SWA boarding question

[overthemoon4mickey]

I have a quick question and I know you dis'ers will know the answer. For the life of me I can't remember exactly how SWA handles kids boarding.

Does SWA allow parents with young children to board first? What is considered a young child? We are a family of 4 with dd12 and ds6. I say ds is no longer considered a young child, while dh thinks he is. Should I go ahead and pay for an early boarding pass for dh and let him hold a row for us? Or do you think we will be given an " A" group boarding because of the kids. Yes, "A" group is important to me....what can I say? I stress out not knowing if we all get to sit together and that is not the way I like to start any vacation.

Thanks y'all

 

[Duffy Lover]

SWA boards families with children 4 years old and younger between the A and B group. It looks like since your littlest one is 6 you wouldn't qualify for family boarding.

I think that if you really want that A group you should shell out the cash for early bird, or check in right at the 24 hour mark. Even if you got in the B group you would have no trouble finding seats together...

FWIW, I've seen a few families board with older children between A and B and the gate attendants have never said anything. I've even seen a family with an only child who was a pre-teen board early...

Good luck!

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

Thanks Duffy! I think I will pay the $10 and secure an A group. So worth the peace of mind.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks Duffy! I think I will pay the $10 and secure an A group. So worth the peace of mind.

I don't think you can hold seats for people boarding after you. There is NO guarantee you will secure a A pass even with the 10.00 early bird check in. Even if you get a B pass, it is pretty much assured you will all be able to be together. Seating on SWA is 3 and 3.

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

Thanks Gmeh1! Good to know. dH and i will most likely each take a child and just sit where we can.

 

[navywifetill2002]

Remember that the Early Check in is $10 per person each way so with your family of 4 you're looking at $80! People can try to save seats but it's 1st come 1st served so even if someone is "saving" a seat the next person in line can choose to sit there anyway.

We travel a lot and DD is only 3 so we board between A&B if we don't have an A ticket but even pretty far down the B's families get to sit together. You'll be find way down B's since you're only looking for 2 seats together, getting the whole row gets tricky as the B's go on.

If you got a C ticket your DD12 could end up sitting by herself but they would ask someone to switch with you so DS6 was not sitting in a row by himself (no one wants to be watching someone elses kids while the parents sit in a different row).

 

[goofy4tink]

I have seen many instances where people boarded with the EBCI, and tried to save more than one or two seats and then have to scramble. When the FAs come along and tell you that it's a full flight and there will be no empty seats, it's amazing to see how many people start moving around. It's not such a hard thing to save one or two seats, but three??? Kinda hard.
I would just pay for EBCI for everyone. With so many people doing EBCI now, it's sometimes hard to get into the A boarding group without it!! BUT....I have seen families able to sit together when boarding in the B group....it's when you get to the C group that you start having issues finding a bunch of seats together.

 

[Sammy]

Just wanted to chime in and say that the one and only time we paid for the early boarding, we ended up with "B" boarding passes anyway. With so many people doing the early boarding now, it's still a gamble as to whether you'll get the coveted "A".

 

[MAYNARDS99]

"no one wants to be watching someone elses kids while the parents sit in a different row" ... guess you've never been on a flight with Mom and Dad in first and the kids back in coach!

ECBI was useful when first introduced, now not so much.

If you HAVE to all sit together fly an airline with assigned seating.

Seems kids are only concerned about when they can turn their iPads and laptops back on! I love it when a child brings something to keep themselves occupied.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I just wanted to say that I personally believe that getting an A boarding pass is getting harder and harder. As most of us know, A1-15 are held for business select paasengers, and then after that comes the A-listers, and then early bird customers. I am A-list and was shocked to check in for my flight yesterday to see that I was A29! I've learned by talking to others that apparently A-list is assigned in alpahabetical order, and my last name begins with a "T" so that would explain the later number. My point is that if I'm that far back as an A-lister, I can easily see how EBCI customers could wind up in the B boarding group.

 

[Avery&Todd]

I just wanted to say that I personally believe that getting an A boarding pass is getting harder and harder. As most of us know, A1-15 are held for business select paasengers, and then after that comes the A-listers, and then early bird customers. I am A-list and was shocked to check in for my flight yesterday to see that I was A29! I've learned by talking to others that apparently A-list is assigned in alpahabetical order, and my last name begins with a "T" so that would explain the later number. My point is that if I'm that far back as an A-lister, I can easily see how EBCI customers could wind up in the B boarding group.

Could you have changed your seating #???

We've only flown SW once -and it was only DH and I and we did pay for early bird, or whatever the $10 gets me - and we were one of the last "As" to board..

our whole family is flying SW next month to WDW - the boys are 10 & 12 so not little enough to qualify to jump ahead..

If I log-in at the 24hr mark, and I see where we're a last "A", can I change it??

thanks!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

EBCI works better for coming home where you may not have access to a computer 24 hours before your flight to check in. The biggest advantage of EBCI is not an early boarding number, but rather the ability for SWA to check you in 36 hours before your flight so you don't have to worry about it.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Could you have changed your seating #???

We've only flown SW once -and it was only DH and I and we did pay for early bird, or whatever the $10 gets me - and we were one of the last "As" to board..

our whole family is flying SW next month to WDW - the boys are 10 & 12 so not little enough to qualify to jump ahead..

If I log-in at the 24hr mark, and I see where we're a last "A", can I change it??

thanks!

No, boarding numbers are computer generated, once you check in, that is your boarding number. No way to change it.

 

[crashbb]

Could you have changed your seating #???

We've only flown SW once -and it was only DH and I and we did pay for early bird, or whatever the $10 gets me - and we were one of the last "As" to board..

our whole family is flying SW next month to WDW - the boys are 10 & 12 so not little enough to qualify to jump ahead..

If I log-in at the 24hr mark, and I see where we're a last "A", can I change it??

thanks!

You'd only be changing it to a later boarding number, so I'm not sure why you'd want to (even if you could).

 

[jayhawk74]

If I log-in at the 24hr mark, and I see where we're a last "A", can I change it??

The only way that you can change a boarding number on Southwest is to upgrade to Business Select, which you can do even after they start boarding, and then you will get a Boarding Pass that is A1-A15.

 

[DebbieB]

I flew SW 3 weeks go and checked in at exactly 24 hours. We got A51 & 52 going down and B1 & 2 coming back. Coming back we snagged the 2 seat exit row.

 

[mjplantz]

I am assuming based on your profile you are departing from Houston. We have taken several SW trips from there and when our youngest was a similar age I would always have her board with me no matter her boarding group was. The gate agent never had a problem with it. I am an A-Lister so I always have a early boarding position and that may also have contributed to the ease. She and I board and take the aisle and window. We would do EBCI for our oldest and she sits across the aisle and then DW is the last to come and just fills in between youngest and I.

I will tell you this plan has never worked for us departing Orlando they pretty much make the parent assume the child's boarding position even if you have Business Select. I was traveling with my DD who was 5 at the time and I had A-1 and she was B-29. I was told that we had to board under her position without exception. Once we returned to Dallas I called customer service and had them give me ticketless travel funds for the difference in Business Select and Wanna Get Away fare since I was informed differently when I purchased the tickets.

Saving seats can be a challenge as SW is first come first serve thats why we always leave the middle seat open until DW comes.

As an additional tip put the tray table down in those seats next to you (in your section of 3), human nature makes most people look for an 'open' seat.

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

"no one wants to be watching someone elses kids while the parents sit in a different row" ... guess you've never been on a flight with Mom and Dad in first and the kids back in coach!

ECBI was useful when first introduced, now not so much.

If you HAVE to all sit together fly an airline with assigned seating.

Seems kids are only concerned about when they can turn their iPads and laptops back on! I love it when a child brings something to keep themselves occupied.

Hi, Original poster here..

No, like I said earlier we don't all need to sit together. Of course Dh and I will each take a kid so that they won't be by themselves.

Our kids have flown a lot and are very good travelers, never had a problem with them bothering anybody near us. That being said I always make sure they have entertainment as well as snacks.

I do get a little anxious while waiting in line but I love the way southwest handles it. Also, I know that the FA's are always friendly and will help ensure that DS6 is seated with one of us. One other bonus is that flying out of Houston I've always encountered sweet friendly people, a majority who are headed on vacation too.

Just wondered about the age of child boarding, thanks to all who replied. As you fellow parents know it's always best to be informed and knowledgable on any issue that pertains to your child even if in the end it becomes a non-issue.

Thanks y'all!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Also, I know that the FA's are always friendly and will help ensure that DS6 is seated with one of us.

Which is great, in an urgent situation caused by the airline (such as a delayed connecting flight). But when an airline offers an option that virtually guarantees passengers can sit with whomever they wish - Southwest's EBCI, AirTran's or Spirit's seat purchase option... - and the parent instead expects the airline to fix any seating problems, that's just inconsiderate.

 

[Hannathy]

If sitting with each other is a priority you should pay for it. If it isn't enough of a priority to pay for it you shouldn't expect others to move for you.

I wouldn't move for a 6 yr old unless I was being offered a prime seat in exchange.

If you don't pay for the privilege to sit together then it isn't a priority and you should willingly sit in what ever seats are open.


I don't think they are going to "ensure", they may ask but for a 6 yr old they aren't going to put much effort (nor should they) into it.