Southwest B26-B30?

[emmabelle]

I just got numbers B26-B30 for tomorrow's flight, are these near the beginning of the B's. I'm not sure how high the A's go?

 

[SDSorority]

I just got numbers B26-B30 for tomorrow's flight, are these near the beginning of the B's. I'm not sure how high the A's go?

This is the middle of the B's. A's go to 50 I think but the first 20ish are business class. I've never seen anyone board in business class before. If you have small children or someone that is elderly you may be able to board before the A's.

 

[1tufgt]

This is the middle of the B's. A's go to 50 I think but the first 20ish are business class. I've never seen anyone board in business class before. If you have small children or someone that is elderly you may be able to board before the A's.

Yeah with kids your able to board with the A's which is a perk when u do have kids since it doesn't matter what your queue number is.

 

[rgf207]

This is the middle of the B's.

Boarding is as follows

1. Preboard (Wheelchair, guests needing extra time)
2. Business Select (A1 - A15)
3. A16 - A30
4. A31 - A60
5. Parents with small children (Under 4)
6. B1 - B30
7. B31 - B60
8. C1 - C30
9. C31 - ??

 

[SDSorority]

This is the middle of the B's.

Boarding is as follows

1. Preboard (Wheelchair, guests needing extra time)
2. Business Select (A1 - A15)
3. A16 - A30
4. A31 - A60
5. Parents with small children (Under 4)
6. B1 - B30
7. B31 - B60
8. C1 - C30
9. C31 - ??

At CMH in Columbus, parents with small children have been allowed to go with the preboard folks. Not sure if OP has small children, but if so, this could work to your advantage. If not, even being in the middle of the B's should be fine with getting seats together.

 

[goofy4tink]

The previous poster is right on target. I have boarded with the business group before...it's very nice, but very expensive!!! Those that are allowed to board before the A's are those medical preboards or minors flying alone.
Those with children younger than 4 are allowed to board after the A group has boarded but before the B group.

SW policy is that families with young children board in between the A and B group. I'm not sure why one airport would dispense with this policy. Or perhaps this poster hasn't flown recently. I don't know what the circumstances were. SW ran into huge issues with those boarding first. Families were taking advantage of the priviledge, so SW changed the policy.

I have never seen those in the B group unable to find seating together, unless it was a very large group. But, those needing just several seats together or in close proximity to others, shouldn't have any issues.

 

[SDSorority]

The previous poster is right on target. I have boarded with the business group before...it's very nice, but very expensive!!! Those that are allowed to board before the A's are those medical preboards or minors flying alone.
Those with children younger than 4 are allowed to board after the A group has boarded but before the B group.

SW policy is that families with young children board in between the A and B group. I'm not sure why one airport would dispense with this policy. Or perhaps this poster hasn't flown recently. I don't know what the circumstances were. SW ran into huge issues with those boarding first. Families were taking advantage of the priviledge, so SW changed the policy.

I have never seen those in the B group unable to find seating together, unless it was a very large group. But, those needing just several seats together or in close proximity to others, shouldn't have any issues.

EW, yikes good to know. The last time I flew was October 2009 (the 13th to be exact, flying to FLL with a stop at MCO), so it must have changed since then? Everyone with young children were invited to the front to board first. Granted, this was only 2 families, and there were no special needs or elderly people that needed extra assistance.

 

[1tufgt]

EW, yikes good to know. The last time I flew was October 2009 (the 13th to be exact, flying to FLL with a stop at MCO), so it must have changed since then? Everyone with young children were invited to the front to board first. Granted, this was only 2 families, and there were no special needs or elderly people that needed extra assistance.

I agree if that's the case then there is a reason to check in ASAP so you don't have to wait till after the A's even with kids.

 

[ccgirl]

EW, yikes good to know. The last time I flew was October 2009 (the 13th to be exact, flying to FLL with a stop at MCO), so it must have changed since then? Everyone with young children were invited to the front to board first. Granted, this was only 2 families, and there were no special needs or elderly people that needed extra assistance.

Has since changed and family boarding is between A and B. It is on their website as well.

I think people get all nervous about this. I have had high C's and have never had a problem finding seats together but I always fly non-stop direct. I have never paid for EBCI. Granted, we sat further back in the plane but that is not a problem for me.

OP - you will still be able to find seats together.

 

[1tufgt]

EW, yikes good to know. The last time I flew was October 2009 (the 13th to be exact, flying to FLL with a stop at MCO), so it must have changed since then? Everyone with young children were invited to the front to board first. Granted, this was only 2 families, and there were no special needs or elderly people that needed extra assistance.

Has since changed and family boarding is between A and B. It is on their website as well.

I think people get all nervous about this. I have had high C's and have never had a problem finding seats together but I always fly non-stop direct. I have never paid for EBCI. Granted, we sat further back in the plane but that is not a problem for me.

OP - you will still be able to find seats together.

Yeah I just found the boarding procedure on the site.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the “A” and “B” boarding groups. If you have an “A” boarding pass, please feel free to board with that boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families with small children are easily accommodated together.

 

[bumbershoot]

EW, yikes good to know. The last time I flew was October 2009 (the 13th to be exact, flying to FLL with a stop at MCO), so it must have changed since then? Everyone with young children were invited to the front to board first. Granted, this was only 2 families, and there were no special needs or elderly people that needed extra assistance.

I'm pretty sure it changed before then... But it's still possible that the staff there was being kind on that one day. Just like I had a gate employee offer to get DS a can of water *from the plane* as we were sitting, waiting for the flight to board. Probably not policy, but kind nevertheless!



Those are not seats I'd worry much about. IF the business class is full, you're getting on 86th through 90th. But I've still never seen all 15 or so of the business class spots filled while in line, so you could subtract some from that 86-90. And there are still possibly 90 more available seats (depending on how high C goes) after your family boards, so this just isn't something I would worry about.

 

[goofy4tink]

EW, yikes good to know. The last time I flew was October 2009 (the 13th to be exact, flying to FLL with a stop at MCO), so it must have changed since then? Everyone with young children were invited to the front to board first. Granted, this was only 2 families, and there were no special needs or elderly people that needed extra assistance.

The policy changed long before last fall...probably 18 months ago. The GA were probably doing their own thing, so to speak. And that's the problem. Someone sees your experience here and figures that's the way the system works. But, then they get to the gate and they are told they have to board between the A and B groups, which could possibly upset them.

I doubt anyone is going to have an issue finding seats together for their families unless they end up with mid-C boarding passes. It just isn't an issue. Get online and checkin at the 24 hr window. If you are really concerned about it, then buy EBCI for your group.

 

[gmeh1]

That "new" boarding policy was in force back in 2007/2008.

 

[emmabelle]

Thanks everyone!


My kids are actually teenagers, so no pre-boarding for us.

 

[goofy4tink]

That "new" boarding policy was in force back in 2007/2008.

Well...time sure does fly when you're having a good time, doesn't it!

 

[emmabelle]

I'm here at Disney now and I was a little nervous when we boarded the plane the other day because I could only see maybe the last two to three rows on each side of the plane still open. It was a full flight, so that made a difference. My flight home isn't sold out yet.

I really don't want to spend $40 to buy EBCI for the flight home, but I'll be panicky if I get assignments alot higher than B30. It may not even help if I bought EBCI now anyways, since I'm so close to the date I fly home.