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southwest question
- Thread starter bears163
- Start date
I've never had a problem w/southwest as long as I was in the first boarding group. (Actually, usually through the 2nd boarding group)
Haven't flown them in a while, but it used to be that the boarding groups were assigned at the time you checked in.
I'd think they'd also allow preboarding for people that need it (like with small kids)
rob.
Haven't flown them in a while, but it used to be that the boarding groups were assigned at the time you checked in.
I'd think they'd also allow preboarding for people that need it (like with small kids)
rob.
TTFN-Tiggger
New Member
I have only flown SW once and it has been a long time. If you get to the airport and check in early so you are one of the first groups to board you will be ok and will be able to sit by each other. If you arrive late and are one of the last to board - that is where you will run into problems trying to get all the seats together. For the low price it might be worth it though - just plan to be at the airport early.
ChipCarlton
New Member
The best way to do it is to print your boarding pass off online. You can do this 24 hours prior to your flight. (ex: Departure at 6:00pm on Tuesday, print them off at 6:30pm on Monday). If you do this you are pretty much guaranteed to be in Group "A". It is tough to be in group "B" and all sit together. As long as you check-in online and print them off , you will be fine. Also remember that when you check-in online you are checking-in....no need to go to the counter You can check whatever bags you have outside with the Skycaps. Tell them your name and where you are flying, give them your bags, they give you your baggage receipts, and off to security you go with no wait in check-in line.
Good luck
Good luck
McArcDes
New Member
Printing you boarding pass online as soon as you can is the way to go. We have flown Southwest the last two times we went to WDW from Providence RI. We also asked at the check in desk at our hotel (once at Port Orleans Riverside and once at Pop Century) to have them print them out for us for our return trips and they were happy to. Get to the gate early so you can be first in the boarding group. Both times we flew we had no problems. If you have a small child or someone with mobility problems you can tell them at the gate and they will board you before any of the boarding groups. Look for Southwests internet specials too. Last October we flew 8 people down and back for $45 each way!
Good luck and have fun.
Good luck and have fun.
Doug7856
Member
We fly Southwest on all of our Florida trips. We always check in online 24 hours in advance (also can do mobile phone check in if it is web equipped). If you have a child age 4 or younger, you can pre-board also. Plan to arrive at least 60 minutes early and get in line when you arrive. For some reason here in Baltimore, people tend to line up very early. Orlando is also early (often two hours before the flight) because Magical Express gets you to the airport so early.
Rob562
Well-Known Member
The one thing I never quite understand are the people that line up and are in Group A... About the only time I'd ever stand/sit in line at a Southwest gate would be if I was unlucky enough to have a "C" boarding pass. (But with online checkin, that's never happened)
The families with small kids pre-board and ALWAYS take up the first few rows of the plane. I just stay sitting comfortably in the waiting area until almost all of the Group A people have gone through the doorway, and then get up and join the end of the line before they start with Group B.
True, I'm almost always a single traveler and while an emergency exit row is nice to get, I don't find it a necessity. But the rear 1/3 of the plane is always entirely empty, even when I'm the very last "A" person to board. So if I was with a group, we'd all be able to sit together. Plus, it's away from the bulk of the crying kids up front.
-Rob
The families with small kids pre-board and ALWAYS take up the first few rows of the plane. I just stay sitting comfortably in the waiting area until almost all of the Group A people have gone through the doorway, and then get up and join the end of the line before they start with Group B.
True, I'm almost always a single traveler and while an emergency exit row is nice to get, I don't find it a necessity. But the rear 1/3 of the plane is always entirely empty, even when I'm the very last "A" person to board. So if I was with a group, we'd all be able to sit together. Plus, it's away from the bulk of the crying kids up front.
-Rob
FanofDinsey1981
Active Member
I have flown southwest a few times, and all but on leg of one trip I was able to check in online 24 hours in advance to be in the "A" section. (the one leg I was "B" didn't really matter, the flight was only half full). Since people are not looking for their seat numbers and instead are simply walking to a row and sitting down, it tends to fill the plane quicker. I swear that one flight from Midway (Chicago) to Orlando International had the cab filled in less than 10 minutes, and we even took off a few minutes early!
It is a no-frills airline, but for the 2 hour trip from Chicago to Orlando, the frills just are not needed.
Enjoy!
It is a no-frills airline, but for the 2 hour trip from Chicago to Orlando, the frills just are not needed.
Enjoy!
JimboJones123
Well-Known Member
That's why they make $$ and don't have to cancel flights for bankrupcy
ErickainPA
New Member
As mentioned either check in early or if you get another section, just go to the gate and ask the employee for the pre-board passes so that you can get on first.
miles1
Active Member
We've flown Southwest from Hartford to Orlando twice with at least one small child. Both have been great experiences. To echo the other posters, print the boarding passes out the night before (I think you had to wait until after midnight on the day of your flight, but this may have changed). We were in the first boarding group both times, with no problems finding seats together fof the four of us.
JimboJones123
Well-Known Member
24 hr now!
jaylenofan86
New Member
If you're going to/from San Diego, they are now testing assigned seating.
It's official: Southwest to test assigned seating
The carrier's assigned seating test will begin July 10 on about 200 selected flights departing from San Diego, USA TODAY reports. The test will run several weeks with Southwest CEO Gary Kelly saying that the airline wants "to make sure that we have studied all ... aspects of assigned seating before we make any change to what has been a very successful formula for the past 35 years." Southwest officials have discussed the possibility of assigned seating before, but this is the airline's first serious attempt to try it. Among the possible reasons for the timing, USA TODAY writes that “Southwest is (now) competing in new cities where potential customers aren't seeing the charm of open seating the same as many Southwest loyalists who grew up with it.” For many passengers, the lack of assigned seating is one of Southwest’s biggest drawbacks, David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association, tells the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Southwest, however, has defended its open-seating policy in the past. The carrier says that has allowed it to get its jets in and out of airports gates faster, a key factor in the airline’s efficiency oriented business model. As for any change, Kelly says nothing has been decided. "This evaluation is an important step to determine the feasibility of assigned seating, but this is only a test," he says. Even if Southwest moves to assigned seating, airline officials say such a change couldn’t be put into place before 2008. And while the airline will monitor the assigned seating test for efficiency, it will also monitor fliers’ reactions. “Customer satisfaction and enhancements will be a factor," Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart tells The Dallas Morning News (free registration). "We realize that there are some people who won't fly us now because of the lack of seating assignments."
Posted at 07:45 AM/ET, Jun 21, 2006 in Southwest | Permalink | Comments (26)
It's official: Southwest to test assigned seating
The carrier's assigned seating test will begin July 10 on about 200 selected flights departing from San Diego, USA TODAY reports. The test will run several weeks with Southwest CEO Gary Kelly saying that the airline wants "to make sure that we have studied all ... aspects of assigned seating before we make any change to what has been a very successful formula for the past 35 years." Southwest officials have discussed the possibility of assigned seating before, but this is the airline's first serious attempt to try it. Among the possible reasons for the timing, USA TODAY writes that “Southwest is (now) competing in new cities where potential customers aren't seeing the charm of open seating the same as many Southwest loyalists who grew up with it.” For many passengers, the lack of assigned seating is one of Southwest’s biggest drawbacks, David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association, tells the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Southwest, however, has defended its open-seating policy in the past. The carrier says that has allowed it to get its jets in and out of airports gates faster, a key factor in the airline’s efficiency oriented business model. As for any change, Kelly says nothing has been decided. "This evaluation is an important step to determine the feasibility of assigned seating, but this is only a test," he says. Even if Southwest moves to assigned seating, airline officials say such a change couldn’t be put into place before 2008. And while the airline will monitor the assigned seating test for efficiency, it will also monitor fliers’ reactions. “Customer satisfaction and enhancements will be a factor," Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart tells The Dallas Morning News (free registration). "We realize that there are some people who won't fly us now because of the lack of seating assignments."
Posted at 07:45 AM/ET, Jun 21, 2006 in Southwest | Permalink | Comments (26)
ConstanceIrene
Member
We've flown Southwest a few times, going again in August, and we've never had a problem getting seats together. There are 4 of us and we've been in group C more than once.
We had to go to the back of the plane to get seats together for one trip, but the flight attendants are a blast and exchanged card tricks with my girls on the way down so the time passed quickly. Then again, we're only 2 1/2 hours from Orlando.
We had to go to the back of the plane to get seats together for one trip, but the flight attendants are a blast and exchanged card tricks with my girls on the way down so the time passed quickly. Then again, we're only 2 1/2 hours from Orlando.
BrittanyRose428
Well-Known Member
How early should we get to the airport tomorrow if our flight is at 11? We can't book online and we'd like seats together.
Nemo14
Well-Known Member
They recommend 2 hours early, but it depends on the airport. Can't you access the website online at your library or at a friends so you can get your boarding passes right away?
BrittanyRose428
Well-Known Member
We could do it on this computer and I told my mom that, (shes not coming I'm going with my grandpa and cousin) and she said my grandpa would have to do it, he's very computer illiterate. I've never gotten the airport tickets online before so I dunno if he would have to do it or not. I would think my mom could do it if she has all the flight information. :veryconfu
Nemo14
Well-Known Member
All you'll need is your reservation number - it's a very simple process from their website. Pm me if you need some help with it.
BrittanyRose428
Well-Known Member
Thank you. My mom's alseep now, but I'll ask her when she wakes up. Me and my cousin are pretty scared of planes so if were not sitting together it won't be good. And this is the first time I'm flying without my mom.