Southwest- seating issue

[EACarlson]

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

In the OP, it states December.

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.

SW starts boarding 30-40 minutes prior to departure. My recommendation is to be sure you're at the gate 40 minutes prior to scheduled departure, especially with an A boarding pass.

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.

You're advocating an advanced strategy to someone who is not confident in their abilities to deal with this situation.

OP, my recommendation is to pay the $12-30 each for EBCI. It will save you anxiousness and concern in the end.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Pay for EBCI. Some flight attendants are becoming more firm about no seat saving.

My husband flew out of Phoenix a few weeks ago and a man was saving 6 rows in the back for his family. The FA wasn't having it. On the same flight, the FA up front was not allowing a wife to save 1 seat for her husband.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

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

Nope. 2026.

https://www.southwest.com/customer-enhancements/assigned-seating/

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

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

She said December. You said "sometime later this year they are switching".

 

[pooch]

Pay for EBCI. Some flight attendants are becoming more firm about no seat saving.

My husband flew out of Phoenix a few weeks ago and a man was saving 6 rows in the back for his family. The FA wasn't having it. On the same flight, the FA up front was not allowing a wife to save 1 seat for her husband.

Well I certainly understand not allowing someone to save 6 ROWS!!! But, in all my years of flying SWA, I’ve never seen anyone hassled about 1 seat. I wonder if there was something special about that particular circumstance

 

[Minnesota!]

To piggyback - flying SW this fall and going back and forth on EBCI. We are flying out last flight on a Sunday night, coming back on first flight on a Sunday AM. Like, 550am. Blech.

We do not HAVE to sit together, but one of us has pretty bad anxiety at times, so it would be NICE. Thoughts? Need it? Can chance it with checking in at 24 hours?

 

[Mle8308]

To piggyback - flying SW this fall and going back and forth on ECBI. We are flying out last flight on a Sunday night, coming back on first flight on a Sunday AM. Like, 550am. Blech.

We do not HAVE to sit together, but one of us has pretty bad anxiety at times, so it would be NICE. Thoughts? Need it? Can chance it with checking in at 24 hours?

Buy EBCI if you need to sit together. It's a game if you wait and risk checking in at the 24 hour mark. You may get lucky, but you may not.

 

[pooch]

In my experience, if you check in at 24 hours, you’ll get at least 2 seats together if not your whole party. IMHO people (not directing this at you or anyone in particular) panic over SWA boarding policy. Frankly I like being able to sit away from the crying baby, overstimulated toddler, drunk adult - something I can’t do with assigned seats.

 

[Minnesota!]

Buy EBCI if you need to sit together. It's a game if you wait and risk checking in at the 24 hour mark. You may get lucky, but you may not.

Thanks, I always bought it in the past when we traveled with kids, but now that the kids have ditched us, we can survive without. Just would be nice. Was not sure with the funky (stupid) flight times, if it would be needed. Would love if they had an accurate count online of how many seats they had sold.

 

[Mle8308]

Thanks, I always bought it in the past when we traveled with kids, but now that the kids have ditched us, we can survive without. Just would be nice. Was not sure with the funky (stupid) flight times, if it would be needed. Would love if they had an accurate count online of how many seats they had sold.

Agree! I've flown SW into MCO about 6 times since January on SW and bought EBCI each time. Travelling with my sister who does get anxious on planes, late flights down and back. None of the flights were full, there was always an open middle seat on each flight - which was great! I probably didn't need EBCI, but if we were not close to each other (we each get an aisle seat), she may not be too happy. I would be fine sitting apart from her! But again, they were late flights and mid week, so that may have come into play. People who were in boarding group C were not all sitting together because everyone before them took the window and aisle seats, leaving only middle seats open. So, if you really do need to sit next to each other, you may not want to chance it.

 

[Dug720]

Some flight attendants are becoming more firm about no seat saving.

As they should. It is ridiculous that large parties were buying EBCI for one or two people and holding seats all around them.

And as for the 6 rows vs, 1 seat...it's all about consistency. If they let someone do it "just for one" when they say "our policy is no saving seats" then there's no reason someone can't save a lot. If they're consistent with NO then it's just easier on everyone.

 

[Dug720]

In my experience, if you check in at 24 hours, you’ll get at least 2 seats together if not your whole party. IMHO people (not directing this at you or anyone in particular) panic over SWA boarding policy. Frankly I like being able to sit away from the crying baby, overstimulated toddler, drunk adult - something I can’t do with assigned seats.

Unless they get on after you and the only available seats are close to yours.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Well I certainly understand not allowing someone to save 6 ROWS!!! But, in all my years of flying SWA, I’ve never seen anyone hassled about 1 seat. I wonder if there was something special about that particular circumstance

I think it depends on the FA and city. I have seen them say no here in Dallas as well.