Suthwest check in times????

[MARRAR]

All SW experts,
Flying first time on SW with DH, DS -9 ,DD -5(almost 6) ,on Sat to MCO, flight is sold out. flight leaves Buffalo at 7:30am . What time to get to airport????
Would like "A" boarding as kids are too old for preboarding and kids too young to sit alone
Thank you.........

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

You may want to ask about your 5 year old getting pre boarding. This helps especially if you get your boarding pass from the guys who check your luggage outside the airport. Our DD was 5 on our last trip and we checked our luggage and tipped THEN asked about pre boarding. He asked how old she was, we told him, and he said "Well, she looks four anyway", and gave us preboarding. Make sure you ask about the preboarding after the tip, LOL.

Also, in Orlando at the Southwest terminal (the luggage guys outside aren't authorized to give you preboarding), just speak to someone at the desk about preboarding. My DH did, and she gave him a weird look and said "just get in the pre boarding line, if you want to preboard". Our boarding passes didn't say anything about preboarding, and no one really cared.

I'm just telling you these things, because I believe you should be able to preboard with a five year old. They are little, and you are paying full price for them. On the other hand, even if you didn't get preboarding, no one really wants to sit next to someone else's child for a whole trip, so people will be willing to trade with you and the flight attendants will help you out too. Good luck!~

 

[Lewisc]

SW suggest you get to the Buffalo 1 hour early. I'd think 90 minutes or so should be enough. Even a B ticket should allow you to sit together, just line up right away.

I think if you all want to sit together you should do what you're planning and get to the airport early. I also pay full price for my ticket, want to sit next to my wife and I make sure to get to the airport early enough so I can. At times SW cracks down in the pre-boards going to Orlando, otherwise more than half the plane winds up pre-boarding, not really fair to the people who get to the airport early. It's possible you can beg and get an exception to pre-board but it's safer to go by the rules.

No matter what group you're in someone will switch with you, no one wants a 5 year old sitting by himself, the concern is if you want the 4 of you to be in rows next to each other.

 

[MARRAR]

Thanks everyone,
we're not concerned about all 4 of us sitting together, just if we all had to all split up.We're planning on one parent w/ each child,and if we get to sit close or across aisles thats a bonus.
I think we'll plan on being 90 minutes early.
Does anyone know if SW routinely overbooks their flights? I don't want to be bumped either,we booked the tickets the 1st day they were available.thanks again

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Just to clarify - I was not suggesting doing anything shady or lying. Just suggesting that I bet you be able to get preboarding with your five year old. No one will mind, you can be sure about that. I am traveling with hubby in November, kids will be at home. I would sure like to sit next to him, but if someone with a five year child needed our seats to sit next to each other, I would move in a second. Nor would it bother me to see a family with a five year old in the preboarding line - and it won't bother anyone else either. Both times when we preboarded, everyone was well aware that our daughter was five and not four. It just saves trouble upon boarding to give the people with the little ones pre boarding, rather that switching everyone while the plane is full.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TigerLilly's Mom
You may want to ask about your 5 year old getting pre boarding. This helps especially if you get your boarding pass from the guys who check your luggage outside the airport. Our DD was 5 on our last trip and we checked our luggage and tipped THEN asked about pre boarding. He asked how old she was, we told him, and he said "Well, she looks four anyway", and gave us preboarding. Make sure you ask about the preboarding after the tip, LOL.

Also, in Orlando at the Southwest terminal (the luggage guys outside aren't authorized to give you preboarding), just speak to someone at the desk about preboarding. My DH did, and she gave him a weird look and said "just get in the pre boarding line, if you want to preboard". Our boarding passes didn't say anything about preboarding, and no one really cared.

I'm just telling you these things, because I believe you should be able to preboard with a five year old. They are little, and you are paying full price for them. On the other hand, even if you didn't get preboarding, no one really wants to sit next to someone else's child for a whole trip, so people will be willing to trade with you and the flight attendants will help you out too. Good luck!~

Preboarding is for 4 and under. I don't think a child ready for school needs to preboard. If you get there in the time frame outlined, there should be no problem sitting together. Breaking the policy does nothing more than abuse the system and eventually, children will not be allowed to preboard. Delta changed the policy because of abuse. I don't mean to sound offensive, but, I would hate to think the policy would be changed because people abuse the system.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MARRAR
All SW experts,
Flying first time on SW with DH, DS -9 ,DD -5(almost 6) ,on Sat to MCO, flight is sold out. flight leaves Buffalo at 7:30am . What time to get to airport????
Would like "A" boarding as kids are too old for preboarding and kids too young to sit alone
Thank you.........

This should help with the times necessary for check in.

http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/suggested_arrival.html

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TigerLilly's Mom
Just to clarify - I was not suggesting doing anything shady or lying. Just suggesting that I bet you be able to get preboarding with your five year old. No one will mind, you can be sure about that. I am traveling with hubby in November, kids will be at home. I would sure like to sit next to him, but if someone with a five year child needed our seats to sit next to each other, I would move in a second. Nor would it bother me to see a family with a five year old in the preboarding line - and it won't bother anyone else either. Both times when we preboarded, everyone was well aware that our daughter was five and not four. It just saves trouble upon boarding to give the people with the little ones pre boarding, rather that switching everyone while the plane is full.

Actually, with all due respect, I do mind. One is not an issue, but, if everyone adopted your logic, there would be a longer line in preboard than any other line. There is absolutely no reason for a 5 year old to have to preboard if you follow the arrival time outline. I pay full price also and I arrive early, I find it offensive to have arrived early, pay full price and have someone with a 5 (why not push for 6) year old arrive late and preboard. It is really not fair to others.
Would I move, no. Why would I want to fly separated from my s/o because someone cannot get to the airport in the required time frame?
No you did not lie, you asked they said yes. But, to suggest this when you know it is 4 and under is not right.
Sorry about this rant, but, this really hits my hot buttons.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Agree to disagree then? Certainly didn't mean to offend anyone, everyone we encountered on the plane, passengers and staff were lovely - I really do love Southwest. I'm not sure where anything was mentioned about arriving late and getting preboarding, I always arrive 2 to 1 1/2 hours before my flight time

 

[Lewisc]

All airlines (including SWA) overbook. There will be enough volunteers. Getting there early enough to get a boarding pass will ensure that you won't be bumped.

Yes, I mind extra people pre-boarding. People who aren't eligible to pre-board should do what OP is planning to do, get to the airport early enough to get a lower letter. I'd have no trouble switching seats so that a 5 year old could sit next to a parent (even if I couldn't sit next to a family member) but I do object to a family with a 5 year old being allowed to pre-board.

I believe you should be able to preboard with a five year old. They are little, and you are paying full price for them.

I completely disagree with this statement, I would give up a seat so the 5 year old could sit next to a parent but I really think it's up to the family to get to the airport early enough so they can board in the A group. An alternative is to fly an airline that assigns seats.

 

[Lewisc]

TigerLilly--I have more of a problem with people who get to the airport late enough to get a C boarding pass and then try to figure out how to get to pre-board.

If you're at the airport 2 + hours early and get an A pass it's not the end of the world if you board early BUT it gets annoying when almost half the plane is pre-boards.

The rule with SW is get there early if you want a good seat and/or sit next to family. I have a problem with the number of people who try to abuse the system. One mother was charging $10 for people to use her kids to pre-board. SW actually voided her ticket.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Well, that is just horrible! I'm glad they voided her ticket!

I really hope I didn't offend anyone . I am too much of a planner to get to the airport late! (actually, I have NEVER arrived less than two hours before LOL) And because my five year old is my "baby", even though she not actually a baby, I feel she is a bit younger that she actually is. I am not quite ready to call her "school aged" though!

MARRAR really got more that she bargained for with this post!

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by MARRAR
All SW experts,
Flying first time on SW with DH, DS -9 ,DD -5(almost 6) ,on Sat to MCO, flight is sold out. flight leaves Buffalo at 7:30am . What time to get to airport????
Would like "A" boarding as kids are too old for preboarding and kids too young to sit alone
Thank you.........

MARRAR,
It looks like the latest guidelines for BUF from the SWA website is for 1hour early, so if you arrive 90 mins early, I would expect you would be fine for the "A" boarding group.

Our home airport is BWI and it seems like the flights are always full during the time frame that we decide to fly. We have found ourselves running a little late on a couple of the flights we have taken this summer... The good news is that even though we ended up with "B" boarding group cards and we were at the tail end of the B group, we were still able to sit together on the plane.

Have a wonderful time at WDW--you are going at a great time, I bet the crowds are going to be down by the time you get there..

-DC

 

[MARRAR]

Wow
1st thanks to all who posted.
My reason for posting actually had to do with a friend who flew SW over Easter(granted busy) and got to BUF 60+ min early. She got a B ticket . (she followed the rules with her 5 yr old twins and didn't preboard) Bcuz so many people preboarded and saved seats for others ,she had trouble sitting 2 and 2 with her DH w/one child and her w/other. Someone nicely switched. So that is why I had arrival time concerns.....
I will NOT preboard as my children are too old but want to arrive early enough so each parent can sit with 1 child and not inconvience other passengers.
I have flown SW alone before and loved it, I hope this goes well.
My DH wanted to try it as they are the only carrier that flys N/S to MCO. Thanks again

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TigerLilly's Mom
Agree to disagree then? Certainly didn't mean to offend anyone, everyone we encountered on the plane, passengers and staff were lovely - I really do love Southwest. I'm not sure where anything was mentioned about arriving late and getting preboarding, I always arrive 2 to 1 1/2 hours before my flight time

Sure, we can agree to disagree. As I said, it is one of my few hot buttons. SWA is fantastic and I do love flying with them.
You definitely did not mention arriving late, it was part of the rant.
I cannot tell you how many times we have been waiting, like you for a couple of hours, and someone comes along with a child and it is like a "get out of jail free card", they have "c" passes and they just preboard. That riles me, big time.
If you are there early, you no doubt get an A pass, why then do you need to preboard? Just wondering, no challenge.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TigerLilly's Mom
Well, that is just horrible! I'm glad they voided her ticket!

I really hope I didn't offend anyone . I am too much of a planner to get to the airport late! (actually, I have NEVER arrived less than two hours before LOL) And because my five year old is my "baby", even though she not actually a baby, I feel she is a bit younger that she actually is. I am not quite ready to call her "school aged" though!

MARRAR really got more that she bargained for with this post!

LOL, my 26 year old is still my "baby". IMHO, 4-5 year olds start kiindergarten here, hence the definition of "school age".

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Just to be sure - that's all. And we don't sit together as a family, it is much better for the kids to be separated!! We have never boarded in A before, so I didn't know it would be a definate to find two seats together. Also, would not mind a bit, if they told me no to preboard - I am a rules follower!! LOL

Have fun at OKW. We were there in Dec. and loved it. It is such a beautiful and relaxing resort - I sure do miss sitting out on my big deck relaxing and drinking coffee.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

And, Yes - my baby will be starting kindergarten next week, I have just chosen to ignore that fact

 

[dznyntnh]

As I'm reading this thread, I am sitting here chuckling to myself.

Gail, I agree with you 100%, preboarding is my biggest pet peeve with Southwest. I love them and think they are the best airline, but I have seen many an occasion where the SW employee was the one not following the rules and letting (it seemed like) everyone with a child preboard.

I once asked a SW gate agent what the rules were and she did say under 5, my next question was then why did you let a whole little league team preboard (I kid you not twenty 12-14 year olds were allowed to preboard) and the answer was 'They all wanted to sit together'. Trying to remain calm, my only comment was, 'Do you think I've been sitting on the floor for two hours for my health?' I was first in line for 'A' boarding and we got the last row of empty seats available.

But, the reason I am chuckling is because the only time I have not had a problem with preboards on SW was on a Disney flight. It almost seems like everyone knows that with all the kids on the flights its not worth it trying to get away with anything.

I never mind preboarding with other airlines, cuz I know where I'm sitting, but since SW does not assign seats they really need to find a way to better serve their customers in this area.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TigerLilly's Mom
Just to be sure - that's all. And we don't sit together as a family, it is much better for the kids to be separated!! We have never boarded in A before, so I didn't know it would be a definate to find two seats together. Also, would not mind a bit, if they told me no to preboard - I am a rules follower!! LOL

Have fun at OKW. We were there in Dec. and loved it. It is such a beautiful and relaxing resort - I sure do miss sitting out on my big deck relaxing and drinking coffee.

Just an FYI, it is a for sure with an A pass that you will have two seats together and pretty definite with a B pass. When you run into "iffy" territory is with a C pass.

Thank you for the nice wishes for my trip. We love OKW also.
We try to go at least twice a year. Ah, coffee on the balcony, it is nice, cocktails in the evening are not bad either.