worried about flying SW

[dawnj99]

Ok I am so thankful to have found this AMAZING board. There was so much about Disney I did not know and I have been there several times.
First let me apologize, I am sure this question has been asked but I have read and read and can't find an exact answer, only answers that worry me.

Here is my dilemma. We are going to DW Sept 23-30. I have not booked flights yet because I am waiting on SW. I have never flown them, they only started flying from Pittsburg last year. My worry is I keep hearing about this weird boarding and not have seats assigned. I also read a thread talking about pre boarding with children etc and it being only young children. Traveling will be myself, my husband and our son's who will be 5 and 7 at that time. Obviously we won't be preboarding and typically I would not anyway, the less time on the plane the better, but what if we can't get seats together, If we were split up 2 and 2 that would not be an issue but I can't see putting my 5 year old in a seat 3 rows in front of me because that is the closest I could get. How absurd is it that a parent and a young child can't be guaranteed seats together. What would I do in this situation?? Would I have no choice, that is not an option as my 5 year old can't (is not an option for us due to behavoural issues) sit alone and my 7 year old would worried sick if he had to.

Also, I have read here to check in early on line to get group A boarding, how do you know if you tickets are eligible, all the SW website says is if you have eligible tickets. We will be going for the cheapest we can find, likely the web promotion tickets. Would we be able to check in online?

Thank you in advance for reading and attempting to help me figure this all out.

Dawn

 

[Disney Fool]

Yes, you can check in online; and don't worry about the seating, even if you're not pre-boarding. Just get to the boarding area EARLY. Stand where your boarding pass indicates (A, B. or C) and you'll be able to get seats together. Even if you don't, tell the attendants. They'll kindly ask someone to switch seats for you. Last two times I flew SW, I was in section C, the plane was packed. Even though there were 5 in my party, we all managed to be close together.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

How do you check-in for your departure from MCO though? I will not have a computer with me while on vacation. Please let me know what you do. I have never flown them either and am probably booking with them now for our Aug trip.

Thank you

 

[Anna114]

I've flown SW a few times out of Long Island McArthur airport. Their prices are great but I am not a fan of their boarding policies. If you get boarding A or B you should be able to at least each parent with a child. It's the C boarding that getting connecting seats is hard. I've never heard of tickets not be eligible for A boarding. I've used their special airfairs and never had a problem. I leave on Sunday to go to WDW. I will be getting my boarding passes on Sat at 1:30. You can get boarding passes 24hrs before your flight. I'm hoping that will help us get "A" boarding. I hope I helped.

 

[clkelley]

For your return home, make sure you have your confirmation #s on a slip of paper in your wallet, and then about 24 hours before your flight home, drop by "any" resort guest services desk (Now called Resort Concierge), and ask them if they can print your SW boarding passes for you.

For example, in December my flight was at 5:30 on a Wednesday. On Tuesday evening about 5:30, I happened to be at the Beach Club waiting on dinner and dropped by the resort desk and asked about the boarding passes. He happily did so. FYI - I was staying at Ft. Wilderness, so it can be any Disney resort.

It is really easy.

 

[dsneygirl]

You can also give someone at home all your info and they can check in online for you. Then when you get to MCO you just have to reprint your boarding passes. If you are in A group you should have no problem getting seats together.
I have flown SW a dozen times and have never seen a young child (unless unaccompanied) be split up from their parents. Others have posted that the crew will ask other passengers to move and bribe them with drink tickets if need be

 

[rdsx28]

Hi,
Any disney resort will print your boarding passes. We stayed at CSR and they were happy to do it for us. We flew SW and people were more than happy to switch seats so don't worry about it. We had A boarding and had no problem. The only problem we ad was that my husband's suitcase weighed too much and they made us switch a few things around but that was it. It's actually a great airline for the prices. Have a great trip!

 

[NotUrsula]

Basically, the only tickets not eligible for online checkin are those special fare-types that cannot be purchased online. If you bought it on the website, you can check in there, too. (Or on your cell phone, if it is web-enabled.)

The exception is situations where one of the passengers in the party matches a name on a security watch-list. If this happens, call SWA and have them separate the party onto separate reservations; then everyone else can check in online and save a seat for the poor ssssoul.

Saving one seat [or even two] is no biggie as long as it is not in the first 6 rows or in an exit row. Don't try to save more than two, though, and don't try to be coy and save with "stuff"; just sit in the outermost seat and politely tell those who ask that your mother, husband, child, etc. is boarding later and you would like that person to be able to sit with you. Most folks will move on by; but if they don't, give in graciously and let the person have the seat. If you are going to try to save, it is good manners (and more effective) to sit in the back of the aircraft.

 

[texasthree]

I believe preboarding is for 5 and under. If you dont get an A or B boarding pass I would just try and preboard with the 5 year old and save the 3rd seat for your other child. Your husband should be able to sit close by. If you do that I would try and sit toward the middle. People really want the seats up close even if they have to smoosh in! You will not have to sit seperated from your children either way. If you cant find acceptable seating find a flight attendant and ask for help.
I always fly southwest and so far I have always preboarded with my 4 year old.

 

[robin09]

Hi There! I love these boards too, have learned much from them! I've used southwest twice this year (once to the Land, and once to the WORLD). I am going again in August and trying to use Southwest again!

As others have said, check in online 24 hours beforehand.... I have gotten A boarding every time I have done this! A boards first ( after disabled and young children) then the B's and the C's come last.

The last time I flew with southwest from California to New York (albany) they let on anyone with children first. My daughter is 7, has sensory problems and Aspergers, so I was afraid of southwest at first also.... there is noway she would be able to sit away from either myself or her father.

Checkin form Disney is once again no problem at all! They will board you from their computers and print out your pass..... just get to the front desk 24 hours beforehand!

Have fun and enjoy Disney.... Between southwest and The Magical Express everything will be GREAT!

 

[Tammy32]

I am a Flight Attendant for SWA and if you listen to the great advice the other people posted on here you will have no problem finding seats together. When I come across situations where parents and young children do not have seats together, I will make an announcement asking if someone would mind changing seats so a family with young children can sit together. Someone usually trades seats without a problem. In the cases that no one does .... drink bribes always work. The best way to make sure you are in the A or B group is to go online and print your boarding pass 24 hrs in advance. The worst thing you can do is get to the airport late and run to the gate. If you are late and boarding is done, then that A or B boarding pass won't matter. It is so harder to ask people to trade seats when they have already made themselves comfortable by that window or aisle and you are just getting there. They stood in line so they could get those seats and they are less likely to trade knowing you just showed up. Hope you have a great flight on SWA!

 

[Anna114]

Tammy32,
Thanks for taking the time to confirm what we all know. I feel much more confident about me and "my gang" sitting together.

 

[4shinystars]

Does online check-in apply for those who purchased their tickets as part of a package through SouthWest Air Vacations? We're changing our reservation to them, since the package with air saves us $300 over anyone else, including adding SW to our current WDW Travel room/tickets pkg. I was worried that SWA Vacations would deal with online check in differently.
Thank you.