Southwest and Family boarding

[ladybugsister]

I will be traveling with DH, DS3, DS1, DMom, DDad, DB, and DSiL. Can we all board together under the family boarding or is that just for my DH and kids and then we can just try and save seats for everyone else? If we can’t all board together, could I at least board with my parents so they can help me get the kids situated.

Thanks, Erin

 

[PEANUT1]

I have seen it done both ways....we have flown southwest and let family members board with us and our kids...other times, they don't allow it. I think it depends on the people that are working that day I see no problem with holding a couple of seats for your family.

 

[Nennie]

Family boarding is just for parents and kids (no grandparents, aunt, uncles, etc). Family boarding takes place just before B boarding.

Your best bet is to check in at the 24 hour mark and try to get A boarding. Then family boarding isn't even an issue!

 

[goofy4tink]

Parents and children only. And even that can be suspended at some airports. For instance, there are so many families boarding at MCO, that many times SW doesn't offer family boarding.
You and your dh will be allowed to board after the A group, with your children. But everyone else will have to wait until their group is called. And as for saving seats...not something you should do. It's one thing to save one or two seats, but no more than that.
You have a couple of options....have everyone buy EBCI and you will all most likely be able to board in the same group. Or hope that you and your kids can board in between the A and B groups, and be sure that everyone else checks in right at the 24 hr mark so as to get as low a boarding group as possible.

One way to get seats close together is to head to the rear of the plane when you board with your kids. That way, the rest of the family should be able to find seats with you.

 

[NotUrsula]

Generally SWA is OK with saving middle seats for family who are boarding later IF you follow three guidelines:

1) don't try to save anything forward of the wings
2) don't put stuff in the seats to try to save them (stuff drives the FA's nuts, so if you want to try to save, tell people who inquire that your children's grandparents are boarding in the next group and you'd like to be able to have them sit with you)
3) *IF* someone says that they want the seat anyway, immediately give it up without complaint. (FA's will generally turn a blind eye to middle-seat saving at the back of the plane, but they won't defend it -- the actual policy is first-come, first-seated.)

HOWEVER, saving middle seats isn't going to be helping you in these circumstances, because you have 4 extra adults in your party. You're really not likely to get anyone to believe that it will take 6 adults to wrangle two young children, so if I were you I'd just assume that you'll chat again when you get to MCO. You can always switch seats 1-to-1 mid-flight if you want a break and one of the grands wants to sit with a kiddo for awhile.

 

[brymolmom]

I have been on several flights where the FA's have announced as B and C were boarding 'No seat saving allowed'. So I'm not sure if it's just because they knew it was a full flight or what. So I wouldn't plan on it.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I will be traveling with DH, DS3, DS1, DMom, DDad, DB, and DSiL. Can we all board together under the family boarding or is that just for my DH and kids and then we can just try and save seats for everyone else? If we can’t all board together, could I at least board with my parents so they can help me get the kids situated.

Thanks, Erin

Generally no - during the boarding announcement they make it clear it is immediate family only. Can your husband help with the kids?

 

[pmdeve]

I will be flying with my DD and 2 grandchildren in JUne. I am traveling with them so I can help my DD with the children. Since I am not a parent, will I be able to board with them?

 

[goofy4tink]

I will be flying with my DD and 2 grandchildren in JUne. I am traveling with them so I can help my DD with the children. Since I am not a parent, will I be able to board with them?

Probably, but be aware that you may be denied. The 'rule' is parent/child...not grandparents helping out. Otherwise, where do they draw the line??

 

[tjmw2727]

I will be flying with my DD and 2 grandchildren in JUne. I am traveling with them so I can help my DD with the children. Since I am not a parent, will I be able to board with them?

Best to plan for no and then if you are allowed all the better!

If you really want to board together then either pay for Early Bird or check in at T24, to better your changes for an A boarding pass. A groupl boards before family boarding so your sure to be able to board together.

 

[NotUrsula]

I will be flying with my DD and 2 grandchildren in JUne. I am traveling with them so I can help my DD with the children. Since I am not a parent, will I be able to board with them?

If your DD is the only other adult and there are two children under 5, then you probably will be allowed to board with them if you don't make it into the A group; the normal rule is no more than one adult per qualified child, with a maximum of two adults per party.

 

[pmdeve]

If your DD is the only other adult and there are two children under 5, then you probably will be allowed to board with them if you don't make it into the A group; the normal rule is no more than one adult per qualified child, with a maximum of two adults per party.

Thanks for your answer. Since there are two children under 5 and only one parent, then I would qualifyas the other adult. Thanks again.

 

[bumbershoot]

Your best bet is to check in at the 24 hour mark and try to get A boarding. Then family boarding isn't even an issue!

Yep!!!!

I have been on several flights where the FA's have announced as B and C were boarding 'No seat saving allowed'. So I'm not sure if it's just because they knew it was a full flight or what. So I wouldn't plan on it.

I was just on a flight like that two Mondays ago. They announced it was a full flight, and like a PP said, they also announced that we needed to get stuff off the seats.

 

[funforfive]

Will EBCI guarantee a boarding pass before family boarding(ie A) or does it just get you checked in early, so depending on # of people signed up for EBCI you could get B's???

Trying to decide whether to do it or not...

 

[Dacky619]

Will EBCI guarantee a boarding pass before family boarding(ie A) or does it just get you checked in early, so depending on # of people signed up for EBCI you could get B's???

Trying to decide whether to do it or not...

It just checks you in early (at T-36 hours instead of 24). It is no guarantee of an A boarding pass, but I haven't seen any reports on here of anyone that had purchased it and received a B. I have noticed that checking in at 24 hours, it is much tougher to get a good A. I've checked in as early as you can online and received the end of the A group and early B's, but that can vary from flight to flight depending on how many people get EBCI as you mention.

 

[funforfive]

Do you think you'd recommend EBCI for us...2A 3kids(12,10,9) I will check in at 24hr mark(7am), but flight is showing sold out. It would be $50...hmmm

 

[Elmo007]

I usually do T-24 on the way down to MCO (Its usally mid week at ISP so its Emptyish) and do ECBI check in coming home as its more crowded and who wants to be in MK worrying if its T-24 or not.

I have always had an A and have had as low as A-16 which is the Lowest A as 1-15 are reserved for full fare passengers. In fact once when I was A16, I was the first on line and only boarded after the blue card medical passengers

 

[Hannathy]

Do you think you'd recommend EBCI for us...2A 3kids(12,10,9) I will check in at 24hr mark(7am), but flight is showing sold out. It would be $50...hmmm

Depends on your priority.

I wouldn't with kids that age because they could sit anyplace on the plane, we would not have to sit together. we could use single seats where ever so I would save the money for souvenirs or a meal. We never sit together because 3 of them want a window!

Now if you want to be together and that is important to you then I would pay.

 

[TDC Nala]

Two adults will be able to board with the kids (you have 2 kids under 5), but not the extended family. I think I remember SWA began cracking down on this about the time they moved "family boarding" from preboarding to between A and B groups, because they had so many instances of multiple adults boarding with one young child and grabbing up all the "good" seats in the front of the plane.