Southwest/online passes UGH!

[Pinnie]

I do NOT get up at midnight to print out my boarding passes on SWA.

I flew a few weeks ago from DTW to BNA and on to MCO. On the DTW to BNA segment, we got to DTW about 2 hours early (there is NO curbside checkin at DTW for SWA). DH and I were in the "B" group. We landed at BNA nad hotfooted it over to a kiosk and printed our boarding passes and got *A* cards 2 hours prior to takeoff.

On the segment home, we got to MCO 2.5 hours early (had a friend with an earlier flight). We got in line at curbside and both of us got "B" boarding cards.

At the gate, the gentleman gate agent was VERY strict about preboards. He busted one family when he asked the child her age ("I'm 5!") He told the family the child had to be UNDER 5. He also only allowed ONE family member to board with a small child, sending the remaining family members to the proper corral.

In additon, we was making sure ALL carryons fit the criteria for a carry on. This guy was GOOD!!!!

pin

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by momtotwinglesx4
Six seats in the rear that face each other? Tell me more!! That sounds perfect for a mom like me flying alone w/ 5 kids! Gail, you mentioned that they are removing these--would you say that most planes still have this set up, or most do not?

I have no problem whatsoever sitting in the rear of the plane, I just want all my kids by me! And, I assure you, my plane-mates do too.

I have not seen that seating plan in a couple of years. I would say, from reading, most are reconfigured to be three and three with no seats facing.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pinnie
I do NOT get up at midnight to print out my boarding passes on SWA.

I flew a few weeks ago from DTW to BNA and on to MCO. On the DTW to BNA segment, we got to DTW about 2 hours early (there is NO curbside checkin at DTW for SWA). DH and I were in the "B" group. We landed at BNA nad hotfooted it over to a kiosk and printed our boarding passes and got *A* cards 2 hours prior to takeoff.

On the segment home, we got to MCO 2.5 hours early (had a friend with an earlier flight). We got in line at curbside and both of us got "B" boarding cards.

At the gate, the gentleman gate agent was VERY strict about preboards. He busted one family when he asked the child her age ("I'm 5!") He told the family the child had to be UNDER 5. He also only allowed ONE family member to board with a small child, sending the remaining family members to the proper corral.

In additon, we was making sure ALL carryons fit the criteria for a carry on. This guy was GOOD!!!!

pin

This guy sounds like a gem and one that should be training all gate agents. Kudos to him.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by justhat
I tend to disagree about not allowing people to preboard, in Southwest's case that is. Since there are no assigned seats, without preboarding there would be many cases of kids not sitting with a parent, then parents and/or flight attendants would be asking people to switch seats, etc. This would take up more time than preboarding. Also, even if they just let 1 person accompany the preboarder, the preboarders would 'reserve' seats. When we flew from BWI-MCO and BWI-Louisville we saw people reserving rows of seats for family/friends, or possible even just in hopes of getting an empty seat in their row.

If people would get to the airport early, I doubt you would see children not sitting with their parents. Using a child to get a "I can show up whenever and preboard" is not right or fair to others who plan and get there on time. In the case of an infant, paying of course, with a car seat, I can fully understand the preboarding with the parents and the sibs, if any. However, boarding the entire family for a child that can walk is absurd.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by eljojo
So does it pay to print out your boarding pass at 12:01 a.m or do you end up with the same result if you just show up at the airport early? Anyone fly S.W. and NOT print out a boarding pass - how did you make out?

I printed a pass for Dee at about 6 am, he got an A pass. On the return home he got there about 1.5 hours early and got an A pass. The return was on a Sunday.

 

[justhat]

Today I will leave for my US Airways 3:10 flight at 1pm. We live very close to the airport so the latest I'll get there would be 1:20. Though I'll be meeting a friend for the flight, she's coming from a connecting flight from Boston so I'll have to check in, go through security, and get to the gate myself, with my 3 month old daughter, her stroller, carseat, and 2 small carryons. Though we'll be there about 2 hours before the flight, I know we'll hardly have enough time to make it to the plane, however with a baby who screams when things aren't exactly as she needs them to be, getting there any sooner isn't an option for me. 2 hours in the airport will be more than enough to get her sufficiently upset so that she screams (no, not just cries) everytime she's in her carseat on the plane because she'll be so annoyed that I can't hold and play with her by that point. If I were to arrive 2 hours before a Southwest flight and get a B or C boarding pass and couldn't get 2 seats together then people would have to get up and move seats, all of which would take more time than allowing someone like me to preboard.

Another example is that my SIL and her 2.5yo daughter are flying to meet us at WDW on Thursday night. The only way my SIL could come is if she worked all day on Thursday, but the latest flight for them was 5:40pm. She'll be leaving for the airport around 4pm, putting her at the airport around an hour and 20 minutes before her flight. This is unavoidable, it's either arrive then or not go (she could not leave Friday morning as the price was significantly higher). So while she will not be there as early as some may think she should be, she will not be getting there with the 'I can arrive whenever I want and get a good seat' attitude that has been described.

With very young children, the age eligible to preboard, it is not always easy to arrive at the airport hours before a flight. They get very restless sitting in an airport all that time (and if you're travelling alone like my SIL and I are you can't just run around with them since you have to watch the carseat,stroller, and other stuff). I'd much rather have a family preboard and have a child happier on the flight since he hasn't been cooped up in an airport all day than make then arrive 3 hours before the flight and camp out in a line just to get a seat together.

 

[ajksmom]

I have just re-read this entire thread and I wanted to add to it my experience with SW.
We were allowed to pre-board at BDL(CT)>MCO. We had purchased our tickets as a group of 11 and were requested to check-in as a group. During check-in we were told that we would all be allowed to pre-board.Riduculous in my eyes, my sister - her family and my mom were allowed to board with my family.There wasn't a need at all for that. However, that is what we were instructed to do and for other customers to have an issue with us doing that isn't alright. Let SW know the issues you have with them but don't take it out on those pre-boarding-we don't make the rules-we just follow them.On our return flight home SW only allowed me to pre-board with a 9 month old, that was a pain and until my DH boarded to hold the baby I was holding everyone up trying to install the car seat and hold the baby at the same time.

IMO, if there is a person in your family who is allowed to pre-board the family(immediate only) should be allowed to board with you. I don't understand why there is such an issue with everyone flying SW. We all want to sit with our families but because SW allows me to pre-board with my youngest I should lose the ability to sit with my other 2 children? When others arrive they receive their boarding passes and get to board the plane together, why can't I? We do arrive at the airport at least 2 hours early so I am not suggesting showing up with 30 minutes to flight time and expecting to take my entourage ahead of everyone else.

I just get the impression that people pre-boarding to get a car seat and child situated (and saving everyone time) are considered by others to be "doing something wrong". Please remember we are following the rules that SW gives us.

For those who have an issue with pre-boarders "saving seats" - I am a mom to 3 children and I want to sit with them all. When I fly in June if they instruct me to be the only one to pre-board with my 3 year old I will save seats for the rest of my family. And as you board the plane-whether you are alone on a business trip, or on your way to a great family vacation remember that if your family was on the plane you would want to sit with them also! I promise I won't save them for the neighbors, my great aunt whoever, or to try to make sure we have an empty seat for extra space. I just love my kids alot, we have a great time together, we only get to vacation every 3 years and we deserve to sit together.

I hope I haven't offended anyone. It is not in my nature to be that way at all. I wanted to give my opinion on these issues and remind everyone to let SW know when you have a problem. The glares you give to me won't change a thing.

 

[prncess674]

ajksmom

Don't you think that a family with kids that are 6 & 7 wants to sit with their kids as well. They have fun together as well. The only problem is they have to get to the airport early and join general boarding.

 

[clkelley]

"Note: Southwest does not allow anyone with children on the aircraft to sit in the exit rows and it doesn’t matter if they are with other parents or adults."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No US airline allows children to sit in an exit row at any time; that is universally forbidden by FAA rules.




I think what the original poster was trying to say was that if you have a child with you, even if that child is sitting with another adult (spouse/other relative) elsewhere on the plane, YOU cannot sit in an exit row.

Carol

 

[NotUrsula]

As to the "parent in the exit row" thing, I think Gail has a point; no normal parent is going to put the responsibility of operating an emergency door ahead of the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of his child. If an emergency landing happens, that parent in the exit row isn't going to be caring about opening the door; he's going to be scrambling in the dark trying to find his child.

I've said it before and I will say it again: I believe that the best solution is for the FAA to institute a rule regarding the proximity of adults to their children when those children are still in the age bracket that covers unaccompanied minors. The UK has this rule, and it is eminently sensible. Read it for yourself:

"CAA guidelines ask airlines to develop procedures for the seat allocation of family groups, particularly when a group includes children. It is probable that family group members would seek each other out should an emergency evacuation be required, an action that could adversely affect the rapid evacuation of the aircraft. Children should be seated where they can be adequately supervised by an accompanying adult in the event of turbulence or a decompression in the cabin.

Children, accompanied by adults, should ideally be seated in the same seat row as the adult.

In wide-bodied aircraft, children and accompanying adults should not be separated by more than one aisle. Where this is not possible, children should be separated by no more than one seat row from accompanying adults." (FYI: The UK's CAA defines a child as anyone under age 13.)

I know that Gail doesn't agree with me on this; I can live with that. My reasoning is that a rule like that gives an airline a clear safety argument to fall back on when passengers say that they NEED to sit together, and 13 is clearly sufficient age for a healthy child to know how to behave himself and not bother those seated around him. On an aircraft, NEED is about safety, and that is how such a rule defines it. Such a rule would also force airlines that do assign seats to make sure that seating changes do not separate families; it can be done by creating a software flag that will move those specific seat reassignments to the head of the automated priority list. Refusing to bend company policy comes off as poor service and makes passengers angry at the airline; but refusing to break the law is something a reasonable passenger really cannot argue with.

In my digging recently, I discovered that the only passenger with an absolute right to preboard an aircraft in the US is the first wheelchair user to check in for the flight. Regulations require that aircraft provide one on-board storage space for a wheelchair, but obviously, the chair cannot be stowed if the person is still in it, so that person has the legal right to preboard so as to use the onboard storage space.

We all know that SWA designs all of its own rules to maximize efficiency and reduce turnaround time while not compromising safety. They have to use preboarding in ways that airlines who assign seats do not, and that does put an extra burden on them to manage it better. Having the FAA give them a clear expectation of what they have to accomplish would help them enforce their own policies in the fairest manner possible. If you are an American and want such a rule, write to your congressional representative, or to the any member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation: http://www.house.gov/transportation/

 

[ajksmom]

prncess674 ,

I do believe all families should get to sit together. But if you have pre-boarded with "some" of your family and then watched other families getting to board together I think you can understand that it seems unfair to me that because SW has me board early to get a car seat installed I don't get that same chance. If I don't save seats near mine then other people pre-boarding or people in front of my children in line get to sit near me but not my own children? Now I can show up 2 hours early and not even have a chance to sit with them all.
I personally don't think it is correct to have to be rude and save seats. But it is less correct in my eyes to not sit with my family. Before I had my youngest son my family would board together and get to sit together, we never had more than an aisle between our family.
I think if SW had a better system about pre-boarding we all could sit with our families whether we pre-boarded or not.That is why I suggested (as others have) to let SW know if you have issues or suggestions on how to make it better.I know if I had the answers to make everyone happy I would give them up in a second.I don't travel too often but maybe more "seasoned" travelers could help SW with this problem.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ajksmom
I have just re-read this entire thread and I wanted to add to it my experience with SW.
We were allowed to pre-board at BDL(CT)>MCO. We had purchased our tickets as a group of 11 and were requested to check-in as a group. During check-in we were told that we would all be allowed to pre-board.Riduculous in my eyes, my sister - her family and my mom were allowed to board with my family.There wasn't a need at all for that. However, that is what we were instructed to do and for other customers to have an issue with us doing that isn't alright. Let SW know the issues you have with them but don't take it out on those pre-boarding-we don't make the rules-we just follow them.On our return flight home SW only allowed me to pre-board with a 9 month old, that was a pain and until my DH boarded to hold the baby I was holding everyone up trying to install the car seat and hold the baby at the same time.

IMO, if there is a person in your family who is allowed to pre-board the family(immediate only) should be allowed to board with you. I don't understand why there is such an issue with everyone flying SW. We all want to sit with our families but because SW allows me to pre-board with my youngest I should lose the ability to sit with my other 2 children? When others arrive they receive their boarding passes and get to board the plane together, why can't I? We do arrive at the airport at least 2 hours early so I am not suggesting showing up with 30 minutes to flight time and expecting to take my entourage ahead of everyone else.

I just get the impression that people pre-boarding to get a car seat and child situated (and saving everyone time) are considered by others to be "doing something wrong". Please remember we are following the rules that SW gives us.

For those who have an issue with pre-boarders "saving seats" - I am a mom to 3 children and I want to sit with them all. When I fly in June if they instruct me to be the only one to pre-board with my 3 year old I will save seats for the rest of my family. And as you board the plane-whether you are alone on a business trip, or on your way to a great family vacation remember that if your family was on the plane you would want to sit with them also! I promise I won't save them for the neighbors, my great aunt whoever, or to try to make sure we have an empty seat for extra space. I just love my kids alot, we have a great time together, we only get to vacation every 3 years and we deserve to sit together.

I hope I haven't offended anyone. It is not in my nature to be that way at all. I wanted to give my opinion on these issues and remind everyone to let SW know when you have a problem. The glares you give to me won't change a thing.

Personally, I have no problem with the preboarding of the entire immediate family if they have a car seat to install. I don't know how you will manage to sit with all three children since the seats are three and three.
I have issues with people who preboard with a lap child or people who try to preboard with an over 4 child. I have issues with people who preboard the entire family, uncles aunts, etc.
As to issues with preboarding a big group, I don't understand the reason for it.
BTW, I have let SWA know of my issues with preboarding.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ajksmom
prncess674 ,

I do believe all families should get to sit together. But if you have pre-boarded with "some" of your family and then watched other families getting to board together I think you can understand that it seems unfair to me that because SW has me board early to get a car seat installed I don't get that same chance. If I don't save seats near mine then other people pre-boarding or people in front of my children in line get to sit near me but not my own children? Now I can show up 2 hours early and not even have a chance to sit with them all.
I personally don't think it is correct to have to be rude and save seats. But it is less correct in my eyes to not sit with my family. Before I had my youngest son my family would board together and get to sit together, we never had more than an aisle between our family.
I think if SW had a better system about pre-boarding we all could sit with our families whether we pre-boarded or not.That is why I suggested (as others have) to let SW know if you have issues or suggestions on how to make it better.I know if I had the answers to make everyone happy I would give them up in a second.I don't travel too often but maybe more "seasoned" travelers could help SW with this problem.

Certainly not to be rude, but you do have a choice of airlines. If you want to sit together find an airline that will accomodate you.
I don't much like being separated from my s/o on flights. But, with SWA that chance exists. In fact, it has happened once, our fault, we arrived VERY late to the airport.
Open seating allows for families with chiildren under the age of 5 to board together.
From their website:

Prior to general boarding, Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children, and families with children under five years of age will preboard. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C."

Obviously, at this time, you don't have a problem. Unless they suspend the preboarding for families because the composition of the pax. list is mostly families.

A better system of preboarding would be to bounce the " this rule does not apply to me" folks back to the line where they belong.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by justhat
Today I will leave for my US Airways 3:10 flight at 1pm. We live very close to the airport so the latest I'll get there would be 1:20. Though I'll be meeting a friend for the flight, she's coming from a connecting flight from Boston so I'll have to check in, go through security, and get to the gate myself, with my 3 month old daughter, her stroller, carseat, and 2 small carryons. Though we'll be there about 2 hours before the flight, I know we'll hardly have enough time to make it to the plane, however with a baby who screams when things aren't exactly as she needs them to be, getting there any sooner isn't an option for me. 2 hours in the airport will be more than enough to get her sufficiently upset so that she screams (no, not just cries) everytime she's in her carseat on the plane because she'll be so annoyed that I can't hold and play with her by that point. If I were to arrive 2 hours before a Southwest flight and get a B or C boarding pass and couldn't get 2 seats together then people would have to get up and move seats, all of which would take more time than allowing someone like me to preboard.

Another example is that my SIL and her 2.5yo daughter are flying to meet us at WDW on Thursday night. The only way my SIL could come is if she worked all day on Thursday, but the latest flight for them was 5:40pm. She'll be leaving for the airport around 4pm, putting her at the airport around an hour and 20 minutes before her flight. This is unavoidable, it's either arrive then or not go (she could not leave Friday morning as the price was significantly higher). So while she will not be there as early as some may think she should be, she will not be getting there with the 'I can arrive whenever I want and get a good seat' attitude that has been described.

With very young children, the age eligible to preboard, it is not always easy to arrive at the airport hours before a flight. They get very restless sitting in an airport all that time (and if you're travelling alone like my SIL and I are you can't just run around with them since you have to watch the carseat,stroller, and other stuff). I'd much rather have a family preboard and have a child happier on the flight since he hasn't been cooped up in an airport all day than make then arrive 3 hours before the flight and camp out in a line just to get a seat together.

UsAir and SWA are two different issues. Do they even allow babies to preboard? Delta and AA do not. You have assigned seats, so there should be no issue about sitting together.

I am not talking about 1 hour and 20 minutes before the flight, I am talking 15-30 minutes.

Having had three children I do understand the restless nature of children. I also knew that the world did not stop because I had children. You learn to adapt and cope. And, you can allow them to move about, no one is going to bother your stroller, car seat or carryons. You are past security, you are fine.

 

[ajksmom]

Gail,

Thank you for letting SW know of your feelings on these issues. I know I have a choice about what airline I fly with. I used SW this time because at the time of booking they were the only airfare I could get out of BDL for less than $200 a ticket round-trip. Their pre-boarding policy also would work well for me (and others) if they actually used it. One time I was allowed my entire group of 11 to board with me and the other I had to board alone with my son and his carseat. Neither time was their policy adhered to.

I just think in this thread there are alot of customer complaints that are very legitimate and I wanted to remind people that the pre-boarders aren't the issue, they are doing what they were told to do. The issue is that SW doesn't always adhere to a policy that if followed, would result in a much happier customer all the way around.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ajksmom
Gail,

Thank you for letting SW know of your feelings on these issues. I know I have a choice about what airline I fly with. I used SW this time because at the time of booking they were the only airfare I could get out of BDL for less than $200 a ticket round-trip. Their pre-boarding policy also would work well for me (and others) if they actually used it. One time I was allowed my entire group of 11 to board with me and the other I had to board alone with my son and his carseat. Neither time was their policy adhered to.

I just think in this thread there are alot of customer complaints that are very legitimate and I wanted to remind people that the pre-boarders aren't the issue, they are doing what they were told to do. The issue is that SW doesn't always adhere to a policy that if followed, would result in a much happier customer all the way around.

IMHO, telling the company about it is far more effective than griping about it on a public board. After you let the company know about it, then you can gripe about it. LOL.

 

[ajksmom]

I couldn't agree more Gail.

So come on everyone please let SW know in a very polite way what you think. From my experience they always are affordable, the FA have always been great to all, they don't leave you guessing about flight times, so lets try and make it better for everyone and let them know what we think. All points made in this thread are valid and should be addressed.

 

[Julma]

We flew Song last year and SW this year to MCO. We love SW, but this time I will say, it seemed different. I got up in the middle of this night to get a boarding pass for our flight out of Providence. Not fun, right before a vacation. The preboarding was crazy. At least half the plane was preboarding! We had to line-up with "A" passes an hour before take-off. On the way back, got to MCO more than two hours in advance and got "C" passes, again had to get in line over an hour in advance and we were split-up. I will say at MCO the preboarding was not near as bad. Song was much easier. I will say the staff at SW was top-notch, we had no problems. However, they should limit people from bringing half of Disney home with them. I think Song and Jet Blue out of Boston will give SW a run for their money.

 

[polyfan]

Leaving a stroller, carryon, etc.. even past security is not a smart or safe thing to do. Just because you are past security doesn't mean that someone couldn't take it while you are chasing a child around.
Personally, I wouldn't want a child of age 5 or 6 to sit separated froma parent.

 

[mgilmer]

FWIW, I made a copy of this thread and mailed it to SW customer service along with my pithy comments concerning preboarding of hoardes of family members. Maybe they will read it and do something.

Mike