Southwest for Dummies, please?

[familyfirsttimer]

I have my flights booked and I just want to make sure that I know what to do since I have never flown SW.

24hours before departure, go on-line and print boarding passes (it is 24hrs,right?)
Got to airport and get in the line with our letter on it (hopefully A)
DO I need to get in the preboarding section since I have a 4 year old? and if so can DH me DD7 and DD4 ALL get in preboarding?
From WDW, have our concierge desk print retun boarding pass 24 hours ahead.
Is SW a participating airline of DME? Last time we just got our bags and brought them to the bus but it would be easier not to.

THANK YOU so much for helping a SW newbie!

 

[spiceycat]

sw is not participating.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/content?id=DMEBenefitsPage

but yes you have it basically right.

I don't think your child is young enough. I though it was 3 years old and younger??? could be wrong.

remember you need to be their early for SW. their planes have a tendency to take out sooner...

 

[katiedid0801]

DO I need to get in the preboarding section since I have a 4 year old? and if so can DH me DD7 and DD4 ALL get in preboarding?

SWA currently lets families traveling with children under 5 preboard, however others have said that sometimes this is not the case on flights to Orlando(Half the flight would be families with little ones). I've never seen families traveling with small children denied preboarding, but I've only flown to Orlando twice! Whether you can all preboard is up to the gate people, but you should all be able to get seats together as long as you have A or B boarding passes. HTH!

 

[spiceycat]

there are only 3 seats on each side of the plane. a family of four would have to be on 2 rows. - or across from each other.

I would make sure that he gets one of the kids...

however some people are much nicer than I am...

 

[familyfirsttimer]

there are only 3 seats on each side of the plane. a family of four would have to be on 2 rows. - or across from each other.

I would make sure that he gets one of the kids...

however some people are much nicer than I am...

LOL! Last year I was on the side with both DDs and DH was conveniently accross the aisle. Every time I saw hm start to nod off, I would nudge him or ask him to hold one of the kids drinks! Mean, I know. I think I'll negotiate this year, I gets them on the way down and the other on the way back!

 

[disneyczy]

SW doesn't isn't participating in getting advance boarding passes, but the will get your luggage when you land and load it won't they, or do we have to get it ourselves? We got luggage tags so I guessed we were good to go....would love to be sure aobut this !!

 

[lovesdumbo]

SW doesn't isn't participating in getting advance boarding passes, but the will get your luggage when you land and load it won't they, or do we have to get it ourselves? We got luggage tags so I guessed we were good to go....would love to be sure aobut this !!

If you put the DME luggage tags on your checked bags at your home airport DME will deliver the bags to your room in Orlando.

The concierge desk at your Disney hotel will print your boarding passes for your return flight but since SW isn't a participating airline you need to bring your bags onto the DME bus (the driver will store them under the bus for you) and check them yourself at the airport.

 

[PortieOwner]

Last time I flew SW they said no preboarding for families to/from Orlando, since nearly everyone flying was a family with kids.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I flew out Manchester NH in Aug 05 and preboarded with my 4 year old (it was just the 2 of us) both in Manchester and Orlando.

I flew out of Providence RI twice in May 06 first with adults and 2nd with 7 year old so I didn't preboard but I did see folks with kids preboarding both ways on both trips.

I have seen the agents tell aunts, uncles, friends that they can't board only parents, under age children and siblings.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

I think it depends on the airport whether they allow you to preboard with young kids on flights to Orlando. On our flights, they usually preboard those with physical difficulties and then those with kids.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I think it depends on the airport whether they allow you to preboard with young kids on flights to Orlando. On our flights, they usually preboard those with physical difficulties and then those with kids.

Actually, it depends on how many families with young children there are on any given flight.

 

[Debbie]

Last time I flew SW they said no preboarding for families to/from Orlando, since nearly everyone flying was a family with kids.

So, maybe we'll luck out and those of us without kids under 5 can preboard!

 

[TravelinGal]

So, maybe we'll luck out and those of us without kids under 5 can preboard!

Now, wouldn't that be a hoot! (I say as I'm planning an adult trip in October - I'd probably growl if I had DS with me - oh double standards )