The Southwest Airlines family boarding process is different than other airlines. While that is happening, the B group lines up in the boarding spots that were just vacated by the A group. After the B group enters the aircraft, the C group lines up.
The plane definitely does start to fill up once it gets to the B and C boarding groups, and it can be more difficult to get seats together. Although it was an expensive add-on for all of us, I think it was worth it to pay extra for the peace of mind.
This happens quite a bit with Southwest. On our trip to San Antonio, we had a stop in Nashville. We were supposed to stay on the plane, but there was an aircraft change and we had to switch. In that case, they had us board right after pre-boarding, and before the A group.
Things like this can make the aircraft fill up a bit, even before the official Southwest boarding process has started. Most of the people in the early boarding groups take the exit rows, then the aisle and window seats. Most flights usually are full. Southwest has a consistent fleet of planes, so most flights will seem familiar.
If you have a seat that you typically like, you can find it on most flights. Not only is this dishonest but also silly- what happens if they sit nearby and clearly no one returns from the bathroom?
Conflict with fellow passengers is never a good thing. On the less extreme end, sometimes two people traveling together try to block off a middle seat. This is great for late boarders. If you spot one of these twosomes, make a beeline for their row and ask to sit in the middle.
Most likely, they will offer up either their aisle or window seat. Ultimately, the best seat on Southwest Airlines depends on your personal needs and preference. Save it to Pinterest! Or you can sit in the middle of a couple and have them talk over you and pass things back and forth for four hours…my recent experience!
But I guess sometimes you just get unlucky. But some of your other tips seem worth a try! My friend and I take an isle and a window, our personal preferences. If you take the middle we will not be moving which seems to surprise some passengers.
If you are fun, join in our conversations. S Jumps I would join in on the conversation by asking why the two of you think you are worth three seats. Do they somehow make the third seat unavailable? Good God some people! I would smack the shit out of your hands if you passed anything over me.
You would then get your face smashed in and be on a breathing tube for the rest of your life… and yes, the jail time would be worth it. Are you and your friend portly people? You require that extra middle seat to share your snacks and arm rolls? In a world of common decency, the person with the aisle seat would offer to switch with the person in the middle.
My girlfriend and I do this. Take the isle and window and hope no one comes. As I like Isle and my girlfriend will just move over. Nobody is worth two seats. We just want to sit together. You would think that because the passengers are doing all the work here, the tickets would be dirt cheap.
Passengers also should be able to get their round trip tickets once and for all. This 24 hour nonsence is horrible, especially if you are away on vacation and 24 hours before you leave you have to remember to get your boarding pass arrangements done. Think about it,we go online, book our flight, go through the 24 hour process and get back online to arrange your own boarding passes.
What a ripoff! I did a lot of flying with Southwest, but have not because they do not try to improve any of this. It is a shame because they are a convenient airline for me with very little delays, free baggage, however, their prices have escalated which probably include baggage fees unknown to the passenger.
This is a new fare that is below economy. One more tips. Before you board, ask if flight is oversold. Unfortunately, I have seen many instances where one passenger purchases early-bird boarding and saves a seat for a traveling companion who boards later. The flight attendants do nothing. If that is the case, tell them you had that seat they are in already saved before you got on the plane. People are just too submissive. Nice write up. If the flight is super light just wait until everyone has boarded and then go toward the back.
Most people want to sit up front. People are funny like that. Who benefits from this idiotic seating policy? Wish Southwest would change this system. I just wish southwest would make people with the those huge overstuffed over head bags sit in the back of the plane. I missed a connecting flight because I was seated further back and had to wait almost 30 minutes for families and people trying to maneuver those big bags.
I never take extra bags. I always just have one regulation size bag that goes in the overhead and is really easy to manage. If it takes that long to maneuver a bag it probably should just be checked in- bummer missing a connection. I agree. Also one time I decided to put my computer bag up top and people kept trying to push their oversize baggage into it and when I got it out I found it was ripped from some idiot.
I also note the number of wheelchairs all are pre-boarded along with family members traveling with the wheelchair passenger. These passengers take front seats. What i dont like is that those seats are not kept open for handicapped people who board when that flight was a continuing flight and those passengers are allowed to move to different seats. I had this happen when my handicapped mom and i were on a continuing flight and 2 other bigger guys moved to the bulkhead seats.
Then there were handicapped passengers boarding who had to take further seats back. I think southwest needs to change that procedure. Another situation in which i voiced my opion mightily was when our flight was delayed and my mom, which they knew she was handicapped, didnt keep an open seat up front for her and i.
We ended up way in the back with her in a middle seat and me in a middle seat further back. She is very hard of hearing so she kept looking at me everytime an announcement came over the pa. If the flight had had difficulty i would not b near her to help her.
Its time southwest starts doing seat assignments. It takes just about the same amount of time or longer to board a southwest flight as other airlines. It would b so much easier particularly with all the stupid people who bring big duffles etc on board. Southwest is Southwest. You really need to fly with someone else.
Why would you want to change the only airline with unassigned seating? So many of us love their procedures. I love Southwest. Southwest is southwest. Overall their my airline of choice domestically for short to mid-range flights. Each airline has different boarding procedures so it sounds like individuals that need customized travel options should go with another carrier. I sometimes do this when I travel. My son is handicapped and we usually take the first seats. Yes we stay on the plane and do not change but we also stay in the same seats I cannot move to another seat as he is unable to communicate People have difference reasons for staying with the person that is handicapped.
I am handicapped and endured the same situation where people were already seated in the first row. I was confused cause there was no handicap first row. I asked the flight attendant where the handicap seating was and she flippantly gestured to the entire plane.
I had to tell her that according to the law you must provide accomodations to the handicapped. She immediately changed her tune and asked for volunteers to move. I felt so empowered after that.
Great tips. I have seen many with an imaginary friend, some with two. They simply put all of their things on every seat in a row. Once an FA told somebody like that that they know all the tricks and made her move her stuff. Also encountered somebody with a high B ticket who said that she could stand at the very front of the B line.
Even though several of us pointed out that she needs to find her number, she insisted on being in the front. I like Southwest because of their free luggage policy and the ability to bank money when changes are made. The seating policy is the main reason I choose to not fly Southwest.
Plus, I hate Midway. I am kinda neutral on the seating policy but it does seem like most people either love or hate it. I agree! Midway is a drag. Way cheaper and with my trip being in January I needed the flexibility to change if the weather was bad cruise and other airlines had little to no nonstop to Houston Hobby.
Oh love the not nickel and dining you tho bags,seats etc that other airlines do. Would love a 4 by 2 as well. Hate the seating policy, love to sit with my wife. I must have an isle sit; I am extreame Claus-tro-pho-bic. Most times the flight booking is done by someone else.
When I am in control, I fly with other carriers. My friend checks in to the same flight hours later and gets A Nothing like getting stressed the first day of vacation! You should be able to sit together as long as you can board early in As or low Bs.
I recommend putting an alarm and checking in exactly 24 hours before the flight time OR purchasing EarlyBird check-in. If you want to save money, 3 of you can pay for EarlyBird check-in and save the middle seats. I think seat saving is more an issue when 1 person is saving a lot of seats especially those in the aisle or window.
On a positive note, I find that Southwest has more legroom than other airlines so you should have a more comfortable flight. A-list is for frequent flyers. You need to fly 25 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35, Tier Qualifying Points in a calendar year. In your opinion, how important is the TSA pre-check program for this type of flight?
Hi Freeman, Sorry for the delay in responding. While it is always nice to have TSA Precheck its value depends on how often you fly. I would not sign up for it only to use it on one trip. How often do you think you will be flying in the next 5 years?
Do you knave any children under 13? Thanks for your reply. We have no children under 13 nor any under Probably not worth it to pay for TSA Precheck if will only use it once or twice in 5 years. It is hard to predict the future but I would suggest that each person should divide the cost of TSA by your estimate of how many flights you think you will take in the next 5 years to see how much you would pay for each use.
You might also get TSA Precheck randomly on your boarding pass. In the past, seniors were likely to get TSA Precheck without even signing up. Even if you do not have TSA Precheck, the line might not necessarily be long-it depends on many factors including what time and day you are flying.
I would recommend going to the airport early to be on the safe side. You would have to take off shoes, jackets and belts which some people find annoying. Is it possible that she would get a boarding number not by mine???? Even if your boarding groups were not next to each other you can still board together — but you would have to board with the family member that had the last boarding position.
For example, if two people were traveling together and one had A40 while the other had B12, they would both have to board at B12 to be able to walk on the plane together.
The key to all sit together is to board early A group or early B group. We just had this happen on a full flight to Florida. I explained that my 10 year old could not sit alone and the crew asked if anyone could make room. Since Southwest-operated flights have open seating, you simply choose any available seat once on board. There are a few exceptions, such as passengers who preboard may not occupy an exit seat. Seniors do not get priority boarding on Southwest. There is priority boarding for customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability or who need assistance in boarding the aircraft or stowing an assistive device.
Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of , including those best for:. How the Southwest boarding process works. What is the Southwest boarding order? The A group. Groups B and C. How to get your Southwest boarding position. Nerdy tip: Set a calendar reminder or phone timer for that hour mark maybe even a few minutes early to get the webpage loaded and logged in to ensure you get as early a boarding position as possible.
How to guarantee an A group position on Southwest. Purchase a Business Select fare. Purchase upgraded boarding when available. How to get a good seat on Southwest. Have Southwest status. Purchase EarlyBird Check-In. When to panic about your Southwest boarding number and what you can do about it. The bottom line. Frequently asked questions Can my family sit together on Southwest? Is EarlyBird Check-In worth it for families?
What determines your boarding group on Southwest? Can you sit anywhere on Southwest? Do seniors get priority boarding on Southwest Airlines?
How to maximize your rewards. On a similar note
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