Southwest Airlines Question?

[staci]

OK, I am really confused! We are flying southwest out of chicago midway. We are staying at a hotel the night before in the midway area.

I have heard that we should print off our boarding passes beginning at midnight so that we get to sit together. I have also heard that you can only do this if you have single tickets, not a group of people? Our party is my parents, me, dh and ds(1). Should I try to find internet access at the hotel, or just wait for the airport? Dh and I should get to preboard bc of the baby, right? I am just confused with the way SW does this.

Also, we paid for a seat for ds. He will have his carseat. Is the carseat a carryon? If not, can he have a carryon as well as us? Someone told me BABIES are considered carryons? But we paid for his seat?

ANyone who can help clear all this up for me would be greatly appreciated!

 

[camouseketeer]

Yes, you should be able to preboard because of the baby. Southwest is very good about that. You shouldn't have to worry about printing your boarding passes at beforehand. No matter what boarding group you're in, you should be able to preboard. Now, with that said, I've heard that Orlando flights are full of families with young children (of course). So your preboard line might be long. Be sure to get in line as soon as you get to the gate.

As for the carseat, no it is not counted as a carry-on. No, your child is not a carry on. Never heard that before. Yes, if you bought a seat for your child, you can bring carry-ons for him too. Meaning that you can bring carry-on bags for you (to go under your seat and in compartments above) and ones for him (to go under his seat and in compartments above).

Have a great trip!

 

[Beca]

I was a flight attendant for SWA for 8 years. I would be happy to answer any questions you have.

SWA does now have the capability for families who are all on the same itenerary to check-in on line. They used to not be able to do this, so you would have to call reservations and get individual confirmation numbers for each member of your party, then you could chek-in on line. However, about a year ago that all changed...you can now check in via the internet with no problems.

The car seat does NOT count as a carry-on, and your baby also can have a carry-on for the plane. You will certainly be able to pre-board, and sitting together will not be an issue.

Just an FYI, my dd is 3 and I ALWAYS check-in via the internet even though I know we can preboard...just in case something happens and we are running a little late. There are some ops agents (the people who take your boarding cards at the gate) who will allow pre-boarders to board anytime during the boarding process, and some who feel that if you "miss" the pre-boarding announcement, then you must wait and board with your group. Therefore, I always cover my rear and get in the A boarding group "just in case".



Beca

 

[DISLOVE]

How old does a child need to be in order to still get preboarding status? My husband and I are leaving Monday with our almost 3 year old daughter. Can we preboard too?

 

[Beca]

How old does a child need to be in order to still get preboarding status? My husband and I are leaving Monday with our almost 3 year old daughter. Can we preboard too?

5 and under



beca

 

[tjmw2727]

5 and under



beca

Actually, according to the website they preboard "children under 5". I have been doing some research because we are flying SW for the first time early October, here is the linK:
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

To the OP - Neither your child or your child's carseat count toward your carryon allowance! Yes baby can have a carryon as well, typically a diaper bag. Be sure your CRS has a sticker on the back stating it meets FAA requirements, if it is new for this baby it will have the sticker but better safe than sorry.

As another poster suggested I would try and get the best boarding passes you can in addition to the preboarding. I would especially make sure your parents have A passes as they may only let the "immediate family" you, your dh and baby preboard.

Southwest.com has great information on the policies and traveling with babies/toddlers and is very user friendly - try here:
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/infants.html

The transportation board here at the dis, a few under this one has quite a number of helpful posters who have traveled SW frequently as well as those who often travel with babies.

HTH
TJ

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We to are flying SW in October out of midway. We have an early flight and our DD will still most likely be asleep..can we gate check our stroller?
Does the stroller count towards our baggage allowance? thanks!

 

[ACDSNY]

We've gate checked the combo stroller/car seat at the gate. We did have to take the baby out of the car seat when going through the security check point so they could scan the car seat.

 

[Beca]

We to are flying SW in October out of midway. We have an early flight and our DD will still most likely be asleep..can we gate check our stroller?
Does the stroller count towards our baggage allowance? thanks!

By all means, gate check it...it is the "safest" place to check it, as far as the airlines "losing" it....the ops agent will walk it down to the belly of the plane personally.

No....it does not count towards any luggage limits.



Beca

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

ACDSNY & Beca: Thanks so much for this info! what a relief it is!

 

[fac]

Actually, according to the website they preboard "children under 5". I have been doing some research because we are flying SW for the first time early October, here is the linK:
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

When I travelled at end of Aug, we stayed in a hotel the night before, hence could get the boarding pass early, when we arraived at the airport, the counter agent told me that we cannot pre-board because my daughter is 5. However, when I was at the gate, the FA announced 5 and under could pre-board, I specially told the FA that my daughter just turned 5 and he told us to use the pre-board line, otherwise, we would have to use boarding pass B.

 

[tjmw2727]

When I travelled at end of Aug, we stayed in a hotel the night before, hence could get the boarding pass early, when we arraived at the airport, the counter agent told me that we cannot pre-board because my daughter is 5. However, when I was at the gate, the FA announced 5 and under could pre-board, I specially told the FA that my daughter just turned 5 and he told us to use the pre-board line, otherwise, we would have to use boarding pass B.

Cool - I just wouln't want someone with a 5yo esp one closer to 6 to assume they could preboard as it can make a difference! I had just read the blurb from the website as my nephew will be almost 5 when we fly so I thought I would pass it along.

Also, according to my SIL they are more strict about allowing preboarding at Orlando as 99% of the flight is families. In her experience they enforced the immediate family only rule as well as the age rule more in Orlando than she has experienced at other airports.

TJ

 

[Lives4Disney]

I just have to say that we have flown SWA MANY times out of Midway and we LOVE Southwest. I prefer it to the other carriers even though Midway is so much farther than O'Hare is for us.

We have checked the stroller at the gate for years (thru 3 kids) with no problems. It is very convenient to do it. The only bummer is if your child is sleeping in the stroller, they still make you fold it and put it through the security screener.

Also, we always print our boarding passes or at least go online and get ourselves in group A and have the passes printed when we arrive at the airport. We have done that when at a hotel and no printer available or when I am travelling without my husband - he stays up and does it for me.


I feel very comfortable with SWA. They are a great company.

Yay SWA!

Lives4Disney

 

[staci]

Also, we always print our boarding passes or at least go online and get ourselves in group A and have the passes printed when we arrive at the airport. We have done that when at a hotel and no printer available or when I am travelling without my husband - he stays up and does it for me.


QUOTE]

That is AWESOME to hear! So we can go online, secure ourselves group A, and then still get our passes at the gate? I was not sure if I was going to get printer access at a hotel. Do you think it would work, if I dont take my laptop, if I have get my brother all the information, and have him go online from his house and do it for us?

THank you so much everyone! I knew I was overanalyzing everything, but since it is the first trip with ds I am just wanting things to go as smoothly as possible for him!

 

[adisneymama]

Flying SW in the morning for the first time. We are gate checking our stroller for DD3. I am going to print our boarding passes tonight at midnight just to be on the safe side. The only thing I am worried about is dh's golf clubs. I spoke with SW and they said there was not an extra charge for them as long as we didn't go over the limit for checked luggage. (We are no where near the limit) But someone told me that they charge extra for them? Anyone know? BECA?

 

[Ilovethatmouse]

thanks for all of the valuable info. This is the first time I will be travelling on SWA as well.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Also, we always print our boarding passes or at least go online and get ourselves in group A and have the passes printed when we arrive at the airport. We have done that when at a hotel and no printer available or when I am travelling without my husband - he stays up and does it for me.


QUOTE]

That is AWESOME to hear! So we can go online, secure ourselves group A, and then still get our passes at the gate? I was not sure if I was going to get printer access at a hotel. Do you think it would work, if I dont take my laptop, if I have get my brother all the information, and have him go online from his house and do it for us?

THank you so much everyone! I knew I was overanalyzing everything, but since it is the first trip with ds I am just wanting things to go as smoothly as possible for him!

Staci That is exactly what I do. My husband travels with his laptop, but if he isn't with us - I have him stay up late (at home) and go online and put in our info. We get in group A, go get in line at the airport or sky cab it, and they will see we are already in group A, and give us our boarding passes. I have done this a couple of times. It should be fine to have your brother go online and get you into group A.

adisneymama My parents & son fly with their golf clubs all the time and I really don't think there has ever been an extra charge for the clubs.

Happy travelling!

Lives4Disney

 

[adisneymama]

Staci That is exactly what I do. My husband travels with his laptop, but if he isn't with us - I have him stay up late (at home) and go online and put in our info. We get in group A, go get in line at the airport or sky cab it, and they will see we are already in group A, and give us our boarding passes. I have done this a couple of times. It should be fine to have your brother go online and get you into group A.

adisneymama My parents & son fly with their golf clubs all the time and I really don't think there has ever been an extra charge for the clubs.

Happy travelling!

Lives4Disney

Thanks! Leaving in 6 hrs for the airport and I can't sleep! Too excited!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks! Leaving in 6 hrs for the airport and I can't sleep! Too excited!

Have FUN!!! Don't worry about a thing!

Lives4Disney

 

[staci]

Staci That is exactly what I do. My husband travels with his laptop, but if he isn't with us - I have him stay up late (at home) and go online and put in our info. We get in group A, go get in line at the airport or sky cab it, and they will see we are already in group A, and give us our boarding passes. I have done this a couple of times. It should be fine to have your brother go online and get you into group A.

adisneymama My parents & son fly with their golf clubs all the time and I really don't think there has ever been an extra charge for the clubs.

Happy travelling!

Lives4Disney

Thank you so much! I didnt realize how stressed I was about this until I found this out, and now I feel so much better! I had visions of somehow NOT boarding early, being in group C, sitting all spread out over the plane, with ds throwing up all over, and everything going horribly WRONG! Thank you!