Southwest Boarding Question/Advice

[Wood Nymph]

B 7 is early enough in the boarding to have no trouble getting a middle seat next to your seat. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[sam_gordon]

That's not saving a seat. That's someone who has claimed a seat, is on the plane, and is just doing something else. Saving a seat means you are the only one from your party on the plane and you're keeping that seat for someone who hasn't yet boarded.

So anyone who wants to save a seat can simply say "they're in the bathroom"? How does a boarding passenger know the person is actually in the bathroom vs waiting on the concourse?

 

[kamik86]

This can be an issue when a couple (or parent & child) comes and wants two seats, including the middle. I've experienced this.

If you read the rest of my post I said I normally find a seat with a solo traveler already at the window. When the business and A listers board alot of us are solo (most of the time I am as well for business trips) so have never had a problem finding someone that was alone.

 

[kamik86]

So anyone who wants to save a seat can simply say "they're in the bathroom"? How does a boarding passenger know the person is actually in the bathroom vs waiting on the concourse?

Honestly people saving one seat, especially when it is the middle seat, is rarely a problem. Its generally those saving 2 or worse more seats (so claiming rows they aren't even physically in) that I have actually seen people question and sit in anyway.

Now since generally they have the front bathroom blocked off because many times the pilot door is still open and blocking it there is only one bathroom so you can't really use that excuse with more then one seat.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for answering my questions.

To clarify, I did not mean they were given the wrong seats "by Disney." I just meant that when they checked in using RAC, that they were assigned the seats that were already assigned to me.

But, RAC doesn't assign seats...at least not to my knowledge. If they didn't have assigned seats already, then they would choose them at the gate. So, it would seem that the airline messed up. I've never, ever seen anyone be able to choose seats at the RAC counter. They just take the bags, and print boarding passes.

 

[HollywoodTowerHotel]

But, RAC doesn't assign seats...at least not to my knowledge. If they didn't have assigned seats already, then they would choose them at the gate. So, it would seem that the airline messed up. I've never, ever seen anyone be able to choose seats at the RAC counter. They just take the bags, and print boarding passes.

Yes, okay, the airline messed up. I did not mean it any other way. The seats were printed on their boarding passes regardless of who assigned them and when they were received.

 

[taychase1015]

So my 17 year old daughter decided last minute to come with me this weekend to WDW to cheer me on in the Dark Side Challenge. We are flying Southwest out of BWI and are separated in the boarding process. I am A-35 and she is B-7. I have only ever flown Southwest with my family when we were all together in the boarding process so this is new for me.

Any thoughts?

OP, Please let me know how everything goes. I will be flying with my niece out of BWI on Southwest in June and would like to know how check-in and everything went for you to give me some idea. We fly out at 6:15 am so I was going to stay at a nearby hotel and arrive around 4 am. Will that be enough time?

 

[Dacky619]

OP, Please let me know how everything goes. I will be flying with my niece out of BWI on Southwest in June and would like to know how check-in and everything went for you to give me some idea. We fly out at 6:15 am so I was going to stay at a nearby hotel and arrive around 4 am. Will that be enough time?

That will be more than enough time. BWI is a wonderful smaller airport that is very easy to navigate.