Southwest flight with kids on the spectrum?

[trainingupmy4princes]

I booked Southwest flights for our fall trip and paid for ECBI. But when reading other threads it looks like ECBI can still have you behind family boarding and coming out of Orlando that's probably a lot of people. I have 2 special DS's (on the spectrum) that can't sit by themselves. They are over the family boarding age of 5. Does SW have a policy for kids that can't be by themselves? I did pay for ECBI I am just worried about a low B group and lots of families boarding. Will this be a problem should I worry?

 

[bumbershoot]

I know very little about earlybird.

But I know that I personally would not worry at all about being separated even when boarding in B. It would be C that I would start to be concerned about, because the plane starts really filling up then.

But even with B, I'd just plan to head to the back of the plane (for easier seat choices) and not worry about it. ("plan, but don't worry" is my motto for air travel)

 

[DebbieB]

I booked Southwest flights for our fall trip and paid for ECBI. But when reading other threads it looks like ECBI can still have you behind family boarding and coming out of Orlando that's probably a lot of people. I have 2 special DS's (on the spectrum) that can't sit by themselves. They are over the family boarding age of 5. Does SW have a policy for kids that can't be by themselves? I did pay for ECBI I am just worried about a low B group and lots of families boarding. Will this be a problem should I worry?

If you get a B, I would get early boarding for special needs.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sw offers early boarding for those that need adult time to get settled. Or those with any special needs. But I wouldn't be overly concerned about being separated from the kids. I have seen those in the early C group able to get seats together.
Your signature shows a 2 y/o.....will that child be traveling with you? If so, you may be able to have the entire family board together, in the family boarding group.

 

[JessM]

When we used to travel with my autistic brother on SW we would board with the special needs group. My parents had his Doctor write up a note but I'm not sure if they had to show it.

 

[DebbieB]

They may not allow the entire family to pre-board, it looks like the OP has 5 children. May have to have 1 adult with the special needs children and another with the 2 year old in family boarding.

 

[LynneIL]

We flew in April and I think they had the Early Boarding people board before the Family Boarding people. I think it was:

1. Special needs / Wheel chairs
2. A tier status
3. Early Boarding
4. Family Boarding
5. The rest of B and C

 

[Jestocost]

We flew in April and I think they had the Early Boarding people board before the Family Boarding people. I think it was:

1. Special needs / Wheel chairs
2. A tier status
3. Early Boarding
4. Family Boarding
5. The rest of B and C

Sort of. EBCI passengers aren't boarded as a group and this list misses a few categories. EBCI passengers are assigned a boarding number and board in the appropriate order. Here's a slightly different way of looking at the order in which people will be on the plane. Not all of these necessarily will be a factor on every flight.

1. Passengers who started their travel at another airport and are continuing the flight on the same plane.
2. Special needs/wheel chairs.
3. Business select ticket holders and passengers who have paid at the gate to board in any unassigned slots in A1-A15. There generally aren't many people in this group and they may or may not offer open spots for sale.
4. A-List frequent fliers (I'm never 100% sure where they fall in the order, but they do get preferential boarding number assignments.)
5. EBCI passengers who started their travel at another airport and are connecting to the flight. (They got their boarding number 36 hours before their original flight.)
6. EBCI passengers starting their travel at your airport.
7. Passengers who checked in at the 24-hour mark and started their travel at another airport and are connecting to the flight.
8. Passengers starting travel at your airport who checked in at the 24-hour mark.
9. Everybody else, in order.

Family boarding, if offered, happens at whatever point in that process the A group is fully boarded and before they start boarding the B group. Depending on the flight that could happen somewhere in the middle of the EBCI or it could happen later.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

If you get a B, I would get early boarding for special needs.

What is that and do I need a Dr note from the psychiatrist? Thanks.

 

[jmartinez1895]

Call SW and have them note on your reservation that you special needs travelers. This let the gate agents know ahead of time. You do not have to do this, but it does help. Once you get to the airport go to the gate agent, along with the 2 with special needs and explain your situation. They will give you blue preboarding pass. We are a family of 5 and have always been allowed to board together when pre boarding. SW is one of the best airlines when it comes to helping people with special needs. ( IMHO)

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

Sw offers early boarding for those that need adult time to get settled. Or those with any special needs. But I wouldn't be overly concerned about being separated from the kids. I have seen those in the early C group able to get seats together.
Your signature shows a 2 y/o.....will that child be traveling with you? If so, you may be able to have the entire family board together, in the family boarding group.

Actually my mom is flying back with the 4 boys on a different day due to school schedules. She was taking the youngest DS(9) and my 15 YO(he's great with him) will be with his other special brother(13) and the 3rd, who will be 12, could care less where he sits as long as he has his MP3.. We are flying back a few days later to have a little break from all the stress. We used to live far away from family until a couple years ago so we are not used to leaving our children with anyone. My mom is not worried about taking care of them so we just want to make sure the flight home goes well.

 

[NotUrsula]

What is that and do I need a Dr note from the psychiatrist? Thanks.

No, it is against the law to require proof such as that.

In the event that you do not get A positions, what you do is go up to the agent when you arrive at the gate, and ask for disabled blue sleeves for them. Explain that your sons are autistic, which makes it necessary that they be seated with someone who could take charge of them in the event of an emergency. They will be be allowed to board before the A group, with one adult. The other child will be eligible for family boarding, so you can board another adult with the other children between the A & B groups. (If only one adult is in the party, the other younger children will be allowed to board with them as well.)

If you fail to get A's and you want the entire family seated together, go to the rear of the plane when you pre-board with your sons. The odds are better there that contiguous seating for a party this size will still be available after the A's board, but there are no guarantees.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

Call SW and have them note on your reservation that you special needs travelers. This let the gate agents know ahead of time. You do not have to do this, but it does help. Once you get to the airport go to the gate agent, along with the 2 with special needs and explain your situation. They will give you blue preboarding pass. We are a family of 5 and have always been allowed to board together when pre boarding. SW is one of the best airlines when it comes to helping people with special needs. ( IMHO)

Thank you. I didn't want to take advantage or inconvenience other passengers which is why we paid for ECBI. But I will call and then use this if our ECBI boarding group is too far down the B group.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes SWA allows one person to board with the special needs person.