Southwest with Children

[Mickey001]

I'm flying with my Husband, and two nieces and a newphew ages 4,7 & 8. Can all of us preboard with the 4 year old or just one adult? How hard will it be to get seats together? None of the children have every flown before, so I'd like to be together if possible.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

If you all get "A" boarding passes you won't have any trouble finding seats together. If you don't want to sit in the very front of the plane, there probably isn't a need to pre-board. Only 45 "A" passes are distributed. If you have an originating flight, there will be plenty of seats in the middle and back of the plane.

Worst case, especially in Orlando. You may be asked to pre-board the 4 year old with just one adult.

 

[rrcortes]

We've always traveled with 3 small children and it's never been a problem. The last 2 trips (last being 11/06)our 2 oldest were above the 4 year old cut off and they still let us all pre-board together. Next month will be our first trip where our baby is "too old", so we just plan on obtaining A passes.

 

[yeahdisney]

Southwest lets you preboard with the 4 year old. you all get to preboard together.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Preboard or not, there's NO need to sit at/near the front of the plane. Everybody lands within a second of each other. Head toward the rear of the plane - plenty of groups of empty seats.

 

[Mickey001]

Thank you for all the replies - my first time traveling with children and I'm a little anxious

 

[adaygaby]

How does one obtain Boarding Pass "A"?

 

[Mkrop]

How does one obtain Boarding Pass "A"?

24hrs befoer your flight you need to check in online and you can print your passes at home. If the flight is crowded you want to do this right at the 24 hr mark, so you can get A.

 

[123SA]

I'll be travelling with DH DD7 DS4 and DS2 with a car seat. Do I have to obtain an A pass -- or can I count on pre-boarding?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I would go ahead and get "A" passes. But, with two children 4 and under you should have no problem being allowed to pre-board.

 

[Mkrop]

I'll be travelling with DH DD7 DS4 and DS2 with a car seat. Do I have to obtain an A pass -- or can I count on pre-boarding?

We got A's just to be safe. Although with your ages I think you will be fine. I have just heard that with Orlando flightsyou need to not assume bc the amount of kids that could be on there that you cant count on preboarding. This is why we got As but DS was 4 and they allowed me, DH and DS9 to preboard all together. Now if grandma or aunt kathy were with us they woudl have to board separately. Hope that makes sense.

 

[IggyLans]

24hrs befoer your flight you need to check in online and you can print your passes at home. If the flight is crowded you want to do this right at the 24 hr mark, so you can get A.

Yeah, I've read of people checking in 5 minutes after their 24 hr mark, and getting B's. You have to be there right at the 24 hr mark.

 

[Mickey001]

I'm not planning on taking a PC to WDW. Any suggestions on how to check in 24 hours in advance? Or do you think I'll be safe if we're find sitting in the back?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

1. You could have a trusted family member or friend check you in at home and then you print out your boarding pass at the airport when you check your bags.

2. The concierge desk at WDW resort hotels or Guest Services at the park will check you in. Again, you can reprint your boarding passes at the airport.

3. If you have a web-enabled phone you can check yourself in that way.

That pretty much covers it. Have a great trip.

 

[Mickey001]

Great Ideas - thanks

 

[Mkrop]

1. You could have a trusted family member or friend check you in at home and then you print out your boarding pass at the airport when you check your bags.

2. The concierge desk at WDW resort hotels or Guest Services at the park will check you in. Again, you can reprint your boarding passes at the airport.

3. If you have a web-enabled phone you can check yourself in that way.

That pretty much covers it. Have a great trip.

We did this and the hotel (CR) printed them for us too!

 

[NotUrsula]

Originally posted by 123SA:
I'll be travelling with DH DD7 DS4 and DS2 with a car seat. Do I have to obtain an A pass -- or can I count on pre-boarding?

Yes, with a carseat you can count on preboarding. There are restrictions on which seats may be used for carseat positions, so carseats must be preboarded on SWA to ensure that they don't end up in an "illegal" spot. With the other kids being that young you will not be asked to have any of the family board later.

Helpful tip for you: YOU install the carseat, not DH. The maneuvering space on a plane is tight, someone who is shorter and has smaller hands can almost always install a carseat more quickly and easily.