Southwest newbie, please share your experience :)

[disneycrazy2004]

Hello,
I just purchased 4 tickets for our family with Southwest! We are flying MHT - MCO nonstop! The tickets were a bit pricey but my son is having problem with the plane taking off so nonstop is what we really want. I am very unfamiliar with the no assign seat boarding and am a bit worried. I did not purchased the EBCI....should I be worried that we won't be able to sit together! It is 4 of us - 2A and 2C..

Please share your experiences flying Southwest and help me ease my mind. Should I purchase EBCI - it is more important to us to seat together than to seat toward the front of the plane. I would really appreciate your input!
TIA

 

[codimouse]

we are a family of 4. 2 adults and 2 DD's. We never have a problem seating together.
i log into my SW account 24 hours prior and do the online checkin.
never had issues, etc. we do not care where we seat as long as we are together. one adult with one child using 2 rows next to one another.
usually when boarding you will notice that more people are usually generous enough to let a family sit together in case it is close to being full.
dont stress. it will be fine.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

As long as you check in at the 24 hour mark (aka 24 hours before your flight leaves) you should get a high boarding number.

For example last fall I booked right at the 24 mark and we got A40 and A42. What that means is that we were in the A boarding group. So we went and stood by the marker that read 40-45. They begin boarding A1-5 then A 6-10 and so forth. There were about 40 people ahead of us. So we had no problems getting to sit together because the plane was still pretty empty.

 

[brymolmom]

Chances of getting seats together is very high as long as you check in right at the 24 hour mark. However, if it is crucial for you to sit together and it would ruin your vacation if anything happened (computer trouble at the 24 hour mark or similar) to make that not happen, then I would pay for the EBCI.

It's a fact that by flying SW, we all take the chance of something happening and potentially splitting up your party. Chances are slim as long as you remember to check in right on time (both ways), but they exist because unless you end up with a boarding pass A or B, you won't get many/any seats together.

I always prepare my kids, after we get our boarding pass #, for the possibility of MAYBE not all sitting together. For example, if we get high B's I tell them we might have to sit 2 and 2 together. If C, I tell them we MIGHT have to sit separately. Just pays to prepare them upfront. My kids are 7 and 8 though so likely a bit more of a deal.

Last flight I was on there was a dad and about 11 - 13 year old boy with him in the C boarding and I think the man was very surprised not to be able to find seats together with him. They stood in the aisle for a couple minutes, I think the Dad thought the FA's might find him something together, but there weren't any remaining. They finally took available seats, near each other, but a row or so apart and middles. So it always pays to be prepared instead of taken by surprise.

 

[Jaime4004]

We always fly MHT to MCO, nonstop flight. As PPs said, as long as you check in 24 hrs before, chances are you'll get to sit together. From MHT it's an empty plane, so there is plenty of room when first boarding. We are a family of 5, never had a problem not sitting together. Always mid to back of plane, never going to get up front.. I wouldn't waste the money on EBCI...

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Thanks everyone,
that makes me feel much better. I will make sure I check in right at the 24 hr mark. Not sure how I would do that on the way back though! Is there a place in the resort or around the parks that I could use a computer??? Our flight back is 6:40pm - so we will probably be in the parks around that time....any suggestions on how I can do that?
Thank you very much!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Returning home is really where EBCI comes in handy. If you purchase EBCI, SWA will check you in and all you have to do is print your boarding pass at the airport on your way home.

Otherwise, guest services in all the parks and the front desk of all resorts can check you in. Also, a trusted family member or friend can check you in from home at the 24 hour mark.

 

[Elmo007]

When I fly on SW, I do T-24 at home (since I have a computer there) and EBCI on the way back so I can enjoy the vakay without thinking about it. Also the return from MCO is usally more crowded as i go down midweek but come home sunday

 

[codimouse]

from info emailed to us after booking:

Each Customer will be issued a boarding pass grouped by A, B, or C based on when the Customer checked in or based on the fare they purchased. Customers may check in online at southwest.com, at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or E-Ticket Check-In kiosk (where available).

Prior to general boarding, unaccompanied children between the ages of five and 11 and Customers with disabilities who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft may preboard. Customers who choose to preboard cannot sit in an emergency exit seat.

An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the “A” and “B” boarding groups. If you have an “A” boarding pass, please feel free to board with that boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families with small children are easily accommodated together.

Because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, general-boarding Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C." General-boarding Customers who choose an emergency exit seat must meet all requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines.

 

[nkereina]

Haven't had a chance to read all the posts. When I fly Southwest, I never purchase EBCI for my going flight but I always purchase it for my return home flight so I don't have to worry about being at a computer 24 hours before I leave. When I'm home I usually can get to a computer. If you can't, then you should do it for both flights. One time, I was about 15 mins late at the 24 hour mark and ended up with high B section boarding positions, so people take the 24 hour mark very seriously. EBCI is worth the money, especially if you're concerned about not sitting together. I've always had low A boarding positions with EBCI.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Thank you everyone for all the replies. You have been very helpful! I did end up purchasing EBCI for our return flight, because I won't be anywhere near computer in the parks. With this, would I be able to print my boarding passes at the airport or do I have to do it at the resort before we leave?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Either, Or. It doesn't matter. If you have baggage to check, you can print them at the airport. If you are using RAC at the resort, they may be able to print them out for you as well.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Thanks a lot to everyone - you have all been very helpful!!! I feel the stress going down

 

[sturdy26]

Can I check in for my return flight on the southwest app on my phone at the 24 hour mark then just print boarding passes at MCO? That way not have to pay for EBCI and assure getting a low boarding number. My return flight is sold out.

 

[Rpsemont]

Can I check in for my return flight on the southwest app on my phone at the 24 hour mark then just print boarding passes at MCO? That way not have to pay for EBCI and assure getting a low boarding number. My return flight is sold out.

Yes you can. Although I have the SWA App to be be a bit finicky and not always work. another option is that if you know of someone who has computer access (a friend or relative who is at home), they can check you in right at the 24 hours mark, and then you can ask the front desk to print your boarding pass before you go to the airport