Southwest Experts?

[gonemousin']

This will be my first time flying SWA.

Here's the situation...there are six of us flying together (no, this is NOT a "can we sit together" question... ), my DH, myself, DD2, DD5, and my mother and father. When we booked our flights online, we did it all at once under the same reservation and credit card.

In a few short days ( ), we'll need to check in online. I will need to preboard with my DD2 (just Me and my DD2...no one else in our party needs to preboard - this is not a "can my whole family preboard" question) and her car seat, but I'm not sure how to check us in online. When I do the check in part, won't it automatically check all six of us in, and assign us all the same category code (hopefully group "A"), since we share the same reservation #? Obviously, my DD2 and I don't need a coveted group assignment, since we have preboard...but if we don't check in 24 hours beforehand, the rest of my family would be impacted by possibly getting group "C". When I called SWA to ask this exact question, the customer service person told me to just not check in online...but, again, I worry that this is not ideal for the rest of our flying family!

Sigh...I know I'm making more of this than I should - I just want to do the right thing. Can anyone who has experienced a smiliar situation tell me what they did, or how this works? Thank you!!

Lori

 

[Figment2]

You can go ahead and check in on line. You will still need a boarding pass even though you will pre-boarding. Hopefully you will all get A. You and your DD get into the preboard line and the rest of your family get into the "x" line.

Happy traveling!

Cyn

 

[gonemousin']

Thank you, Cyn!! I appreciate your input!

 

[Tjkane28]

Check in on-line any time after midnight on the day of departure and you are golden. I have found that on-line check ins, particularly early ones do get an "A" boarding pass, although this may not be true always.

So glad it wasn't a pre-board the extended family or "can we all sit together" question.

Have a magical trip.

 

[seashoreCM]

New! Check in on line 24 hours in advance of flight time.

I am guessing it is possible for some of you to get A passes and some of you to get B passes, much as fetching fast passes for the entire family may result in the last few having a time window starting five or ten minutes later.

Riddle: Is it permitted (or is it proper) when preboarding with a car seat and child, to sit firmly in an aisle seat, giving the excuse to anyone else coveting that row "I'm saving a seat for my DW (or other person over 4) etc.".

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[gonemousin']

New! Check in on line 24 hours in advance of flight time.

I am guessing it is possible for some of you to get A passes and some of you to get B passes, much as fetching fast passes for the entire family may result in the last few having a time window starting five or ten minutes later.

Riddle: Is it permitted (or is it proper) when preboarding with a car seat and child, to sit firmly in an aisle seat, giving the excuse to anyone else coveting that row "I'm saving a seat for my DW (or other person over 4) etc.".

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I wouldn't dare!! I've already read those SWA threads!! For the $$ we're paying (or not paying, for that matter) for these tickets, I don't care if we sit in the beverage closet! But seriously, we have NOOOO expectations that all six of us will sit near each other. I just didn't trust the SWA customer service rep when she recommended that I NOT check in online prior to arriving at the airport. I will definitely be checking in 24 hrs ahead of time! Thank you all for your help/advice/heckling!!

Lori

 

[maccalovah]

I hope this isn't an annoying SWA question, but on your return flight, how are checking in online 24 hours prior to departure? I'm not taking a laptop or anything with me on my trip. I guess I'd just have to show up as early as possible at the airport and hope for the best?

 

[Lewisc]

You can have someone at home checkin and reprint your BP at MCO, you can ask at your resort or you can go to one of the business centers and pay to access the internet.

If you got a special child fare, unlikely since the internet adult fares are usually better, you won't be able to get your BP online. If that's the case you might call and have your reservations split.

SW isn't the zoo people think. Most passengers won't have a problem if two people save the middle seat in the row for a family member in a later boarding group.

 

[gonemousin']

You can have someone at home checkin and reprint your BP at MCO, you can ask at your resort or you can go to one of the business centers and pay to access the internet.QUOTE]

I plan to ask a CM at our resort to check us in 24 hrs ahead of time. Several DISer's have mentioned that they've good luck with this. If not, then, well...I'll be on the phone begging my sister to do it!

 

[dlrhine]

We are flying out on Southwest this Sat. Dec. 10th with Me, DH, DD 4, DD3 My Step Mom and Dad, and both of my girls will be in car seats. We did one reservation with everyone on it and paid with one credit card. Anyhow, I will be preboarding with my DD4 and putting in her car seat while DH preboards with my other DD3 and he'll put in her car seat. My Dad and Step Mom will board like normal however, every other time anyone has asked me if I have anyone else coming to sit in the seat I'll tell them My Step Mom or Dad is coming but if they want the seat they can have it. Most people don't want to sit in a row with a little kid. They are afraid of how that kid will act. I will be printing boarding passes I hope tomorrow morning at 7:10am, as that is the time our flight departs on Sat.

 

[gonemousin']

We are flying out on Southwest this Sat. Dec. 10th with Me, DH, DD 4, DD3 My Step Mom and Dad, and both of my girls will be in car seats. We did one reservation with everyone on it and paid with one credit card. Anyhow, I will be preboarding with my DD4 and putting in her car seat while DH preboards with my other DD3 and he'll put in her car seat. My Dad and Step Mom will board like normal however, every other time anyone has asked me if I have anyone else coming to sit in the seat I'll tell them My Step Mom or Dad is coming but if they want the seat they can have it. Most people don't want to sit in a row with a little kid. They are afraid of how that kid will act. I will be printing boarding passes I hope tomorrow morning at 7:10am, as that is the time our flight departs on Sat.

Oh, good! Glad to hear you'll be doing it the same way. I also think that's a fair way to phrase your seat saving for your Step Mom. And I agree...I'm doubting ANYONE will want to volunteer themselves to sit next to my DD2 in our row (and she's a GOOD 2 year old...no seat kicking or screaming from her...my DH on the otherhand ...just kidding). We leave at 7:30AM on Saturday...so we'll see you at WDW! Hope you have a great trip!

Lori