SWA Flight...How Full???

[kristenrice]

Is there a way to determine how full your flight will be? DH and I are flying out of GRR and we've never flown SWA. We did not buy EBCI because we are only a party of two adults who can be separated if necessary. We aren't too picky about where we sit either. I tried a "dummy" booking for 8 people and it showed all fares available. Is that any sort of indication?

I am wondering how full our flight is because if it is not full, I would like to be able to sit window/aisle, leaving the seat between us empty. If we opted to do that, is it considered poor etiquette? We'd certainly move to window/middle or middle/aisle if someone asked to sit in our row. I guess I am just wondering how likely it would be that we would have that row to ourselves. Obviously, if the flight is full, it wouldn't happen and we wouldn't try it. I miss AT where we could either book business class (2x2 seating) or select our seats on the 717 and sit on the 2-seat side. He likes the aisle and I like the window, but neither of us really want a random person in between us...and neither of us really want to be in the middle. I often have to get up for the restroom and I also have some motion-sickness issues so I don't like to inconvenience more than just DH when I have to get up and move. I prefer the window because it calms the queazies when I get them.

Again, I'm simply curious...not trying to sound rude, entitled or anything else. I am totally new to Southwest and I am clueless.

 

[Granny square]

I've flown sw a dozen times on my own this year. Nearly all flights were full. One cmh to Las Vegas had some openings and empty seats. You can try to trick people into thinking there is only a middle seat. Seems rude to me.

I saw a lady arguing with someone about their empty seat.

 

[CarolMN]

If the flight ends up not being full, your best chance of having an empty seat between you is if you go to the back of the plane. Most of those who will be stuck in middle seats will prefer to be near the front.

You can ask the gate agents or flight attendants if the plane is totally full. I agree that it seems most flights are pretty much sold out these days, but you never know. Good luck!

 

[taterheads]

There is no way to know how full your flight is until right up until it takes off. My experience would say don't bet on it. SWA usually always flies at capacity. In fact if you are traveling at holiday time your chances of even sitting together are low unless you do the early bird. Just our experience, take it with a grain of salt. My suggestion, when it comes to SWA, don't count on any particular seating arrangement.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Been on about 50 Southwest flights this year, can only think of 1 that had more than a couple of seats empty...

 

[maxiesmom]

Please post how it went when you get back. I'm flying out of GRR on Southwest for the first time in December. I have the same issue as you, my nephew will want the window seat, and I usually like the aisle. And even though I have purchased EBCI I'm guessing I will have to suck it up and sit in the middle.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We have flown SWA out of Chicago-Midway many times and the flights are always full. It is just the two of us and we have never had a problem getting seats together. We just make sure to do the online check in 24 hours ahead of time. We usually get near the end of section B and have had plenty of window choices. It seems like aisle seats full up first.

One time I completely forgot to do online check in until about seven hours before flight time, and we ended up in section A. That was weird but I'm not willing to try that again.

 

[kristenrice]

Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. I think we will take a look at how many people are at the gate and what is available when we board. I certainly wouldn't trick someone into a middle seat by keeping it empty. If someone wanted to sit in our row, either me or DH would move to the middle.

I'm not sure I like the idea of the back of the plane. I can't remember the last time I flew when I was behind the wings. We used to always upgrade to BC on AirTran or pick the seats in Row 12 when we bought our tickets. Maybe we'll try the back this time...we can call it an adventure.

Another quick question...how can you tell if you have a connecting flight or an originating flight? I don't know of any SWA flights that connect through Grand Rapids so I guess I always assumed that it was an originating flight.

 

[DebbieB]

You can just ask the gate agent before you board, they would be able to tell you how full it is.

 

[kristenrice]

You can just ask the gate agent before you board, they would be able to tell you how full it is.

I did not know that...thanks!

 

[Skyhawk341]

As far as the originating/connecting issue, also consider that your flight may be continuing. We leave GRR on Southwest flight 3104 on 11/22. That flight originates in Phoenix, stops in St. Louis, then Grand Rapids, and finally Orlando. If you check flightmapper.net you can see where your flight originates and where it stops along its route. Hope this helps you!

 

[aubriee]

Please post how it went when you get back. I'm flying out of GRR on Southwest for the first time in December. I have the same issue as you, my nephew will want the window seat, and I usually like the aisle. And even though I have purchased EBCI I'm guessing I will have to suck it up and sit in the middle.

Due to claustrophobic issues I always book a flight where I can pick my seat and always choose an aisle seat as close as I can to the front. On the other hand my husband prefers window seats. He always puts his headphones in, listens to music for awhile, then sleeps for most of the flight. My mom also prefers an aisle seat, so always sits across the aisle from me. That leaves the middle seat between me and my husband empty. We have no problem with that. If someone wants to sit there it's not a problem. Most flights fly full these days, so we assume someone will be sitting in that empty middle seat. We have had people volunteer to give up that middle seat so we can sit together and we just tell them no thank you, that he prefers his window seat, whereas I need an aisle seat. If my husband or I decide to get something out of my bag to snack on, we just offer the person between us a snack too. We have no problem being seperated and having a person sitting betwen us, as long as we both get the seat location we want. In fact, for our upcoming Dec trip my husband has a window seat, the middle seat is showing empty, then I have the aisle seat and my mom has the aisle seat across from us. We are not trying be rude or trick anyone about that middle seat. We actually want the seats we booked. Because we are close to the front of the plane, we assume someone will want that middle seat and that's fine, but we intend to stay in our preferred seats.

 

[icouldlivethere]

We just flew SWA from GRR to MCO the week before last and both flights were definitely full. I travel with my own personal mobility scooter and so I need to pre-board to give them time to stow my scooter when I get to the door of the plane. My DH and I chose seats in the second row both on the way out and the way back. I take the aisle seat for mobility issues and my DH takes the middle seat next to me.

On the way out we didn't get a seat mate until the very end, but I knew we would get one because the flight was full. On the flight back, I had gotten a salad from McDonald's before boarding and had put my tray down and was eating it while people were boarding. Nobody asked for the window seat despite the fact that we were in the 2nd row and I thought it was probably a combination of me eating with my tray down and most people on the plane had other family members with them and were looking to sit either next to or near each other. I was surprised when everyone had boarded and still nobody had asked to take the window seat since I knew that there were people waiting standby for our flight. Then a FA walked up the aisle and said oh here is an empty seat here and a gentleman came from the back of the plane and took it.

I know the flight home was going on to either Minneapolis or St. Louis, I can't remember which one, but I didn't notice anyone still on the plane as I waited for my scooter to be unloaded and brought to the door. I don't know if the flight out originated somewhere else before coming to GRR but I didn't see anyone on the plane when I got on and I was the second one to board after a lady in a wheelchair.

Bottom line, I would plan on not being able to have the row to yourself and then if you get lucky and do get it to yourselves it will be a nice surprise.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I tried a "dummy" booking for 8 people and it showed all fares available. Is that any sort of indication? . . .

1) Do not rely on empty seats only based if you can make a ressie!
2) Do not rely on empty seats only based if you can make a ressie!
3) Do not rely on empty seats only based if you can make a ressie!
4) SWA IS FAMOUS FOR OVERBOOKING.
5) By law, they can overbook by 10%.
6) And they do this frequently.
7) In your example, the plane could be sold out, but still take your dummy ressie.

 

[Sugardimples]

It's been years since I've been on a flight that was not full. And I fly more than the average person.

 

[LisaS]

One time I completely forgot to do online check in until about seven hours before flight time, and we ended up in section A. That was weird but I'm not willing to try that again.

That can happen due to a cancellation that occurs within 24 hours of departure. Someone checks in for the flight either manually or automatically (A-Listers and those with EBCI) and gets an "A" boarding assignment. Some time later they cancel their flight. Their boarding assignment goes back into the pool and is assigned to the next person who checks in for the flight. So sometimes those checking in close to flight time get very lucky and end up in the "A" group instead of the "C" group.

 

[marthachick]

We're flying with SW for the first time next month. Is there a chance we could get bumped? Please tell me no! I'm so excited about going that I'd just cry if we were. Original plans were to go in May and were changed because of medical problems.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you arrive at the airport, with plenty of time, you aren't going to be bumped. SW will ask if anyone wants to volunteer to take a bump first. Then, if no one steps forward, or they need more than were volunteered for, they will start bumping those that checked in the last.

SW, as well as most airlines, are cutting down their daily flights and flying with the vast majority of flights completely full. There may be a seat or two that are open but not many more than that. So, you are going to be hard pressed to find a window and an aisle seat open, forward of the wing, and be able to keep the middle seat open. Be prepared to have someone in between the two of you. Also be prepared to be behind the wing!

 

[stitchlovestink]

It's been years since I've been on a flight that was not full. And I fly more than the average person.

I flew SW 10x and AT twice this year and only twice was the flight 100% full. Often it was 80 to 90ish% full. But there were still some seats open. I think it can depend greatly on what airport you are flying from and the time of day you choose to fly!
As recently as last summer I was on a SW flight that only had 18 passengers!! The FA told us she did NOT want to see Two of us in the same row!! LOL. Needless to say, DD and I were in the same rw because we like to lean on each other to nap! Was this a normal situation? No... but we like the late night flights from MCO and they tend to be less busy ESP on weekdays (not necessarily the case on Saturday though!)

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) ANY ONE can be bumped, ANY TIME, from ANY FLIGHT.
2) All airlines always ask for volunteers first.
. . . a free ticket is the first offer
. . . if no takers, then they add cash to the free ticket
3) If no one eventually volunteers, then they can bump anyone. *
4) And, if selected, you have zero options, or they call security.

* With over 3-million-actual-air-miles, I have seen it many times.