What's the likelihood...

[msjprincess]

Really...it's going to be fine. You should be able to board with the family group..if that is offered, and it usually is. If it's a SW flight, then there should be family boarding between the A and B groups. Even if there isn't, the likelihood of you and your 3 y/o being split up is incredibly small. I have been on full SW flights....boarded fairly early in the process. I have watched as the B group boarded, with no trouble finding multiple seats together. It wasn't until midway through the C group that people started having issues.
I can't imagine that you are going to have any issues. Now, am I saying with 100% surety that you will be seated with your child? No. No one can do that. But it's nothing I would worry excessively about. Just be sure to be online at the exact 24 hr window and get checked in. If you get on the plane and find that there are not two seats together, you can speak to the FA and they will help you out!!!

Here's my issue....if someone books a flight thru SW,and gets the free bags, then why the heck can't they pay for EBCI??? That makes no sense to me. You're either on a SW flight or an AT flight. So, they need to be consistent. If it's a SW flight, and you get two free checked bags, then you should also be able to use EBCI. If it's an AT flight, then you pay for bags as well as the ability to choose your seats prior to departure...yes, at a price. I don't understand the whole 'you get some stuff but not others' concept. Hopefully it will all work out when the transition is complete.

But it's not a SWA flight, it's an Airtran flight. So none of that applies.

 

[Traveliz]

Really...it's going to be fine. You should be able to board with the family group..if that is offered, and it usually is. If it's a SW flight, then there should be family boarding between the A and B groups. Even if there isn't, the likelihood of you and your 3 y/o being split up is incredibly small. I have been on full SW flights....boarded fairly early in the process. I have watched as the B group boarded, with no trouble finding multiple seats together. It wasn't until midway through the C group that people started having issues.
I can't imagine that you are going to have any issues. Now, am I saying with 100% surety that you will be seated with your child? No. No one can do that. But it's nothing I would worry excessively about. Just be sure to be online at the exact 24 hr window and get checked in. If you get on the plane and find that there are not two seats together, you can speak to the FA and they will help you out!!!

Here's my issue....if someone books a flight thru SW,and gets the free bags, then why the heck can't they pay for EBCI??? That makes no sense to me. You're either on a SW flight or an AT flight. So, they need to be consistent. If it's a SW flight, and you get two free checked bags, then you should also be able to use EBCI. If it's an AT flight, then you pay for bags as well as the ability to choose your seats prior to departure...yes, at a price. I don't understand the whole 'you get some stuff but not others' concept. Hopefully it will all work out when the transition is complete.

This is an Airtran flight with Airtran boarding policies. The poster will have a seat assigned PRIOR to getting on the plane...if they are the first one on or the last one on the plane they will allready have their seats assigned PERIOD.

To the OP...I flew Airtran for years and honestly am heartbroken they are no longer at my airport. I have never flown Southwest and they declined to come to my airport so there is no Southwest love here BUT for Airtran...if you check in at 24 hours you should be fine honestly. I always paid for seats (and I understand this is not an option for you) but I also checked in at 24 hours and sometimes changed things up and there is typically a good amount of seating available.

Good luck!

Liz

 

[jpessa]

This is an Airtran flight with Airtran boarding policies. The poster will have a seat assigned PRIOR to getting on the plane...if they are the first one on or the last one on the plane they will allready have their seats assigned PERIOD.

To the OP...I flew Airtran for years and honestly am heartbroken they are no longer at my airport. I have never flown Southwest and they declined to come to my airport so there is no Southwest love here BUT for Airtran...if you check in at 24 hours you should be fine honestly. I always paid for seats (and I understand this is not an option for you) but I also checked in at 24 hours and sometimes changed things up and there is typically a good amount of seating available.

Good luck!

Liz

Awesome, thanks Liz! This is exactly the kind of first-hand experience I was hoping form. I'll keep my fingers crossed and do all in my power to get those 2 seats together!

 

[alice99]

Are you planning on your child sitting in their cat seat on the plane? When we fly my DS uses his as we will need it in our destination anyway. If you do it must be in a window seat as to not block a person being able to get out. By law flight attendants must allow for this, even if it means they have to move someone.

When my children flew, even as infants, we purchased a seat and used their car seats on the plane.

My brother flew this past December and he was told no more car seats on planes, it's against regs. I haven't confirmed this on my own... but FYI

 

[msjprincess]

When my children flew, even as infants, we purchased a seat and used their car seats on the plane.

My brother flew this past December and he was told no more car seats on planes, it's against regs. I haven't confirmed this on my own... but FYI

That's not true. It has to be an FAA approved carseat. Boosters are not allowed. http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

 

[Traveliz]

When my children flew, even as infants, we purchased a seat and used their car seats on the plane.

My brother flew this past December and he was told no more car seats on planes, it's against regs. I haven't confirmed this on my own... but FYI

I was just on a flight from Orlando yesterday and there were more than a few carseats on the flight.

Liz

 

[goofy4tink]

This is an Airtran flight with Airtran boarding policies. The poster will have a seat assigned PRIOR to getting on the plane...if they are the first one on or the last one on the plane they will allready have their seats assigned PERIOD.

To the OP...I flew Airtran for years and honestly am heartbroken they are no longer at my airport. I have never flown Southwest and they declined to come to my airport so there is no Southwest love here BUT for Airtran...if you check in at 24 hours you should be fine honestly. I always paid for seats (and I understand this is not an option for you) but I also checked in at 24 hours and sometimes changed things up and there is typically a good amount of seating available.

Good luck!

Liz

I understand that. But, if it's an Airtran flight, with Airtran boarding policies, then why wasn't the OP allowed to pay addtl in order to book her seats when she booked the flight? It seems that some of Airtrans policies are in effect but not all....OP gets free checked bags, but no EBCI. She gets 'checked in with seat assignments' at the 24 hr window but no ability to choose and pay for specific seats when she booked her flight. It would seem that there is some picking and choosing of which policies are going to apply. Either do everything the way Airtran does it, or everything the way SW does it.

 

[jpessa]

I understand that. But, if it's an Airtran flight, with Airtran boarding policies, then why wasn't the OP allowed to pay addtl in order to book her seats when she booked the flight? It seems that some of Airtrans policies are in effect but not all....OP gets free checked bags, but no EBCI. She gets 'checked in with seat assignments' at the 24 hr window but no ability to choose and pay for specific seats when she booked her flight. It would seem that there is some picking and choosing of which policies are going to apply. Either do everything the way Airtran does it, or everything the way SW does it.

Yes! This is how I feel. Doesn't seem logical.

 

[Traveliz]

I understand that. But, if it's an Airtran flight, with Airtran boarding policies, then why wasn't the OP allowed to pay addtl in order to book her seats when she booked the flight? It seems that some of Airtrans policies are in effect but not all....OP gets free checked bags, but no EBCI. She gets 'checked in with seat assignments' at the 24 hr window but no ability to choose and pay for specific seats when she booked her flight. It would seem that there is some picking and choosing of which policies are going to apply. Either do everything the way Airtran does it, or everything the way SW does it.

Well if they got free bags that is certainly the way SW does things not Airtran unless you are business class. The thing is SW is making the decisions on this stuff now.

Liz

 

[Lewisc]

Here's my issue....if someone books a flight thru SW,and gets the free bags, then why the heck can't they pay for EBCI??? That makes no sense to me. You're either on a SW flight or an AT flight. So, they need to be consistent. If it's a SW flight, and you get two free checked bags, then you should also be able to use EBCI. If it's an AT flight, then you pay for bags as well as the ability to choose your seats prior to departure...yes, at a price. I don't understand the whole 'you get some stuff but not others' concept. Hopefully it will all work out when the transition is complete.

It's easy. Book though the SW website and you get SWs policies. Two free bags, no change fees and open seating. OK Airtran doesn't have open seating. Southwest isn't going to change the way Airtran system operates for just a few months. I'm pretty sure making passengers who chose to book through SW wait until 24 hours to get their seats is the easiest way to approximate open seating without having to make computer changes.

EBCI? Why would Southwest want to spend the money to change the AT computer system in order to allow different check in times for different groups of passengers? (EBCI).

 

[alice99]

That's not true. It has to be an FAA approved carseat. Boosters are not allowed. http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

Great link , thanks for the info.

I was just on a flight from Orlando yesterday and there were more than a few carseats on the flight.

Liz

Thank you, maybe his seats weren't FAA approved.

 

[tjmw2727]

I understand that. But, if it's an Airtran flight, with Airtran boarding policies, then why wasn't the OP allowed to pay addtl in order to book her seats when she booked the flight? It seems that some of Airtrans policies are in effect but not all....OP gets free checked bags, but no EBCI. She gets 'checked in with seat assignments' at the 24 hr window but no ability to choose and pay for specific seats when she booked her flight. It would seem that there is some picking and choosing of which policies are going to apply. Either do everything the way Airtran does it, or everything the way SW does it.

Right - until they are totally merged this is the way it is going to be so IMHO unless you have points or a credit with either AT or SW its best to book an AT flight with AT if you want to select a seat.

It should be made more clear on the website (IMHO) but as we have seen you can book AT through SWA for the benefit of two bags free but you give up the option to select seats until T/24. For some this may be worth it for others it may not.

I really can't see much benefit to booking SWA through the AT website as you pay for bags and can't book EBCI - unless again you have points and can't find any good AT flights!

I have been avoiding AT via SWA for now and luckily I have found the SWA flights I need so far.

OP don't worry - at this point just check in at T24 and x fingers. If for some reason your seats are separated get to the airport early and AT will do everything they can to seat you together.

 

[richmo]

On the original question: Zero.

Southwest will not allow a three year old to sit alone. They'll find a volunteer to move and bribe them with a drink, if necessary.

 

[TinkerBelle920]

Why would anyone say this - its not the person they are sitting next to fault. I am doing everything in my power to make sure my kids are next to me which means paying for baggage and seat assignments. Apparently Southwest needs to put in large bold letters the policy when booking airtran thru them.

I would be prepared to compensate anyone that I might ask to move with cash.

This was clearly said as a joke! I said the same when I called Delta yesterday we all had seats next to each other on the flight, booked a year in advance then they pushed the flight time back and apparently when that happens the seats shuffle which I did not know so none of us were sitting next to one another. I told them that I would love to have a stress free flight and if they thought the passenger next to my toddler would not mind that would be great, clearly it was a joke.

Why is everyone all over this poor women for asking a valid question.

 

[jpessa]

This was clearly said as a joke! I said the same when I called Delta yesterday we all had seats next to each other on the flight, booked a year in advance then they pushed the flight time back and apparently when that happens the seats shuffle which I did not know so none of us were sitting next to one another. I told them that I would love to have a stress free flight and if they thought the passenger next to my toddler would not mind that would be great, clearly it was a joke.

Why is everyone all over this poor women for asking a valid question.

Thank you, so kind! Actually my daughter is lovely and I'm sure anyone would love to sit next to her... If she were not screaming her head off because she got separated from her mom and was next to strangers

When I started this post I wasn't expecting to get such harsh negative comments, but the last couple days people have actually been nice and helpful.

I do however understand the position of those who paid for seats not wanting to give them up. That's fair. I just wish I had that same option!

Thanks again, for the kind words!

 

[G719]

Here's my experience with AirTran. My husband's aunt (a travel agent) booked the trip. We did not select seats ourselves. We are a family of four, kids were 4 and 6 at the time last summer. On the way down, we were in four seats across the first row in economy, right past the curtain separating the business class. What good luck we had! On the way home, my husband and 1 daughter were in the last row of the plane and I was in front with the other daughter. So much for our good luck. At least we didn't have to walk too far to the bathroom. It seemed to me that when assignments were made that small children were placed by a parent.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's easy. Book though the SW website and you get SWs policies. Two free bags, no change fees and open seating. OK Airtran doesn't have open seating. Southwest isn't going to change the way Airtran system operates for just a few months. I'm pretty sure making passengers who chose to book through SW wait until 24 hours to get their seats is the easiest way to approximate open seating without having to make computer changes.

EBCI? Why would Southwest want to spend the money to change the AT computer system in order to allow different check in times for different groups of passengers? (EBCI).

Well, not so easy, in reality!!! It would seem that you get bits and pieces from each airline!! And that makes for a very confusing situation. I know that I won't be booking with either one until they get it all straightened out!!! I love SW, and I actually have had no issues with Airtran. But I'm not taking any chances with either one until it's a done deal.

Thank you, so kind! Actually my daughter is lovely and I'm sure anyone would love to sit next to her... If she were not screaming her head off because she got separated from her mom and was next to strangers

When I started this post I wasn't expecting to get such harsh negative comments, but the last couple days people have actually been nice and helpful.

I do however understand the position of those who paid for seats not wanting to give them up. That's fair. I just wish I had that same option!

Thanks again, for the kind words!

I'm sorry if things got a bit out of hand. We have had a history of parents saying that they assume that other passengers will give up their seats so that they may be seated with their children. People tend to sometimes not take responsibility for their travel with kids.
Like I said before....you will most likely be fine. No airline is going to split the two of you up. Be sure to report back to us when you get home so we can know the ending of this story!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

This was clearly said as a joke! I said the same when I called Delta yesterday we all had seats next to each other on the flight, booked a year in advance then they pushed the flight time back and apparently when that happens the seats shuffle which I did not know so none of us were sitting next to one another. I told them that I would love to have a stress free flight and if they thought the passenger next to my toddler would not mind that would be great, clearly it was a joke.

Why is everyone all over this poor women for asking a valid question.

Many people make that same statement whenever the subject of seats comes up, and many times they are not joking. I think for many it has lost what humor it had. Kind of when I am at the store I work at, and someone comes up with an item that is missing it's ticket and asks if it is free. Yeah, ha ha. It was funny the first hundred times, now not so much.

 

[Lewisc]

Well, not so easy, in reality!!! It would seem that you get bits and pieces from each airline!! And that makes for a very confusing situation. I know that I won't be booking with either one until they get it all straightened out!!! I love SW, and I actually have had no issues with Airtran. But I'm not taking any chances with either one until it's a done deal.

It's really easy. Book an AT flight on the AT site. Book a WN flight on WNs site. The problems comes up when people want to mix and match. Get WNs free bags and no change fees but not get stuck with leftover seats.

 

[Mama Who]

The most likely scenario is that the airline will seat you together. No, they don't have to but if there is any possibility of doing so, they will seat a 3 year old with their parent. It is more headache than it's worth not to.

In the extremely unlikely chance that you discover that you are in seats that are not together, offer trades based upon giving up the better of your two seats (closer to the front, not a middle, whatever) and be sure to do something nice for the person who agrees to accommodate you. (Buying a drink in-flight is a nice small gesture of thanks.)

Southwest wants very much for a)your 3 year old to be your problem and not anyone else's and b) nobody else to be mad because they've been inconvenienced to achieve a. It's a big plane. They'll find room somewhere.