Southwest boarding

[maxiesmom]

You should give some serious thought to buying EBCI now for the flight home.

 

[Stefani P.]

You've already had some good advice here about your options.

But to help put your mind at ease, consider this: with the number of rows/seats on a Southwest plane, if you have a boarding number from A1 to B56, there is no possible way NOT to have at least 2 seats together. And that would require that every one of those first 116 people were traveling alone and left all the middle seats open. Improbable on any flight, virtually impossible on a flight to MCO. Typically, you have to get well into the C group before finding 2 seats becomes a real issue.

Steve

This makes me feel so much better. Thank you!!

 

[Stefani P.]

This. I was coming to say this. We were at the end of A/beginning of B and got 3 seats together behind the wing and every row behind us (10-15 rows) was still empty. You'll be fine.

Thank you all! I feel so much better

 

[danc18]

What they said! Number one, always get early bird check in. Much less stress and you will always get good seats together. For this trip, you will find a way to sit together.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I had called Southwest 3 weeks ago and asked about Early Check In. The agent said, "There is still no guarantee you will sit together"
He acted like is was a waste of $15 a ticket to add. So I didn't. I should have .

Neither the agent you spoke to nor anyone else at Southwest can guarantee seating together that far in advance. Since you got B, listen to what others have posted. You have an excellent chance of sitting next to your daughter, don't stress.

 

[EvilDrPorkchop21]

Whats the appeal to Southwest? I've never flown with them because there seems to be so much anxiety around the boarding from these posts. I prefer knowing what seat I'm in so I can be the very last person on the plane and enjoy every second stretched out in the airport ha

 

[goofy4tink]

I have no issue flying SW. Actually, I'm sitting at MCO now, waiting to board SW. I paid for EBCI, got A33. With B slots, you should be fine finding two, if not three, seats together. I buy it so I don't need to worry about checking in at the 24 hr mark. I always forget!
I figure it as just part of the total cost.

 

[mom2rtk]

Whats the appeal to Southwest? I've never flown with them because there seems to be so much anxiety around the boarding from these posts. I prefer knowing what seat I'm in so I can be the very last person on the plane and enjoy every second stretched out in the airport ha

I have no issue flying southwest. They are often the cheapest fare from our airport with the most variety of flight times.

Two other huge considerations: 1) 2 bags fly free and 2) you can change flights with no penalty or change fee (can even get a credit good for a year if the price goes down). Hard to pass those things up.

 

[Spunky946]

We've boarded in the high b's and still sat 2 and 2 near each other

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Whats the appeal to Southwest? I've never flown with them because there seems to be so much anxiety around the boarding from these posts. I prefer knowing what seat I'm in so I can be the very last person on the plane and enjoy every second stretched out in the airport ha

I like the price.
I like that you can check 2 bags free of charge. (I only ever check one but still it's free unlike other airlines)
Generally there's no hidden fees.
I like the service i receive.
They have a number of flight times to choose from throughout the day.
I LIKE open seating.

 

[Boopuff]

Never had trouble getting seats together in the B group. As others said just head to the rear of the plane. Lots to choose from. In fact we've had some "late" B group and still sat together (granted it was at the far rear of the plane) but it worked out!

 

[DebbieB]

You've already had some good advice here about your options.

But to help put your mind at ease, consider this: with the number of rows/seats on a Southwest plane, if you have a boarding number from A1 to B56, there is no possible way NOT to have at least 2 seats together. And that would require that every one of those first 116 people were traveling alone and left all the middle seats open. Improbable on any flight, virtually impossible on a flight to MCO. Typically, you have to get well into the C group before finding 2 seats becomes a real issue.

Steve

Other factors are medical preboards and family boarding. Today I was flying back from Orlando and was sitting at the gate next to a group (family?) of 8 or 10. I heard them comment that the all had C numbers. 4 of the people were a couple and 2 kids. The mom said they would get on with family boarding and save seats for the rest. That complicates your formula. I had EBCI with A17 so I don't know if there were issues, I scouted out an exit row seat.

 

[Fangorn]

Other factors are medical preboards and family boarding. Today I was flying back from Orlando and was sitting at the gate next to a group (family?) of 8 or 10. I heard them comment that the all had C numbers. 4 of the people were a couple and 2 kids. The mom said they would get on with family boarding and save seats for the rest. That complicates your formula. I had EBCI with A17 so I don't know if there were issues, I scouted out an exit row seat.

It does, and I recognize that this is an unknown that could bring the break even point closer in, but that family of 8 or 10 will be sitting together, so they aren't actually causing as much havoc to the calculation as 8 to 10 single riders would. Also, the number of Business Select passengers (A1-A15) is rarely the full complement of 15 - particularly on Orlando flights. So while both of these things are unknown for any given flight,, the two things will tend, in the long haul, to cancel each other out. Also in my formula I haven't counted the row of seats in the exit row that only have 2 seats on each side. That actually makes my calculation a tad more on the conservative side.

There are no guarantees as to the exact point where getting 2 seats together becomes an impossibility, - there are just too many unknowns - but it's pretty safe to say that in nearly all cases, it won't happen until you get into the C boarding group.

Not trying to be definitive. Just trying to help the OP from unnecessarily stressing one this.

At 6'6", I always try to snag an exit row myself. Makes for a more comfortable trip.

Steve

 

[Stefani P.]

Update!!

I had no issue getting seats together with mid B boarding.

 

[hsmamato2]

excellent.... most "B" boarders can find seats together....usually farther back on plane. Even most C boarders can find seats togther....as for pp's question about why SWA? SO many reasons.... good prices, easy points, BEST refund options for change/etc in the business..... well worth the small 'check in at 24' hassle...... I usually always get ebci for my return flight.... so i don't forget

 

[Jestocost]

You've already had some good advice here about your options.

But to help put your mind at ease, consider this: with the number of rows/seats on a Southwest plane, if you have a boarding number from A1 to B56, there is no possible way NOT to have at least 2 seats together. And that would require that every one of those first 116 people were traveling alone and left all the middle seats open. Improbable on any flight, virtually impossible on a flight to MCO. Typically, you have to get well into the C group before finding 2 seats becomes a real issue.

Steve

I didn't want to post earlier and freak out the OP but this answer is somewhat incomplete as it ignores the potential for passengers who are staying on the plane if it started its route at another airport and was making a stop where you are boarding. On any given flight you could have some or all of these factors in play, in order of who will be on the plane:

1. Passengers continuing on the flight who started earlier at another airport.
2. Medical preboards
3. Business select ticket holders and others who purchase A1-A15 boarding
4. Passengers who purchased EBCI and are connecting at the airport after starting their travel earlier in the day
5. Passengers who purchased EBCI and are starting their travel at the airport
6. Passengers who checked in at 24 hours and are connecting at the airport after starting their travel earlier in the day
7. Passengers who checked in at 24 hours and are starting their travel at the airport

At some points in the 4-7 range, at the end of the A group, they also may board families and A-List frequent fliers who have B group and higher boarding numbers.

 

[Lynzer4]

I would suggest going ahead and buying Early Bird for your flight home so you don't have to worry and so you are checked in.

If you go online and input your flight confirmation (or you can call) you can add it for just one way.

 

[kamik86]

I didn't want to post earlier and freak out the OP but this answer is somewhat incomplete as it ignores the potential for passengers who are staying on the plane if it started its route at another airport and was making a stop where you are boarding. On any given flight you could have some or all of these factors in play, in order of who will be on the plane:

1. Passengers continuing on the flight who started earlier at another airport.
2. Medical preboards
3. Business select ticket holders and others who purchase A1-A15 boarding
4. Passengers who purchased EBCI and are connecting at the airport after starting their travel earlier in the day
5. Passengers who purchased EBCI and are starting their travel at the airport
6. Passengers who checked in at 24 hours and are connecting at the airport after starting their travel earlier in the day
7. Passengers who checked in at 24 hours and are starting their travel at the airport

At some points in the 4-7 range, at the end of the A group, they also may board families and A-List frequent fliers who have B group and higher boarding numbers.

I was going to post this.

I have seen flights with 30 medical preboards especially around this time of year from colder states to warm ones (snowbirds).
Flights from BWI or Midway I have seen (due to a list I have had low enough numbers to have an idea of how many boarded before me) 15-20 people be on the plane already.

Then add in a bunch of kids (you are going to MCO after all) and its possible to not get seats together in B.

However its very rare.

The general ruleof thumb for southwest is that A means Anywhere, B means Back, C means center seat.

 

[danc18]

I like the price.
I like that you can check 2 bags free of charge. (I only ever check one but still it's free unlike other airlines)
Generally there's no hidden fees.
I like the service i receive.
They have a number of flight times to choose from throughout the day.
I LIKE open seating.

Ditto. I'd add that if your ticket price goes down, you can rebook at the lower price and bank the credit for future flights. Also, they use full size planes with plently of seat padding and legroom. No puddle jumpers! I would even pay extra these days to avoid regional airlines but SW is usually as low as any with proper planning. I encourage people to add EBCI and try it, the boarding process is different but never an issue with EBCI.

 

[bffdisney]

FYI, the earlier you buy early bird check in, the better number you get. So if you think you will buy it, get it right when you decide.