Southwest Airlines Question

[nkereina]

Here's another option for next time: pay the extra fee for an A boarding position for just one adult. That adult goes on and "holds" a row of seats for the family. I've don't that a few times.

Two things. 1. The Early Bird Check-In purchase does not guarantee you an A boarding position. It simply checks you in 36 hours ahead of your flight as opposed to the 24 hour mark. I have done Early Bird Check-In and gotten a B boarding position. It solely depends on how many other people on your flight purchase it as well. 2. Saving of seats is not permitted. By doing what you suggest, you are setting yourself up for a confrontation with a fellow passenger or a flight attendant, which is not worth it. This would only be perpetuated if you board in group A and are trying to hold seats for someone in group C. Just pay the EBCI fees for all and not worry about it.

As a note, I have heard of family boarding being suspended on flights to Orlando because of the number of children on the flight. When flying to Orlando, if you're concerned about being able to sit with your kid, just buy the EBCI. Don't expect strangers to move, flight attendants to help you, or even reliance on family boarding.

 

[butsy113]

Not true. No US airline has a policy requiring that an adult family member be seated next to a minor child. You might be lucky and find a FA who persuades another passenger to move, but don't count on this happening.

Very true. There is no rule about it but, I have never been on a flight to Orlando (which always has many children on it) where the FA did not ask for volunteers to switch seats so a YOUNG child can sit by one of the parents. In my experience people are very friendly and offer to help out. The alcohol voucher they offer occasionally, helps too . It sounds like my flights must be the minority of flights though , may have something to do with us being first flight out all the time, and boarding an empty plane.

 

[maxiesmom]

Southwest has no policy on seat saving. Usually FAs will not intervene in seat saving arguments.

Not always, but going by the post I was replying to, at least they stop it some of the time. Baby steps.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Here's another option for next time: pay the extra fee for an A boarding position for just one adult. That adult goes on and "holds" a row of seats for the family. I've don't that a few times.

Thanks for providing entertainment. It's always fun to watch the people who try this have a 2 year old hissy fit when a frequent flyer does not back down to the "I saved this row" announcement. And no running to the crew and screaming at them about "that's my row " won't work LOL


But it does liven up boarding. As does the suggestion that will soon come that you tell the fliers horror stories about how badly your kids behave to scare people into giving you the seats you want.

 

[mikehn]

I was just on a SW flight over the weekend. A guy tried to save a bunch of seats. I told the guy, I hate to be the spoiler, but seat saving isnt allowed and I sat down.

 

[OHDisneyMom]

We are a family of 3 and have always been able find a row for all of us as long as we are in A or B boarding. As others have said, it will be towards the back, but at least together.

 

[PoohBearAndMe]

Just an update: We flew out on Sunday, and the gate attendant announced at boarding that family boarding was for any child 7 and under! Maybe they have different ages for different flights. I don't know, but it helped us this time. I do think if we had boarded in our B21 position we would have been fine in the back of the plane. Our flight wasn't even full.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just an update: We flew out on Sunday, and the gate attendant announced at boarding that family boarding was for any child 7 and under! Maybe they have different ages for different flights. I don't know, but it helped us this time. I do think if we had boarded in our B21 position we would have been fine in the back of the plane. Our flight wasn't even full.

That is great that everything worked out for you!

You are right too that who is allowed to board for Family Boarding is up to the gate agents. Sometimes they even skip it.

 

[kamik86]

I am a frequent southwest flyer. Due to this I always board with A list.

However my husband doesn't fly as much so he is generally further back. We sometimes do EBCI (and he has gotten Bs) sometimes right at 24 hours.

Seat saving is touchy, saving one seat and your probably ok (I have never not managed to save DH a seat, however that means I'm saving a middle seat and those are easier.

I have also seen many situations on the planes including:
1) The FA that for the people that boarded at the LAST second, didn't pay to have their young child in their own seat but because there were a few free seats decided to take on the carseat and the FA let them. due to this they needed two free seats one being a window and held up boarding for these people while they found the seat, moved people around and installed it. Many people were VERY annoyed about this as they made the plane late. This is the only time I thought about ever complaining about flight attendants. (Although I was also annoyed as the row they got was behind me and the stupid mother hit me in the head with the car seat while trying to install it)
2) Flights were they have had the FA in the back save a row for a smaller child that was too big for family boarding as they came on the plane.
3) Flights were the FA even when asked by mom did NOT move things around so a 7 year old could sit with mom. She was in the seat in front of mom and there were so many kids on the plane that they probably couldn't have done anything and told her she was close enough to her daughter.

However with mid Bs as long as your flight isn't from Chicago or BWI (major SW hubs where your likely to have many people staying on the plane from the last flight) you will probably be ok. You definitely will board early enough to get at least two seats together towards the back, probably all three.

 

[kamik86]

Just an update: We flew out on Sunday, and the gate attendant announced at boarding that family boarding was for any child 7 and under! Maybe they have different ages for different flights. I don't know, but it helped us this time. I do think if we had boarded in our B21 position we would have been fine in the back of the plane. Our flight wasn't even full.

Officially its 4 and under. However the makeup of the flight makes a difference. If they look and realize they have 15 kids under 3 and a bunch of 4 year olds they might make it 3 and under just to cut down on the number of early boarding. If they only have 5 kids under 7 they might just let them all board with family.

I have noticed sometimes when the flight is very under full everything goes to whatever gets everyone on board and seated fastest. Getting the younger kids on sooner supports this as many of the ones with kids are slower getting settled because parents have to not only get their own bags stowed and their own butts in the seats and buckled but the kids as well, and if the flight isn't full your unlikely to have anyone very upset about the family that boarded early as any group of 3 could have their own row.

 

[keishashadow]

My SIL is famous for doing this. (Which to be clear...I don't agree with at all)

Last year, SW attendants DID stop her from saving seats. It was a sold out flight and her daughters ages 11&13 ended up scattered throughout the plane. (Maybe if they were younger the flight attendants wouldn't have stopped it...I don't know)

I would just pay for the EBCI.

Often, if the flight is at capacity, the FAs will announce early in the boarding process "...if you see an empty seat, don't pass it by..."