SWA and seating/waiting on price

[cropper]

I am flying for the first time with my kids. Not the first time for me, but for them.
Since SW doesn’t assign seating, is it a problem in/out of Orlando to all sit together? I figure most in/out of Orlando are families who want pre-boarding and seating together.

Also, I can’t decide when to quit waiting on ‘deals’ and just buy the silly things. Any suggestions on that? Current fare on my flights are $252 (OkCity /Orlando, Dec 3-9) but specials for Sept are currently $163. HELP!!

 

[mpbs]

If you arrive early and get an A boarding pass, then wait in the A line you may be able to sit together. Also, you can always ask someone to switch so you can sit with your children. Lasy year my DH and I got the A pass, waited in the A line and still had to spit. It was not that bad though, we each sat with one of our children (at least no arguing on the plane).

 

[B.Mary]

I fly SWA a lot -- I love them. They allow someone to pre-board with a child of 4 or younger, so you'll qualify. Also, if you print your boarding pass from the internet (starting at 12:01 a.m. the day of your flight) early, you'll get in the first boarding group (Group A -- first 30(?) passengers).

I don't think that December fares will go as low as September -- they're low in September because of hurricane season. But the great thing about SW is that if you book your fare, then see a lower one, you can re-book and get the lower fare. You don't get a refund (unless you paid top dollar "regular" fare to start with) but you get a credit to use on another flight -- and the credit is transferable. Any other airline (that I know of) you're pretty much stuck once you buy the ticket. Also, you can completely cancel the flight and also get a credit.

Mary
long-time reader, brand new poster

 

[smfritz03]

We are staying at the All Star Movies--is there a way that we can print out our boarding passes first thing in the morning? We wont be flying till 2pm and I would hate to wait till we got to the airport to do this. We are flying w/ 3 children, ages 7, 6, 6 and dont want them split around the airplane.

 

[Stimpy]

Some of the resorts will print them for you but you have to ask at the individual resort.

 

[inkkognito]

The hotel may be able to check you in and print them. Or, if they cannot give you printouts, they can check you in and you can get the printouts at the airport.

When I fly SW, I get my boarding pass at 12:01 a.m. and get to the airport early enough to be one of the first in the A line. I pretty much have my choice of seats, even when there is a large pre-board. I fly a lot and have only seen them have to ask for people to move to accommodate a family once. On my last flight, I was very pleased to see them kicking people out of preboard who had kids as old as 8 and 11! Both groups (one of which was six people) claimed they thought they could preboard with kids up to 11. They had to go to the END of their regular line.

Barb