Will a Wednesday flight be full?

[megan4777]

We're flying out on 10/26 (wed) and returning home a week later. I bought 3 tickets for myself, DH and DD1 (she's 2). I didn't buy one for DD2 (she'll be 3 months) because I was hoping that the flight wouldn't be sold out and I could just bring her carseat and use an empty seat. There are still seats available for our flight but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience or opinion on this. I know I'll have to feed her and if she's anything like her older sister she may want to be held the entire time, but I would like to have the option of strapping her into a seat.

I'm worried now because my mother told me this morning, "I've never been on a Southwest flight that wasn't sold out." She and my father usually only fly to Las Vegas, though.

Sorry for the rant and thanks for any help.

 

[Lewisc]

Even if the flight isn't sold out there may be more "lap babies" than empty seats. Do you think you'll be the only one bringing an infant to Disney?

SW does a good job filling the seats. If the fare drops you might consider buying an extra seat with your credit.

 

[ducklite]

That's right before Halloween and in the middle of Food and Wine, lots of people from the Northeast take long weekends and fly on Wednesdays. So to answer your question, there's a better than 50% chance your flight will be full.

Anne

 

[melanie18]

I'm not sure if they'll even let you bring the carseat on the plane if there isn't a paid seat. They may have you gate check it. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

 

[tweetsie]

We flew to MCO on Wednesday and returned the next Wednesday and both flights were full.

 

[SB in KY]

If I was you I would take the car seat and hope for the best....ask the gate agent as you board if the flight is full...if they say yes then you can just ask them to gate check the car seat for you. If it is not completely full you can take the car seat on and plant it quickly!!

It is a pretty safe bet that there won't be many empty seats, but you only need one!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I've been on several SWA flights where I had the entire row to myself. In fact, one flight had less than 10 people on it. Needless to say, I got extra peanuts on that flight! lol

 

[CarolA]

We're flying out on 10/26 (wed) and returning home a week later. I bought 3 tickets for myself, DH and DD1 (she's 2). I didn't buy one for DD2 (she'll be 3 months) because I was hoping that the flight wouldn't be sold out and I could just bring her carseat and use an empty seat. There are still seats available for our flight but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience or opinion on this. I know I'll have to feed her and if she's anything like her older sister she may want to be held the entire time, but I would like to have the option of strapping her into a seat.

I'm worried now because my mother told me this morning, "I've never been on a Southwest flight that wasn't sold out." She and my father usually only fly to Las Vegas, though.

Sorry for the rant and thanks for any help.

I would expect FULL. Also, there was a post on www.flyertalk.com recently where a woman was not allowed to bring her carseat on in the "hope" of an empty seat. They gate checked it. To be honest I fully understand SW's plan there. The theory of "getting a free" seat is not 100% fare to other passsengers who would also be more comfortable with an empty seat next to them.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Do not assume anything.

Flights in general, especially on discount flights (SW, JetBlue), are booked full these days most of the time. Last time I went to WDW I went Weds to Weds and both flights were full.

Since 2001, many airlines are consolidating routes - there simply aren't as many flights as there used to be. Gone are the days of flights with a dozen people on them being a regular occourance.

Don't take a chance. If it's a lap baby assume it will be a lap baby - and if you want a seat for the baby, then get a seat. Wouldn't be worth losing out on a magical vacation on the last minute.

Good luck!

N.E.D.

 

[magsmom]

I have done Wednesday flights on Southwest many times in the past and most have been full. The only Wednesday flight that was not full was a 5:30 depart from BDL last August.

 

[ceecee]

I haven't been on a flight for a while now that hasn't been full. If you want a seat for the baby buy her one. We always did. Last year since we couldn't even book the seats prior to check in we were assigned seats all over the plane and DD who was 8 was alone 2 rows in back of me......I told the flight attendant we needed seats together and she asked 4 people before someone would agree to move!!!

 

[MAH4546]

Even if the flight isn't sold out there may be more "lap babies" than empty seats. Do you think you'll be the only one bringing an infant to Disney?

SW does a good job filling the seats. If the fare drops you might consider buying an extra seat with your credit.

Southwest's average systemwide loadfactor is about 67%, the lowest in the industry.

Then again, flights to Orlanod are usually pretty full.

 

[Lewisc]

Southwest's average systemwide loadfactor is about 67%, the lowest in the industry.

Then again, flights to Orlanod are usually pretty full.

Actually it's more like 76%, we agree to flights to MCO are pretty full and OP is probably not going to be the only parent with a "lap baby" hoping for a free seat.

 

[justhat]

It's true that they won't always let you bring the carseat on if you didn't buy a ticket. When I flew on Independence Air from NJ to DC I was told when I checked in that I had to check my carseat. We always buy my daughter a ticket, but usually the Independence Air flights from DC-NJ and back aren't full, so this one time we tried to get away without buying a seat and the flight was sold out. Well, I was asking to switch to the next flight to then buy a seat for my daughter when another man checking in at the same time as me said he was moving to the later flight so I could take his seat. Turns out by the time we got everything straightened out that we were 29 minutes before the flight so they couldn't sell me the ticket, but said they couldn't sell it to anyone else either so it would be open, but at the discretion of the flight attendent as to whether or not I could bring the carseat on board and use it. I explained to her how I tried to buy a seat, but it was too late, etc. so she let me use it. I felt really bad though as she had to ask people to move to accomodate me getting 2 seats together, plus there was a lap baby in the row behind me, so I felt like, "why should I get the seat and not them?". Anyway, it's over now, and we've always gotten a ticket other than that trip (we fly a lot, 1-2 times/month) so it was never an issue otherwise.

 

[MAH4546]

Actually it's more like 76%, we agree to flights to MCO are pretty full and OP is probably not going to be the only parent with a "lap baby" hoping for a free seat.

Yes, in June when half of America goes on vacation. Most of the year, they average in the high-60s. Anyway you put it, they have the lowest average loadfactor of any US airline, as they put a heavier emphasis on frequency than most other airlines.

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, in June when half of America goes on vacation. Most of the year, they average in the high-60s. Anyway you put it, they have the lowest average loadfactor of any US airline, as they put a heavier emphasis on frequency than most other airlines.

OP is asking about a specific flight to MCO in October. I'd be very surprised if the flight was only 67% full.

 

[atigeg]

I fly SW from Chicago a lot, and our flights are almost invariably full or close to it. When they're not, there are usually a bevy of standbys. I suspect they would give an empty seat to one of them (since they are paying) rather than as a freebie for a non-paying child.
Barb