SW family boarding

[KT0191]

I booked my SW flight tickets last week for my trip this September. It will just be me and my (will be) 3yo son flying. I'm guaranteed to sit with him, right? Or should I go for EBCI? I am not choosy as to where we sit (although I'm sure he'd like a window seat) but obviously the most important thing to me is us sitting together.
This is my first time flying SW so I'm not really sure how this works

 

[MrPTato]

You will be able to do family boarding after the A Group has boarded. You will be fine. I wouldn't spend the money on EBCI.

 

[KT0191]

You will be able to do family boarding after the A Group has boarded. You will be fine. I wouldn't spend the money on EBCI.

Great, thank you.

 

[supersnoop]

I'm guaranteed to sit with him, right?

No, not guaranteed, but highly likely. Any "through" passengers will stay on the plane, and they'll board any medical pre-board folks first, followed by the A group, which will be between 45 and 60 people, and then move to family boarding. Even on Southwest's smallest plane, there are 90 window or aisle seats. The chances that all of those (and no middles) are filled before you get on board is extremely slim.

 

[KT0191]

No, not guaranteed, but highly likely. Any "through" passengers will stay on the plane, and they'll board any medical pre-board folks first, followed by the A group, which will be between 45 and 60 people, and then move to family boarding. Even on Southwest's smallest plane, there are 90 window or aisle seats. The chances that all of those (and no middles) are filled before you get on board is extremely slim.

That makes a lot of sense, thanks. I'm hoping it's not a layover flight. It takes off at 7:10 am from Indianpolis. I guess I'll just see what happens and won't stress about it too much!

 

[kaytieeldr]

A layover flight would have you landing one day, spending the night at an intermediate city, then departing the next day.

Three types of flight:
Nonstop: flight departs from airport A, flies directly to airport B without interruption, lands.
Direct: flight departs from airport A, stops to disembark and board passengers at airport C, ultimately flies to airport B, lands.
Connecting: departs from airport A to airport C, many/most passengers exit for other flights.

Layover isn't a type of flight. Connections aren't generally layover.

 

[supersnoop]

A layover flight would have you landing one day, spending the night at an intermediate city, then departing the next day.

Three types of flight:
Nonstop: flight departs from airport A, flies directly to airport B without interruption, lands.
Direct: flight departs from airport A, stops to disembark and board passengers at airport C, ultimately flies to airport B, lands.
Connecting: departs from airport A to airport C, many/most passengers exit for other flights.

Layover isn't a type of flight. Connections aren't generally layover.

I think you're confusing "layover" with "stopover."

 

[MrPTato]

I think you're confusing "layover" with "stopover."

I would agree.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think you're confusing "layover" with "stopover."

I would agree.

No, I'm not: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/layover "a period of time when you are not traveling in the middle of a journey"

That doesn't mean just waiting for your next fight. Typical connecting flights are not a layover. Now, a break by by the airline scheduled between connecting flights of more than, I think it's six hours, could maybe be considered a layover. Generally, though, a connection is just a connection.

Stopover is different: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2013/07/25/what-is-a-stopover-and-how-to-take-advantage/ "stopover allows you to stay in a connection city for greater than 24 hours and less than the duration of your trip. In this example, it is an extra $100 plus taxes and fees per stopover."

 

[MrPTato]

Schematics are irrelevant. We knew what OP was looking for.

 

[kamik86]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks. I'm hoping it's not a layover flight. It takes off at 7:10 am from Indianpolis. I guess I'll just see what happens and won't stress about it too much!

Ok yeah your very unlikely to have people already on teh plane. So even if this is a flight with a lot of preboarders you should generally still be ok. Especially if you head over to the family boarding area as they have A line up so your towards the front of the family boarding.

 

[maxiesmom]

Schematics are irrelevant. We knew what OP was looking for.

When it comes to travel it is important to know the correct terms, to keep people out of trouble later. You never know who is reading and when the plan another trip will have that bit of info pop back into their brain. Just like people often confusing adjoining with connecting, it is best to know exactly what you are asking.

 

[supersnoop]

No, I'm not: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/layover "a period of time when you are not traveling in the middle of a journey"

That doesn't mean just waiting for your next fight. Typical connecting flights are not a layover. Now, a break by by the airline scheduled between connecting flights of more than, I think it's six hours, could maybe be considered a layover. Generally, though, a connection is just a connection.

Stopover is different: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2013/07/25/what-is-a-stopover-and-how-to-take-advantage/ "stopover allows you to stay in a connection city for greater than 24 hours and less than the duration of your trip. In this example, it is an extra $100 plus taxes and fees per stopover."

A connection and a layover are the same thing.
http://flyingconsultant.com/2013/06/11/what-is-the-difference-between-a-layover-and-a-stopover-2/

And, the example for your own dictionary link: "our flight from New York to San Francisco made a layover in Chicago"

 

[gwynne]

A connection and a layover are the same thing.
http://flyingconsultant.com/2013/06/11/what-is-the-difference-between-a-layover-and-a-stopover-2/

And, the example for your own dictionary link: "our flight from New York to San Francisco made a layover in Chicago"

Connections and layovers are the same, as you point out. I just checked my Delta reservations, they specifically say: Layover in (city) 1hr 24 minutes.

 

[mb187143]

For many US airlines, a layover = a period of 4 hours or less between 2 segments for domestic flights, and 24 hours or less for international flights. It depends on the airline you fly though, how they define a layover vs a stopover, so best to check with the specific airline if you need to.

For example, if it's over 4 hours on American Airlines, it is officially a stopover: "Stopover - a deliberate interruption of travel for more than 4 hours constitutes a domestic stopover unless specified otherwise" (taken from their conditions of carriage).

I've not seen a separate operational definition distingushing a connection from a layover, in most cases on domestic flights operated in the US these are used and can be used interchangeably.

 

[KT0191]

Okay well, layover, stopover, connection..whatever, all I need is to just sit with my son lol.
Thank you all for the help!

 

[mb187143]

Okay well, layover, stopover, connection..whatever, all I need is to just sit with my son lol.
Thank you all for the help!

Semantics aside, yes, in all likelihood you will be fine.

 

[anonymousegirl]

FYI, sometimes Southwest suspends family boarding (sometimes happens to or from Orlando, where the family boarding can easily be a third of the plane!). Just be sure to check in online EXACTLY 24 prior to the flight (710am the day before) and you should be in the B boarding group or maybe even the A group.

 

[KT0191]

FYI, sometimes Southwest suspends family boarding (sometimes happens to or from Orlando, where the family boarding can easily be a third of the plane!). Just be sure to check in online EXACTLY 24 prior to the flight (710am the day before) and you should be in the B boarding group or maybe even the A group.

I will definitely have an alarm set for 7am the morning before to check in!

 

[paults]

Okay well, layover, stopover, connection..whatever, all I need is to just sit with my son lol.
Thank you all for the help!

just check in at 24 hours and if you get ( A BP)'s you can get on before the family group