Sw ?

[RED23]

My family of 5 will be traveling to Disney 12/12 (Wed.) to 12/19 (Wed.).
I can get a SW flight out of LI Islip for $694 round trip for all 5, or I can get JetBlue out of JFK for $1094 round trip for all 5.
I have never flown SW. My kids will be 10, 8, and 5. I understand that we will not be able to pre-board.
How bad will it be on Wed. 12/19 to get seats together?
Are people willing to work with other passengers to keep families together?
Any help will be appreciated.

Red

 

[SB in KY]

You will be fine...just print out your boarding passes 24 hours before departure and you will get A boarding passes and then you will be able to get 2 rows together or near each other....No offense, but no one really wants to sit next to your unattended children (or anyone elses for that matter) and you have a mid week flight so it should be totally fine.

 

[RED23]

Thanks. No offense taken. I am just a nervous flyer. You may actually prefer sitting next to my kids over me when we are flying. I use my Lamaze breathing to calm down.
I am going to purchase tickets on SW today. I will just check in online 24 hrs in advance and hope for the best.

Red

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks. No offense taken. I am just a nervous flyer. You may actually prefer sitting next to my kids over me when we are flying. I use my Lamaze breathing to calm down.
I am going to purchase tickets on SW today. I will just check in online 24 hrs in advance and hope for the best.

Red

Ah yes...that lamaze breathing...did more for me while flying and in the dentist chair than it did during labor!! However, I digress...
If you check in online at the 24 hr mark, you should be fine. Obviously, you won't all be seated together. But, if you are in the A group, and don't mind heading to the back of the plane, you should be fine. I would put one parent on the aisle, with two kids (the youngest and the oldest) in the middle and window seats. Then, put the other parent, with middle child, either in the row beside you and the two kids (parent in the middle seat, kid on the aisle) or directly behind you.
It should be pretty easy to accomplish. I would have everyone's carryon bags in the group A line as soon as it starts to build up, with one parent standing in the line, with the bags. Then, when boarding time gets closer, everyone can stand in the line.