SWA not a good idea for family travel

[Cindybell]

We just got back from a family reunion in NM two weeks ago and then from WDW today. We used SWA both times and although the flights were fine and the service OK,I do not like the open sitting. The first time we got to the airport very early but had connecting flights and were unable to sit together after the first flight because we got our boarding passes rather late. I wasn't traveling with my children so it wasn't that bad just annoying. This time our driver taking us to the MCO got us there about 1 hour and 15 mins prior to boarding and we were some of the last people to be able to board the plane. My children are 9 and 11 and although are perfectly capable of sitting by themselves I just don't like the thought of perhaps something bad happening on the plane and I could not be with them. I guess it is a mom thing. I also don't like the anxiety of trying to be first at the airport to get a good number. To me, eventhough I got a good price it just isn't worth it. Any families traveling together should think twice about SWA. You should weigh the price against just how important it is to you to sit with those you are traveling with.

 

[skiwee1]

Sorry to hear SWA gave you a hard time. We traveled from Maryland to Orlando on SWA. They let us pre board since we had kids. We weren't the only family either. There were many families in MCO that had what looked to be 9 and 10 year olds. SWA is great in letting families with kids sit together. I think you just got a nasty clerk that wouldn't let you do it. I would have complained.

 

[VickiVM]

I don't think CindyBell was actually traveling with her children this time, she was just commenting that because of the boarding procedures, it would be difficult to keep families seated together.

I am a SW fan because of their consistent low fares and great service and probably if families with small children can afford a different airline then they ought to take advantage of pre-assigned seating. However if you're a family with small children and SW offers low airfares that are in your budget, don't let the unassigned seating scare you off. I have often seen other passengers accomodate families when they see them boarding the plane if the flight is full. I have also seen flight attendants work magic in keeping families seated together. Think about it, if you're traveling without children and a 9 year old winds up sitting near you and away from his/her parent, wouldn't you rather change seats so that child is supervised by his own parents?

So if you're a family traveling with children and the only airfare you can afford is with SW, it's not too bad. Plan to arrive early, use pre-boarding if possible and don't be afraid to enlist the help of fellow passengers or the flight attendants if you need help keeping your group together.

 

[Cindybell]

This last time I was traveling with my children and was at first unable to sit with them. I told a steward that I was uspet about it and he made an announcement asking if some people could change their seats to accomodate us. Some people did just that which I was very grateful for but to be honest it is just not worth the hassle. Next time I will use an airline that I can actually choose our seats and have a less stressful trip. I don't like to rock the boat and I don't like to ask for special favors.

 

[Goofyposter]

yes..well...and if you don't weigh what they expect you should....you could be charged 2X for your seat!!!!...SWA was a favorite carrier of mine....untill they decided that they were God.

 

[skiwee1]

I don't understand why some weren't allowed to preboard with their kids. If you tell them at check in that you have children then they will let you. At least that has been my experience with SWA many times. About the charge for 2 seats, I don't think SWA is playing God, just playing fair!

 

[jctwizzer]

Goofy: if you take up two seats; you pay for two seats..sounds fair to me

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

skiwee1
I did not hear/read anywhere in Cindybell's post about anyone being rude or nasty. Did I miss something?
Southwest does allow people with children under the age of 5 to preboard.
As to your comment about being fair and paying for two seats, I am with you on that one 100%.
SWA is not playing G-d they are making other passengers comfortable and keeping the costs in line.
Cindybell,
Maybe with this new boarding procedure things will ease up a bit.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

skiwee1
I did not hear/read anywhere in Cindybell's post about anyone being rude or nasty. Did I miss something?
Southwest does allow people with children under the age of 5 to preboard 99% of the time.
As to your comment about being fair and paying for two seats, I am with you on that one 100%.
SWA is not playing G-d they are making other passengers comfortable and keeping the costs in line.
Cindybell,
Maybe with this new boarding procedure things will ease up a bit.

 

[skiwee1]

I stated that she must have had a nasty clerk because I took her post as a complaint about not letting her children preboard. As I stated, I've flown SWA before and always was allowed to preboard. So in reading her post, I figured it must have happened to her or why else would she post that SWA in not good for family travel if she didn't know this for herself.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Got ya. But, keep in mind they only allow preboarding with children under 5 and those people with special needs.

 

[dtuleya]

Gail Hayden - your point is exactly why I didn't wait for SW to release my dates before booking our air. My DSs will be 9 and 13 when they fly for the first time to WDW in November. My 13 year old is already nervous about flying, so the mere thought of not being able to sit together is something I don't want to have to do. I understand that most of the times, other passengers will try to change seats to accommodate families, but I didn't want to take that chance. There is no magic age when all children are able to sit by themselves on a plane, but IMHO, any family with children under the age of 10 should be able to preboard. I guess my question is why is 5 such a magic number?

 

[CarolA]

I am not sure why 5 is the magic number, but I will say I see LOTS of young school age kids traveling alone in the summer. So I guess the airlines theory is that if they can travel alone they don't have to preboard. Personally, I really like SW. The secret is to be there when they start giving out boarding passes. I am not sure how the new boarding pass method they are using will impact the whole thing.

As to the two seat issue, I understand thier point of view. Planes now are running FULL and they just don't have a lot of extra seats. Every flight I have been on for the past month (and that is quite a few) on several airlines has been PACKED!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I think that under 5 is the magic number because they might require car seats, diaper bags, strollers etc. and that takes a lot of time to schlep on the plane. Hopefully at age 5 and over that is not necessary anymore. In fact a lot of airlines no longer preboard families with children.
I think you were smart to forgo the cheaper airfare (might not be) for assigned seating for your 13 year old who is nervous. Most people would have changed seats to accomodate you, however. I have yet to see anyone not "rise to the occassion" when asked.
Have a great trip and happy planning.

 

[carolsherman]

First let me say I have flown southwest many times and love them but as far as flying with children mine 6 and 9 in December they would not allow me to sit with my 2 children my youngest freaked at 6 I don't blame him and being a mom I didn't want to be separated then they made the announcement free drink coupons so we could sit together, not one person stood up or offered. Finally a coach that was on the plane made one of his team members give us 2 seats together so I could at least sit with my youngest my oldest was stuck in the back of the plane with people he did not know and all the stewardess told me was they cannot make people move. I was upset for the 3 hour flight home god forbid something happened I could not be with my child. Now if I fly alone with my kids I will take an airline at least I can have a seat assigned to us together. Southwest did nothing to help us and it was a full fare trip back not like i got a discount for all 3 of us.

 

[dtuleya]

carolsherman's story is the exact reason I won't fly this airline. I'm sure the majority of the time, people are willing to change seats, but it's those few times when people won't that scare me.

Also, we are flying around a holiday (Thanksgiving) and I didn't want to take the chance that we would not have good flight times or a reasonable fare since they seem to book up so quickly. That's why I opted to not to wait and book a non-stop flight with SW even though we will be changing planes in Charlotte for both legs of our trip. Airtran is booking into the beginning of next year already and SW is only up to Oct. 25 (only 5 months out). I think this is a great airline for last minute trips when special fares are offered. USAir allowed me to pick my seats for all four legs of our trip and I'm happy with my price, $800 for the four of us from BWI to MCO with early morning departure and late afternoon return. I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

No airline can make people move. I think they did what they could. Personally, Dee and I would have moved (free drink coupons or not) to accomdate you, it must be the MOM in me.
I am surprised and chagrined that no one would move. I can understand why you opt for other airlines.

 

[Mic]

My DH and I have flown to Orlando twice on SW because the price was right. We drove an extra 45 minutes to an airport further away(the only airport in NC serviced by SW), and I educated myself on boarding procedures in hopes of us sitting together(I am 35 and flying still scares me!). We arrived very early, waited in several lines, and thought we were in the first group to board the plane. The plane was delayed for de-iceing(that calmed my nerves!), and when they finally announced boarding, I was absolutely floored by the number of people who were allowed to pre-board! When they announced that families with small children could board, I swear one group must have been the ENTIRE family tree. I counted 3 children(only 1 in stroller), what must have been their 6 parents, a few aunts and uncles, and several sets of grandparents. As the mother of 4 children, I can understand any parent wanting to sit with their kids(I would, and my oldest is 14), and I think those with older children should be given rights to pre-board over grandparents and relatives of younger kids. I was still pretty confident that my DH and I would be together, but was so disappointed when we boarded the plane to find it completely full! Turns out our flight was a "through" flight, so many passengers were already on the plane from Baltimore, including 2 very nice SW pilots sitting together. When they realized my DH and I were trying to sit together, 1 of them offered to get up and let me have his seat if he could find another. He seated himself in the ONLY seat left on the plane, and we were very grateful. I am not sure how I would have handled the situation if it had been my 8 or 9-year-old with me instead of DH, so I think I will play it safe and book Delta when the family travels together. Other than the boarding, everything else about SW was fine. My advice to anyone planning to fly SW with kids is to get there very early, and hope the flight originates in your town.

 

[Rpsemont]

We have flown SWA for 3 RT flights. They have been direct flights. I think if I had connecting flights, I might hesitate. When we travel it's me, DH, BIL and DD(age7) As long as one adult sits with DD it's fine, and even when we've had to board late we've always found people that would move. It really surprised me that one time we were in the last 25 people to board and there were open ROWS of seat in the back. I think the fliight attendants must have announced that the flight was sold out and to fill all available seats. On that trip the four of us sat together.

 

[mickey4ver]

I am glad to see some others share my concerns with SW's boarding procedures. Granted, great fares, friendly pilots, attendents, etc., but that whole boarding thing just gets me. We also were on one of those flights that we thought we would be seated together, in first groupt to board, to get on plane and 1/2 the passengers were still sitting in their seats that they had been in from the lst leg of the flight. You always aren't aware that what you are booking has originated someplace else.

Needless to say, I would only use them if I HAD to, and no I don't have children, I just object to this manner of loading people. They keep harping on the fact that it moves faster and they can keep costs down this way, and its worked for 30 years....rubbish, other airlines offer similar fares and you can still (if booking on line) choose your own seats at the time of booking, and we flew Delta from the east coast out to the west, left on time, everyone seated quickly and in an orderly fashion and the plane was a full load, and everyone knew what their seat assignment was. I feel you run into more delays just trying to get on the plane with all the checks etc. they now do, but that I can understand and appreciate it and know why this is so.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to fly with whatever airline floats their boat, but I'm just glad to finally see several others that share my opinion of SW's procedures.