Southwest boarding number question

[gmeh1]

What???????????? I am travelling on Southwest in August and am now annoyed!
Wouldn't they allow a family member to check in their entire family?

If My DD8 gets a number at the end of the line, she has to stand alone?

They really don't reconsider this policy?

Obviously, I wont allow her to, but they cant find a solution?

No, she does not have to stand alone, you can stand with her at her number.

They do allow families to check in, it totally depends on how many are checking in at the same time.
If you are having some angst about this, opt for Early bird check-in for you and your family.

 

[gmeh1]

I suppose it would take some getting used to and I suppose I would have to see it to believe it.

Believe it. It is way better than getting an assigned seat and finding yourself beside someone who is taking up most of your seat with their butt, or with a fussy child or a gum chewer who snaps their gum (that drives me nuts). SWA boards fast and they are outta there on time (almost always). the boarding is very orderly and once you try it, you probably won't want to go back to the old way. The perqs already mentioned are well worth it.

 

[goofy4tink]

It is my airline of choice - 2 free checked bags per person, no change fees, rarely do they change the schedule, top rated in customer service, credit for future travel if your fare drops etc.

I actually like to choose my seat and after flying US Air this weekend i can say that SWA definitely boards quicker. I was in group 1 to board and could not get through the people in groups 2 and 3 literally blocking the gate to board !! Then we had folks sitting in 6 abc that belonged in cde etc. Even with "assigned" seats you are never guaranteed those seats and often when equipment or times change your seats can change (with some paid exceptions!).

Once you understand the boarding process it is simple and believe me SWA does not want to separate kids from parents - they also offer family boarding for families with children 4 and under.

All reasons why I love flying SW!!!

OP here. I love flying SWA as well!

The reason I have 2 separate confirmation numbers is that DD had a credit to use and I used rapid reward points. Gotta love free trips!

Well....that explains it. But hey, free is good. I'll go back to A59 for free flights!!

One confirmation number and EBCI don't guarantee consecutive boarding numbers, either. My DH, DS, and I had boarding numbers all over the place! I had the lowest number, so I boarded. DH waited with DS (who had the highest number), and they boarded together.

Very true. It is never a sure thing. But I haven't yet had a difference of 30 slots!! Maybe 8 or so. And, we aren't flying with youngsters anymore, so not really a big deal. But yes, you do have to expect there to be people in between you many times.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Count me in as a SWA lover. Love the boarding process, love scoring a great seat when I board the plane and love being able to switch that seat up until those doors close. Love the free bags (although I rarely use this perk), and love the employees attititude. Win all around.

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

Count me in as a SWA lover. Love the boarding process, love scoring a great seat when I board the plane and love being able to switch that seat up until those doors close. Love the free bags (although I rarely use this perk), and love the employees attititude. Win all around.

LOVE SW also ~ they have ALWAYS had the lowest airfare for us flying from PVD to MCO, the two bags flying for "free" is awesome, the flight attendants were stellar when my DD14 was younger and flew as an unaccompanied minor, the no change fees (and I have used those), and here's a good one -

Once on a solo trip to visit my sister in FL, I actually booked my flights opposite of how they were supposed to be , as in they should always be PVD to MCO going, and MCO to PVD coming back. Like an absolute idiot, I accidentally booked the flights the other way around, and didn't notice it until I was checking my flight to "check in online". Imagine my shock and dismay, not to mention the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach that I would be going nowhere instead of to FL the next morning. I called customer service at SW, and a rep by the name of "Sunny" was able to switch my flights to how they were supposed to be, AND at NO additional cost or fees! I was so thankful and relieved, you can't even imagine. I now check, double-check, and re-check our flights whenever we travel, lol.

When I check our family of 4 in (online), we often do not get close boarding passes - but always manage to sit close to one another, even if it is two and two. If it was really important for all of us to board together, we would just stand as a family with the person who has the highest boarding pass number. I suppose THAT would be the solution.