SW boarding policy with infants?

[talulabelle]

It has been a long time since I have flown SW and I think I remember reading that their boarding policy with infants had changed. I will be flying with DH - and our 5 kids - the youngest is 16 months and I did not buy him a seat. Are families with infants still allowed to preboard?

 

[mom2brooke76]

Family boarding for families with children 4 and under is between the A and B group. Obviously if you score A boarding passes for your family, board with those instead.

 

[talulabelle]

Family boarding for families with children 4 and under is between the A and B group. Obviously if you score A boarding passes for your family, board with those instead.

Ok- so say i only manage to get c passes, can my ENTIRE family board after the A's or only one adult with the baby and then my hubby and older 4 kids with the c passes?

 

[jcarwash]

Ok- so say i only manage to get c passes, can my ENTIRE family board after the A's or only one adult with the baby and then my hubby and older 4 kids with the c passes?

It may depend on the flight itself (how full etc.) whether your entire family can board between A and B, or if family boarding is allowed at all.

Since it is your immediate family only (no grandparents, uncles, aunts etc.) I would expect there is a chance they would let the entire family board between A and B. I have observed them announcing immediate family only for family boarding.

 

[LilyWDW]

Another thing to note is that there ARE reports that family boarding was not done for a flight or it was only one adult with the qualifying child. A lot seems to depend on the destination and how many families there are. I would not risk this and would still be on to get my boarding pass at the 24 hours mark or purchase the EBCI.

 

[twinklebug]

Another thing to note is that there ARE reports that family boarding was not done for a flight or it was only one adult with the qualifying child. A lot seems to depend on the destination and how many families there are. I would not risk this and would still be on to get my boarding pass at the 24 hours mark or purchase the EBCI.

If there is a concern quietly bring up a discussion about it at the desk before boarding lineup starts... preferably before the plane even arrives and suddenly they're swamped with people.

 

[crashbb]

If there is a concern quietly bring up a discussion about it at the desk before boarding lineup starts... preferably before the plane even arrives and suddenly they're swamped with people.

And what would you say? That your family is somehow special and that the rules (in this case, no advance family boarding) shouldn't apply to them? If there are indeed special needs, that is resolved through special needs (aka "blue sleeve") boarding.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

And what would you say? That your family is somehow special and that the rules (in this case, no advance family boarding) shouldn't apply to them? If there are indeed special needs, that is resolved through special needs (aka "blue sleeve") boarding.

LOL! Yes, that's what you say (Trust me I see it at airports all the time the "we are special and the rules don't apply to us do they" It's the rule of travel today! It rarely works, but it's fun to watch!)

 

[deegack]

And what would you say? That your family is somehow special and that the rules (in this case, no advance family boarding) shouldn't apply to them? If there are indeed special needs, that is resolved through special needs (aka "blue sleeve") boarding.

This. The reason family boarding is suspended on flights to Orlando is because most of the passengers qualify for family boarding and thus it defeats the purpose.

 

[Lewisc]

And what would you say? That your family is somehow special and that the rules (in this case, no advance family boarding) shouldn't apply to them? If there are indeed special needs, that is resolved through special needs (aka "blue sleeve") boarding.

The suggestion is to ask the GA prior to the plane even arrives at the gate. Presumably that would be before the GA made an announcement regarding family mid-boarding. A polite request for information might cause the GA to consider limiting mid-boarding to one adult per child rather then suspending it altogether.

 

[twinklebug]

The suggestion is to ask the GA prior to the plane even arrives at the gate. Presumably that would be before the GA made an announcement regarding family mid-boarding. A polite request for information might cause the GA to consider limiting mid-boarding to one adult per child rather then suspending it altogether.

My post had originally detailed a couple situations that could arise where a single parent might need more than just themselves and the qualifying child to board together. I removed the extra info as I know there are probably many many more situations I can't think of, your scenario is a good one too.

That said... I have never used family boarding on SWA. I do see people using Family boarding (and possibly abusing it) but before I let it get to me I remind myself they may have circumstances I don't know about and it's not any of my business. This is why I mentioned if there are any questions regarding boarding to bring up a quiet conversation about it before boarding starts. There are many out there who feel too many folk are abusing it. No need to make noise.

 

[kerplop]

From what I understand basically one adult and the child are allowed to board, while the other parent and remaining children board after A group, but before B group. This is regardless of whether you purchase EBCI. If you have multiple infants you may be able to get some leeway, but otherwise that's the general policy. Now what actually happens when you get there is always up in the air since we all know that airline employees kind of do what they want anyway.

 

[jcarwash]

From what I understand basically one adult and the child are allowed to board, while the other parent and remaining children board after A group, but before B group. This is regardless of whether you purchase EBCI. If you have multiple infants you may be able to get some leeway, but otherwise that's the general policy. Now what actually happens when you get there is always up in the air since we all know that airline employees kind of do what they want anyway.

The family boarding, when it happens and with whoever is allowed, is between the A and B groups.

I'm reading your wording above like the adult and child 4 and under are boarding earlier than that and the rest of the family, if split, goes between A and B. The family boarding is between A and B and if split the rest of the family boards with their assigned numbers. But that's if there is a split and they don't allow the immediate family together.

 

[deegack]

The suggestion is to ask the GA prior to the plane even arrives at the gate. Presumably that would be before the GA made an announcement regarding family mid-boarding. A polite request for information might cause the GA to consider limiting mid-boarding to one adult per child rather then suspending it altogether.

All that does is cause problems with people then trying to save rows of seats for their entire family and people coming behind tgem to sit in those seats and being told those are saved. Then the passenger either ignores this and sits or goes to the next empty row and possibly be told the same thing. Either way boardibg gets backed up. If you want to board early and pretty much guarantee you all sit together then buy the early boarding pass.

 

[Betsy82]

This. The reason family boarding is suspended on flights to Orlando is because most of the passengers qualify for family boarding and thus it defeats the purpose.

Interesting.

I've only recently flown Southwest with my children (June) to Orlando but they offered family pre-boarding.

We left Pittsburgh, but had A passes so we boarded with those. Coming home they offered family pre-boarding, too, and we had mid-B passes so we boarded between A and B.

I wonder if it changes things that the flight from PIT-MCO was the first leg of it's journey? Not everyone on our plane got off in Orlando, the flight had three more stops actually.

Oh, I'm also fairly certain they did allow entire families to board as part of the family pre-boarding. I admit I wasn't paying close attention, though, as it was just my husband and I with our children who were both eligible. So even if they'd denied entire family, we'd of been able to board together.

 

[jcarwash]

This. The reason family boarding is suspended on flights to Orlando is because most of the passengers qualify for family boarding and thus it defeats the purpose.

I've only recently flown Southwest with my children (June) to Orlando but they offered family pre-boarding.

We left Pittsburgh, but had A passes so we boarded with those. Coming home they offered family pre-boarding, too, and we had mid-B passes so we boarded between A and B.

I wonder if it changes things that the flight from PIT-MCO was the first leg of it's journey? Not everyone on our plane got off in Orlando, the flight had three more stops actually.

Oh, I'm also fairly certain they did allow entire families to board as part of the family pre-boarding. I admit I wasn't paying close attention, though, as it was just my husband and I with our children who were both eligible. So even if they'd denied entire family, we'd of been able to board together.

Family boarding may or may not be suspended on flights to and from Orlando. I have yet to see it happen either, but I can see where SWA would use their discretion and not offer it depending on the flight. So it's not hard and fast rule that it is always offered or always suspended.

 

[bumbershoot]

I read twinklebug's suggestion to mean *asking* the gate agents IF there will or will not be family boarding. A simple request for info if there is a *concern* as to whether there will be family boarding.

Not everyone can hear or understand the PA announcements; I know I have had problems with it!

 

[twinklebug]

Not everyone can hear or understand the PA announcements; I know I have had problems with it!

It's not as bad as the train station's "Train mmkkknnn now arriving on platfmmmmssshhhkkkkkknb *pop*" which leaves everyone scrambling for the right side to wait on at the last moment, but it can be close to that when the GA has their mouth pressed up on the mike.

 

[DebbieB]

Family boarding may or may not be suspended on flights to and from Orlando. I have yet to see it happen either, but I can see where SWA would use their discretion and not offer it depending on the flight. So it's not hard and fast rule that it is always offered or always suspended.

I've never seen it completely suspended but I have heard it limited to immediate family (no grandparents, aunts, cousins). On my trip at the beginning of May, I'd say there were 15 or 20 people in family line. It looked like many families had A. We checked in exactly at 24 hours and got B-1 & B-2 so the A's were likely mostly EBCI.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

WN's official rule is one adult per child age 4 and under. This information is stated right on their website; take a look.