Southwest- seating issue

[Mother2two]

Good evening.
I am about to book our flights, but I am concerned. We are four adults, but my daughter has never flown. I want to guarantee she sits with either her brother or I. I see the SW won’t let you choose your seats until you get on the flight. How do families handle this? I would just pay more and fly with another airline, but I worry about the weather in December and getting stuck somewhere. SW is a direct flight.

Any suggestions or ideas??
Thanks!
Christina

 

[scrappinginontario]

Pay for Early Bird Check-in (EBCI) when you book your flights. You will be assigned an earlier boarding group and will be able to find 2 seats together.

If it helps, we’ve flown SW over 100 flights and can count on one hand the number of times we’ve sat separately and we’ve rarely purchased EBCI.

 

[gottalovepluto]

EBCI will guarantee it. And you won’t be stressed as all get out about checking in at 24 hours on the dot to get better placement for boarding.

 

[pooch]

I agree with both above. If you are willing to “pay more and fly with another airline” use that money to purchase EBCI. This checks you in and assigns your boarding placement 12 hours before people without it. I have NO DOUBT all three of you will sit together. Like Scrappinginontario, we’ve been flying SWA for over 15 years and have never had to split up.

 

[Dug720]

My parents have gotten late Group B numbers before (like B45 or higher) and have still been able to find 2 seats together.

 

[Captain UP]

Also, please be aware that Southwest has already announced that sometime later this year, they are switching to the traditional assigned seats model.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Also, please be aware that Southwest has already announced that sometime later this year, they are switching to the traditional assigned seats model.

Flights with assigned seats are supposed to start in early 2026. I don't think there's been an exact date from SW yet.

OP - Agree with others - purchase the Early Bird option with the tickets, and you'll have seats available to you to sit together.

 

[sponica]

We pay for EBCI. It would still come in cheaper for us than another airline.