SWA Please Tell Me it will be Okay!!

[stepdisney]

This is the first time I have taken SWA in many, many years. Once I discovered Jet Blue, I haven't looked back. Unfortunately, this year SWA had better rates soooo, back to SWA. I got up at the crack of dawn, loaded up my lap top and at T24 did online check-in....and.... B15 is what we got!!! I have never had to board on B and I am a bit nervous. My son is 6'4 1/2 and my husband just a little shorter. We don't all need to sit together BUT they both need an aisle seat. What is the likelihood that we will get a two and two situation where they can sit on the aisle and my other son and I can sit either at the window or in the middle? Should all 4 of us just split up and take 4 aisle seats? I know that we will get seats but where? I don't want to stress when it is time to go to Disney.... Thanks for any suggestions or recent stories of SWA travel.

 

[DebbieB]

This is the first time I have taken SWA in many, many years. Once I discovered Jet Blue, I haven't looked back. Unfortunately, this year SWA had better rates soooo, back to SWA. I got up at the crack of dawn, loaded up my lap top and at T24 did online check-in....and.... B15 is what we got!!! I have never had to board on B and I am a bit nervous. My son is 6'4 1/2 and my husband just a little shorter. We don't all need to sit together BUT they both need an aisle seat. What is the likelihood that we will get a two and two situation where they can sit on the aisle and my other son and I can sit either at the window or in the middle? Should all 4 of us just split up and take 4 aisle seats? I know that we will get seats but where? I don't want to stress when it is time to go to Disney.... Thanks for any suggestions or recent stories of SWA travel.

I would head to the back, you should be able to find aisle seats.

 

[sam_gordon]

This is the first time I have taken SWA in many, many years. Once I discovered Jet Blue, I haven't looked back. Unfortunately, this year SWA had better rates soooo, back to SWA. I got up at the crack of dawn, loaded up my lap top and at T24 did online check-in....and.... B15 is what we got!!! I have never had to board on B and I am a bit nervous. My son is 6'4 1/2 and my husband just a little shorter. We don't all need to sit together BUT they both need an aisle seat. What is the likelihood that we will get a two and two situation where they can sit on the aisle and my other son and I can sit either at the window or in the middle? Should all 4 of us just split up and take 4 aisle seats? I know that we will get seats but where? I don't want to stress when it is time to go to Disney.... Thanks for any suggestions or recent stories of SWA travel.

There are too many variables to guarantee you aisle seats or 2x2:
1) Are you joining a connecting flight?
2) How many folks will they allow to utilize family boarding.
3) How crowded is the flight?

More than likely, you shouldn't have a problem, especially if you head toward the back of the plane. But what good does stressing over your seat choices do? What happens will happen.

 

[keishashadow]

OP fsince an aisle seat is important to your family, for the return trip home I'd add the early board to save yourself the stress

 

[stepdisney]

There are too many variables to guarantee you aisle seats or 2x2:
1) Are you joining a connecting flight?
2) How many folks will they allow to utilize family boarding.
3) How crowded is the flight?

More than likely, you shouldn't have a problem, especially if you head toward the back of the plane. But what good does stressing over your seat choices do? What happens will happen.

Thanks for your response. There is no connecting flight. I really don't want to stress. My DH said we know there are seats, sooo, no worries. I wish I could be as easy going as you both. I am such a planner.

 

[stepdisney]

OP fsince an aisle seat is important to your family, for the return trip home I'd add the early board to save yourself the stress

I am going to do this! It is worth it to me.

 

[Aaeolien]

Yep not much you can do about it. No worries. Don't let it stress you out. Just head for the back and let the pieces fall into place. Ebci is so nice for the return flights since you won't have to worry about anything. That's what we did last flight on southwest. We were in MK when we would've had to checkin coming home so that wouldn't have gone well. Lol.

Have a great vacation.

 

[Pembo]

We boarded at the end of A group on our last flight. We were in row 10 and behind us the plane was empty. I think with B15 you will have plenty of choices!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

If it's not a connecting flight, you're going to be just fine with B15! I believe each group goes up to 60 (A60, B60, etc). So you're near the beginning of the B section and there's still all of C to follow! Unless your plane is completely full of families with babies, there will be plenty of people behind you--which means plenty of empty seats when you board.

We always do the 24-hour check in ourselves from home, but pay for the EBCI on the return flight so we don't have to worry while in the parks. We usually end up with B-something on our flight going out and have never had a problem getting 4 seats together. I sit with my two boys in one row and my husband usually sits right across on the aisle or right behind. Never had an issue at all and doing it again in a couple weeks!

 

[Donna M]

I would try not to stress it either, but I know exactly how you feel. I'm pretty sure you will get at least two aisle seats.

 

[hsmamato2]

as my DH likes to tell me..we all arrive at the same time so who cares? really OP stop worrying..... at the absolute worst you will probably sit towards the back.... I personally don't like the middle seat but I ended up there recently,and everything was ok for our fairly short flight.....

 

[paults]

I am going to do this! It is worth it to me.

Ebci Is not for early boarding, it is for 36 hour check-in. You may still get a B boarding pass depending on how many others used EBCI that day.
We only use it coming home from WDW. B pass should still be fine with seating.

 

[JanaDee]

Thanks for your response. There is no connecting flight. I really don't want to stress. My DH said we know there are seats, sooo, no worries. I wish I could be as easy going as you both. I am such a planner.

Depending on what time your flight leaves, it more than likely came from somewhere else and will have people that are staying on board to continue on to other destinations.

 

[richmo]

B15 should be fine. In the back half of the plane you'll have your choice of just about anything. Often A1-A15 are reserved for business class and there's usually just a handful of those. Nothing against young families, but it's also nice boarding in early B's to give yourself some space from those that have kids that are loud or tend to kick the seat.

 

[stepdisney]

Yep not much you can do about it. No worries. Don't let it stress you out. Just head for the back and let the pieces fall into place. Ebci is so nice for the return flights since you won't have to worry about anything. That's what we did last flight on southwest. We were in MK when we would've had to checkin coming home so that wouldn't have gone well. Lol.

Have a great vacation.

Thank you so much for the encouragement.

We boarded at the end of A group on our last flight. We were in row 10 and behind us the plane was empty. I think with B15 you will have plenty of choices!

Yes! Exactly what I wanted to hear. We are flying out on a 6 a.m flight. Hoping that lots of families will still be asleep.

If it's not a connecting flight, you're going to be just fine with B15! I believe each group goes up to 60 (A60, B60, etc). So you're near the beginning of the B section and there's still all of C to follow! Unless your plane is completely full of families with babies, there will be plenty of people behind you--which means plenty of empty seats when you board.

We always do the 24-hour check in ourselves from home, but pay for the EBCI on the return flight so we don't have to worry while in the parks. We usually end up with B-something on our flight going out and have never had a problem getting 4 seats together. I sit with my two boys in one row and my husband usually sits right across on the aisle or right behind. Never had an issue at all and doing it again in a couple weeks!

I think we will be following this plan. My DS 13 and I will sit with my DH who will get an aisle seat, and my DS18 will get the aisle seat across behind if necessary. Wondering if getting B15 at exactly 24 hours before flight is an indication of the number of families boarding

I would try not to stress it either, but I know exactly how you feel. I'm pretty sure you will get at least two aisle seats.

Thanks. Fingers crossed for flight Pixie Dust!

as my DH likes to tell me..we all arrive at the same time so who cares? really OP stop worrying..... at the absolute worst you will probably sit towards the back.... I personally don't like the middle seat but I ended up there recently,and everything was ok for our fairly short flight.....

Thanks. You DH sounds exactly like mine. He told me to ditch the planning, grab a seat and sit down.

Depending on what time your flight leaves, it more than likely came from somewhere else and will have people that are staying on board to continue on to other destinations.

Our flight leaves at 6:15 a.m. If it came from somewhere else I can't imagine what time that flight would be. We have never boarded from Dulles with others on the plane but then again we haven't flown SWA in a long while.

B15 should be fine. In the back half of the plane you'll have your choice of just about anything. Often A1-A15 are reserved for business class and there's usually just a handful of those. Nothing against young families, but it's also nice boarding in early B's to give yourself some space from those that have kids that are loud or tend to kick the seat.

Good thinking!!!! Thank you for your input.

 

[LisaS]

Wondering if getting B15 at exactly 24 hours before flight is an indication of the number of families boarding

Family boarding is between the A group and B group. They don't get assigned a boarding position. They just line up after the A group boards. So your B15 boarding assignment is assigned based on the number of people who checked in ahead of you today (either manually as you did or automatically due to EBCI or A-List status). How many people actually get to board ahead of you depends on how many line up for family boarding on the day.

Given it's an early flight, it's possible there are a lot of business travelers on the flight. Many of those have "A List" status (frequent flyers on Southwest). Their boarding position is assigned 36 hours out and before the EBCI'ers get their assignments.

 

[fredgirls]

Just be aware...we paid for early check-in and were still towards the back of the B line. We got the last 2 rows with 2 seats together. Won't fly SW again until the kids are old enough to feel happy sitting alone. Paying for early check in doesn't guarantee you'll be on the plane earlier than B15

 

[aprilgamer]

Just be aware...we paid for early check-in and were still towards the back of the B line. We got the last 2 rows with 2 seats together. Won't fly SW again until the kids are old enough to feel happy sitting alone. Paying for early check in doesn't guarantee you'll be on the plane earlier than B15

Oh no, SW says early check-n gets you to the front of the A line (1-30). Did you ask how you were at the end of the B line?

 

[fredgirls]

Oh no, SW says early check-n gets you to the front of the A line (1-30). Did you ask how you were at the end of the B line?

Well, it depends his many people buy the early check in I guess.

 

[JanaDee]

Oh no, SW says early check-n gets you to the front of the A line (1-30). Did you ask how you were at the end of the B line?

There are many factors that determine your place in line with EBCI. SW does not say you get front of the line A 1-30, especially since A1-15 is for Business Select.