Southwest Airlines question
 

Hello, all. Southwest Airlines is coming to Philadelphia. We are looking forward to more reasonable airfares and not having to rely on USAirways all the time.

I understand that Southwest has no assigned seating. How would it work if I was traveling with my family (of 4). Is there a high likelihood if we did not immediately stampede to the gate that we would not get to sit together? We try to be the last ones on the plane when we travel with my sons. Let's just say that my youngest is hyperactive (to put it mildly) and we like to minimize the actual time spent on the plane. I would actually prefer not to sit next to him on long plane rides :), but I don't think the other passengers on the plane would be happy to find themselves seated next to a hyperactive 8 y.o.! It has also been my experience that when we were separated, most people are NOT happy about switching seats, even if it means not sitting next to a hyperactive 8 y.o.

Southwest issues boarding passes in groups and then boards each group together. (Avoids the stampede of everyone trying to board at the same time.)

In the past, you could not get your boarding pass until you showed up at the airport however SW has just implemented on-line checkin. According to their website, "Prior to general boarding, Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children, and families with children under five years of age will preboard. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C." "

http://www.iflyswa.com/travel_center/checkin.html

Seats are first come in groups-A, B, C BUT families with small children are always allowed to board first. So yes, you'll be able to sit together BUT you'll have to get on the plane first (unless your husband can get on & save you seats.)

I'd call the airline to see what they recommend. I find that Southwest has great customer service.

This is the major downside to Southwest Airlines. If you don't attempt to board as early as possible, you will find all the window and aisle seats taken, and you will be forced to sit in middle seats - and separated. Unlike most other airlines, Southwest puts an age for children - 5 and under. Otherwise, you would have families with teenagers pre-boarding. Unless you have another child under age 5, you will be required to board with regular passengers. I would suggest bringing items with you to keep the 8 yr old busy, if possible. One positive thing about Southwest is they do board promptly (in most cases), so your wait in the cabin is not that long typically.

By the way, the new on-line check-in has the following conditions so it won't work well for families traveling together. Actually, looks like it will only benefit some solo flyers: "If you have an existing Southwest Airlines Ticketless flight reservation, you may check in for your flight and print your Boarding Pass beginning 12:01 AM local time the day of departure. Boarding Passes may not be printed for flights that have already departed or for the following types of reservations: multi-passenger, group, senior, infant, youth, military, and government."

SWA is VERY customer-focused, and if you simply mention to the gate agent that you need 4 seats together for your family (esp. a family with a special needs child), they will help make it happen. Their planes have a "lounge" area of 6 seats facing each other, so that would probably be a good option for you.

Obviously, you DON'T want to be the last one to board a SWA flight when you need 4 seats together. Get to the gate at least 1 hour early so you can be sure that the gate agents are able to help you.

If you haven't already started watching "Airline" at 10 PM EST on Mondays on A&E, start! It is all about SWA, and it still makes me happy to see their employees having fun on the job and going the extra mile for their customers. :-)

Southwest is my favorite.

Just get to the aiport and check-in early enough and you shouldn't have much of a problem.

Yes, the cutomer service is great and they usually do their best to assist.

Enjoy the flight!

PS: there is no downside to Southwest...

I loved the pre boarding option for my kids! We usually do what you do and wait till the last minute so the kids don't have to spend even one minute more than necessary sitting BUT what I found with the Southwest flight we took was once we preboarded, evey one who didn't want to be near kids avoided us like the plague! To me this is wonderful, the last thing I need to worry about is some old guy glaring at my kids just for exsisting (they are actually experienced flyers and are generally well behaved on a plane but people assume kid=noise). Mind you, our flight both ways was only 2/3 full so people did have the option of moving around.

That's one of the best things about Southwest's boarding system, IMHO. The little kids board first, and people who want to avoid them can easily do so (especially since the famlies all seem to cluster in the front rows).

Furthermore, if you're traveling alone and manage to get into the "B" boarding group, you get to choose window vs aisle and also who to sit with.

Most airlines are very accomodating to diagnosed special needs. If your child is truly hyperactive, have his MD write a note indicating what his needs are (need to sit in front, back, with family, board last, etc.)and present it to the attendants when you're checking in. It may enable you to get the sits you want, and board when you need.

The back of Southwest planes are usually quite child-free. Not that I mind children. I like children a lot, just generally not in confined spaces for long periods of time.

Southwest has phased out the "lounge seating" concept. All of the new planes don't have it. As older aircraft are replaced/refurbished, it will disappear completely.

Too bad as I liked "sitting backwards" on flights!

So what do you do if you are connecting to another SW flight and, obviously, can't be at the connecting terminal early to be in line for seating on that second flight?

In other words, are you doomed to a middle seat on the second leg of your journey?

I've done a lot of connections with SWA and had some middle seats, but usually I find an aisle or window.

Thanks, all, for your replies. As someone who usually flies USAirways, I am not used to thinking of "airline" and "customer service" in the same sentence!

Do you all really get to the gate 1 hour before scheduled departure? We try to get to the check in counter by 1 hr. prior to departure, but we don't always get to the gate that early.

When you don't have pre-assigned seats it is a good idea to get there as soon as possible. I actually think that this is a down side to Southwest. I like to know where I am sitting before I board the plane. My husband and I had one horrible return trip from Maryland to Florida in July of 2002. This flight boarded in NY before it got to Baltimore, so the plane was packed by the time we boarded, even though we had "A" boarding passes. I had to sit next to a man that weighed at least 400lbs (no exaggeration)! He was halfway in my seat. I didn't complain on board because there were no other seats available, and I didn't want to embarrass the guy. I did write a lengthy letter when I got home. For my trouble, SW sent us $200.00 flight vouchers.

If I lived in Philly, my fear would be that USAirways would actually fail. If this happens, you'll have nonstop service to a couple dozen cities as opposed to a hundred or so. Just ask the people in Nashville, St. Louis, etc. Being a hub has its pluses.

Anyone have an idea when SW will post its schedule and start taking reservations to/from Philadelphia? Nothing on their website yet. I understand service begins May 9.

Nothong could be better for Philly than if US Airways ceasses to exist. Finally Philly will be able to have resonable fares and not be in US Airways control.

Robinsen - I totally understand your frustration with USAirways. But even so, I think I'm with Dan in hoping they don't cease to exist entirely. It is a great treat to be able to fly non-stop to so many different places from here - in the US, Caribbean and a few in Europe. (Hopefully, someday I will actually take advantage of that!) It's just USAir's prices are so high, and it's getting increasingly more difficult to take advantage of the benefits of using one exclusive airline, such as cashing in on FF miles.

Reasonable fares, perhaps, but also no nonstops except to places like Providence, Islip and Houston Hobby.

Again, look at St. Louis. The people there would probably love to have TWA's flight options right now.

Karens, you should try USAirways to Europe if you get the chance. Good planes, good service and I like that Philadelphia int'l terminal very much!

I really like Southwest and fly them often. They control about 40% of the market at my local airport (New Orleans) and are finally giving us more nonstops to places like San Diego, Lauderdale, etc. But even then, it's one a day.

I'd hate to pay higher fares, of course, but I'd love to have the choice of frequent nonstops to Kansas City, Seattle, etc. My friends in Memphis (a NW hub) have this but pay more for it. Of course, they can be in Seattle in 3.5 hours whereas it takes me 6 or so because I must make connections.


No easy answer, huh?

Last time we flew with SWA, we checked bags at the curb and we got our boarding passes at that time so we did not have to be at the gate 1 hour before boarding. This was in San Jose. I am not sure about other airports, but at SJC they have gone from the plastic boarding passes that they retrieve when you board the plane to paper boarding passes.

Betsy......I was on the fone with SW a bit ago...they have no "clue" as to when the flight schedule will be posted..."anyday" is what she said...

Your experience is identical to mine, BB. I've phoned a couple of times. At least they're consistent in their cluelessness!

Southwest runs the risk of becoming the Wal-Mart of airlines; eliminating competition and forcing people to be at the mercy of a generic, frustrating entity.

I think Southwest is fine, but I avoid them when I can and would be forced to have to rely on them for all of my travel. While efficient, it is merely a step up from riding on Greyhound. A few episodes of watching "Airline" reinforces that while they understand customer service, they also appear to do everything on the cheap by herding passengers like children or livestock.

There are things in life that I am willing to pay more for, such as a fine restaurant, or a luxury hotel. Unfortunately (or fortunately, for SWA), air travel is not one of them. My goal is to get somewhere as quickly as possible, with minimum hassle, and not spend too much money to do it. SWA's planes are usually on time, their staff is friendly and professional, and they have never lost my luggage. Their frequent flyer program is also easy to use. Because of all these things, I love to fly SWA, and once the Wright Amendment is repealed, I'll fly them even more!

SW schedule for Philadelphia is on their site now. I'm going from San Jose to Philadelphia for $99 each way in May. Happy travels.

Southwest will be extremely accomodating. I agree with all the things I've read here so far -- get there early in order to get an "A" pass. Pre-board if your kids are young enough. Get a doc's note for any special needs.

I was most intrigued when i was recently on a flight to Dallas that had 8 wheelchair customers aboard. Preboarding took forever. Then we all boarded later, of course. Unfortunately, there was something wrong with the plane and we all had to de-plane. That was interesting because we all had to walk down the jetway crowded with 8 extra wheelchairs. They got a different plane in short order, but we went through the whole procedure all over again. I was very impressed with the way Southwest and all the passengers handled this.

Until very recently, you cannot check-in at home, and print your boarding pass. That was a major drag if you have a connection. After your first leg, you need to stand in line again for the boarding pass on the next leg. And if your first plane arrives late, you have no chance of getting an "A" or "B" boarding pass.

That really sucked say if your second leg was a long cross-country trip, and you're stuck in a middle seat. Trust me, that could happen.

Fortunately, that was a thing in the past, finally, at least for those with internet at home.

You can check in at home on the internet if you are a single passenger. I usually fly with my husband, since our travel is leisure. I suppose you could buy two separate tickets....that's a thought!

Does the internet boarding pass specify A/B/C status? That'd be great!

Their website says that you can on-line check-in beginning 12:01 a.m. the day of your flight and receive a boarding pass. Since they have been issuing the boarding pass with A, B, or C for a while now, I think it is safe to assume that your boarding pass will have the designation printed on it.
Too bad they didn't announce this on-line check-in back when my husband and I purchased our tickets for Phoenix this March. They are considered multi-passenger because they are together on one reservation. We don't qualify to check-in on-line.