 6 year old...they might not even allow you to preboard - maybe unless you have a doctor's excuse? I would call to see what they require.

Have a great time!

Hi! Do you know how it would work if you had a child who is 2 and a child who is 7? Would I preboard with our 2 year old and my husband would have to wait and board later with our 7 year old? Or could we all board together?

Thanks!!

 

[Shenandoah Mickey]

Hi! Do you know how it would work if you had a child who is 2 and a child who is 7? Would I preboard with our 2 year old and my husband would have to wait and board later with our 7 year old? Or could we all board together?

Thanks!!

You can all board at the same time...they won't make your husband and 7-year-old board separately.

 

[Shenandoah Mickey]

scrappingtwinmom - so, how did it go? Did you have any issues getting what you wanted on your SW flight?

 

[scrappingtwinmom]

The flights were great. We preboarded (all of us) and my sister and the girls sat in front of us. My son sat by the window and no one else sat with us (that helped a lot!). Trip itself was good and hard. DS decided he hated theme parks but loved the pool. So we made some changes to the plans to accommodate this and got him a sitter for a few days (Highly recommend Sunshine Babysitters). My sister is working on a trip report. Thanks for asking

 

[Shenandoah Mickey]

I'm glad to hear the flight went well, and I hope you had a good time. I look forward to reading the trip report.