SW Boarding - Can Adult Boarding 1st save seats in row for kids?

[sonnyjane]

The best way to save a seat is to put a Kleenex pack in the seat or a package of cough drops. No one will ask to sit there.

Bring a crying baby.

 

[Nennie]

Since your kids are less than 20 people behind you, I don't think you'll have any problems saving seats. I've done it before in that situation, and all I do is pick a "non-prime" row (no exit, bulk head, close to front, etc), and simply take my time getting situated. I stand in the row, plop the things on one seat, while taking my time putting things under seat in front of me, etc, and by the time I'm ready to actually sit down, the person I'm saving the seat for has shown up. So, I've technically never had to "save" a seat...as nobody has ever asked to sit there!

 

[betterbutter]

The best way to save a seat is to put a Kleenex pack in the seat or a package of cough drops. No one will ask to sit there.

Many might think it is trash, pick it up and put it in the seat back pocket and sit down. There is no need to ask if there is not a body in the seat. My husband flies SW a lot for work and he takes the first empty aisle seat he comes to. When someone tells him they are saving the seat, he suggests that they move to an empty row further back in the plane, as he is comfortable where he is.

 

[DaisyD]

Every time we have flown SW and my kids ended up with lower boarding I was allowed to have them board with me. As long as they were under 16 y/o this was allowed. We just did this in September. They just get in the spot with me and when dr get to the person checking tickets as we board I just say they are with me. No issues.

 

[tjmw2727]

I agree - that was a ridiculous suggestion.

Why not avoid all of this seat saving angst and fly an airline with reserved seating?

Because even that does not guarantee your seat?
I booked a flight late summer for early Dec with US Air, selected 3 seats 1/2 way to the back of the aircraft for myself and my 2 dd's. Low and behold last week I re-checked our seats and they had changed the flight time by 5 minutes and changed the aircraft to a larger one and our seats were scattered. In order to seat us together I had to spring for the "choice seats" and pay additional $ to be re-seated together. EBCI with SWA would have been much cheaper but it wasn't an option for this trip.

OP - to echo pp's just head back to the rear of the aircraft and take an aisle seat and then politely tell anyone wishing to sit in the middle/window that you would like to sit with your kids.

You could also ask the gate agent as they are preparing for boarding if your kids can board with you - I have seen them allow this and I have seen them not allow this so be prepared for either!

I would also be prepared to sit apart for the flight - its happened to us when my kids were younger than yours (never on SWA) a few times and it isn't ideal but it happens. If they are ready for the possibility are prepared and have what they need it will be easier for everyone.

 

[LSchrow]

The best way to save a seat is to put a Kleenex pack in the seat or a package of cough drops. No one will ask to sit there.

but i would simply ask ever so sweetly if they wanted to hold the items, or if they preferred i put them in the seat back
and once seated, manage a few low coughs, maybe ask if i could pretty please have one of the cough drops.

going to the back of the plane, or all boarding at the higher numbers would be least stressful

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Reserved seating isn't even guaranteed.

....

No, but usually you get the seat you selected without an issue. The number of threads here worrying about Southwest boarding and seat selection outnumber the threads about losing a seat assignment on other airlines about 99 to one!

 

[DebbieB]

No, but usually you get the seat you selected without an issue. The number of threads here worrying about Southwest boarding and seat selection outnumber the threads about losing a seat assignment on other airlines about 99 to one!

But most time that worrying is for not.

 

[Spunky946]

The last time we flew we were on points so had 4 different confirmation numbers. I did not pay for early bird and checked in from the mobile site so we were not all together. Dh boarded with ds and headed straight to the back of the plane. No problem saving seats in a row. Oh and we were early bs.

 

[ebloom]

No, but usually you get the seat you selected without an issue. The number of threads here worrying about Southwest boarding and seat selection outnumber the threads about losing a seat assignment on other airlines about 99 to one!

I flew SWA once when my boys were 8 and 10 and just choose not to again. I got a decent price on roundtrip direct flights from MSP to MCO. I checked in at exactly 24 hours early and was B4-8, thought we would be fine. After the few in A boarded they called for family boarding (anyone with children 5 or under). Literally the entire gate emptied and there were only a few of us left to board. We tried to sit 2 and 2, but there was nothing, my husband ended up lord knows where and my boys and I miraculously were together, but in the very last row of the plane. I was happy, but I will never sit there again. The flight attendants announced to not stand and wait for the front bathroom and even sent a couple away who tried, so this flight with tons of kids constantly had a line of 3-8 people waiting to use the one bathroom in the back. With the small plane aisles, those waiting would lean against my seat, sit on my arm rest, step into our aisle just to wiggle around as the bathroom opened and closed. I honestly felt like I either had butt in my face or strangers sitting in my lap the entire 3 hour flight! As we exited the plane I asked how to get A seating for our return flight. I was told to go online. Online my only option was to upgrade all 4 tickets for $1600. When we flew home I asked again at the gate and was given the option to pay $40 each ticket for A boarding which we did. For us it was a lesson learned. Since we are out of MSP we fly Delta almost exclusively. SunCountry sometimes, but usually I am booking so far in advance their flights aren't out yet. Yes, Delta has changed our seats several times when they change planes, but we have always still been seated together. For us, the this convenience is worth the little extra money. I know lots of people who absolutely love SWA, but for us it just didn't work.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would just board with the kids. No big deal.

 

[kamik86]

I have done the saving seats thing quite a few times because I have A list from business travel and my DH doesn't. However for us I am only having to save one seat, and even in the front no one really likes the middle seats most of the time. So I just have to avoid a party of two taking the two spots next to me.

 

[richmo]

Didn't read thru all of this, so I imagine a lot of this is a repeat:

Technically, no you can't save seats. Since you're all in 'B', it shouldn't be much of an issue.

You could try taking a seat with your position and hopefully there will be no issues before the kids get there. If there is, you can always get up and move back a few rows and repeat.

Your kids positions aren't even that bad. You could also just hang back with them and I almost guarantee you'll be able to sit together. It may be in the back half of the plane, but you'll be together.

 

[cruella4me64]

Maybe we misunderstood procedure, but flew SW for the first time 2 weeks ago R/T MCO. When they called B 1-30, we got in line. We were B7-8 but weren't the 7th and 8th in that particular line. I didn't notice anyone being concerned about being in numerical order. So to the OP, as long as you're in the right line, perhaps it doesn't matter that you have a lower boarding number. If my experience is the same as others, all B 1-30 (like you and sons) lined up when called.

BTW, loved SW! Would like the SW credit card, but not the $99 annual fee.

 

[kamik86]

Maybe we misunderstood procedure, but flew SW for the first time 2 weeks ago R/T MCO. When they called B 1-30, we got in line. We were B7-8 but weren't the 7th and 8th in that particular line. I didn't notice anyone being concerned about being in numerical order. So to the OP, as long as you're in the right line, perhaps it doesn't matter that you have a lower boarding number.

BTW, loved SW! Would like the SW credit card, but not the $99 annual fee.

No your supposed to be in order. There are numbers on the little posts to help you be in order.

Now most don't care if your within a reasonable distance to your number (5 or so away) I have definitely seen things like 16 17 15 19 before... because really those two positions don't make alot of difference especially given that being A list those are generally A numbers, it is the difference between sitting in the 2nd or 3rd row of the plane... so maneuvering our bags and selves into the right order just isn't worth it (I have had those people that should be behind me even offer to switch and generally say that... doesn't matter)

However if number 25 tried to line up in spot 2 they probably would get called out if anyone saw it. Some of the gate agents scanning the tickets have even said something to those people.

 

[cruella4me64]

Oh, I didn't know that! Maybe no one bothered us since we boarded further back than we could have. We were happy to be flying and not driving. Wish I was going back tonight!

 

[Spunky946]

Maybe we misunderstood procedure, but flew SW for the first time 2 weeks ago R/T MCO. When they called B 1-30, we got in line. We were B7-8 but weren't the 7th and 8th in that particular line. I didn't notice anyone being concerned about being in numerical order. So to the OP, as long as you're in the right line, perhaps it doesn't matter that you have a lower boarding number. If my experience is the same as others, all B 1-30 (like you and sons) lined up when called. BTW, loved SW! Would like the SW credit card, but not the $99 annual fee.

It's totally worth it and pays for itself if you use it for everything.

 

[n2mm]

Flew out of bwi last month and they really enforced the rules. The agent would not start boarding until everyone put themselves in numerical order. Plus they repeated several times, 2 onboard items. One overhead and one personal. There were folks trying to get on with more than one personal item, like a small paper bag with small tote plus carryon suitcase. He refused to let them board and pulled them to the side until they put things in their suitcase to only have 2 items. He did not hold up the line and while they were reducing their carryons, everyone boarded before them. He stopped the line when they were ready, but they lost their place in line. I was impressed, and heard it from several other gates.

 

[kamik86]

Oh, I didn't know that! Maybe no one bothered us since we boarded further back than we could have. We were happy to be flying and not driving. Wish I was going back tonight!

Oh yeah that is true. If you board further back no one will care at all. So the OP could board with her kids closer to their numbers and no one would mind, but someone might if she tried to have them board with her.

Boarding late happens alot for a number of reasons. Sometimes you will see someone come up to the gate walk right to the agent during boarding and go next. Most of the time that is because they had a late connection that got them to the gate in the late A or B boarding when they had an early A position. (Done this a few times with the 45 min BWI connections I get with work now and then)

 

[kamik86]

Flew out of bwi last month and they really enforced the rules. The agent would not start boarding until everyone put themselves in numerical order. Plus they repeated several times, 2 onboard items. One overhead and one personal. There were folks trying to get on with more than one personal item, like a small paper bag with small tote plus carryon suitcase. He refused to let them board and pulled them to the side until they put things in their suitcase to only have 2 items. He did not hold up the line and while they were reducing their carryons, everyone boarded before them. He stopped the line when they were ready, but they lost their place in line. I was impressed, and heard it from several other gates.

Wow that is more strict then I generally hear. Most of the time they announce the two items but they generally don't do anything with the smaller ones Only with the person with a huge purse, a backpack and a roller bag.

Most of the time the small paper bags are food that they just bought which would obviously fit in their other bags.