Question for those who fly Southwest Airlines

[ndnfan]

Anyone familiar with this Airline and how the seating situation works? Open seating? First in line, first to board or what?

Used to choosing my seat when I book and not an option with Southwest. I guess what I'm saying is what's the best way in getting a window or aisle seat?

Any insight much appreciated.

 

[MadJack]

they board in 3 groups. A, B and then C. if you get C seating you're fuked.

they allow online check-in 24 hours prior to departure. if you check-in 24 hours in advance you are likely to get A seating and pretty much will have your choice of seats.

 

[Goose]

There are 3 boarding groups....A, B, and C. I believe each groups had 60 people to it. Anyway, at the time you print your boarding pass, you are assigned a boarding group and a number....all dependent on the time you print your pass. If you are one of the first to print your boarding pass, you may have something like an A 15.....whereas if you wait to the last minute, your number maybe C 33 or something....

When it's boarding time, they ask everyone to line up in sequential order. Tha A's ...1-30 will line up.....and then the A's 31-60...then B 1-30, B 31-60, C 1-30, and then C 31-60. When it's your turn to board---sit wherever you like....front, back, aisle, window, exit row...next to the hot blond :brows:

Moral of the story--get your boarding pass as soon as humanly possible for your best seating options. They will allow to print your boarding pass on line as early as 24 hours from your departure time. So--if you are in front of a computer at T- Minus 24 hours, hop on the site, punch in your confirmation number, print the boarding pass, and then you're in business...

Hope that helps...

 

[ndnfan]

Guess checking in at the airport is not an option then.

I take it each grouping is equal number of people?? Just curious, but will definitely be logging in 24 hours before to be safe.


Thanks for the info Jack.

 

[Tcas]

Southwest Airlines Checkin and Boarding Procedure
Southwest Airlines' Customers will need valid state or federal government-issued picture identification1 to travel (passport, driver's license, state-issued identification card, or military identification are acceptable).

1Customers under 18 years of age are not required to show government-issued photo ID


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Checkin Procedure
Customers may check in for their flight and receive their boarding pass and Rapid Rewards credit online at southwest.com (for eligible reservations only), at the Skycap Podium (in select locations), Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or E-Ticket Check-In kiosk (where available).

Customers who are age 65 and older and traveling on a Senior fare must be age verified in order to request their boarding pass online. Visit our Travel Tips for Seniors for more details on how to become age verified.
Customers may check luggage and receive boarding passes at the Skycap Counter (in select locations) or Ticket Counter up to four hours prior to scheduled departure.
To determine the best time to check in for your flight, please refer to the Airport Arrival chart. The Departure Gate opens for checkin and boarding pass distribution one hour prior to departure.
At 20 minutes prior to scheduled departure you can get a boarding pass only at the Departure Gate.
Passengers who do not obtain a boarding pass and are not present and available for boarding in the departure gate area at least ten minutes prior to scheduled departure time may have their reserved space cancelled and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation.

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Boarding Procedure
(View a quick tutorial of the new way to board)

Each Customer will be issued a boarding pass grouped by A, B, or C based on when the Customer checked in or based on the fare they purchased. Customers may check in online at southwest.com, at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or E-Ticket Check-In kiosk (where available).
Prior to general boarding, unaccompanied children between the ages of five and 11 and Customers with disabilities who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft may preboard. Customers who choose to preboard cannot sit in an emergency exit seat.
Effective October 2 in all Southwest cities, an adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the ?A? and ?B? boarding groups. If you have an ?A? boarding pass, please feel free to board with that boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families with small children are easily accommodated together.
Because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, general-boarding Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C." General-boarding Customers who choose an emergency exit seat must meet all requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines.

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[ndnfan]

Goose and Tcas...thx to both of you also!!

Only other question and this might be a dumb one, but having to check luggage in won't affect anything will it? I mean I'll still be able to check in online 24 hours before and get the better grouping right? Just asking because I've always just checked in at the airport.

 

[SixFive]

you'll likely get B boarding if you get online 24 hours before takeoff.

My last trip, I sat on the bulkhead going, and I had my choice of dozens of empty rows coming back. I was B13 going and B20 coming back. The great majority of people boarded after me both legs.

Not sure where you're going to be, but they have all kinds of computers setup for people in Las Vegas hotels to get boarding passes. We were at the Hilton at the time, and I think it cost me about 3 bucks on my CC to get our passes and print them out. I'm sure all nice hotels have that option.

Also, I've :mj07: when I've seen Wayne post about how many 6' tall children there are along with an amazing number of 'disabled' folks at the front of the boarding line. :mj07:

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Goose and Tcas...thx to both of you also!!

Only other question and this might be a dumb one, but having to check luggage in won't affect anything will it? I mean I'll still be able to check in online 24 hours before and get the better grouping right? Just asking because I've always just checked in at the airport.

Do the online check in 24 hours in advance, and then you do everything else just like you normally would the next day at the airport.

 

[MadJack]

you don't need to print it out either. they will give you your boarding pass when you check your bags.

you used to get A for sure by checking in 24 hours in advance but NOW the bastids are selling A seating and calling it business class so a lot of people are buying that seating

 

[SixFive]

you don't need to print it out either. they will give you your boarding pass when you check your bags.

you used to get A for sure by checking in 24 hours in advance but NOW the bastids are selling A seating and calling it business class so a lot of people are buying that seating

might as well print it out though for peace of mind. :shrug:

 

[MadJack]

might as well print it out though for peace of mind. :shrug:

just sayin. i don't bring a printer with me when i travel :shrug:

 

[dawgball]

you'll likely get B boarding if you get online 24 hours before takeoff

Although, it is no longer a guarantee that you will get A, it is very likely that you will not be in A if you are online 24 hours in advance.

I despise the new business class of ticket, but I trust Southwest to think they deliberated long and hard about it.

Personally, I would NEVER pay that. Also, if you say "my company is paying anyway", you wouldn't work for my company long. Just to get out of a little extra work to check in (set an Outlook reminder), don't charge the company, and subsequently our clients, the extra $100-150.

I don't ever print the boarding pass out if I am going to be checking a bag. Just as easy to print it out at the kiosk when going through the process.

 

[Brocky]

This is all I have on Southwest. Sorry it don't
pertain to your question.

baby planes









A mother and her very young son were flying Southwest Airlines from Kansas City to Chicago

The little boy (who had been looking out the window) turned to his mother and asked, "If big dogs have baby dogs, and big cats have baby cats, why don't big airplanes have baby airplanes?"

The mother, who couldn't think of an answer, told her son to ask the flight attendant.

So the boy went down the aisle and asked the flight attendant.

The flight attendant, who was very busy at the time, smiled and said, "Did your Mom tell you to ask me?"

The boy said, "Yes she did."

"Well, then, you go and tell your mother that there are no baby airplanes, because Southwest always pulls out on time. Have your Mom explain that to you."