SW boarding ?

[chrissyb2411]

So, at exactly 24 hours I printed our boarding passes and got B29-31

We will have DD as a lap child, and DS who is 5, am I correct in that we will be allowed to board between A's and B's because we are travelling with small children? I can't imagine being seperated, keeping both kids busy will take both of us!

 

[brymolmom]

Yes - because of your lap child, your immediate family will be able to board during 'family boarding' that is after all the pre-boards, A boarding passes...but before B's start.

The rule is anyone who has a 4 year old or younger can board in this grouping....so you would not have qualified on just your 5 year old.

So enjoy it for the next few years until your lap baby is 5!!! It is a nice benefit not to have to worry about it. I miss those days!

 

[chrissyb2411]

Yes - because of your lap child, your immediate family will be able to board during 'family boarding' that is after all the pre-boards, A boarding passes...but before B's start.

The rule is anyone who has a 4 year old or younger can board in this grouping....so you would not have qualified on just your 5 year old.

So enjoy it for the next few years until your lap baby is 5!!! It is a nice benefit not to have to worry about it. I miss those days!

Thanks! So if I just skip online check in on the return flight we will be ok? I was going to do it from my phone, but have no way to print, so was trying to figure that one out!

 

[Mirabelle]

I appreciate this answer, too, as I was just on SW website reading about family boarding. When I read about family boarding on the website, I understood that only one adult would be permitted to board with the child under four. Are you saying that all of us (me, DH, DS16, DS7 and DS4) will all be permitted to board during family boarding since we have a four year-old in our group?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[brymolmom]

I appreciate this answer, too, as I was just on SW website reading about family boarding. When I read about family boarding on the website, I understood that only one adult would be permitted to board with the child under four. Are you saying that all of us (me, DH, DS16, DS7 and DS4) will all be permitted to board during family boarding since we have a four year-old in our group?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

I'm not sure if it depends on the flight (and how many families there are at that specific time) but on mine they announced 'if you are traveling with a child 4 or under...that child and his or her immediate family only will be permitted on at family boarding (ie: no grandparents, etc.)'.

But if there are 20 families with young kids waiting to get on - they might follow the one adult with the young child rule. I don't know for sure.

 

[Mirabelle]

Thanks so much for your reply!

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks! So if I just skip online check in on the return flight we will be ok? I was going to do it from my phone, but have no way to print, so was trying to figure that one out!

I would still check-in the day before. If the flight is overbooked, those who checked in last are first to be bumped if there are no volunteers.

 

[Jestocost]

You most likely will be able to board your entire family between the A & B groups. As noted by a PP, however, it's possible that if there are a lot of families with children four and younger that they will limit that boarding to the child and one adult. If they do that, one of you should board and grab a seat in an empty row. The two other seats probably will be left empty until the other two board. Worst case scenario is that one of you will be with the lap child and the other adult will be with the other child somewhere else.

I agree that you should still plan on checking in at the 24 hour mark for your return flight OR do EBCI for $10 more per ticket to get SWA to check you in 36 hours in advance.

 

[LilyWDW]

I appreciate this answer, too, as I was just on SW website reading about family boarding. When I read about family boarding on the website, I understood that only one adult would be permitted to board with the child under four. Are you saying that all of us (me, DH, DS16, DS7 and DS4) will all be permitted to board during family boarding since we have a four year-old in our group?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

It may well end up depending on how many family preboards there are for your flights. Sometimes they allow the whole immediate family, other times it is one adult per eligible child (4 and under).

As such, I would plan for worse case and assume that only one adult will be allowed to board. They will make that flights specifics clearer before boarding.

 

[prncess674]

Thanks! So if I just skip online check in on the return flight we will be ok? I was going to do it from my phone, but have no way to print, so was trying to figure that one out!

Go ahead and check in on your phone. You may get lucky and get A passes which would allow you to board before the rest of the families waiting for family boarding. Once you are checked in it holds your place and you can just print the passes at the counter when you get to the airport.