SW If you want to sit with your kids

[zoo2tycoon]

I always roll my eyes at 2 people traveling together and taking a window and aisle seat. The flight attendants announce repeatedly that the plane is full, yet they don't move. I guess they really like having a stranger sit between them.

We sometimes do this when it’s my husband and me. We sit aisle and middle- We don’t mind stranger between us.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I always roll my eyes at 2 people traveling together and taking a window and aisle seat. The flight attendants announce repeatedly that the plane is full, yet they don't move. I guess they really like having a stranger sit between them.

DW prefers window seats. I prefer aisle seats. We always purchase EBCI specifically to be able to choose window and aisle seats. We’ve been married more than 50 years, so we seldom find the need to chat with each other during a 150 minute flight between Chicago and Orlando. We even do this for 8+ hour flights to Europe if the plane does not have a two-wide seating section.

 

[Searc]

I recently flew SW by myself to and from MCO. I didn’t purchase EB, checked in at 24 hrs and received an “A” boarding both trips.
Also I found it interesting at my home airport(Buffalo) it was announced that family boarding was for child and 2 adults. All other adults would need to board with their assigned boarding places. No such announcement was made at MCO.

It was on my flight two days ago from MCO.

 

[BelleOftheBall16]

I would not count on the bolded, especially when going to a family destination, especially during a school break time.

We flew OAK-MCO on 3/24. Checked in exactly at T-24 and ended up with C3 & C4. I paid for upgraded boarding at the gate, not because I cared if my son and I had to sit separately, but because neither of us wanted to get stuck in middle seats. There were tons of kids on the flight so I knew the odds were not in our favor.

I’ve also been in the situation were we had to split up. Our flight had been canceled that morning and we were able to get on an earlier flight. However since this was 6 hours before the flight was scheduled, we ended up at the end of the C group for the new flight. Of course only middles were left when we boarded and I would never expect anyone to move so we just sat in middles a few rows apart. My son was 6 or 7 at the time and he could’ve cared less about sitting next to me as long as he had his ipad.

 

[Magical2017]

My kids are 10 and 13, so I am totally fine with them sitting by themselves. We have talked to them about being polite. DH or I usually sit where we can see them and no one has given me dirty looks or complained--they usually just read or nap. My youngest does tend to get up to go to the bathroom and check in with me, so if he is sitting in the middle that may annoy some people. I remind him to try and stay seated unless he absolutely has to get up if it is a short flight.

I would switch with a parent with a young child if they requested it. It is partly to be nice but mainly because I don't want to be bothered by someone else's kid, lol--I want to read in peace.

 

[Magical2017]

I recently flew SW by myself to and from MCO. I didn’t purchase EB, checked in at 24 hrs and received an “A” boarding both trips.
Also I found it interesting at my home airport(Buffalo) it was announced that family boarding was for child and 2 adults. All other adults would need to board with their assigned boarding places. No such announcement was made at MCO.

Yeah, but then there are people who just get on the plane and save a bunch of seats and tell people they are taken. I don't argue with anyone on a plane-I just move along. As long as all four of us get our butts in a seat, we all have our own activities in our backpacks to keep us occupied.

 

[Halle]

I recently flew SW by myself to and from MCO. I didn’t purchase EB, checked in at 24 hrs and received an “A” boarding both trips.
Also I found it interesting at my home airport(Buffalo) it was announced that family boarding was for child and 2 adults. All other adults would need to board with their assigned boarding places. No such announcement was made at MCO.

We flew out of MCO in January and February both times they announced family boarding is for parents with children under six years of age, not for Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt or Uncleto tag along.
In February we did not have EBCI but got a B boarding, only 14 B'ers (DH counted)scattered in line. The family boarding had close to 100 people. My advice buy the EBCI if you travel at peak times.

 

[Summer2018]

This is why I won’t fly SW at all. I’ll pay more on another airline for guaranteed seats with my kids. Not worth the stress IMHO, no way. SW, the cattle call airline, is what my travel agent called it once LOL! If you are solo I guess it might be a good idea but as a party of 5 I don’t think so.

I’m with you!

I haven’t flown since 2004. Things have changed so dramatically. I remember when flying was a thrill. Meals were expected.

In 10 days, we are flying AA First Class. We will be together, comfortable, and well fed. For me, that’s the only tolerable way to fly.

 

[ljcrochet]

We flew out of MCO in January and February both times they announced family boarding is for parents with children under six years of age, not for Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt or Uncleto tag along.
In February we did not have EBCI but got a B boarding, only 14 B'ers (DH counted)scattered in line. The family boarding had close to 100 people. My advice buy the EBCI if you travel at peak times.

We once with EBCI had the last A and B1. I have had B's at least twice even with buying EBCI

 

[Betty Rohrer]

@Searc I really don't get that. I mean pretty much EVERYONE knows it's first come first served on Southwest, and even without EBCI you should get decent boarding position checking in at 24 hours.

I will use a flight we had out of Philly. it was mid day plane was full but most of people on flight stayed on. boarding numbers only went to like B 16 very few seats together even with A boarding and there was no family boarding. shpuld have heard the A boarders when there were very few seats together even for EBCI people

 

[jo-jo]

I think anyone that pays for EBCI should board before family boarding.

A few trips ago, mother and child, last on plane. FA asked a few times, no one moved. FA said, this plane is not moving unless the mother and child are seated together. No you'll get a drink coupon or even 8 extra bags of pretzels, nothing, just this plane isn't moving. I wasn't fond of that statement. Of course someone did move but no one seemed thrilled about it. I have no idea where he ended up, but the seat he gave up was an aisle seat was near the front.

 

[mikehn]

In my experience, the flight attendant throws in a few drink coupons and most people in the back of the plane are more than happy to exchange their seats, since people in the back of the plane are usually without EBCI anyways. The plane takes off and everyone is happy

 

[goofy4tink]

I really enjoy flying SW. I love the way they board! No gate lice!!! You get to the gate, take a seat and stay comfortably seated until just prior to your group being boarded. I almost always pay for EBCI. The few times that I haven't, recently, I ended up way back in the B group! EBCI doesn't ensure that you get a better boarding spot though..it ensures that you get checked in at the 36 hour window. If I'm flying alone, it usually isn't an issue. But if I'm flying with my family then we always do EBCI....chances are that we'll be able to find seats together.
Yes, there could be extenuating circumstances that have a family arriving late. And yes, I've volunteered my seat. But, I have also watched families just hanging around, letting their kids work off steam, or buying food, etc. And they are the last to board. No, I will not offer my seat.

 

[nkereina]

I always roll my eyes at 2 people traveling together and taking a window and aisle seat. The flight attendants announce repeatedly that the plane is full, yet they don't move. I guess they really like having a stranger sit between them.

Southwest has open seating meaning people can sit where they want. Just because they are traveling together does not mean they must or need to sit together. As PP mentions, the middle seat is the crappy seat, so why should half of a party of two be forced to take it? Just because they're traveling together? Doesn't make sense.

FWIW, DH and I DO take the window and middle when traveling together. But I know the rules of Southwest and if two people check in at 24 hours and opt to take window and aisle, that's their prerogative and a benefit of booking that airline. Nothing to roll eyes at when they're doing what they have a right to do.

 

[mom2rtk]

I always roll my eyes at 2 people traveling together and taking a window and aisle seat. The flight attendants announce repeatedly that the plane is full, yet they don't move. I guess they really like having a stranger sit between them.

That announcement is not an "everyone move down" announcement. That middle seat is open and anyone still boarding is free to sit there.

 

[Pooh2]

We are taking our first Southwest flight this week to MCO and it's showing sold out. We did buy early check-in for both of us. The tickets were just bought a week ago (heading to meet our newborn grandson!).
My husband is likely to get an earlier boarding position than me. He is a good sport about the middle seat so I can have the aisle due to claustrophobia. What is the best stratedy for him when boarding? Just take the middle and try to save me the aisle? Or take the aisle with hopes that the middle won't be taken?
Hoping our boarding positions are not to far off but expecting a large amount of families due to the destination.

 

[jo-jo]

If you bought the tickets at the same time and you both have EBCI , your boarding numbers should be together.


And Congratulation on the new grandson.

 

[Disneylover99]

I always roll my eyes at 2 people traveling together and taking a window and aisle seat. The flight attendants announce repeatedly that the plane is full, yet they don't move. I guess they really like having a stranger sit between them.

That would be my husband and I that you’d be rolling your eyes at. But that’s okay. Roll away!

I’m claustrophobic and need an aisle seat while my husband always wants to be by a window. I don’t mind who sits between us.

 

[chicagoshannon]

We sometimes do this when it’s my husband and me. We sit aisle and middle- We don’t mind stranger between us.

DW prefers window seats. I prefer aisle seats. We always purchase EBCI specifically to be able to choose window and aisle seats. We’ve been married more than 50 years, so we seldom find the need to chat with each other during a 150 minute flight between Chicago and Orlando. We even do this for 8+ hour flights to Europe if the plane does not have a two-wide seating section.

Southwest has open seating meaning people can sit where they want. Just because they are traveling together does not mean they must or need to sit together. As PP mentions, the middle seat is the crappy seat, so why should half of a party of two be forced to take it? Just because they're traveling together? Doesn't make sense.

FWIW, DH and I DO take the window and middle when traveling together. But I know the rules of Southwest and if two people check in at 24 hours and opt to take window and aisle, that's their prerogative and a benefit of booking that airline. Nothing to roll eyes at when they're doing what they have a right to do.

That announcement is not an "everyone move down" announcement. That middle seat is open and anyone still boarding is free to sit there.

That would be my husband and I that you’d be rolling your eyes at. But that’s okay. Roll away!

I’m claustrophobic and need an aisle seat while my husband always wants to be by a window. I don’t mind who sits between us.

I KNOW it's not a mandatory everyone move together on Southwest. I just assumed (apparently wrongly, lol) that people would rather sit next to their traveling companion than a stranger so by not sitting next to each other right away were delaying the inevitable. You all sit where you want as long as you expect someone to sit in that middle seat when the flight is full. I"ve seen a lot of people get upset when someone sits down in that seat when they were expecting it to remain empty. That's all I'm saying. IF the plane is full (which 95% of the time it is when flying a direct flight from a hub) someone will sit there!

 

[Lewisc]

I fly Southwest. I have no problems with their system. There are some issues ignored in this thread.

Assigned seats allows you to board minutes before push back, 10 minutes or so before your flight time. You have your seats and can sit with family members. With Southwest you need to be at the gate 30-40 minutes before flight time ready to board. Your A BP won't do you any good if you get to the gate as the C's are boarding. It can be an issue if you have delays. Also an issue if you don't want to board early. Maybe you want to dine at one of the "fine" restaurants airside near your gate.

Purchasing EBCI only guarantees you a BP one lower (better) then one passenger who elects to check in at T24. All indication suggests Southwest limits the number of EBCIs sold to the number of passengers willing to purchase EBCI. Purchasing EBCI doesn't even guarantee you'll be allowed to board before families.