Southwest seating ?

[jtdl]

SW has the best price for my dates but after reading some posts and finding out that they do not have preassigned seating I am leary of booking with them. Is there no guarantee that families with young children will be able to sit together? The A,B,C boarding passes - are they randomly generated? I will be travelling with my two children and it would not be a pretty situation if we were not able to sit together.

 

[jtdl]

I just checked and Northwest has flights at basically the same times as I was going to choose with SW for exactly the same price - so I think I will go with Northwest - they do have the preboarding seating I hope?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Outbound, log in to Southwest.com 24 hours before your flight's departure and check in.

You should get "A" boarding passes.

If you get "B" boarding passes, it is EXTREMELY likely you WILL still all be able to get seats together (unless your flight started elsewhere).

Returning, you can get help checking in 24 hours in advance from (a) Lobby Concierge at your resort; (b) Guest Services at any park; (c) your own web-accessible mobile phone; (d) someone back home with computer access 24 hours before your return flight.

IF at least one of your children is four or under, no matter what letter you have you will be able to 'preboard' AFTER the passengers with "A" boarding passes (or, if you have those, you naturally board WITH your group).

If you are concerned with not being able to randomly sit together, do NOT choose Southwest.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Granted I've only flown them twice, but I've got to figure that if some stranger has the option of sitting elsewhere or sitting next to a 1-yr. old without her momma in sight, he's gonna choose to move

Also, southwest lets you change flights without penalty-Northwest charges something like $75 per ticket.

 

[Jestocost]

I just checked and Northwest has flights at basically the same times as I was going to choose with SW for exactly the same price - so I think I will go with Northwest - they do have the preboarding seating I hope?

Most airlines other than SW have done away with preboarding; except for passengers with disabilities. I don't fly NW often enough to know if they still do it or not. Preboarding is not an issue with regard to getting seats together on NW, however, which has assigned seats. As long as you have seats booked together you will sit together, barring some major booking snafu (which is rare, but not unheard of). The only problem you can find boarding late on a flight with assigned seats is a lack of overhead storage capacity for carry on bags.

SW now "preboards" families with small children after the A group boards. There almost always are still plenty of seats available together then, although not 100 percent of the time. The A, B and C groups are not assigned at random, but based on the order in which you check in. As has been noted, advance check-in is available 24 hours before your flight time and usually will get an A pass if you do check in then.

 

[jtdl]

Preboarding is not an issue with regard to getting seats together on NW, however, which has assigned seats. As long as you have seats booked together you will sit together, barring some major booking snafu (which is rare, but not unheard of). The only problem you can find boarding late on a flight with assigned seats is a lack of overhead storage capacity for carry on bags.

Sorry, that's what I meant - getting your seats assigned before boarding. I have never heard of just picking a seat when you board the plane.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry, that's what I meant - getting your seats assigned before boarding. I have never heard of just picking a seat when you board the plane.

SW has always done business this way. When their fares were really low, most people didn't mind the issue of non-assigned seating. But, now that fares are creeping up closer to the other carriers, people aren't so liable to be happy with trying to get seats together for their family. Not having assigned seating was the price you paid for those great fares.

However, I certainly don't recommend anyone's counting on the kindness of strangers when trying to keep your family together on a SW flight. If you get online early, you should have no trouble getting an A, or a B, group. I remember one time, flying on SW, when a woman and her young son, were meandering around the airport terminal, in the gate area. She didn't board until final call had been made. Now, she may have had an issue, I don't know. But, she insisted on being seated next to her son, but it was a full flight. The FA made an announcement that the plane was not going to leave the gate until someone switched seats so she could sit with her son. Fair? Not really. All those other people had done what they were supposed to do..they had stood in line, within their particular group. But, not this woman..nope, she decided she wanted to board at the last minute but still be seated with her son. A couple finally did give up their seats but they then had to be seated in different areas of the plane, rather than sit together. But, at least the plane could take off. So...don't count on the old 'well, no one will want to sit next to my child' mentality. People on the flight may not be so inclined.

 

[vacation dreamer]

SW has the best price for my dates but after reading some posts and finding out that they do not have preassigned seating I am leary of booking with them. Is there no guarantee that families with young children will be able to sit together? The A,B,C boarding passes - are they randomly generated? I will be travelling with my two children and it would not be a pretty situation if we were not able to sit together.

If for some reason you can not get 3 seats together the FA will do what they can to sit you with your children. They would not let your young children sit alone. I have been on flights where they have made an annoucement for 2 seats together and would anyone move to help and there are always volunteers.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Is there no guarantee that families with young children will be able to sit together?

Just remember that if you are coming from WDW, there are lots of people with young children.

We've never had a problem sitting together with an A or B borading pass.

 

[Sleepy]

Granted I've only flown them twice, but I've got to figure that if some stranger has the option of sitting elsewhere or sitting next to a 1-yr. old without her momma in sight, he's gonna choose to move

I don't find the scenario funny at all. Attitudes like this create debate and I find it unfair to those who preplan so they CAN sit together. Mom needs to have it together and be at the gate when they call families of children under 4 to board after the "A" group- not wait until the plane is full and be one of the last ones on.

 

[disneyholic family]

I just checked and Northwest has flights at basically the same times as I was going to choose with SW for exactly the same price - so I think I will go with Northwest - they do have the preboarding seating I hope?

i would go with NWA - but you need to buy the tickets now...the NWA rates will go up as more and more people buy tickets....
if you see a good rate on NWA you should lock it in..

are you flying out of detroit metro airport (i see you're from ontario)...

by the way, with NWA, you pick your seats right when you buy your tickets....unless all the regular seats have already been reserved...but you can see that when you book - click on the "seat map" button to see what seats are available....and to reserve your seat once you've booked the flight..

 

[jtdl]

i would go with NWA - but you need to buy the tickets now...the NWA rates will go up as more and more people buy tickets....
if you see a good rate on NWA you should lock it in..

are you flying out of detroit metro airport (i see you're from ontario)...

by the way, with NWA, you pick your seats right when you buy your tickets....unless all the regular seats have already been reserved...but you can see that when you book - click on the "seat map" button to see what seats are available....and to reserve your seat once you've booked the flight..

Yes, we'll be flying out of Detroit. Thanks for the heads up about NW. I'm waiting on an answer as to whether DDs friend can join us so I'll give them until Sunday to decide and then I'll book.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I don't find the scenario funny at all. Attitudes like this create debate and I find it unfair to those who preplan so they CAN sit together. Mom needs to have it together and be at the gate when they call families of children under 4 to board after the "A" group- not wait until the plane is full and be one of the last ones on.

Relax Someone had already addressed what could be done to assure this wouldn't happen. My "laughter" had more to do with me not being serious, not because I found it funny to incovenience those that waited in line for an hour and a half to guarantee they had a good seat.

Me? I checked in 23 hours, 59 minutes before my flight to guarantee an A. When we go next month, I'll do the same. But, seriously, if my child was seated next to a stranger, the stranger would either have to deal with it or move. That is the risk they took when booking a flight with unassigned seats.

 

[katieandallycat]

I know they have a new preboard policy, where you go stand by the letter and # on your ticket. http://www.southwest.com/help/boardingschool/.
Think it starts in Nov, but if you do not have a group A and are traveling with a 4 or under, you must wait until all of the A's are on(believe that's 60 people). So no more showing checking in and boarding first.
The way down is never a problem to get a A, as long as you check in online at the 23 hour 59 min mark. On the way back, like they said, worse case, have a friend check you in 24 hours ahead, then you just print your tix when you get to the airport.
We had my SIL check us in 13 hours ahead and we were in group B. Found 3 seats together about 5 rows from the back (DH sat across the aisle since it is only 3 together). We had a full flight and the group C passengers were told, you see any middle seats, take the first one you see as they are waiting for you.
I remember years ago you were boarded based on a #. The #'s were passed out based on when you checked into the airport. We always got there early so never a problem.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But, seriously, if my child was seated next to a stranger, the stranger would either have to deal with it or move. That is the risk they took when booking a flight with unassigned seats.

Conversely, that is the risk YOU took when booking a flight with unassigned seats: that there may not be two, or enough, seats together when you board to accommodate your entire party.

 

[disneyholic family]

Yes, we'll be flying out of Detroit. Thanks for the heads up about NW. I'm waiting on an answer as to whether DDs friend can join us so I'll give them until Sunday to decide and then I'll book.

so i guess you cross at windsor - the same day of your flight?

i've caught flights in the opposite direction (crossed from detroit to windsor airport - flying to toronto and then contining from toronto overseas)..

occasionally the border crossing is a bit difficult - it depends on whether you get an 'Jerk' or not (some are nicer than nice, others think the badge gives them the right to be nasty .....the limo drivers i used to use to get to and from windsor airport have so many stories you wouldn't believe)..

anyway....if you're crossing the bridge/tunnel the same day of your flight, i would leave a lot of time to make it through......and keep in mind the roads on the US side getting to metro airport can be challenging if there's construction..

i don't mean this to scare you, just keep it in mind..

 

[jtdl]

so i guess you cross at windsor - the same day of your flight?

i've caught flights in the opposite direction (crossed from detroit to windsor airport - flying to toronto and then contining from toronto overseas)..

occasionally the border crossing is a bit difficult - it depends on whether you get a 'Jerk' or not (some are nicer than nice, others think the badge gives them the right to be nasty .....the limo drivers i used to use to get to and from windsor airport have so many stories you wouldn't believe)..

anyway....if you're crossing the bridge/tunnel the same day of your flight, i would leave a lot of time to make it through......and keep in mind the roads on the US side getting to metro airport can be challenging if there's construction..

i don't mean this to scare you, just keep it in mind..

We'd be crossing at Sarnia and staying in Detroit the night before because I know all too well the problems/delays that can occur at the border not to mention the unpredictable weather in mid January.

 

[hugabearjo]

We fly SWA all the time, and have never had a problem sitting 5 of us together, of course it is across the isle because of our #. I am one who is on my computer or in a recent trip at the guest relations desk at the 24 hour mark (when it used to be midnight I was up printing boarding passes). I have always had "A" only once did we have one in our group have a "B" but, SWA policy if anyone in your group has an "A" then you board together. I can not stress enough that we will continue to fly SWA if for no other reason than their cancelation/change policy can't be beat. Our last trip I can't tell you how many times I changed our flights partly to lower prices (now I have a $per $ credit to go next time) and partly due to unforseen change in dates of our trip.

I love the fact that I never had to pay a fee or worry about losing my $ with SWA.

Lastly, I recieved an email from SWA that they are changing the boarding policy. The new boarding passes will not only have a letter but also a number, you no longer have to wait in line for hours. Just check in online early.

IMHO- you can't be SWA-

 

[hugabearjo]

Here is the link to the press release about the new system. It isn't quite like the one I hope it helps.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=92562&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1061206&highlight=

 

[inkkognito]

Actually the boarding passes have always had that number. It's just that it will be used for something now other than simply showing you how many people checking in before you.