SW Early Bird for mini kids

[Keacc]

If we have 4 adults and to kids (ages 4 & 6) looking will there be a problem to fly on SW. If we get early bird check-in for the adults, will there be a problem with the kids boarding with us if we don't pay for the kids?

 

[shoreward]

Family Boarding allows one child, age six and younger, to board with one adult. Family Boarding occurs between the "A" and "B" boarding groups. So, unless you are looking to sit within the first several rows of the cabin, Family Boarding should provide good seats for all of you, sitting together, at no additional cost. If all in group have "A" boarding numbers, then you can board together.

Normally, Early Bird would not allow anyone, other than the ticketed passenger with EB, to board in that particular boarding position.

Your other option would be to purchase Early Bird for one adult + one child, with the other adult and child boarding in Family Boarding.

Keep in mind that purchasing Early Bird does not guaranty an "A" number; sometimes EB assigns "B" boarding positions, depending on when EB was purchased and how many others purchased Early Bird, before you. That could mean that Family Boarding would allow you to board earlier in the process, than EB position.

 

[JediBonas]

If you want to get those EB numbers and board together you have to pay for the kids, too.

 

[goofy4tink]

As noted, with kids that age you should be able to board together, during the family boarding time. Otherwise, no, you wouldn't be able to have the kids board with you if you bought EBCI for the adults but not the kids. Everyone has to board according to their boarding slot.
You will probably be fine just boarding in the family boarding group....that should get you an empty row of three, with an empty seat either on the aisle across from your empty row, or immediately behind or in front of you.

 

[kaytieeldr]

that should get you an empty row of three, with an empty seat either on the aisle across from your empty row, or immediately behind or in front of you.

Four adults and two kids should take two full row sections

 

[goofy4tink]

Four adults and two kids should take two full row sections

Ooops, forgot two adults. My bad.

 

[DLgal]

Last time I paid for EB, I got boarding position B12.

Family boarding is a better option if you have kids under 5.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Kids that age, save the $$ and do the family boarding. You won't have an issue with getting seats together, although they might not be in the front of the plane.

 

[Minnesota!]

As I always spew on here, don't count on family boarding. In all my flights to MCO with SW, it has never been offered. Too many families.

If you want EBCI, buy it,

 

[Betty Rohrer]

As I always spew on here, don't count on family boarding. In all my flights to MCO with SW, it has never been offered. Too many families.

If you want EBCI, buy it,

this has happened to me also plus one time there were that many people staying on plane. it was a full flight but boarding passes only went to B 20. no family boarding on that flight and it was SW

 

[maxiesmom]

As I always spew on here, don't count on family boarding. In all my flights to MCO with SW, it has never been offered. Too many families.

If you want EBCI, buy it,

Yes. And buy it for everyone, including the kids.

 

[pattyw]

Yes buy EBCI for everyone. I was just on a flight yesterday where the Flight attendants kept announcing that there is no saving of seats during the boarding process. They said it's a full flight, take the first seat you see. This was the first time I've seen this done, but I don't want to be stressed by trying to save seats.

 

[goofy4tink]

As I always spew on here, don't count on family boarding. In all my flights to MCO with SW, it has never been offered. Too many families.

If you want EBCI, buy it,

I've seen this on very full flights. One of two things have happened. 1. family boarding was allowed, but they limited it to one child/one adult or just parents and their kids. 2. stopped it completely because there were so many families wanting to use it.

Yes buy EBCI for everyone. I was just on a flight yesterday where the Flight attendants kept announcing that there is no saving of seats during the boarding process. They said it's a full flight, take the first seat you see. This was the first time I've seen this done, but I don't want to be stressed by trying to save seats.

I've seen that as well. I remember one flight that I had A19, so got to watch others board. I watched as what looked like a family boarded, but took up several rows with just two people per row. They ended up spread out over about 4 rows, leaving the middle seats empty. Well, once they got to the C group, the FA announced that this was a full flight, with no empty seats, so you were welcome to take any empty seat as you boarded. Well...you had to see that family scramble to be able to sit together, rather than have a stranger sitting in between them! It was actually very funny. While there is no official policy regarding seat saving, FAs will say that empty seats are fair game as the boarding process progresses.

If you want to be sure to sit together, it's best to pay for EBCI for everyone. Then, if you end up with a B grouping, and they announce family boarding, you can board with that group. If they don't announce it, and you neglected to buy EBCI for everyone, you could well end up in the C group, probably finding a few seats together but certainly not enough to put you all together in the same area.