Southwest Boarding with Kids

[ktate82]

I always tell people if sitting together is important, then buy the EBCI. If you don't care, then don't buy it. When people say they don't really want to pay for it, I get it, but if you booked on an airline that charged you to pick your seats or be assigned at check in, wouldn't you pay the extra to pick your seats to ensure you were together? When we travel with the kids (and sometimes extra family), we pay for EBCI for the 4 (or 6) of us. I have seen families of 6 or more pay for a few people then try to save multiple rows of seats while their families are C boarding. It isn't pretty as the plane fills, and it's annoying.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't know of any airline that extends this perk to veterans. I should have been more clear. This family was wrong in their assumption that based on his status as a veteran that he would get on first with the pre boarders. He did not. They not only were wrong but they shared their assumptions with two other families in the boarding area and it caused a scene when none of these people were getting a perk they thought they were entitled to (even one they only found out about 30 minutes before).

5 minutes of the most basic research could have prevented the whole scene.

Actually, yes, this is true. BUT...the military person must be in uniform. I can't remember if it's with SW or JB, but I've heard it announced multiple times. When flying out of into a NE airport they also board anyone wearing a Patriots jersey first, if it's a game day. Just can't remember which airline it was!

 

[mb187143]

Actually, yes, this is true. BUT...the military person must be in uniform. I can't remember if it's with SW or JB, but I've heard it announced multiple times. When flying out of into a NE airport they also board anyone wearing a Patriots jersey first, if it's a game day. Just can't remember which airline it was!

Active Military in uniform I have seen board first on several airlines. This man was a veteran and certainly retirement age (I don't actually know if he retired as a veteran). My brother in law is a medically retired veteran (retired with less than 20 years) and he has never been offered priority boarding on a flight. I don't know of any airline that offers pre-boarding to veterans.

 

[SaintsManiac]

i need to book a couple of flights (LAX to MSY then to MCO a few days later). Was all set to book the first leg on Delta then prices nearly doubled overnight. The other airline I am considering is Southwest, but am a bit concerned over the boarding process and the risk that the four of us won't get to sit together or even worse, not next to a kid each.

I am aware of the early boarding upgrade, and the flight isn't until 9/30. Is it a risk booking even this far out that we might have trouble sitting together? Don't mind where in the plane just so long as the kids aren't split. They are 8 & 11 so too old for family boarding, but too young to be sitting alone.

Alternative is United via IAH, but wanted to avoid a stopover if possible..

Any help from SW flyers is appreciated

I'm not sure what airline you're using from MSY to MCO, but for what it's worth it's not usually too crazy at MSY. You should be fine there if flying SW.

 

[Kaytie]

Actually, yes, this is true. BUT...the military person must be in uniform. I can't remember if it's with SW or JB, but I've heard it announced multiple times. When flying out of into a NE airport they also board anyone wearing a Patriots jersey first, if it's a game day. Just can't remember which airline it was!

JetBlue, at least during the 2015 season as part of their five year contract as the Official Airline of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium. Probably ongoing. Needs to be Official merchandise.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Any help from SW flyers is appreciated

Alas, if you want cheap fares, there are possible consequences.

 

[McNs]

OP here, nothing to update on our MSY to MCO flights on Delta (still on track) but I thought you would get a chuckle from the issue I had getting from MCO back to LAX for our Air New Zealand flight home.

I got a message the other day to call ANZ due to a schedule change. The Virgin flight that was due to leave at 5pm and arrive around 7:30pm for our 10:30pm NZ flight got rescheduled 3 hours later. That would have left us a grand total of 9 minutes to change planes - clearly not gonna happen! Complicating things there didn't seem to be many/any other non stop options on Virgin or AirNZ's other partner United. The nice person at AirNZ did a bit of searching, one option was via ORD but that would have been a couple of longish flights. Fortunately she found another option flying non stop MCO to SFO to chatch the AirNZ flight leaving there.

Good thing I always make sure I book these flights on one ticket!

 

[scrapquitler]

What age does a child have to be to family board & is there ever a time that they don't allow family boarding beteeen A & B. Taking my 5 yr old grandson & really don't want to pay for EBCI if I don't have to

I have been on flights from Hartford to Orlando where they skipped the family boarding because almost everyone on the flight had small children. So yes, it can happen.

If there are two of you, your chances of not getting two seats together are small. Especially if you head toward the back of the plane. We've had mid C numbers and still been able to sit three of us together.