Ugh! I got a "B" boarding pass

[springandmac]

Things got hectic at work this morning and I forgot to check in for my flight at the 24 hour mark and now I have "B" boarding passes.

Thanks for letting me rant, no one at work understands.
(Boss, if your reading this try to remember I worked through lunch and I deserve this little break)

 

[CarolA]

Don't worry.

I have had B several times and it's never been a big deal. You will be fine.

 

[ktglads]

I've had C passes on full flights and ended up with seats together. Granted, they were aisles across from one another at the back of the plane, but really, you're all going to the same place and all have to wait for your luggage, so its not like those in the front of the plane are getting any benefits that you aren't.

Its not going to hurt to have some alone time before your vacation starts. Think of all the time you will have crammed next to one another on the hot and stinky busses in the next week.

 

[DebbieB]

I had a B on my April trip and there were plenty of empty seats behind the middle exit rows.

 

[Sammy]

We've gotten "B" passes for the last 4 flights and had no problem sitting together! Cheer up....at least you'll be on your way in less than 24 hours!!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Just get into the B line as soon as you get to the gate, and you'll be fine! Enjoy your trip!

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

B isn't so bad. Just try to get to the airport as early as possible to get to the front of the line.

 

[bbrnca]

I have never flown Southwest before and have purchased tickets for 9 people in Aug. so explain to me the A,B,C's of Southwest please.......

 

[DonnaL]

We had B's for our trip in October, 2006 (I was busy also.....and forgot to checkin at the 24 hour mark). Not a problem...as another poster said just try to be at the airport with enough time to get close to the front of the B line...when we have A's we usually don't bother to even get in line.....we just wait until the A line has begun moving and is down to about 12 people in front of us and then get in line. Also, we did find when we had B's that there were plenty of seats in the rear of the plane....the adult section..... as another poster on another thread calls it.

 

[Detailor]

I have never flown Southwest before and have purchased tickets for 9 people in Aug. so explain to me the A,B,C's of Southwest please.......

In short, on a full flight a third of the customers are given A boarding passes, a third get Bs and the final third gets Cs. The letter assignments are based on check-in timing. When you get to the gate you'll see three lines that are headed A, B and C. Passengers go to the appropriate line based on their boarding pass letter. When it comes time to board, the airline announces whatever pre-boarding they're going to do (passengers with disabilities, families with smaller children - they vary the ages of children based on the number of children on the flight). Then the people in the A line enter and select their seats followed by those in the B line, then those in C.
Your best chance to not have to worry about getting seats together is to log on to the Southwest website 24 hours before your flight time and get your boarding passes before you go to the airport. The earlier that you log on, the better chance you'll get A boarding passes.

Dick Taylor

 

[salmoneous]

We've gotten "B" passes for the last 4 flights and had no problem sitting together!

Remember folks, even if there are no problems getting the seats you want with B passes (and there usually aren't) getting a B pass is a mark of shame to the true Southwest fliers. As you stand in line, you just *know* all those A-pass folks are looking at you thinking you a fool.

But we still love you

 

[bbrnca]

Thanks Detailor.........Now i get it.......

 

[mochabean]

Remember folks, even if there are no problems getting the seats you want with B passes (and there usually aren't) getting a B pass is a mark of shame to the true Southwest fliers. As you stand in line, you just *know* all those A-pass folks are looking at you thinking you a fool.

But we still love you

That's funny! I was just thinking, I always get A passes and sit there while all the rest of the A folks line up hours in advance, thinking they are such fools. Once the A line starts boarding I mosey on up, and am the last A to board, and always get great seats anyway, without standing or sitting on the floor for an hour or more.

 

[Detailor]

Thanks Detailor.........Now i get it.......

You're welcome.
You must be flying out of Buffalo. Assuming that you're flying to Orlando, I hope that you're on one of the non-stops.
Southwest isn't overly fancy, but is a nice and reasonably priced airline to fly on. I've always found the Southwest staff to be very responsive and very nice, too.

Dick Taylor

 

[maiyasgram]

That's funny! I was just thinking, I always get A passes and sit there while all the rest of the A folks line up hours in advance, thinking they are such fools. Once the A line starts boarding I mosey on up, and am the last A to board, and always get great seats anyway, without standing or sitting on the floor for an hour or more.

While you are sitting in the comfort of your chair, why would you label the folks that choose to line up early and yes even sit on the floor while holding A passes. Count me in as one of those "fools". DH is 6'5" and if it means sitting on the floor for an hour so we can get the exit row I will do it every time for our comfort. Next time you see me sitting on the floor come tell me what a fool you think I am.
Cherie

 

[inkkognito]

ITA!!! Hubby and I always line up early in the A line and manage to get te exit row 80 to 90% of the time. The people sitting around might be thinking that those of us in the early line-up are fools, but we're thinking the same about you!

 

[tjmw2727]

Another "fool" here <jk> .

I fly as the solo adult with my 2 dds and sitting together in any row of 3 is very important to us. Despite flying often my 9yo is very anxious and fearful of sitting alone. In my opinion its no big deal to line up early and read my magazine or chat with my kids in order to be sure we can sit together.

Compared to the begging and pleading I had to do with the gate agents on Delta and AA after they separated us. Or if that didn't work the the negotiation I had to do with the FA's and other passengers if the gate agents couldn't help us I feel like lining up a little early for SWA is a peice of cake.

OTOH - OP don't worry with two adults a B pass shouldn't be an issue. Head to the back and you will likely be together or at worst in front of one another or across th aisle.

TJ

 

[jobie61]

Oh no ..... The dreaded Southwest B pass !!!

It could be worse, and you could have gotten a C pass.

I'm just so glad Airtran has started to allow you to choose seats at the time of purchase. It makes them my favorite airline. Cheap and allowed to choose your seats without the cattle line.

I'll never do the cattle line again...

Kudo's to Airtran....

I'll bet in the future SW will be changing its seating policy to compete.

 

[bbrnca]

Detailor.......Yes we are flying out of Buffalo at 7:25am and taking the late flight out of Orlando 8:00pm so that we can get the most out of trip, both flights are non-stop and what I paid for 9 tickets out of buffalo would only get me 3 out of Toronto.....It is going to be a blast....only 62 more days until we leave..........