SWA boarding question

[connchurch]

We have not purchased EBCI but have group of 13, 8 being children. Does anyone know, if they automatically allow families with children to board after the A passengers. This is what happened 2 years ago when we flew, but they did not have EBCI at that time.

 

[helenk]

This is from the SW website

An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the "A" group has boarded and before the "B" group begins boarding. However, those Customers holding an "A" boarding pass should still board with the "A" boarding group

That said there have been times when if there are alot of families with small children, which can occur going to Florida, they will not do the family boarding process.
Be aware they may not allow your entire group board, for example, if there are grandparents going they would have to board with their boarding pass group, either A, B or C

 

[Hannathy]

If they have family boarding and sometimes they don't it is 1 adult per child under 4. Everyone can't board with 1 child. How many kids are under 4?

 

[AveryandLilysmom]

We have a five year old and three year old and we never buy EBCI and we always board between the A and B groups unless we are either at the end of the A or beginning of the B group. None of the flights we have been on did SW not offer boarding for families between those two groups. But, I have seen them not allow children obviously too old for family boarding or adults in larger groups trying to board as part of the family. It is really intended for families boarding infants and toddlers, not for families in general.

 

[Nennie]

For large groups, EBCI is the way to go if you want to make sure you are sitting together. If you don't mind splitting up a little (say 2 here, 3 there, etc) then you can probably get away with checking in at the 24 hour mark.

I'm flying PHL to MCO tomorrow, checked in at T24, and got B49. Not a big deal for us as we only need 1 row of 3, but if I was flying with a huge group it might be tough to get everyone together.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have not purchased EBCI but have group of 13, 8 being children. Does anyone know, if they automatically allow families with children to board after the A passengers. This is what happened 2 years ago when we flew, but they did not have EBCI at that time.

In my experience they limit family boarding to one adult with each child 4 and under, sometimes the other parent and siblings can family board as well but never extended family or friends.

From SWA:
An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the "A" group has boarded and before the "B" group begins boarding. However, those Customers holding an "A" boarding pass should still board with the "A" boarding group.

Personally in that situation - I would at least get EBCI for the children who are over 4 but not old enough to sit alone and a parent/guardian to accompany them.

 

[jdb in AZ]

In my experience they limit family boarding to one adult with each child 4 and under, sometimes the other parent and siblings can family board as well but never extended family or friends.

From SWA:
An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the "A" group has boarded and before the "B" group begins boarding. However, those Customers holding an "A" boarding pass should still board with the "A" boarding group.

Personally in that situation - I would at least get EBCI for the children who are over 4 but not old enough to sit alone and a parent/guardian to accompany them.

It's all or nothing -- If the family booked their flight under the same reservation #, everyone on that reservation would have to book EBCI, or none of them. Also, if you want to book EBCI for the return flight and your reservation # is round trip, you'd have to book EBCI for both directions -- they get you coming and going. Unless you book the flights one-way and family members separately.

 

[Moparlar]

It's all or nothing -- If the family booked their flight under the same reservation #, everyone on that reservation would have to book EBCI, or none of them. Also, if you want to book EBCI for the return flight and your reservation # is round trip, you'd have to book EBCI for both directions -- they get you coming and going. Unless you book the flights one-way and family members separately.

When My sons went to vegas in July they were on 1 reservation and I only paid for EB for 1 of them and he saved the seats for the other 2. So everyone does not have to pay EB seating.

 

[tjmw2727]

Unless this is something new within the past week this is not correct. I have done it numerous times inlcuding last Wednesday booking EBCI for 2 of 4 passengers.

I can't tell you how many times I have booked EBCI for only the return leg of a round trip flight!

It's all or nothing -- If the family booked their flight under the same reservation #, everyone on that reservation would have to book EBCI, or none of them. Also, if you want to book EBCI for the return flight and your reservation # is round trip, you'd have to book EBCI for both directions -- they get you coming and going. Unless you book the flights one-way and family members separately.

 

[Moparlar]

Unless this is something new within the past week this is not correct. I have done it numerous times inlcuding last Wednesday booking EBCI for 2 of 4 passengers.

I can't tell you how many times I have booked EBCI for only the return leg of a round trip flight!

I usually only do the return flight also since I never know where in Disney I will be

 

[MichelleVW]

When My sons went to vegas in July they were on 1 reservation and I only paid for EB for 1 of them and he saved the seats for the other 2. So everyone does not have to pay EB seating.

Saving seats really isn't allowed though.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's all or nothing -- If the family booked their flight under the same reservation #, everyone on that reservation would have to book EBCI, or none of them. Also, if you want to book EBCI for the return flight and your reservation # is round trip, you'd have to book EBCI for both directions -- they get you coming and going. Unless you book the flights one-way and family members separately.

Nope.....we routinely book both ways, on the same reservation number...and only pay for EBCI for our return flight.

Saving seats really isn't allowed though.

Yes, you can save seats. But, I wouldn't try saving more than two seats...both in the same row you're seated in. SW isn't going to mind. BUT....don't try putting jackets or such on more than two seats...that will, rightfully so, cause a stir.


For those boarding with kids 4 and under....if the family is smallish, they will probably allow you all to board together. BUT...keep in mind that one of the big reasons that SW moved family boarding to between the A and B groups was because families were trying to all board together...mom, dad, the baby, 3 other kids (all over 4), grammie, grandpa, uncle joe and aunt susie, and the 3 cousins!!! Technically, if there is a child, 4 and under, one parent is allowed to go with that child between A and B groups. But, as I said, SW can be lenient, and they will allow the whole family (immediate) to board together. In order for all 13 of you to board together, the kids would pretty much have there would have to be more than one or two kids that are 4 or under...maybe 3, depends on the family makeup.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Saving seats really isn't allowed though.

I agree that you can save seats on WN. They have no policy prohibiting this. In fact, I have seen gate agents on the show On the Fly tell PAX to save seats.

 

[ccgirl]

As you an tell, people have different experiences.

I have been on flights where myself, DH, and DD all were able to board with my DS who was under 2.

I have been on flights where they decreased the age to 2 for family boarding.

I have been on flights where they eliminated family boarding all together.

I have been on flights where the flight attendants announced they had an open seating policy and any seat that did not have a person in it was an open seat. They asked people to remove coats and bags from the seats as it delayed the boarding process.

Bottom line, if it is important that you all sit together, buy the EBCI.

 

[MichelleVW]

As you an tell, people have different experiences.

I have been on flights where myself, DH, and DD all were able to board with my DS who was under 2.

I have been on flights where they decreased the age to 2 for family boarding.

I have been on flights where they eliminated family boarding all together.

I have been on flights where the flight attendants announced they had an open seating policy and any seat that did not have a person in it was an open seat. They asked people to remove coats and bags from the seats as it delayed the boarding process.

Bottom line, if it is important that you all sit together, buy the EBCI.

Yep, I think saving seat is a little rude and kind of like stealing.

 

[gmeh1]

I agree that you can save seats on WN. They have no policy prohibiting this. In fact, I have seen gate agents on the show On the Fly tell PAX to save seats.

Is that a new show and what network carries it? The only thing I could find is a fishing show. Sorry, to interrupt the thread.

 

[daughtryfan114]

We just flew Southwest from Mco to Phl today. After A 60 they allowed families with children 5 and under to board at both airports. Just mother, father, sister, brother no aunts, uncles or grandparents. I did EBCI for both ways and we received A 60, B 1.2.3 for way down to Mco, way back A30 ,31 32, 33.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Is that a new show and what network carries it? The only thing I could find is a fishing show. Sorry, to interrupt the thread.

It's fairly new and is on TLC. I don't think they have many episodes.

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=2.16397.56658.42824.1

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yep, I think saving seat is a little rude and kind of like stealing.

Seriously? How is saving a seat stealing?

 

[MichelleVW]

Seriously? How is saving a seat stealing?

I pay the $10 for EBCI for every member of my family so they can get on at the same, someone pays for only one person and saves those seats that someone paid an extra $10 for...to me that is seriously cheating the system.

I'm all for saving money, but if sitting together and choosing the best seats is important to me, I should pay it for everyone in my party.