You all converted us to Southwest

[zoo2tycoon]

Just returned from our first trip using SW. Had always been afraid because of no assigned seats. WE LOVED IT! Booking online was easy, getting credit for flight price decrease was easy. Purchased EBCI just since it was first time. On way to PHX from IND we got A25-A29. On the return my husband go A25 as he flew out 2 days prior. On Tuesday we got A33-35. We all had aisle seats and furthest back was row 9. Going my son and I had an empty middle seat between each of us and the person in the window. Returning the asked for 1 person to take next flight (offered face value of ticket plus $300). We couldn't take as only needed one and we live 1.5 hours from airport and wouldn't have gotten in till midnight.

Seating went great and never saw anybody asking people to move or seat saving (but we were in front and not saving seats). They did offer family boarding between A and B (saw this on flight prior to ours). Did see some 'iffy' ages...seriously kids over 6-8 preboarding with family but we weren't effected so it is up to SW to enforce rules.

All the employees were great! Looking forward to next flight.
Think it is up to people to determine if EBCI is worth it but we figured into cost of flight prior to booking. Knew at one point couldn't check in online at 24 hour mark.

 

[LisaS]

Glad to hear everything went well! This board was the reason we switched to Southwest too. Had to convince DH the first time around since he had bought into the whole "cattle call" point of view even though he had never actually flown SW. Once we tried it the first time, we were converts too!

 

[Kristie911]

We're traveling with a 3 and 10 year old in September. I don't want to pay $100 extra for early check in but I don't want to get on toward the end and not be able to sit with my family. I'm really kind of freaking out about this. What happens if we get on and I can't sit with the kids? Like there are only single seats left? I will do the check in 24 hours before so hopefully I won't have to board last.

They wouldn't make one of the kids sit without a parent would they? We'd survive if all 4 seats weren't together, though the kids would fight over who gets to sit with mom, but I don't want to get stuck with singles all over the place. Should I just pay the extra?

 

[goofy4tink]

We're traveling with a 3 and 10 year old in September. I don't want to pay $100 extra for early check in but I don't want to get on toward the end and not be able to sit with my family. I'm really kind of freaking out about this. What happens if we get on and I can't sit with the kids? Like there are only single seats left? I will do the check in 24 hours before so hopefully I won't have to board last.

They wouldn't make one of the kids sit without a parent would they? We'd survive if all 4 seats weren't together, though the kids would fight over who gets to sit with mom, but I don't want to get stuck with singles all over the place. Should I just pay the extra?

Stop worrying! If you check in right at the 24 hr mark, you should be fine. No, you won't be in the front of the plane. And you may be able to board in the 'family boarding' group.....after the A group, before the B group. Worst case scenario would be one parent with one child. SW is usually pretty good about keeping a child with a parent tho.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We're traveling with a 3 and 10 year old in September. I don't want to pay $100 extra for early check in but I don't want to get on toward the end and not be able to sit with my family. I'm really kind of freaking out about this. What happens if we get on and I can't sit with the kids? Like there are only single seats left? I will do the check in 24 hours before so hopefully I won't have to board last.

They wouldn't make one of the kids sit without a parent would they? We'd survive if all 4 seats weren't together, though the kids would fight over who gets to sit with mom, but I don't want to get stuck with singles all over the place. Should I just pay the extra?

They will board families with young children after the group A and priority people board but before the group B people board. You shouldn't have any problem getting seats together since you would be able to board ahead of most of the people.

 

[Kristie911]

Stop worrying!

It's better if I focus on this worry and let myself freak out a little bit...it keeps me from focusing on the crashing and dying I think about otherwise.

I'm NOT a good flier!!

But thank you...I won't worry too much about it. I couldn't see them forcing a 3 year old to sit by herself but wasn't sure how it worked.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's better if I focus on this worry and let myself freak out a little bit...it keeps me from focusing on the crashing and dying I think about otherwise.

I'm NOT a good flier!!

But thank you...I won't worry too much about it. I couldn't see them forcing a 3 year old to sit by herself but wasn't sure how it worked.

Ok....stop worrying about that as well.... Air travel isn't my favorite mode of transport, but I've gotten to the point where I can fly quite easily. Here's the thing....keep in mind all those people that are doing their jobs, up in the air, at 30,000 ft! Would they be doing that if it was all that dangerous? No, they wouldn't. It is very hard to bring a plane down....planes 'want' to be up there. I can't tell you why, it just is. I don't get aerodynamics! The chances of a terrorist being on board, or doing something to your plane are incredibly small! So, try to get control of those fears!!! I understand why you have them, but try! Your life will be so much better if you can control them!

 

[Disneylover99]

But thank you...I won't worry too much about it. I couldn't see them forcing a 3 year old to sit by herself but wasn't sure how it worked.

In my experience they wouldn't force a 3 year old to sit by themselves, but they may ask someone who has purchased EBCI to move seats to accommodate a parent and child. While I would not want a parent and child to be separated, it sucks to be asked to move.

 

[wendydarling826]

We have been flying SW for many years and have been very satisfied. Boarding is orderly, and family boarding helps families with children to sit together. I have also been on flights where, after everyone is on the plane, an attendant will ask if any single fliers would be willing to switch seats so that an entire family can sit together, and someone always does. We have also flown the other carriers and have found SW to have a better record for on time arrivals. I'm not real happy with the fare increases right now, but that's industry wide, and I will continue to choose SWA. I hope your experience is a positive one!

 

[goofy4tink]

In my experience they wouldn't force a 3 year old to sit by themselves, but they may ask someone who has purchased EBCI to move seats to accommodate a parent and child. While I would not want a parent and child to be separated, it sucks to be asked to move.

I was on a SW flight about 5 years ago, or so. I had an A boarding group slot. As I sat at the gate, I watched a mother walking around the area with her young son...probably about 5 or so. They were there for at least an hour prior to boarding. Anyway....I boarded the plane, took a seat about 4 rows back. I watched as the B group boarded...no issues finding seats together. Then the C group boarded. Most of them were able to find seats together that enabled at least two people to sit together. However, the final 10 or so people had to split up. Well....just as the cabin door was going to be closed, that mother who had been walking her child around, came on board. Now, at this point, there were no seats together! The FA made the announcement that they needed two people to move so a mother could sit with her child. No one volunteered. About 3 mins later, the FA announced that the plane was not pulling away from the gate until that mother and child were seated together. So, an older couple gave up their seats together and had to find single seats elsewhere. They got a free drink each for their trouble.
Here's the thing.....that woman decided to board at the end, counting on SW to allow her to sit with her child! And others were forced to sit apart to make this happen. I understand all about flying with children....my dd, now 20, has been flying since she was 3. If you don't want to board early and have to be seated for that amount of time (which I understand), then fly an airline that allows you to choose your seat before boarding.

If I have paid for EBCI, I would have to think long and hard about moving for someone who hadn't paid for it. That's just not fair. Don't get me wrong...I have offered to move many times, and usually it has not been needed. I just resent it when someone is entitled enough to not pay for EBCI, and then expects those of us that did, to move for them so they can be seated with their family!

 

[beccasmom]

IMHO, SWA does a great job. Their policy of no assigned seats throws some folks off, but it usually works very well. EBCI is great and we always use it for the return trip.

 

[eangel12]

I was on a SW flight about 5 years ago, or so. I had an A boarding group slot. As I sat at the gate, I watched a mother walking around the area with her young son...probably about 5 or so. They were there for at least an hour prior to boarding. Anyway....I boarded the plane, took a seat about 4 rows back. I watched as the B group boarded...no issues finding seats together. Then the C group boarded. Most of them were able to find seats together that enabled at least two people to sit together. However, the final 10 or so people had to split up. Well....just as the cabin door was going to be closed, that mother who had been walking her child around, came on board. Now, at this point, there were no seats together! The FA made the announcement that they needed two people to move so a mother could sit with her child. No one volunteered. About 3 mins later, the FA announced that the plane was not pulling away from the gate until that mother and child were seated together. So, an older couple gave up their seats together and had to find single seats elsewhere. They got a free drink each for their trouble.
Here's the thing.....that woman decided to board at the end, counting on SW to allow her to sit with her child! And others were forced to sit apart to make this happen. I understand all about flying with children....my dd, now 20, has been flying since she was 3. If you don't want to board early and have to be seated for that amount of time (which I understand), then fly an airline that allows you to choose your seat before boarding.

If I have paid for EBCI, I would have to think long and hard about moving for someone who hadn't paid for it. That's just not fair. Don't get me wrong...I have offered to move many times, and usually it has not been needed. I just resent it when someone is entitled enough to not pay for EBCI, and then expects those of us that did, to move for them so they can be seated with their family!

I completely agree. How is it fair that people shell out extra money but are asked to move because people DON'T do that. I would LOVE to save $100+ for my flights, but I have two young children and realize that sitting together is more important than $100. I would be the first to say something to that parent and to Southwest. So rude!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Just returned from our first trip using SW. Had always been afraid because of no assigned seats. WE LOVED IT! Booking online was easy, getting credit for flight price decrease was easy. Purchased EBCI just since it was first time. On way to PHX from IND we got A25-A29. On the return my husband go A25 as he flew out 2 days prior. On Tuesday we got A33-35. We all had aisle seats and furthest back was row 9. Going my son and I had an empty middle seat between each of us and the person in the window. Returning the asked for 1 person to take next flight (offered face value of ticket plus $300). We couldn't take as only needed one and we live 1.5 hours from airport and wouldn't have gotten in till midnight.

Seating went great and never saw anybody asking people to move or seat saving (but we were in front and not saving seats). They did offer family boarding between A and B (saw this on flight prior to ours). Did see some 'iffy' ages...seriously kids over 6-8 preboarding with family but we weren't effected so it is up to SW to enforce rules.

All the employees were great! Looking forward to next flight.
Think it is up to people to determine if EBCI is worth it but we figured into cost of flight prior to booking. Knew at one point couldn't check in online at 24 hour mark.

Glad you had a good experience. We stayed away from SWA for the same reason, but finally gave them a try about 6 years ago and haven't flown any other airline since as we have had nothing but great experiences with them .

 

[Disneylover99]

If I have paid for EBCI, I would have to think long and hard about moving for someone who hadn't paid for it. That's just not fair. Don't get me wrong...I have offered to move many times, and usually it has not been needed. I just resent it when someone is entitled enough to not pay for EBCI, and then expects those of us that did, to move for them so they can be seated with their family!

That's exactly how I felt. I was sitting in the aisle seat and my six year old daughter was on the aisle seat directly across from me when I was asked to move. My husband was in the middle seat beside her so it wasn't like she was alone and I only had to move back a seat but it really bugged me. We had all paid EBCI.

Now, I suppose I could have said no to moving but they didn't ask for volunteers to move they just asked me to move back and when you are actually in that situation.....it's really hard to say no.