Southwest Newbie

[jhaig]

We have always flown US Air, but since their prices are generally outrageous right now, we are looking at Southwest. There is a direct flight from Rochester NY to MCO (never done a direct flight before), where before we have always have to make connections in Philly. Plus it leaves at noon, so no waking up at 3am to catch an early flight - yes!

I see on SW each person gets 2 bags free. Is this usually your carry-on and your suitcase?

What about seat selection? Is signing up for early bird worth it? Sitting together (3 of us) is important so I was leaning towards ensuring early boarding. How exactly will boarding work at the airport with early bird?

As far as an overall flight experience, I always hear people rave about SW. Why exactly is that, and will we be glad we dumper US Air?

 

[Spunky946]

For the luggage that's two checked bags per person plus your carry on luggage. You get one carry on plus a personal bag.

For boarding you get a letter and a number like a10 and you line up in order and it's open seating.

It's a1-60, b1-60 and c1-60.

You have to sign in at 24 hours and it will assign you a number. If you buy the early bird it will check you in automatically at 36 hours. You can then print them at 24 hours. You have a better shot at getting a lower number and boarding earlier.

 

[JessM]

I would absolutely fly SW in that situation!

You each get 2 checked bags in addition to whatever you carry on. It's a great deal and one of the reasons I love SW.

You can buy early bird check in if you are concerned but checking in 24 hours in advance should get you a B boarding pass which will allow you to sit together. Honestly I know a lot of people worry about no assigned seating on SW but I've always found it easier to sit together. Legacy airlines tend to change equipment and seats around so you never know if you'll sit together anyways.

 

[richmo]

Just a few comments on what appears above:

First, you'll love Southwest. They'll be your first choice after this and the direct flight is a huge plus.

Since this is your first time, it might not be a bad idea to purchase early boarding. You'll get a decent boarding position and observe how it all works so next time you can skip it.

A couple posts above mentioned checking in at 24 hours to get your boarding position, if you don't purchase early boarding. Unlike US Air and others, that doesn't mean checking in sometime inside 24 hours, it means try to check in exactly AT 24 hours out. On a busy flight, even waiting a few minutes beyond the 24 hour mark can be costly, in terms of boarding position. This is also true for your return flight, so be prepared to check in on a smartphone while you're in a park the day before departure, or give someone at home that you trust your confirmation and have them do it for you.

Related to that, an earlier post mentioned printing a boarding pass. You don't actually have to do this. When you go to check in at the airport, you'll type in your confirmation number. At that time you'll have an option to print out your boarding pass(es). No need to do your 24 hour checkin near a printer.

I've actually found that US Airways has gotten better in the past year or so, but I hope you enjoy flying on Southwest. Their staff, from gate agents to air personnel, have always been friendly and helpful and try to make the flight a nice experience for everyone.

 

[nkereina]

I've flown Southwest from both Buffalo and Rochester and never had an issue. They are almost always on time and seem to be among the friendliest airline with the most practical, realistic policies. They care about the customer which is why they have so many fans.

I always buy the Early Bird Check-In. It's worth it to not have to remember to check-in at exactly 24 hours, and we've always had our choice of seats. On our last trip to Orlando, we managed to sit in the exit row both going and coming home which is often among the first seates to be claimed.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I suggest that you pay a visit to Southwest's website. You will find clear explanations about their baggage policy, seat selection, Early Bird Check-in, etc.

https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/

By the way, not everyone is a Southwest fan, including me.

 

[jdb in AZ]

OP, you mentioned three in your party. If you're taking a child four years old or younger, you can do family boarding, which means you can board after the A-numbers, regardless of your assigned boarding number.

 

[nkereina]

OP, you mentioned three in your party. If you're taking a child four years old or younger, you can do family boarding, which means you can board after the A-numbers, regardless of your assigned boarding number.

There's been some threads on here that family boarding is up to the discretion of the gate agent. Since flights to Orlando see so many kids, the gate agent will often suspend family boarding, lower the age cut-off, or only permit one family member to board with the child. Regardless, chances are decent that with EBCI, they'll get A boarding anyhow which would be better.

 

[phillymummer]

I've only flown SW once, but I plan on using them from now on (I also used to use US Air). I love the fact that I don't have to pay for my bags. I am not the type of person to shove everything is a carry-on. The boarding process can be scary and sound confusing, but after doing it once it gets better. After seeing how the process worked on the flight down, I was no longer worried. On my last trip, I did order early bird for the flight down , but on the way home I waited until we got to the airport to check in and I still ended up in the B category. We didn't have any problems finding 3 seats together. On my flight down to Orlando the attendants sang to us on the tarmac- first, it was Proud Mary, changing the lyrics to rolling down the runway. Then they sang Leaving on a Jet Plane. I did have a bad experience with that flight home. Due to terrible weather in Chicago, my flight was delayed by 4 hours. But they gave us $300 ($100 vouchers for each person) as compensation. So that was nice. I don't know if other airlines would have done that?

 

[jhaig]

OP, you mentioned three in your party. If you're taking a child four years old or younger, you can do family boarding, which means you can board after the A-numbers, regardless of your assigned boarding number.

Nope, she's 15, but good to know.

 

[jhaig]

I've flown Southwest from both Buffalo and Rochester and never had an issue. They are almost always on time and seem to be among the friendliest airline with the most practical, realistic policies. They care about the customer which is why they have so many fans.

I always buy the Early Bird Check-In. It's worth it to not have to remember to check-in at exactly 24 hours, and we've always had our choice of seats. On our last trip to Orlando, we managed to sit in the exit row both going and coming home which is often among the first seates to be claimed.

So if I purchase early bird, can I check in at anytime between 36 & 24 hours and still have the same boarding position?

 

[BellsFam]

There's been some threads on here that family boarding is up to the discretion of the gate agent. Since flights to Orlando see so many kids, the gate agent will often suspend family boarding, lower the age cut-off, or only permit one family member to board with the child. Regardless, chances are decent that with EBCI, they'll get A boarding anyhow which would be better.

This. Also please note that they state with family boarding two parents/constitutes a parent, we tried to board with grandma, myself, DD and poppa... Poppa was thrown back into line!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

So if I purchase early bird, can I check in at anytime between 36 & 24 hours and still have the same boarding position?

No. Use the link in post #6. This will take you to Southwest's website, where all of your questions are answered. Come back and ask if you don't understand something.

 

[squeegee]

Last time I flew on southwest, just this past November, my boarding pass was electronic, on my phone - email, I think. I didn't have to print it out at all. I thought that was pretty neat.

 

[jhaig]

I've flown Southwest from both Buffalo and Rochester and never had an issue. They are almost always on time and seem to be among the friendliest airline with the most practical, realistic policies. They care about the customer which is why they have so many fans.

I always buy the Early Bird Check-In. It's worth it to not have to remember to check-in at exactly 24 hours, and we've always had our choice of seats. On our last trip to Orlando, we managed to sit in the exit row both going and coming home which is often among the first seates to be claimed.

We have never flown out of Rochester either. What was your experience with the airport as far as parking, security, etc?

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Love Southwest!!! I always do the check in for our flight down myself, exactly at the 24 hour mark. Literally sitting at the computer, info all plugged in, waiting for the clock to change the minute and boom, click! We've always gotten a B pass and never had trouble getting four seats together. We sit me with two kids together in one row and husband directly across the aisle from us. Works like a charm!

However, I do always pay for the early bird check in for the return flight. I just don't want to worry about it while in a park or at dinner or whatever. Just leave it to them to do the return check in. You can then stop by the concierge desk at your resort and they'll print your boarding passes. Super easy.

 

[Coogz]

So if I purchase early bird, can I check in at anytime between 36 & 24 hours and still have the same boarding position?

If you purchase early bird, you DON'T have to check in at all, the system will automatically do that for you. You only have to remember to check in 24 hrs before your flight, if you choose not to do early bird.

 

[Spunky946]

So if I purchase early bird, can I check in at anytime between 36 & 24 hours and still have the same boarding position?

No if you pay for the early bird southwest automatically checks you in at 36 hours and then at 24 hours you sign in and check to see what boarding number you have.

 

[nkereina]

So if I purchase early bird, can I check in at anytime between 36 & 24 hours and still have the same boarding position?

No. PP clarified, but if you purchase EBCI, they check you in for you at the 36 hour mark. You're paying for the convenience of them checking you in, and also the benefit of having it done earlier than everyone else.

We have never flown out of Rochester either. What was your experience with the airport as far as parking, security, etc?

We've never parked there as we have family there who drop us off and pick us up. But the airport is miniature. The joke is that the name of the airport is bigger than the airport itself. Have you flown of out of Buffalo? It's very similar, but on a smaller scale. Parking will be easy and security will be a breeze. You can walk from one end of the check-in counters to the other end in about 50 seconds. Very few food options in one small area behind security, and only two terminal wings. Even if you walked to the wrong terminal, you can walk over to the correct one in less than 3 minutes. No worries!

 

[kamcole]

We have never flown out of Rochester either. What was your experience with the airport as far as parking, security, etc?

I live in rochester and fly here frequently. It's a small airport and easy to navigate. Security is usually pretty efficient other than peak times a day but even then easier than larger airports.