Southwest Questions

[cl1067]

We will be traveling to Disney world over Thanksgiving. It is the first time we have gone over a holiday, we usually try to go when crowds are low, but my daughter is dancing so we go when the dancing is.

Since we live in South Dakota, I know there will be no cheap flights out of our airport for Thankgiving week, so I decided to look at Southwest. Tell me the good, the bad, the ugly please. We are looking at flying out of Minneapolis.

Also, when will they release their flight schedules for November?

Thanks!

 

[Jestocost]

Southwest is one of the most financially stable of the airlines and has many positive things going for it. As of today, their Web site indicates that their November schedule and fares will be available for booking on June 23. Usually they open at about 10:00 a.m. Central, although there are reports that they opened earlier than that by a couple of hours the last time the extended their schedule.

One of the good things about SWA is that they don't change flight schedules once they open for booking. That's one benefit of not opening up for booking until closer to the actual travel dates. Another good thing is that they currently allow two checked bags per ticketed passenger at no additional charge.

The big thing that differentiates SWA from most other airlines as far as the traveling experience goes is that they do not assign seats. Once you board the plane, you can select whatever seat you want. Boarding order is assigned in three letter groups--A, B and C--and number 1-60 within each group. They board starting with A1, then go A2, A3, etc. Families with children under four can board between the A and B groups if they have a B or C boarding card.

Except for A1-A15, which are allotted to Business Select passengers who pay a higher fare, the numbers are given out in the order you check in. You can check in online starting 24 hours in advance of your scheduled flight time, which usually gets you an A boarding pass. In general, you won't have any difficulty finding any number of seats together if you have an A or B pass. Things get down to pairs and single seats the later you get in the process, however. People either love this system or hate it. I've always had good luck with it.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Southwest is one of the most financially stable of the airlines and has many positive things going for it. As of today, their Web site indicates that their November schedule and fares will be available for booking on June 23. Usually they open at about 10:00 a.m. Central, although there are reports that they opened earlier than that by a couple of hours the last time the extended their schedule.

One of the good things about SWA is that they don't change flight schedules once they open for booking. That's one benefit of not opening up for booking until closer to the actual travel dates. Another good thing is that they currently allow two checked bags per ticketed passenger at no additional charge.

The big thing that differentiates SWA from most other airlines as far as the traveling experience goes is that they do not assign seats. Once you board the plane, you can select whatever seat you want. Boarding order is assigned in three letter groups--A, B and C--and number 1-60 within each group. They board starting with A1, then go A2, A3, etc. Families with children under four can board between the A and B groups if they have a B or C boarding card.

Except for A1-A15, which are allotted to Business Select passengers who pay a higher fare, the numbers are given out in the order you check in. You can check in online starting 24 hours in advance of your scheduled flight time, which usually gets you an A boarding pass. In general, you won't have any difficulty finding any number of seats together if you have an A or B pass. Things get down to pairs and single seats the later you get in the process, however. People either love this system or hate it. I've always had good luck with it.

very well stated Jestocost! I personally have not had any problems with their seating system. I do go on right at the 24 hr mark though to get low # A boarding passes and have been able to do so each time.
I will add that we did find their seats to be slightly smaller than the ones on AirTran. But for a 2 hr flight we made due. I'm not teeny tiny either. But it worked out alright. The FA's are great and friendly. I have been happy flying SW for my last couple of trips and will continue to use them. Oh yeah, and there's no baggage fees for your 1st and 2nd checked bag!

 

[Jestocost]

One other difference with SWA, which only applies on your way home, is that SWA does not participate in the Resort Airline Check-in service (except for a trial at POP). That means that, unless you are staying at POP or the trial is expanded before your trip, you can't check your bags at your resort. As of today, SWA passengers (except for those at POP) must take their bags with them and check them at the airport.

 

[Jestocost]

I will add that we did find their seats to be slightly smaller than the ones on AirTran. But for a 2 hr flight we made due. I'm not teeny tiny either. But it worked out alright.

FWIW, SWA's seats are generally 1" narrower than Air Tran seats, but SWA has about 1" more leg room. Not anything I'd use to separate the two one way or another.

 

[cl1067]

Thanks for all the great replies! I guess I'll wait until Tuesday. I've read some on the ding airfares, but I'm not planning on anything like that since we are traveling Thanksgiving week.

Thanks,
Christina