Southwest tutorial needed

[aubriee]

It's not secret I loved Air Tran, but would settle for American if they were cheaper. They were the only two airlines that offered nonstop flights from DFW to MCO. With Air Tran pulling out of Dallas Nov 22nd, American's prices have more than doubled. Instead of the $180.00-$210.00 range I've always paid, I'm now looking at over $440.00 r/t. That's not happening. I love flying out of DFW because I'm familiar with the airport and I love my direct/nonstop flights and being able to choose my preferred aisle seat close to the front of the plane. I've been watching May airfares for several months now and the prices are not budging for American. Southwest however, has dropped their prices from the $400.00 range to $239.80. Since they don't charge bag fees that's like $189.80 on American.

However, with the Wright Ammendment Southwest doesn't fly out of DFW, so I'd have to go over to Dallas Love Field which I'm not at all familiar with. I'm also leary of their boarding procedures and hate the fact that I'd have a layover in New Orleans. On the way down there it would just be a stop, (no plane change), but on the way back I'd have to change planes. The stops mean that I'd be getting into MCO about three hours later than I usually do and would be leaving an hour earlier and would still be getting home an hour later than usual. The price difference is hard to pass up though. Tell me the good and bad about Southwest and how the boarding procedure works. Anything I can do to up my odds of getting an aisle seat close to the front of the plane. I have claustrophobic issues and hate the back of the plane, nor do I do window or middle seats. I don't mind paying more to get the seat I need. I'd be traveling solo, but really want an aisle seat close to the front. I know you can pay a little extra to get a higher boarding number. Worth it? What about checking in coming home? I won't be able to do it on my phone and won't have anyone at home who can do it. What about DME? I know they'll bring my luggage from the airport to CSR, but can I also use it on the way home to check my luggage from the resort to my home airport?

I'm used to DFW and Air Tran or American and am leary of Dallas Lovefield and Southwest. Talk a first timer into trying Southwest and tell me everything I could possibly need to know. Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

It's not secret I loved Air Tran, but would settle for American if they were cheaper. They were the only two airlines that offered nonstop flights from DFW to MCO. With Air Tran pulling out of Dallas Nov 22nd, American's prices have more than doubled. Instead of the $180.00-$210.00 range I've always paid, I'm now looking at over $440.00 r/t. That's not happening. I love flying out of DFW because I'm familiar with the airport and I love my direct/nonstop flights and being able to choose my preferred aisle seat close to the front of the plane. I've been watching May airfares for several months now and the prices are not budging for American. Southwest however, has dropped their prices from the $400.00 range to $239.80. Since they don't charge bag fees that's like $189.80 on American.

However, with the Wright Ammendment Southwest doesn't fly out of DFW, so I'd have to go over to Dallas Love Field which I'm not at all familiar with. I'm also leary of their boarding procedures and hate the fact that I'd have a layover in New Orleans. On the way down there it would just be a stop, (no plane change), but on the way back I'd have to change planes. The stops mean that I'd be getting into MCO about three hours later than I usually do and would be leaving an hour earlier and would still be getting home an hour later than usual. The price difference is hard to pass up though. Tell me the good and bad about Southwest and how the boarding procedure works. Anything I can do to up my odds of getting an aisle seat close to the front of the plane. I have claustrophobic issues and hate the back of the plane, nor do I do window or middle seats. I don't mind paying more to get the seat I need. I'd be traveling solo, but really want an aisle seat close to the front. I know you can pay a little extra to get a higher boarding number. Worth it? What about checking in coming home? I won't be able to do it on my phone and won't have anyone at home who can do it. What about DME? I know they'll bring my luggage from the airport to CSR, but can I also use it on the way home to check my luggage from the resort to my home airport?

I'm used to DFW and Air Tran or American and am leary of Dallas Lovefield and Southwest. Talk a first timer into trying Southwest and tell me everything I could possibly need to know. Thanks!

I don't know anything about Love Field but have flow SW a few times. If you need the aisle seat close to the front, I would use the early bird check-in, I think it's $10 each way. Southwest is participating for resort airport check-in, so you can check your bags at the resort.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I'd recommend that you do Early Bird Check-In. It's $10 each way, so $20 round trip. They will automatically check you in at 36 hours prior to your flight, rather than 24 hours for those that don't utilize it. This way, you don't have to worry about how to check in and can either print boarding passes at your hotel or at the airport. Southwest has 3 boarding groups. A, B and C. EBCI doesn't guarantee you an A pass, but you'll certainly have better odds than those without EBCI. A 1-15 are reserved for Business Select passengers and then the A-list group (those that have flown at least 25 one ways in a year) are next, followed by EBCI passengers and then the passengers without EBCI.

I fly SW monthly and while there are no guarantees with EBCI, it's still better than not doing it if you're worried about seating.

Here is a link to their boarding school to give you a better idea of how it works. It's actually very organized now, much more so than the legacy carriers that I've recently flown:

http://www.swabiz.com/html/customer-service/airport-experience/boarding-school/

 

[KGK]

Without the early boarding fee $10, you check-in on-line. You go to the SW website, click on check in, enter your confirmation number and get a boarding pass. The sooner you check in, the better (lower) code. Your boarding pass will have a letter (A, B or C) and number 1-56??). SW boards in four stages. The first stage is for people with small children or those needing assistance. Second is for "A", Third for "B", Fourth for "C". You basically line up in order (there are signs to direct you where to stand) and you board the plane in numerical order. You pick from the available seats. Obviously A's get to choose the best seats.

DME will take care of your luggage both ways.

I try to fly SW whenever I can. Pricing and service can't be beat.

 

[mom2brooke76]

Without the early boarding fee $10, you check-in on-line. You go to the SW website, click on check in, enter your confirmation number and get a boarding pass. The sooner you check in, the better (lower) code. Your boarding pass will have a letter (A, B or C) and number 1-56??). SW boards in four stages. The first stage is for people with small children or those needing assistance. Second is for "A", Third for "B", Fourth for "C". You basically line up in order (there are signs to direct you where to stand) and you board the plane in numerical order. You pick from the available seats. Obviously A's get to choose the best seats.

DME will take care of your luggage both ways.

I try to fly SW whenever I can. Pricing and service can't be beat.

Actually, they no longer preboard families with small children, only those with blue preboarding sleeves. They changed the boarding for those with children 4 and under to in between the A and B group (unless of course they have an "A" boarding pass. Then they board in their position in the A group).

 

[MissManda]

Sorry, sort of hijacking the thread, but I'll be flying Southwest for the first time this year as well and have a couple of questions about airline check in. Thought this might be an appropriate place to ask.

Will probably do the resort airline check in. How does this work at Disney (never done it before at all). Do they automatically check you in? Do you have to go in person to check in? If so, can you do this 24 hours in advance to try and get a get boarding number? If you do the EBCI, do you have to do anything at Disney other than check luggage? (I'm so confused on how this works!).

I used rapid reward points to buy 6 tickets home from DW (yeah Southwest Credit Card!), but that means that I have 6 separate confirmation numbers. I want us to board at the same time and hopefully get seats together (2 adults and 4 kids). Thinking that EBCI might be the best way to go. (I paid cash for trip down so its all under one confirmation number so I'm not quite as worried about that and I know that I can control when I check in).

Thanks!

 

[KGK]

Actually, they no longer preboard families with small children, only those with blue preboarding sleeves. They changed the boarding for those with children 4 and under to in between the A and B group (unless of course they have an "A" boarding pass. Then they board in their position in the A group).

Yep, completely forgot -- usually board in A and I just don't listen to the annoucements...

 

[KGK]

Sorry, sort of hijacking the thread, but I'll be flying Southwest for the first time this year as well and have a couple of questions about airline check in. Thought this might be an appropriate place to ask.

Will probably do the resort airline check in. How does this work at Disney (never done it before at all). Do they automatically check you in? Do you have to go in person to check in? If so, can you do this 24 hours in advance to try and get a get boarding number? If you do the EBCI, do you have to do anything at Disney other than check luggage? (I'm so confused on how this works!).

I used rapid reward points to buy 6 tickets home from DW (yeah Southwest Credit Card!), but that means that I have 6 separate confirmation numbers. I want us to board at the same time and hopefully get seats together (2 adults and 4 kids). Thinking that EBCI might be the best way to go. (I paid cash for trip down so its all under one confirmation number so I'm not quite as worried about that and I know that I can control when I check in).

Thanks!

I've never done EBCI so I can't help here. I've always been able to check-in using my phone 24 hours ahead of time. It certainly sounds like EBCI would be better for you with 6 confirmation numbers. It's been a few years since I've been to WDW but I remember bringing the bags to the lobby in the AM of our departure day and then picking them up at baggage claim at home. Anyone else have more specific info?

 

[mom2brooke76]

Sorry, sort of hijacking the thread, but I'll be flying Southwest for the first time this year as well and have a couple of questions about airline check in. Thought this might be an appropriate place to ask.

Will probably do the resort airline check in. How does this work at Disney (never done it before at all). Do they automatically check you in? Do you have to go in person to check in? If so, can you do this 24 hours in advance to try and get a get boarding number? If you do the EBCI, do you have to do anything at Disney other than check luggage? (I'm so confused on how this works!).

I used rapid reward points to buy 6 tickets home from DW (yeah Southwest Credit Card!), but that means that I have 6 separate confirmation numbers. I want us to board at the same time and hopefully get seats together (2 adults and 4 kids). Thinking that EBCI might be the best way to go. (I paid cash for trip down so its all under one confirmation number so I'm not quite as worried about that and I know that I can control when I check in).

Thanks!

If you don't utilize EBCI, then you'll need to have the hotel check you in 24 hours ahead of time (or you can check in on your cell phone). Otherwise, EBCI checks you in automatically at 36 hours.

Separate confirmation numbers will generally mean gaps in your boarding numbers. If you have children 4 or under then you can do the family boarding after the A group (please keep in mind, though, that if there are too many families with small children that they have been known to not utilize family boarding with certain flights). Otherwise, you'd have to board with the person with the lowest boarding number. That's what I do with my dd if we have separate confirmations since jumping ahead of people is frowned upon. And if let's say you have A25, one kid has A27, another has A29, and your hubby and the other two kids have A35, A37 and A40, you could board with the two kids at A29 and then he could board with the others at A40. You don't all have to board together as one complete group.

 

[aubriee]

Thanks! If I go with Southwest it seems like EBCI would be the way to go. I always paid to choose my seat when I flew Air Tran, even when I was flying solo. I wanted those $13.00-$15.00 seats close to the front that if paid for ahead of time guarantee Boarding Zone 1. However, because I was often a solo traveler, I was frequently asked by passengers to give that seat up, so they could sit with a family member. I did a couple of times, but after repeatedly getting stuck in a middle seat in the back of the plane, I finally started saying no. I chose to pay the $15.00 to get the aisle seat in Zone 1 that I wanted, but then was expected to give it up to some family who was too cheap to pay for seats and expected everyone else to accommodate them. If I pay for EBCI and get to choose my preferred aisle seat close to the front, will FAs or families then expect me to give it up so families that chose not to pay for ECBI can sit together?

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks! If I go with Southwest it seems like EBCI would be the way to go. I always paid to choose my seat when I flew Air Tran, even when I was flying solo. I wanted those $13.00-$15.00 seats close to the front that if paid for ahead of time guarantee Boarding Zone 1. However, because I was often a solo traveler, I was frequently asked by passengers to give that seat up, so they could sit with a family member. I did a couple of times, but after repeatedly getting stuck in a middle seat in the back of the plane, I finally started saying no. I chose to pay the $15.00 to get the aisle seat in Zone 1 that I wanted, but then was expected to give it up to some family who was too cheap to pay for seats and expected everyone else to accommodate them. If I pay for EBCI and get to choose my preferred aisle seat close to the front, will FAs or families then expect me to give it up so families that chose not to pay for ECBI can sit together?

Giving up your seat to accomodate someone is not expected, it is totally voluntary. THey often tempt you will free drinks however.

 

[aubriee]

Giving up your seat to accomodate someone is not expected, it is totally voluntary. THey often tempt you will free drinks however.

An aisle seat in the front third of the plane, I'd take them up on it or do it even without an incentive for that matter. A middle seat or window seat in the back of the plane, probably not. I can't breathe back there, my blood pressure goes up, heart feels like it goes up into my throat, and pulse races. Telling myself it's all in my head does no good. I hate flying anyway, but looking up that long tube just does me in for some reason.

I used to hate it when I'd pay for the seat I need, then some jerk would just sit in it before I got on and then demand that I take their seat in the back of the plane so they could sit with their family member. Or else would try to guilt me out my seat, saying they had to sit with their spouse or girlfriend. Excuse me! I paid for the seat I needed, why should I give it up because you were too cheap to do so. Southwest with their open seating is different of course, but I can't believe how many people fly Air Tran without paying for the seats they need, then just expect everyone else to accommodate them. It's really irritating.

 

[vacationclub]

I was frequently asked by passengers to give that seat up, so they could sit with a family member. I did a couple of times, but after repeatedly getting stuck in a middle seat in the back of the plane, I finally started saying no. I chose to pay the $15.00 to get the aisle seat in Zone 1 that I wanted, but then was expected to give it up to some family who was too cheap to pay for seats and expected everyone else to accommodate them. If I pay for EBCI and get to choose my preferred aisle seat close to the front, will FAs or families then expect me to give it up so families that chose not to pay for ECBI can sit together?

It's possible either way, but when on Airtran, don't you mean that the Airline, not the passenger was asking you to change seats? Did they call you up to the desk to negotiate this with you? If so, and you took their offer, what did you get in return....your money back for the seat reservation? Otherwise, why did you give up the better seat location you paid to reserve? Or did this happen after you go on board?

I used to hate it when I'd pay for the seat I need, then some jerk would just sit in it before I got on and then demand that I take their seat in the back of the plane so they could sit with their family member. Or else would try to guilt me out my seat, saying they had to sit with their spouse or girlfriend. Excuse me! I paid for the seat I needed, why should I give it up because you were too cheap to do so. Southwest with their open seating is different of course, but I can't believe how many people fly Air Tran without paying for the seats they need, then just expect everyone else to accommodate them. It's really irritating.

How often has that happened? After boarding an airline (not SW, can't remember which one) a group of twowas seperated and I'd was next to one of them; i'd was on the isle. Their partner was on the isle further up. They'd ask if I would switch with their partner to simply accept an isle seat closer to the front....in which case I did...no loss for me and helped them out. But beyond that, if someone just sits in my seat to "steal" it as if they were on SW, no way. i'd simply waive my hand to the FA and say "this guy's in my seat". End of story.

 

[aubriee]

It's possible either way, but when on Airtran, don't you mean that the Airline, not the passenger was asking you to change seats? Did they call you up to the desk to negotiate this with you? If so, and you took their offer, what did you get in return....your money back for the seat reservation? Otherwise, why did you give up the better seat location you paid to reserve? Or did this happen after you go on board?

How often has that happened? After boarding an airline (not SW, can't remember which one) a group of twowas seperated and I'd was next to one of them; i'd was on the isle. Their partner was on the isle further up. They'd ask if I would switch with their partner to simply accept an isle seat closer to the front....in which case I did...no loss for me and helped them out. But beyond that, if someone just sits in my seat to "steal" it as if they were on SW, no way. i'd simply waive my hand to the FA and say "this guy's in my seat". End of story.

It's happened several times and it's always the passengers, not the Air Tran employees. Twice I've boarded just to find someone sitting in my seat. Both times I had to get the FA to move them. The first time was a lady who at first refused to even look at me when I told her she was in my seat, despite me tapping her on the shoulder, then she pulled the 'no English' routine. When the FA got involved and finally got her boarding pass from her to check her seat assignment, we found the lady was supposed to be in a middle seat in the next to the last row, not my Row 10 aisle seat. Suddenly she spoke English very well. The second time there was a man in my seat. When I politely told him he was in my seat, he didn't even look up, just said, 'Yeah, I know. I wanna sit next to my wife. You can have my seat Row 30E" and he jerked his thumb toward the back of the plane. He didn't even ask, just took it and then demanded I take his. I politely told him no, I wanted my seat, but he sneered and said he wasn't moving. A FA came up about that time and got involved. He suddenly stood up and demanded that she make me move to his seat, so he could sit next to his wife. He thought he was going to use his size to bully us into giving up my seat. Wasn't happening! Those were the two most extreme cases, but since I sit near the front of the plane in an aisle seat and frequently travel alone, for some reason it seems people like to ask me to switch seats with them. On Air Tran those first few $15.00-$13.00 rows give you Boarding zone 1 if you prepurchase them, but you can go in at the 24 hour mark and get them for free. If you get them at the 24 hour mark though they are Boarding zone 7. Alot of people wait and get them at the 24 hour mark, while their family members get other seats (usually middle ones) scattered throughout the plane. Then when they get on, they want us solo flyers who paid for those $15.00 seats to give them up for some family member that's stuck in a lousy seat. I have no problem moving for someone to sit together, but offer me a comparable or better seat. Don't expect me to move from an aisle seat in Row 10 to a middle seat in Row 32.

 

[vacationclub]

It's happened several times and it's always the passengers, not the Air Tran employees. Twice I've boarded just to find someone sitting in my seat. Both times I had to get the FA to move them. The first time was a lady who at first refused to even look at me when I told her she was in my seat, despite me tapping her on the shoulder, then she pulled the 'no English' routine. When the FA got involved and finally got her boarding pass from her to check her seat assignment, we found the lady was supposed to be in a middle seat in the next to the last row, not my Row 10 aisle seat. Suddenly she spoke English very well. The second time there was a man in my seat. When I politely told him he was in my seat, he didn't even look up, just said, 'Yeah, I know. I wanna sit next to my wife. You can have my seat Row 30E" and he jerked his thumb toward the back of the plane. He didn't even ask, just took it and then demanded I take his. I politely told him no, I wanted my seat, but he sneered and said he wasn't moving. A FA came up about that time and got involved. He suddenly stood up and demanded that she make me move to his seat, so he could sit next to his wife. He thought he was going to use his size to bully us into giving up my seat. Wasn't happening! Those were the two most extreme cases, but since I sit near the front of the plane in an aisle seat and frequently travel alone, for some reason it seems people like to ask me to switch seats with them. On Air Tran those first few $15.00-$13.00 rows give you Boarding zone 1 if you prepurchase them, but you can go in at the 24 hour mark and get them for free. If you get them at the 24 hour mark though they are Boarding zone 7. Alot of people wait and get them at the 24 hour mark, while their family members get other seats (usually middle ones) scattered throughout the plane. Then when they get on, they want us solo flyers who paid for those $15.00 seats to give them up for some family member that's stuck in a lousy seat. I have no problem moving for someone to sit together, but offer me a comparable or better seat. Don't expect me to move from an aisle seat in Row 10 to a middle seat in Row 32.

Wow, those are some pretty crazy stories! I guess I've just been lucky, as most of my flying for biz is alone, and have never seen anything like that short of some courteous requests. Glad you stuck to your guns and made those people move!