Southwest Boarding Question

[imgointoDis]

We are flying Southwest out of Midway in Chicago in December. This will only be my second time flying in 17 years. I was and still am a very nervous flyer. Used Midwest Express last May and had a great experience, but decided to go with SW this time due to cost. I was able to let the gate person know I was terrrified, and she let me sit in the very front row. I know you can't do that with Southwest. (I don't think) Can anyone tell me what their boarding procedure is? Is there a possibility they can accommodate an extremely fearful flyer? Thank you!

 

[Luv2Roam]

You can ask when you check in.
I haven't flown SW for a few years, but I don't think their boarding has changed.
You check in at the main counter, where they take your checked luggage.
Then you go to the gate and go to the counter. They give you a plastic card with a number, in order if when you check in at that counter.
Then you wait for the cattle call to begin.
Most always, regardless of card number, they ask to board certain people first: wheelchairs, those with children under a certain age. (Which I am guessing the children cartegory would include most of the families when flying to MCO.)
Then they board certain rows. (Example 1- 12) And that's the free for all.
If it wasn't for the cattle call, I would say SW is near perfect, right behind Midwest Express.
I have heard of people saying they were traveling with their kids and still were not allowed pre-boarding before others. So maybe it depends on the flight, how they are booked up, etc.
No kids here. So I always knew I wasn't in that pre-boarding category.
It use to be SW would not hand out the boarding passes prior to one hour or 90 minutes before flight, from my experience. (I don't recall which now.)
But that may have changed since Sept 11, 2001.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

SWA is my airline of choice.
You can now get your boarding pass at the counter, the gate or at curb side if you check your luggage with the sky cap.
You will be assigned a letter "A" , "B", or "C". You will get in line under the sign for your particular letter.
They hand these letters out about 90 minutes before the plane is to depart.
Parents with children 4 and under are allowed to preboard. People with special needs board before the parents with young kids.
Only parents and siblings of the children 4 and under are allowed to preboard, grandma, grandpa, uncle, auntie and cousins are not allowed to preboard.
For more information I would suggest you go to this link:

http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/travelAdvisory.html

Hope this helps.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

You might want to double check times in which the A, B, and C passes are handed out. As far as I know, it's 90 minutes (soon to be 60) at the gate itself... and 4 hours at the check in counter and curbside. On my first flight, I checked my luggage 105 minutes before my flight, and got a "B" pass... on my return trip, I checked my luggage 140mins before, and got an "A" pass.

Because this is a new policy, I'm sure they are "tweaking" it, and so your best bet would be to call Southwest (or better yet, the airport southwest counter) to verify and whatnot.

Your best chance of obtaining the seat you wish... talk to the folks at the counter, there might be a chance you could pre-board. However, if you can't (which is most likely), try to get to the airport early, and get an A pass. Once you get that pass, go to the gate, and stake your claim as the first A person. This way, with the exception of the re-boarders, you'll be the first one on. If for some reason, you get picked to be screened... I'm sure they'd be happy to save you that seat.

Relax though... my past two flights with Southwest have been the smoothest flights I have ever had. Especially the last one, which was quite nice. Brand new place, still had the new leather smell to it... (Yes, it had leather seats)

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

If you are picked to be screened, you do get to board right after they screen you, while everyone else waits in line.
You can tell them at the gate that you are fearful and they may make accomodations for you, they are a VERY friendly airline.