Southwest flyers

[mrocco90]

Hi I just booked my first flight on southwest for May. I will be flying with my mother and 3 year old son. I did not pay for EBCI but am wondering if I should. My mom doesn't mind sitting alone but my son defiantly needs to sit next to me. Is there a chance that my son won't be able to sit with me of I check in 24 hours in advance. I don't mind paying the extra money if it is necessary. Thanks!!

 

[DebbieB]

Hi I just booked my first flight on southwest for May. I will be flying with my mother and 3 year old son. I did not pay for EBCI but am wondering if I should. My mom doesn't mind sitting alone but my son defiantly needs to sit next to me. Is there a chance that my son won't be able to sit with me of I check in 24 hours in advance. I don't mind paying the extra money if it is necessary. Thanks!!

There could be a chance that family boarding is suspended. If you check-in exactly at 24 hours you should be OK. What you may want to do is get it for the way home, that way you don't have to worry about it while you are at Disney. If your mom doesn't mind sitting alone, don't get it for her. You could take an aisle and window seat, most likely no one would take a middle seat next to a 3 year old, then she could sit there.

 

[smellyia]

I've flown SW multiple times last 4 years with my DD and have always had Family boarding. One time I missed family and was one of last to board a full flight. There weren't two seats together but seeing as a 2yo at the time could under no circumstances sit alone the flight attendant had singles move and we had seats together. I wouldn't pay the extra $$. They'll help you out if needed.

 

[conniehar90]

If you check in right at 24 hours you won't have to worry about sitting apart. We always buy EBCI for the flight home because I don't want to have to think about it while on vacation.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Southwest forced my son and I to sit apart when we flew to Disney and didn't have preferred seating. He was 6 at the time. Yes, I realize that there is a big difference between 3 and 6, but it was my son's first time on an airplane and he was visibly nervous. I wasn't very experienced at flying either, having only flown on short commuter flights for business purposes and never with Southwest; I didn't know about their strange seating arrangements. The flight attendant was unhappy with me when I refused to allow her to seat my son halfway up the plane from the seat she wanted me to sit in and I was ready to walk off the plane when finally a single got up and let me sit across the aisle and down 2 rows from my son. The flight attendants had nothing to do with it, someone sitting a few seats away heard me politely arguing (I never raised my voice or got rude, though my mama bear was starting to come out) with the flight attendant and took pity. Luckily my son was seated with a man and his young daughter (maybe she was 8 or 9?) and they were really sweet about letting him sit in the aisle seat so he could see me and helping him relax and calling his attention to things going on out the window. Still, he clutched his stuffed puppy with a death grip the whole flight, I felt so sad for him. I really wanted to be able to comfort him. We will never make that mistake again, and probably we will never fly Southwest again either. Don't assume that they will accommodate you--pay the extra money if you can and if you can't then make sure you check in as early as possible.

 

[DebbieB]

Southwest forced my son and I to sit apart when we flew to Disney and didn't have preferred seating. He was 6 at the time. Yes, I realize that there is a big difference between 3 and 6, but it was my son's first time on an airplane and he was visibly nervous. I wasn't very experienced at flying either, having only flown on short commuter flights for business purposes and never with Southwest; I didn't know about their strange seating arrangements. The flight attendant was unhappy with me when I refused to allow her to seat my son halfway up the plane from the seat she wanted me to sit in and I was ready to walk off the plane when finally a single got up and let me sit across the aisle and down 2 rows from my son. The flight attendants had nothing to do with it, someone sitting a few seats away heard me politely arguing (I never raised my voice or got rude, though my mama bear was starting to come out) with the flight attendant and took pity. Luckily my son was seated with a man and his young daughter (maybe she was 8 or 9?) and they were really sweet about letting him sit in the aisle seat so he could see me and helping him relax and calling his attention to things going on out the window. Still, he clutched his stuffed puppy with a death grip the whole flight, I felt so sad for him. I really wanted to be able to comfort him. We will never make that mistake again, and probably we will never fly Southwest again either. Don't assume that they will accommodate you--pay the extra money if you can and if you can't then make sure you check in as early as possible.

Seating isn't guaranteed on any airline.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3226044

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Southwest forced my son and I [me] to sit apart when we flew to Disney and didn't have preferred seating. He was 6 at the time. Yes, I realize that there is a big difference between 3 and 6, but it was my son's first time on an airplane and he was visibly nervous. I wasn't very experienced at flying either, having only flown on short commuter flights for business purposes and never with Southwest; I didn't know about their strange seating arrangements. The flight attendant was unhappy with me when I refused to allow her to seat my son halfway up the plane from the seat she wanted me to sit in and I was ready to walk off the plane when finally a single got up and let me sit across the aisle and down 2 rows from my son. The flight attendants had nothing to do with it, someone sitting a few seats away heard me politely arguing (I never raised my voice or got rude, though my mama bear was starting to come out) with the flight attendant and took pity. Luckily my son was seated with a man and his young daughter (maybe she was 8 or 9?) and they were really sweet about letting him sit in the aisle seat so he could see me and helping him relax and calling his attention to things going on out the window. Still, he clutched his stuffed puppy with a death grip the whole flight, I felt so sad for him. I really wanted to be able to comfort him. We will never make that mistake again, and probably we will never fly Southwest again either. Don't assume that they will accommodate you--pay the extra money if you can and if you can't then make sure you check in as early as possible.

This stinks and I sympathize with you, but Southwest didn't force you to be separated. I don't know what happened; you didn't check in early enough, you boarded a flight which originated elsewhere and was full, etc., but this wasn't the airline's fault. When you buy an airline ticket, you should go to their website and read their policies.

Did you personally ask any other passenger to switch seats? There really are people who are willing to switch seats, especially if they see a child in distress.

Even airlines with assigned seating can change your seats without notice. It's a pain, but it's a good idea to keep an eye on your reservations.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

This stinks and I sympathize with you, but Southwest didn't force you to be separated. I don't know what happened; you didn't check in early enough, you boarded a flight which originated elsewhere and was full, etc., but this wasn't the airline's fault. When you buy an airline ticket, you should go to their website and read their policies.

Did you personally ask any other passenger to switch seats? There really are people who are willing to switch seats, especially if they see a child in distress.

Even airlines with assigned seating can change your seats without notice. It's a pain, but it's a good idea to keep an eye on your reservations.

You are right, I should have educated myself about Southwest's policies, but as I said in my original reply I had only ever flown on small commercial carriers for business up to that point and I thought that's how all airlines operate: you pay for your ticket and are given a seat assignment, show up at the airport with a boarding pass and sit in your assigned seat. I booked the Disney trip through a travel agent and did not know about Southwest's wonky seating arrangements, had no idea that I needed to print my boarding pass exactly 24 hours in advance of flight time to get preferred seating. I printed the pass the day of our flight (I have done the same thing when traveling for business and it's never been an issue) and so we were assigned to the last seating group, by the time we got on the plane it was mostly full and there were no seats together. The flight attendant was rude and not helpful at all and tried to bully me into sitting far away from my son, so I feel like I have every right to be upset with Southwest, as that is the company she was representing.

They didn't force us to be separated, but the flight attendant implied that we would have to separate or get off the plane (as I said we were in the last group to be seated, so they were trying to get everyone seated so the plane could leave). She did not ask any passengers to move, did not tell me that I should try to ask anyone to switch seats, and we were fortunate that it didn't come down to me having to ask someone to move, as I said a single passenger must have been watching my conversation with the flight attendant and took pity on me and moved so that I could sit semi-close to my son. That first plane ride was rough for him and I was simply sharing my story with the poster so that she could make sure not to have a similar issue. It was a bad start to an otherwise lovely vacation.

 

[mrocco90]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I will prob buy the EBCI for the return flight. On the other thread that was posted I read if you bring a car seat, they have to place you with your child. I usually fly jet blue and use the carseat but this year I was going to leave it home. If it guarantees ill sit with him, ill bring it again.

 

[DebbieB]

You are right, I should have educated myself about Southwest's policies, but as I said in my original reply I had only ever flown on small commercial carriers for business up to that point and I thought that's how all airlines operate: you pay for your ticket and are given a seat assignment, show up at the airport with a boarding pass and sit in your assigned seat. I booked the Disney trip through a travel agent and did not know about Southwest's wonky seating arrangements, had no idea that I needed to print my boarding pass exactly 24 hours in advance of flight time to get preferred seating. I printed the pass the day of our flight (I have done the same thing when traveling for business and it's never been an issue) and so we were assigned to the last seating group, by the time we got on the plane it was mostly full and there were no seats together. The flight attendant was rude and not helpful at all and tried to bully me into sitting far away from my son, so I feel like I have every right to be upset with Southwest, as that is the company she was representing.

They didn't force us to be separated, but the flight attendant implied that we would have to separate or get off the plane (as I said we were in the last group to be seated, so they were trying to get everyone seated so the plane could leave). She did not ask any passengers to move, did not tell me that I should try to ask anyone to switch seats, and we were fortunate that it didn't come down to me having to ask someone to move, as I said a single passenger must have been watching my conversation with the flight attendant and took pity on me and moved so that I could sit semi-close to my son. That first plane ride was rough for him and I was simply sharing my story with the poster so that she could make sure not to have a similar issue. It was a bad start to an otherwise lovely vacation.

Your travel agent should have informed you. Did you ask them about your seat assignments?