Southwest Airlines

[Dads Dream]

Hi All,

We will be flying Southwest airlines for the first time for our upcoming trip home. Would appreciate any info on "cattle call" and early check in program.

Thanks

Please NO negative experiences. DW is a very nervous flyer and will start panicking if she reads this post. THANKS

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

No horror stories here. It is not a cattle call, each person is given a letter "a", "b" or "c". You line up under the sign with the respective letter.
Get there within the time frame suggested on the SWA site and you should not have a problem.

All the information you could possible need is right here.
http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/

 

[Auntie Bon]

I flew Southwest for the first time this past May and LOVED it. It was by far the best flying experience I've had in a long time. I too was worried about not having assigned seats but believe it or not I prefer this system than the standard.

We were in the first group "A" going down to MCO and mid plane and were out of the gate in record time. Felt like 5 minutes from boarding to taxing to the runway. The flight attendants and ticket agents were all very pleasant to deal with. Even with the nearest Southwest airport being an hour away (Providence) and Logan being a mere 20 minutes away I would still drive to Southwest. In my opinion you can't go wrong with this airline!

 

[marley]

we fly Southwest every time we go to Florida and LOVE IT!!

If you have children under 5, you can board first regardless of when you get there. Definite perk for us!

They are also the fastest loading airline I've ever seen. You are sitting for a very short time and they start pulling out quickly.

You also get to enjoy the song numbers that most of them do. The last time we went on a flight to Orlando, the stewardess sang a very funny song about landing in Orlando and going to visit Mickey! It started out trip out with a smile

 

[holidaybarb]

We flew SW for the first time in June. We got incredibly low fares and I wasn't sure what to expect. Everything was great. We got B boarding passes for both departure and return but since we had a 2 yr old with us we were allowed to preboard. Boarding seemed very orderly to me - almost faster than on flights with assigned seats. Since I got seated early I could watch everything.

Flights were smooth and uneventful. Planes were fine - all are 737's I guess. Attendants were cordial - not funny like I'd heard some can be, but friendly nonetheless.

But I kept thinking here's an airline that has a pretty simple way of doing business. You know what kind of plane to expect and that there'll be no food, and you'll be seated according to when you show up. The fares are honest - make your reservation early and it costs less. They like to meet scheduled departure and arrival times and just keep doing that over and over. No wonder they have a loyal following. I'd fly them again

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by marley
we fly Southwest every time we go to Florida and LOVE IT!!

If you have children under 5, you can board first regardless of when you get there. Definite perk for us!

They are also the fastest loading airline I've ever seen. You are sitting for a very short time and they start pulling out quickly.

You also get to enjoy the song numbers that most of them do. The last time we went on a flight to Orlando, the stewardess sang a very funny song about landing in Orlando and going to visit Mickey! It started out trip out with a smile

The children under 5 is not a hard and fast rule. Most of the time it is 4 and under and often, because there are so many children, they do not allow preboards for families with children. Depends on the flight.

 

[Pinnie]

I LOVE flying SWA and do so as often as I can. The only problem I have with them is that for most places I go to out of DTW, it requires a stop over or change of planes. NO biggie, but if the fare is the same, I fly NWA on a non-stop.

I have a friend that works for the FAA, and he flies SWA and AirTran every chance he gets, so that should tell you something!

I also find SWA very effecient and was told by a FA that they only make money when the planes are in the air, not parked at a gate, so that is why they load and move out so quickly.

I am flying SWA in 2 weeks to Nashville for a Drum Corp show and am looking forward to it!

pin

 

[mmmcq]

We've flown Southwest at least 4 times in 4 years and have loved the flights and service out of Providence if that's where you're headed. We flew to Phoenix on SW three weeks ago and it was a breeze. We have a child under 4 so we were able to "pre-board" both out and back.

If you don't have kids, it's best to get to the terminal and check-in as early as you can. They do check-in (A,B & C) on the basis of when you arrive....and most folks already know this and are there 1hr + ahead of time. See the note below. http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/checkin.html

We knew they pre-boarded and our little one is "little" so we were at the gate with only 45 mins to go and still got seats in the first 5 rows. (Dad left the camera in the car in the parking lot. Thank goodness for cell phones). We fly SW again on Sunday out of Providence to Orlando. We're looking forward to it.

For those without children, it really didn't seem to be a major problem for anyone to get a seat or stow luggage. The only ones who had problems were the families who showed up just before boarding. I have no idea how they fared at the back of the plane.

Only thing I would say , is if you were flying a longer flight like we did out to the SouthWest or longer, you need to bring a meal with you. All you get on SW is a box of crackers and another small snack item which comes in a box. On the trip out we bought sandwiches at a restaurant near the gate (for a 3pm flight). On the way back my DH went to a grocery store and made sandwiches at midnight for our return flight which left at 7am. Now that's a great dad for you. To Orlando, we'll only bring goldfish for our minnie mouse and she'll be fine.

Have a great time at BCV...that's where we're headed in less than 48 hours!!!!!!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
The children under 5 is not a hard and fast rule. Most of the time it is 4 and under and often, because there are so many children, they do not allow preboards for families with children. Depends on the flight.

Gail,

How early do you recommend arriving to receive the "A" boarding pass? Just in case we cannot preboard (we have two 2 year olds). My sister is really worried about the no seating assignments and she is afraid of just this happening and not getting seats together.

Thanks!

 

[Dads Dream]

Thanks for the great information! We are planning on getting to Providence airport around 6am for our 8:25 flight, I hope that we get a good seat in the first 10 rows. DD is age 6, so it looks like we won't get to board early. As DH mentioned I am a very nervous flyer so I really appreciate all of the positive feedback.

Thanks Again!


mmmcq,

Have a great trip home to the BCV you're going to love it!
Must try SAB and Beaches and Cream.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Lexxiefern
Gail,

How early do you recommend arriving to receive the "A" boarding pass? Just in case we cannot preboard (we have two 2 year olds). My sister is really worried about the no seating assignments and she is afraid of just this happening and not getting seats together.

Thanks!

Assuming, from your location, that you are flying out of Providence or Hartford, I believe the recommened times to arrive are 1.5 hours before your flight in Providence and 1 hour before your flight in Hartford.

I would try to arrive one half hour before these times to increase your chances of an "A" pass, they can issue them up to 4 hours prior to your flight.

We usually end up with at least a "B" pass (one we got one "A" and one "B"). Even a "B" is nothing to get worried about as there will still be plenty of seats together.

They RARELY stop preboarding with children, so, don't worry.
The seating arrangement is 3 and 3, so, with two two year olds it is going to be tough to sit together.

BTW, the suggested times for arrival out of Orlando is : Fri-Mon - 1.5 hours and Tues-Thurs. 1 hour. Tampa, all days, 1.5 hours.

BTW, only the parents and sibs of the small child can preboard, BUT, you can save seats for the others.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Dads Dream
Thanks for the great information! We are planning on getting to Providence airport around 6am for our 8:25 flight, I hope that we get a good seat in the first 10 rows. DD is age 6, so it looks like we won't get to board early. As DH mentioned I am a very nervous flyer so I really appreciate all of the positive feedback.

Thanks Again!


mmmcq,

Have a great trip home to the BCV you're going to love it!
Must try SAB and Beaches and Cream.

It is a GREAT airline, I am sure you will be pleased. The aircraft, a 737, is a tough little bird.

 

[mmmcq]

Thanks Dads Dream....we stayed at YC last August on holding pts and loved SAB and Beaches N Cream. That's why we bought add-on pts at BCV instead of lots more at BWV this spring.

We intend to leave home for Greene Field at 6am. To get my three up before 5:30 would have awful consequences for the rest of the day. And we intend to be in Epcot having lunch by 2pm tomorrow.

We'll let you know what letter we get after we check in a 7am...when we get back. We don't know what time curbside check-in starts...so we don't want to be there too early. I LOVE curbside check-in. Then we go straight to the gate and the boarding line.

We did, however, have a bit of wait at the check-in last time while our luggages was being screened. They went thru every bag including the car seat and carriage bags (I check both). So we must have triggered some pre-screen model - 5 passengers with 9 bags...who knows? So we're going to try to pack fewer bags this time. Yeah right.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

We don't know what time curbside check-in starts...so we don't want to be there too early. I LOVE curbside check-in. Then we go straight to the gate and the boarding line.

I believe the skycaps are there at opening of the airport.

Is Green Field the same as TF Green in Providence?

 

[mmmcq]

Yes, TF Green Airfield...is an old name. I was actually 10 mins from there this morning and could have scooted over to see what time the SW desk opens....but was too lazy.

Hopefully they'll be there bright and early like us!

I still haven't packed a bag. Just got home from CVS, grocery store (food for the guinea pig) and Old Navy, via RI - where I was checking out a rental property for next summer. We're going out to dinner with friends tonight...so if I don't get off this board and email in general....we won't be leaving at all tomorrow.

Bye all.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mmmcq
Yes, TF Green Airfield...is an old name. I was actually 10 mins from there this morning and could have scooted over to see what time the SW desk opens....but was too lazy.

Hopefully they'll be there bright and early like us!

I still haven't packed a bag. Just got home from CVS, grocery store (food for the guinea pig) and Old Navy, via RI - where I was checking out a rental property for next summer. We're going out to dinner with friends tonight...so if I don't get off this board and email in general....we won't be leaving at all tomorrow.

Bye all.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Assuming, from your location, that you are flying out of Providence or Hartford, I believe the recommened times to arrive are 1.5 hours before your flight in Providence and 1 hour before your flight in Hartford.

I would try to arrive one half hour before these times to increase your chances of an "A" pass, they can issue them up to 4 hours prior to your flight.

We usually end up with at least a "B" pass (one we got one "A" and one "B"). Even a "B" is nothing to get worried about as there will still be plenty of seats together.

They RARELY stop preboarding with children, so, don't worry.
The seating arrangement is 3 and 3, so, with two two year olds it is going to be tough to sit together.

BTW, the suggested times for arrival out of Orlando is : Fri-Mon - 1.5 hours and Tues-Thurs. 1 hour. Tampa, all days, 1.5 hours.

BTW, only the parents and sibs of the small child can preboard, BUT, you can save seats for the others.

Thank you for the reassurance! It will be myself, my DH and our 2 year old DD and then my sister, her DH and their 2 year old DD. We will aim for 2 hours ahead of time. We are coming from the Cape and flying out of Providence.

 

[vhoffman]

Do be sure to apply for Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program. It got to be the best frequent flyer program in existence.

They don't appear to be all that great at first glance. Other aiirlines have many more partners (other business which give you ff miles for doing business with them). and give more ff miles per transaction. However, SWA doesn't require as many miles to earn a trip. However, here's the best part of SWA RR--you can use the miles you've accululated. As a matter of fact, that's their slogan--the frequent flyer program you can use.

With other airlines, they only allow a certain number of award tickets to be used per flight. Once my dh and I went on seperate Delta flights to use our award tickets and just met up again upon landing! With SWA,your award ticket is like a voucher good for any time. They'd fly the entire plane free if everyone showed up with award tickets. They do have a few blackout days, but not near as many as other airlines. We get miles for using our
American Express card. SWA also has their own credit card which gives you miles for every dollar spent, however, we prefer using American Express. We put every purchase we can on it and watch the miles roll in. Also, we get miles for using MCI. I've literally talked my way to many free tickets! Of course, you also get award miles for flying. But more often than not I've earned free tickets without even flying, just doing things I'd be doing anyways.

Over the last 5 years we've used at least 16 frequent flyer award tickets. Our last trip to WDW we all flew free--a family of four. And we didn't have to take seperate flights! We almost have enough miles accumulated to get four free tickets again for our next WDW trip in Dec. Plus, the SWA RR card gets you discounts into other attractions, such as 20% off admission to Seaworld and Kennedy Space center. There again, you can use these discounts. Just present the card at the gate (doesn't apply to advance purchases over the internet). Other discount programs have so many restrictions there's more ways not to use them than to use them.

SWA has an excellent business model. They're about the only airline to be making a profit the last few years. We like them so much we bought stock in them for our kids college funds. Its one of the few stocks in our portfolio that hasn't been underwater (worth less than what we paid ) in the last few years.

My suggestion for their slogan is "the airline that doesn't p---you off!"

Have a great trip!

 

[twinmomplus2]

We too always fly Southwest. We leave from the Cape as well. It is an easy ride to Providence and there are always skycaps available when we arrive about 6am. we take the same flight every time. With 2 two year olds you will be allowed to preboard. Don't forget for safety reasons, you would never not be seated next to your baby, so be assured if you hit a snag they would fix it post haste. We have 2 year old twins and always preboard by request, the babies, carseats, stroller on the jetway, they much prefer to get us in our seats and the heck out of everyones way! In addition I have find the flight crew fabulous as far as putting you at ease, I have had 2 flights with a singing stewardess, and a pilot that was like a standup act. This is most appreciated by me as I am a white knuckle flyer myself! Have fun and be assured you will sit with the baby no matter what!

 

[pdfolsom]

we flew southwest a couple of times. other than the rush to get on the plane it was a great flight. they we very attentive to children.