Understanding Southwest Boarding policy

[clskier]

Sorry, this seems to be beaten to death, but it will be my first time flying SW and I want to make sure I understand the procedure correctly.

Will be flying out of MKE early morning with Myself, my wife, 8 Year old daughter, and 2 year old daughter. So I get that one parent can board with the 2 YO between groups A and B. If I purchase an EBCI for the other adult, can the 8 yo board with them? Or should I purchase for the 8 yo, and have a parent board with them?

Generally speaking, what are the chances of us all getting four seats together, or two behind the other two?

 

[kamik86]

You will probably all be able to all board with the two year old. Most of the time this is allowed. The only reason it wouldn't be allowed is if there is a very large number of small children on the flight to the point that more then half the plane would be the parents and siblings of small children. Then they will restrict to one adult per small child.

If your worried about this situation happening on your flight then you would have to buy EBCI for both the 8 year old and the other adult. Neither your 8 year old or the other adult would be allowed to board with the early if they had a later boarding pass and the other had an early one. In order to not have them board separately they would both have to board with the later pass (at which point you wasted the money on EBCI).

Personally I would skip EBCI and take the small risk. The changes that so many people have small children with them that you can't all board together and then can't find two seats together for your 8 year old and yourself/spouse when they board are pretty slim, especially early in the morning since that means your unlikely to have people staying on from a previous flight.

 

[clskier]

Thanks, what about the return flight from Orlando? Much higher percentage of small children I would think.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you purchase EBCI for the eight year old, a parent cannot board with him or her.

If you are really concerned, purchase EBCI for one adult and the eight year old for the return trip.

 

[pooh4evr]

Get EBCI for the flight home so you don't have to worry about doing it when you are at a park. If you are really worried about it get it for everyone.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Get EBCI for the flight home so you don't have to worry about doing it when you are at a park. If you are really worried about it get it for everyone.

This is the #1 reason to use EBCI on the return trip for everyone in your party...no need to worry about checking in exactly at T24 so that you get a good boarding position. We've always used EBCI on our return trips for this reason, even when we had a child who qualified us for family boarding. The cost is worth not having to mess around with checking in while on vacation.

 

[paults]

Thanks, what about the return flight from Orlando? Much higher percentage of small children I would think.

just remember that buying the EBCI does not mean you will get an (A boarding pass), you can still end up in the B's or C's depending on how many others bought EBCI for that flight before you.

 

[ibob52]

just remember that buying the EBCI does not mean you will get an (A boarding pass), you can still end up in the B's or C's depending on how many others bought EBCI for that flight before you.

Just to add to the quote ~ if you Do Not get EBCI ~

you will most likely get a higher *B* or *C* boarding number.

 

[georgina]

Also, my DH and I flew cross-country recently on SW. I don't buy EBCI, so when we checked in 24 hrs in advance, our connecting flight (in Las Vegas) boarding numbers were B50 and 51. (The flight was also oversold and they were asking for 2 volunteers to give up their seats, so the plane would be full.) There were still plenty of completely open rows in the back when we boarded. So unless there are a lot of families boarding between the A's and B's, even a high B number does not mean you can't sit together.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

Just flew out of MKE to MCO for spring break (first week of April). There were lots of families going to Florida more than say business travelers. They were being very strict with boarding and kids. Usually we only hear the rules spelled out when we are in Orlando but they even said if your child can hold a toy they can hold a boarding pass. There was a pre-board with someone in a wheelchair and they could only bring 1 person with them. The rest of the family was getting upset but they would not let them board. Usually MKE is pretty loose so that was a first for us. Just stating our most recent experience.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just flew out of MKE to MCO for spring break (first week of April). There were lots of families going to Florida more than say business travelers. They were being very strict with boarding and kids. Usually we only hear the rules spelled out when we are in Orlando but they even said if your child can hold a toy they can hold a boarding pass. There was a pre-board with someone in a wheelchair and they could only bring 1 person with them. The rest of the family was getting upset but they would not let them board. Usually MKE is pretty loose so that was a first for us. Just stating our most recent experience.

OP--Keep this in mind. There is no way to know ahead of time if your whole family will be allowed to pre-board with the 2 year old, or only 1 adult. And while it is rare, sometimes if there are a lot of families on a flight, Southwest can skip Family Boarding. Only you know how much risk you are comfortable with. Me, I still pay for EBCI when I fly with other adults. Imho it is not much money for a bit of added security.

 

[ibob52]

I am definitely *pro* EBCI

But it is nice to hear: that other people are not inclined to purchase EBCI

That improves my chance of having more seats available ... when I board.

I really like a aisle seat for my flights ... which are long flights.

Middle seat ... never again ... fingers crossed.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

OP--Keep this in mind. There is no way to know ahead of time if your whole family will be allowed to pre-board with the 2 year old, or only 1 adult......

I can guarantee that you will not be allowed to preboard with a 2 year old. Family boarding is between groups A and B.

 

[maxiesmom]

I can guarantee that you will not be allowed to preboard with a 2 year old. Family boarding is between groups A and B.

Sorry, that is what I meant. The OP has no way of knowing if they will allow their whole family to board during family boarding, or just 1 adult and the 2 year old.

 

[sharona]

IMO, the more families on the flight the better your chances of sitting together. 8 people in 2 families will use at the most 4 rows. 8 singles could tie up 8 separate rows. Of course you never really know what people will do when given the option of sitting anywhere they want. On my last flight a group of 6 adults traveling together sat one in each aisle seat in 6 separate rows so they could all chat to each other across the aisle. Yes, it was annoying.

 

[DebbieB]

I've flown SW many times, I have never seen them deny family boarding or restrict it to one adult per child. I have seen them deny grandparents (if the parents were also there).

 

[PSUGuy]

The free luggage more than makes up for the Early Bird, we buy it.

BillFromPA

 

[georgina]

Haven't bought it since my kids have grown up. For DH and I we usually take a window and middle seat (more under seat storage), and have never had a problem checking in at 24 hrs (almost always get A passes). It wouldn't much matter if we couldn't sit together though.