SW early Bird and infant

[jana616]

We flew last summer from Indy to Orlando, with a layover in Baltimore, 3 flights total. We had 2 adults, a 7 yo, 4 yo, and lap child. People had made us so nervous on here that they wouldn't do early boarding for families, that only one of us and the youngest 2 would be allowed during family boarding if they had it all, or some spiteful person wouldn't allow us to save seats if that did happen, and on and on. I was stressed for weeks. Ultimately, we took our chances on the way there and paid for early boarding on the way home, so I wouldn't have to hassle checking in at 24 hours. And honestly, all that worry was for nothing. We had B seats, but got on with family boarding (all 5 of us) both flights on the way there. On the way back, we had A seats from early check in, but even friends of ours (3 seats) who got on board almost last due to arriving very late were able to get seats altogether. I think you'll be fine no matter what you decide.

 

[goofy4tink]

We flew last summer from Indy to Orlando, with a layover in Baltimore, 3 flights total. We had 2 adults, a 7 yo, 4 yo, and lap child. People had made us so nervous on here that they wouldn't do early boarding for families, that only one of us and the youngest 2 would be allowed during family boarding if they had it all, or some spiteful person wouldn't allow us to save seats if that did happen, and on and on. I was stressed for weeks. Ultimately, we took our chances on the way there and paid for early boarding on the way home, so I wouldn't have to hassle checking in at 24 hours. And honestly, all that worry was for nothing. We had B seats, but got on with family boarding (all 5 of us) both flights on the way there. On the way back, we had A seats from early check in, but even friends of ours (3 seats) who got on board almost last due to arriving very late were able to get seats altogether. I think you'll be fine no matter what you decide.

And there you go!!! This is pretty much what we tell people. There just isn't any need for all this worrying and stressing!! The vast majority of passengers have no issue with SW boarding/seating. There is a reason their flights are nearly all full!!!

 

[PWammy]

Totally not worth it IMO, even flying to a place like MCO where lots of families are likely to be on the flight. Even if you do get broken up (which I doubt), it's sometimes a good thing to have someone for the toddler to switch over to. If I did it, I'd only do it for one adult.

 

[Greysword]

As a counter point, we get EBCI each time we fly WN. I enjoy having the piece of mind that we are in the best boarding group we can be given the circumstance. $150 for the three of us is worth it, but YMMV.

Of course, I also spend $150 annual fee on the Delta AMEX to get better boarding, free bags, and a companion fare on an airline with assigned seats, so YMMV

 

[sam_gordon]

As a counter point, we get EBCI each time we fly WN. I enjoy having the piece of mind that we are in the best boarding group we can be given the circumstance. $150 for the three of us is worth it, but YMMV.

Of course, I also spend $150 annual fee on the Delta AMEX to get better boarding, free bags, and a companion fare on an airline with assigned seats, so YMMV

I'm confused. EBCI is $12.50/passenger/destination, right? $12.50*3*2 (RT) = $75. Where'd you get to $150?

 

[Gracie09]

We flew last summer from Indy to Orlando, with a layover in Baltimore, 3 flights total. We had 2 adults, a 7 yo, 4 yo, and lap child. People had made us so nervous on here that they wouldn't do early boarding for families, that only one of us and the youngest 2 would be allowed during family boarding if they had it all, or some spiteful person wouldn't allow us to save seats if that did happen, and on and on. I was stressed for weeks. Ultimately, we took our chances on the way there and paid for early boarding on the way home, so I wouldn't have to hassle checking in at 24 hours. And honestly, all that worry was for nothing. We had B seats, but got on with family boarding (all 5 of us) both flights on the way there. On the way back, we had A seats from early check in, but even friends of ours (3 seats) who got on board almost last due to arriving very late were able to get seats altogether. I think you'll be fine no matter what you decide.

Why would someone taking an empty seat be spiteful? Sw policy is no saving seats. It's not my responsibility to make sure your family sits together. When I travel with my family I purchase early boarding or if not sw we get seat assignments to maximize the chance of us all sitting together. As a parents that is my responsiblity and my responsibility alone. It's not te airlines, the other passengers etc. if it costs me more to fulfill my responsibility that's the cost of being a parent (and a relatively small one at that).

 

[kwdw]

Personally never seen a sw flight not do family boarding. I have seen gate attendant limit it to one adult with the child and ask the rest of the family to wait. Folks stress about this too much. Unless you are actually late to your flight, I can't imagine it won't work out. And I also can't imagine if there were not at least two seats together for one parent and a small child, that folks wouldn't move. Now, that might be harder with a nine year old, and that's a different debate. But a two y.o. If a late family arrived and needed to be able to put a parent and a two year together, I'd move to a middle seat to help out. Ask me to move for your twelve year old, no.

 

[grkmbee]

How does checking in for your flight back home work. I can easily wake up early to check in for my flight down to MCO, but when it comes to going home...? We're flight SW and I want to make sure we set ourselves up for the best possible seats without spending more $ than necessary. Do you have to be at the RAC or concierge to check in or can you do it online and then have the hotel print your passes?

 

[Madzac]

Why would someone taking an empty seat be spiteful? Sw policy is no saving seats. It's not my responsibility to make sure your family sits together. When I travel with my family I purchase early boarding or if not sw we get seat assignments to maximize the chance of us all sitting together. As a parents that is my responsiblity and my responsibility alone. It's not te airlines, the other passengers etc. if it costs me more to fulfill my responsibility that's the cost of being a parent (and a relatively small one at that).

Unfortunatly with the AT/SW merger, it isnt always possible right now. We booked on AT and paid for our seats. Then they changed our flights so that our first leg is now SW. We are not allowed to purchase EBCI since we bought on AT. There are also people who did the opposite, purchased on SW and now have an AT flight and cant buy seats. So I would hope right now as the merge moves forwards people would be a little understanding that not everyone can purchase that. I feel the same, its my responsibility as a parent, hence why I booked on AT. But now I dont have an option.

 

[kaytieeldr]

How does checking in for your flight back home work. I can easily wake up early to check in for my flight down to MCO, but when it comes to going home...? We're flight SW and I want to make sure we set ourselves up for the best possible seats without spending more $ than necessary. Do you have to be at the RAC or concierge to check in or can you do it online and then have the hotel print your passes?

You can check in online. RAC can't check you in 24 hours in advance.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We flew last summer from Indy to Orlando, with a layover in Baltimore, 3 flights total. We had 2 adults, a 7 yo, 4 yo, and lap child. People had made us so nervous on here that they wouldn't do early boarding for families, that only one of us and the youngest 2 would be allowed during family boarding if they had it all, or some spiteful person wouldn't allow us to save seats if that did happen, and on and on. I was stressed for weeks....

If you obsess so much about seats, why in the world do you fly WN?

Someone who wants to sit in "your" saved seat is hardly being spiteful!

 

[goofy4tink]

How does checking in for your flight back home work. I can easily wake up early to check in for my flight down to MCO, but when it comes to going home...? We're flight SW and I want to make sure we set ourselves up for the best possible seats without spending more $ than necessary. Do you have to be at the RAC or concierge to check in or can you do it online and then have the hotel print your passes?

This is when a lot of us just pay for EBCI!! So much easier than trying to be online at the 24 hr window when in WDW. This way, SW checks us in at the 36 hr window, and when we do RAC, we get our boarding passes then.
You could go to concierge and have them check you in, but who knows where you'll be at that 24 hr window.

And as far as 'spiteful' people not allowing you to save seats? I've seldom seen anyone try to take a saved seat. That is possibly going to happen only when the late C group is boarding. And even then most people aren't going to give you a hard time. BUT...don't try saving seats outside of your actual row. That means, you can save the two seats in your immediate row, but not across the aisle or in front or in back of you. That's not really fair.

 

[Granny square]

I was surprised when a flight attendant stepped in when a man was picking at a lady on my last flight for saving a seat. The fa said it was absolutely ok to save seats. And told the guy to back off.