Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[Livelovedance]

Friendly reminder - keep checking your flight prices! I booked with points when they were released, and I’ve been randomly checking and hoping for price decreases.

I just found one of our flights decreased over 6,000 points per person!

 

[Day-Day]

Wow on the family boarding. We boarded yesterday at MCO and there were way more adults in the family boarding line than there were 6-year-olds and younger. Maybe some adults, older kids, and late teens had A-boarding or some other higher priority and elected to wait for family boarding but it doesn't make sense. I never heard an announcement of the rule for using family boarding but I'm pretty sure there was one when we boarded for our departure flight out of my home airport.

There was one group traveling with an infant in which the others were 3 adults and a young-adult or older teenager. There were plenty of families with kids that looked well over 6 which had no kids that looked under.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

If I’m purchasing early bird check in do I still need to worry about checking in? Will it just automatically check me in and send me a boarding pass?

We’ve already purchased the tickets with EB check in for both ways. I won’t have access to WiFi for awhile before our return flight since we will be cruising. Thanks!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Wow on the family boarding. We boarded yesterday at MCO and there were way more adults in the family boarding line than there were 6-year-olds and younger. Maybe some adults, older kids, and late teens had A-boarding or some other higher priority and elected to wait for family boarding but it doesn't make sense. I never heard an announcement of the rule for using family boarding but I'm pretty sure there was one when we boarded for our departure flight out of my home airport.

There was one group traveling with an infant in which the others were 3 adults and a young-adult or older teenager. There were plenty of families with kids that looked well over 6 which had no kids that looked under.

This is one of the many reasons why we purchase EBCI for our return flights home from MCO. Even with mid-B boarding passes we had to wait for someone to offer to move (which I felt bad about!) for my 8yo and I to sit together. Since then I’ve purchased EBCI to hopefully avoid this in the future. Family boarding at MCO seems to be whomever wishes to board together, can.

 

[Fangorn]

If I’m purchasing early bird check in do I still need to worry about checking in? Will it just automatically check me in and send me a boarding pass?

We’ve already purchased the tickets with EB check in for both ways. I won’t have access to WiFi for awhile before our return flight since we will be cruising. Thanks!

You'll be checked in automatically at 36 hours before your flight. You do not have to do anything. You will NOT receive any sort of notice or your boarding pass. But your boarding number is assigned.
Any time after the 24 hour mark, you can log in to see your boarding number (just go through the checkin procedure to see the boarding pass - don't worry, though, you're already checked-in!) If you're not able to get on line before your flight, you can just print out your boarding pass at the airport. EBCI is definitely the way to go when you don't have internet access the day before.

Steve

 

[Peaseblossom36]

You'll be checked in automatically at 36 hours before your flight. You do not have to do anything. You will NOT receive any sort of notice or your boarding pass. But your boarding number is assigned.
Any time after the 24 hour mark, you can log in to see your boarding number (just go through the checkin procedure to see the boarding pass - don't worry, though, you're already checked-in!) If you're not able to get on line before your flight, you can just print out your boarding pass at the airport. EBCI is definitely the way to go when you don't have internet access the day before.

Steve

Perfect! That’s exactly what I was hoping for! Thank you

 

[shoreward]

Another possible aircraft issue from Boeing, affecting 737-700, 800, and MAX 8 series, which make up Southwest's fleet. The fix, however, is apparently a quick one. However, with Southwest already short on aircraft, will this mean additional cancellations, till the repairs are completed?

https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/business/boeing-faa-737-slat-track-assemblies/index.html

 

[tinkerbell615]

Wow on the family boarding. We boarded yesterday at MCO and there were way more adults in the family boarding line than there were 6-year-olds and younger. Maybe some adults, older kids, and late teens had A-boarding or some other higher priority and elected to wait for family boarding but it doesn't make sense. I never heard an announcement of the rule for using family boarding but I'm pretty sure there was one when we boarded for our departure flight out of my home airport.

There was one group traveling with an infant in which the others were 3 adults and a young-adult or older teenager. There were plenty of families with kids that looked well over 6 which had no kids that looked under.

This makes me a little nervous. DH and I will be traveling with our 6 year old grandson, and I don't want to risk not sitting with him. Maybe we should purchase the EBCI.

 

[SinCityMMAFan]

Wow on the family boarding. We boarded yesterday at MCO and there were way more adults in the family boarding line than there were 6-year-olds and younger. Maybe some adults, older kids, and late teens had A-boarding or some other higher priority and elected to wait for family boarding but it doesn't make sense. I never heard an announcement of the rule for using family boarding but I'm pretty sure there was one when we boarded for our departure flight out of my home airport.

There was one group traveling with an infant in which the others were 3 adults and a young-adult or older teenager. There were plenty of families with kids that looked well over 6 which had no kids that looked under.

I witnessed this a few weeks ago when we were traveling form MCO to LAS. I felt bad for anyone who purchased EBCI then ended up with B group boarding as I highly doubt they were able to get seats together because we had A50 and A51 and for us to get seats together we had to go past the wing area which I never had been so far back and when we were boarding the "family boarding" line was very long and there seemed to be a lot of adults in line as well. I think more and more people are trying to take advantage of SW's boarding procedure when it comes to family boarding especially to and from MCO. I did hear an announcement by the gate agent that said 1 member of a family can board with 1 child however it's unclear if they actually followed that rule or not as we had already boarded the plane by the time they let those in the family boarding line board the plane. I think some gate agents are strict and follow the policy and others do not.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I did hear an announcement by the gate agent that said 1 member of a family can board with 1 child

I don't know when, though it was very recent, it was updated but SWA very quietly updated their policy to include 2 adults rather than just 1 (which I'm sure can def. have an impact on the number of people boarding the plan during Family Boarding). This may have been after you flew though IDK on that part.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This makes me a little nervous. DH and I will be traveling with our 6 year old grandson, and I don't want to risk not sitting with him. Maybe we should purchase the EBCI.

When do you fly?

Since your grandson will be 6 at the time of travel you will qualify for family boarding. When my daughter was young enough that we qualified for family boarding I would head towards the location where families would line up 35-40 mins before flight time since boarding often begins 30 mins before flight time. I would hover there as long as I wasn’t in the way of people exiting the plane. I was securing us a place early in the family boarding.

This might be another option if you choose not to purchase EBCI.

 

[Day-Day]

I don't know when, though it was very recent, it was updated but SWA very quietly updated their policy to include 2 adults rather than just 1 (which I'm sure can def. have an impact on the number of people boarding the plan during Family Boarding). This may have been after you flew though IDK on that part.

I did no realize SW had bumped it up to two. Probably a factor as to why I saw so many adults since two are now allowed per child. I'm pretty sure some of the kids were over 6 years old. Also, appeared like some folks divided the kids up so grandparents could go in with one while parents went in with another.

If traveling as a lone adult, I really can't see the adult boarding with a child six or under and leaving a 7 year old in the regular boarding line so I'd expect the older child to go along though SW doesn't really state that as an option. That's about the only leeway I would give if I had control...

Boarding the Plane

 

[Lsdolphin]

I witnessed this a few weeks ago when we were traveling form MCO to LAS. I felt bad for anyone who purchased EBCI then ended up with B group boarding as I highly doubt they were able to get seats together because we had A50 and A51 and for us to get seats together we had to go past the wing area which I never had been so far back and when we were boarding the "family boarding" line was very long and there seemed to be a lot of adults in line as well. I think more and more people are trying to take advantage of SW's boarding procedure when it comes to family boarding especially to and from MCO. I did hear an announcement by the gate agent that said 1 member of a family can board with 1 child however it's unclear if they actually followed that rule or not as we had already boarded the plane by the time they let those in the family boarding line board the plane. I think some gate agents are strict and follow the policy and others do not.

Even when 1 adult boards with a child they immediately throw stuff on seats to save additional seats for other family members...I'm so tired of paying for Early Bird while so many people "work the system"!!! I can't even how many families or groups will pay for one person to do Early Bird and they proceed to save seats all around them!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Definitely check your flights! When I looked last night my flight from BWI to MCO was the same but I got a credit back of $75 on my return flight

 

[Crazyhorse]

Even when 1 adult boards with a child they immediately throw stuff on seats to save additional seats for other family members...I'm so tired of paying for Early Bird while so many people "work the system"!!! I can't even how many families or groups will pay for one person to do Early Bird and they proceed to save seats all around them!

I don't hesitate at all telling people to move their stuff. When I get a little pushback, I've threatened to grab a flight attendant who will be glad to explain that there is NO saving seats. They move their stuff and there is no further drama.

 

[MarkinNM]

I don't hesitate at all telling people to move their stuff. When I get a little pushback, I've threatened to grab a flight attendant who will be glad to explain that there is NO saving seats. They move their stuff and there is no further drama.

Especially if you are paying to EBCI, and policy states no saving but then those people seem to think that policy is not for them......


EDIT........

Just checked the SW web on boarding and this is what it states.....

Do families get to preboard?
Two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.

 

[shoreward]

I don't hesitate at all telling people to move their stuff. When I get a little pushback, I've threatened to grab a flight attendant who will be glad to explain that there is NO saving seats. They move their stuff and there is no further drama.

You do know that there is almost no FA who will tell passengers they can't save seats. Southwest states that they neither have, nor don't have an official policy regarding saving of seats.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't hesitate at all telling people to move their stuff. When I get a little pushback, I've threatened to grab a flight attendant who will be glad to explain that there is NO saving seats. They move their stuff and there is no further drama.

Technically SWA has a no policy for or against seat saving at the present moment. What FAs say are a case by case basis not part of official policy.

They are considered open seating. I wouldn't create drama personally nor would I threaten to go get an FA for your specific situation. You can of course just sit down in an unoccupied seat. This is assuming you want their seat they are saving. If you don't want the seat I wouldn't even say anything that is me personally.

 

[FCDub]

Round and round we go with the seat saving debate.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Round and round we go with the seat saving debate.

Yup, unfortunately it's a neverending cycle on that one.