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.

 

[Captain UP]

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.

Well, the OP didn't say when she was going so I figured it was worth pointing out.

 

[nephykupo]

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

You could keep an eye on how full the plane gets too. Price increase plus pretending to purchase a large amount of tickets for the flight you purchased(to see if there are enough seats).

 

[clh2]

I absolutely would do the EBCI seating. Then you don’t need to worry about login in at the 24-hour mark to get your boarding position. The extra expense is worth it for me!

Plus, now that they are charging for baggage (unless someone in your party has their credit card), if you are doing carryon luggage, it will be easier to find room in the overhead bins if you have EBCI.

 

[WinterSolider]

I'll provide the counter-argument.

Early Bird Check-in is fine if you absolutely need that peace of mind, but in my opinion it's unnecessary. We've flown Southwest about 15 times as a family of 3, 4, and 5 and we've always found seats together without any trouble.

 

[hrhdhd]

If all you need are two seats together, you'll be fine without EBCI.

 

[Lewisc]

Get to the airport early. SW starts boarding 20-30 minutes prior to departure. Your A BP won't help if you arrive at the gate near the end of boarding.

 

[focusondisney]

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

Well, the OP didn't say when she was going so I figured it was worth pointing out.

She said she’s about to book tickets now. SW has said booking will start sometime in the 2nd half of 2025 for assigned seating on flights in 2026. So anyone buying tickets for flights that are available to book now won’t be affected by assigned seating.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If all you need are two seats together, you'll be fine without EBCI.

The OP sounds rather anxious around the idea that they would all be split up. It seems well worth a few extra dollars for the EB to make sure they're on the plane with seats still available together. If they forget to check in right at 24 hours and get a mid/late-C assignment on a full plane, it might be very stressful for them, and they might not get the seating they want.....

 

[Average Joes]

Book two EBCI seats. The other two could book standard separately.

The two with EBCI can pick their seats closer to the rear together. The other two in standard should keep refreshing the SW App in the minute before the 24 hour check-in. Those two should get half-decent enough boarding priority to be able to sit near or with the two with EBCI since the front fills up faster.

Yes, you will probably be able to sit with her without EBCI but it is still a risk. I had some technical issues last May and was 5 minutes late checking-in resulting in a less than ideal boarding position. Our 13 yr old sat with my wife but it was a close thing. My 17 yr old and I were solo albeit I was behind her. We knew the kids would be fine 'alone' but that is not for everyone.

 

[hrhdhd]

The OP sounds rather anxious around the idea that they would all be split up. It seems well worth a few extra dollars for the EB to make sure they're on the plane with seats still available together. If they forget to check in right at 24 hours and get a mid/late-C assignment on a full plane, it might be very stressful for them, and they might not get the seating they want.....

"I want to guarantee she sits with either her brother or I [sic]."

That's two seats together.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

"I want to guarantee she sits with either her brother or I [sic]."

That's two seats together.

Agreed. If they get a late boarding assignment, it's not unusual that only middle seats are left. It might work out OK for them, or it might not. Since it sounds like OP isn't totally familiar with the SW process, EB is a less stressful approach. Without EB, it might work out for them. With EB, it definitely will work out for them. Heck, with EB, it's possible they could board early enough to grab 4 seats in the same row - not the stated goal, but probably a nicer way for them to fly.

 

[pooch]

I'll provide the counter-argument.

Early Bird Check-in is fine if you absolutely need that peace of mind, but in my opinion it's unnecessary. We've flown Southwest about 15 times as a family of 3, 4, and 5 and we've always found seats together without any trouble.

If all you need are two seats together, you'll be fine without EBCI.

I agree with both of these statements and,except for the free ones I get with the SWA CC, I never buy it. But I am familiar with and confident in the system. OP is nervous about it and I think the added cost to ease her concerns is totally worth it.