SW Airlines question

[mikayla73]

I am not new to flying, but I have never flown SW and I have a couple questions from SW vets on here. I have heard/read about not being able to choose your seats on SW. I have heard/read about the cattle call mentality. I have also read that they are assigning seats to people at the gate prior to boarding and they are not allowed to change them. And possibly in the future moving to a choose your seat when you purchase kind of thing like the rest of the airlines.

So here's my questions ... is all of this stuff true? What is flying on SW like? I would be kind of upset if we got to the gate and DH and I were sat on opposite ends of the plane and couldn't switch to be closer to each other. Do we have to get there early and "line up" to get a "good" seat? Is it a pick a number kind of thing?

I don't expect the lap of luxury and I am not picky about sitting in the back or front of the plane, window/asile seat etc ... I would expect to be able to sit next to my DH in a slightly uncomforatble seat (cause I have yet to sit in a plushy comfortable plane seat) next to a window (and the window is more of a "would like to" than an "expect to"). I don't really care if they pick the seat or if we do, as long as we are together.

We haven't been to WDW yet (next year whoo hooo! ) and I would love to take advantage of the SW fares, but just wanted to know what to expect.

 

[salmoneous]

Hmmm, many questions - a few answers...

You do choose your seat on SW - you pick it when you get on the plane.

I've never understood what people mean when they talk about a cattle call mentality. Does anyone?

The assigning seats thing was a short lived experiment on a few flights. Don't worry about it.

The choose your seat when you book thing might happen a few years from now.

Flying on SW is great. The FA's are the friendliest in the business, and the airline has less problems than juat about anyone. The pick your own seat thing gives you more control over your seating than the traditional method; most frequent SW flyers love it.

You and your husband will be able to sit together - do you think SW would be so popular if a couple couldn't sit together?

You don't have to get to the airport early and wait in line. You should probably to check in for your flight as close to 24-hours before you flight as possible (you can check in online). But if it's just the two of you, you'll be able to sit together unless you are one of the last people to sign in and line up. For full details on the SW boarding process, see their website or one of the hundreds of other threads here. If something still isn't clear, just ask.