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Post by Crazyhare on Apr 13, 2015 19:48:27 GMT
I have never flown with Southwest. But they have recently started flying from my preferred airport. It looks like they have a direct flight to the city my sister lives in.
I'm worried about flying with them with my 2 yr old and my mom. I keep reading horror stories of not getting a seat with your kid. I'm fine with my mom and I not being together, but it scares me that we may not get 2 seats together.
Please tell me that I am worrying more than I should. Is there a way to see if the flight starts at our boarding points? I'm scared to search the flight again until I am ready to book. I loved the price I saw when I checked it. I don't want it going up by continuing to search it in their site.
I'll also take any hints you have for flying with them.
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Post by ntsf on Apr 13, 2015 19:50:11 GMT
pay to get a place earlier in the line...$10 or something. then you should have no problem getting seats together limit your carry on.. check bags.
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Post by annabella on Apr 13, 2015 19:51:23 GMT
Check into your flight exactly 24 hours before hand to get into the A-first boarding group and pay for the boarding upgrade.
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,357
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Apr 13, 2015 19:53:08 GMT
I know you can "upgrade" your ticket for early check-in, we do that for ourselves so we can get the exit row. I don't know if they preboard families with small children anymore. My best tip would be to check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight, if your flight leaves at 8 a.m., make sure you check in at 8 am the day before so you can get a higher boarding class (A is the best, then B, C, etc). Here's a link on their website: www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/children-pol.html
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Post by padresfan619 on Apr 13, 2015 19:53:24 GMT
I fly Southwest almost exclusively, every time they've started boarding between the A group and the B group families with children under 4 are allowed to board during the "Family Boarding" group. There will be plenty of seats together at that point in boarding.
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loco coco
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,662
Jun 26, 2014 16:15:45 GMT
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Post by loco coco on Apr 13, 2015 19:54:25 GMT
If you check in both at the same time you should be in the same line position together which means you will most likely find seats together. If not, Ive seen people move to let families/couples sit together multiple times, Im sure with a 2 yr old you will have no problems, the flight attendants will most likely help you! I think they may even board families with young passengers first. Me and DH always select early bird check in and are always in line together, weve flown SW many times and love them!
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Post by christine58 on Apr 13, 2015 19:55:49 GMT
I fly Southwest almost exclusively, every time they've started boarding between the A group and the B group families with children under 4 are allowed to board during the "Family Boarding" group. There will be plenty of seats together at that point in boarding. 
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Post by myshelly on Apr 13, 2015 19:56:44 GMT
We pay the extra fee for early bird.
It's so worth it not to have to worry about it.
We flew Southwest in September.
Boarding was fast, easy, uneventful, and drama free.
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Post by utmr on Apr 13, 2015 19:57:34 GMT
Family boarding is between the A and B groups. There will be plenty of open seats. 2/3 of the plane will be available.
Or check in right at the 24 hour mark and get in the A group. Plenty of seats
Or pay the extra $12 (?) and get early bird check in. You can be in the first 30 that way.
You won't have any issues unless you wait until the last minute to check in, get in the back of the C group and then refuse to family board. Even then the flight attendants will probably get someone to swap around with you.
You'll be fine. Enjoy your trip.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 20:00:41 GMT
I fly Southwest almost exclusively, every time they've started boarding between the A group and the B group families with children under 4 are allowed to board during the "Family Boarding" group. There will be plenty of seats together at that point in boarding. 
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 20:01:50 GMT
I don't think a child of that age would be allowed to sit unaccompanied by an adult, for safety reasons, on any airline. If the plane has to have an emergency evacuation there has to be an adult responsible for that child which would be yourself or your mother if you agreed to it. If there isn't two seats together then the cabin crew would have to ask someone to move to accommodate you and your child.
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Post by utmr on Apr 13, 2015 20:03:02 GMT
If he's two, why wouldn't he be a lap child? Did the age limit change?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 20:07:09 GMT
If he's two, why wouldn't he be a lap child? Did the age limit change? It's under 2.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 20:08:47 GMT
I don't think a child of that age would be allowed to sit unaccompanied by an adult, for safety reasons, on any airline. If the plane has to have an emergency evacuation there has to be an adult responsible for that child which would be yourself or your mother if you agreed to it. If there isn't two seats together then the cabin crew would have to ask someone to move to accommodate you and your child. Sadly the airlines don't seem to think this. I've heard of it happening before.
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Post by littlemama on Apr 13, 2015 20:13:26 GMT
When we flew last summer (NOT on Southwest), the only folks allowed to pre-board were people with disabilities. No more early boarding for small children. I would check their current policy - definitely don't assume!
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Post by littlemama on Apr 13, 2015 20:14:05 GMT
Oh, and if you get a seat separate from your two year old, and no one will switch with you, just hand them your diaper bag and tell them good luck! LOL
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama

Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,927
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Apr 13, 2015 20:15:43 GMT
I can't imagine, even in the case that you don't actually get seats together with your child, that someone wouldn't switch with you so you could parent your kid yourself. Is this an issue? Do some people really insist on sitting with someone else's 2 year old? 
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Post by padresfan619 on Apr 13, 2015 20:21:28 GMT
"Do families get to preboard? An adult traveling with a child four 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 both board with the “A” boarding group."
This is straight from the Southwest Airlines website. You will be fine!
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Post by monklady123 on Apr 13, 2015 20:27:57 GMT
I can't imagine, even in the case that you don't actually get seats together with your child, that someone wouldn't switch with you so you could parent your kid yourself. Is this an issue? Do some people really insist on sitting with someone else's 2 year old?  Uh yeah...  I'd be leaping up to offer to switch with Mom, and I love little kids. 
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 20:37:41 GMT
I don't think a child of that age would be allowed to sit unaccompanied by an adult, for safety reasons, on any airline. If the plane has to have an emergency evacuation there has to be an adult responsible for that child which would be yourself or your mother if you agreed to it. If there isn't two seats together then the cabin crew would have to ask someone to move to accommodate you and your child. Sadly the airlines don't seem to think this. I've heard of it happening before. That's dreadful and irresponsible of the airline. If they had an emergency evacuation speed is of the essence.There's no time for a parent to fight their way to get to their child who by age, is incapable of looking after her/himself and possibly be seated the other end of the plane. I'm sure there must be an aviation safety rule regarding this.
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Post by littlefish on Apr 14, 2015 0:07:41 GMT
I've flown Southwest with my DD (just the two of us) since she was that age.
I used Family Boarding for every flight that I didn't make it into Group A, and never once had an issue. Now she's too old for Family Boarding, but I still don't have a problem. I've often heard flight attendants ask for people to shuffle to allow parents and children sit together.
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Nicole in TX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,951
Jun 26, 2014 2:00:21 GMT
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Post by Nicole in TX on Apr 14, 2015 0:17:08 GMT
I fly Southwest almost exclusively, every time they've started boarding between the A group and the B group families with children under 4 are allowed to board during the "Family Boarding" group. There will be plenty of seats together at that point in boarding.  I flew Southwest twice in the past two weeks and this is exactly what they did.
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Post by alissa103 on Apr 14, 2015 0:23:59 GMT
Relax, it will be fine! (says another mom who stressed over this same thing when I flew alone with DS on Southwest recently). I wouldn't pay for the ability to board in the A group. It's really not worth the extra money. But I am also cheap like that  Yes, just try to check in to your flight exactly 24 hours before your flight and hope for the A group. BUT don't be surprised if you get B anyway. You will be able to board after A in the family boarding, like so many have said as well. And there will be PLENTY of seats (in the back of the plane) open, whole rows even. And if for some reason you are late bc your kid pooped his pants and you were stuck changing a screaming two-year-old in the bathroom while the family boarding happened (not that I would know or anything), a flight attendant will make an announcement and people will graciously move so that you can sit together. It will be ok! I promise!
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Post by Crazyhare on Apr 14, 2015 0:30:43 GMT
Thanks everyone! We flew another airline when she was 10 months old. But I got the choose my seat when I purchased and she was a lap child that flight. i'll quit worrying and book the flight. Hopefully it will be ok. The price, non-stop flight and free checked bag will be worth a little extra worry about the seating arrangements.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Apr 14, 2015 0:46:04 GMT
Family boarding is between the A and B groups. There will be plenty of open seats. 2/3 of the plane will be available. Or check in right at the 24 hour mark and get in the A group. Plenty of seats Or pay the extra $12 (?) and get early bird check in. You can be in the first 30 that way. You won't have any issues unless you wait until the last minute to check in, get in the back of the C group and then refuse to family board. Even then the flight attendants will probably get someone to swap around with you. You'll be fine. Enjoy your trip. $12.50 per person per ticket (so, $25.00 round trip). And you won't necessarily be in the first 30 with early bird. THe people who bought the expensive business seats will be before you. The last time I flew with them, my early bird got me in about the A30 boarding position, but I was in the B group somewhere on the return.
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,876
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Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Apr 14, 2015 2:07:54 GMT
Ha! This happened to me once. Nobody would switch seats on an AA flight. Ds, who was 2 got assigned a seat between one grumpy lady and a man who was way too in to himself.
I handed them them the diaper bag, might have mentioned explosive diarrhea, and told them I was going to go take a nap in my seat.
They ey switched pretty darn quick after that.
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Post by Crazyhare on Apr 14, 2015 3:24:04 GMT
i keep read stories like TankTop's online. I'm going to chance it. Ifwe get separated, I'm sure when my little girl starts screaming for me or Grandma, someone will trade. She had a very shrill scream right now. And she gets huge tears and lots of snot starts to flow. That would get one of her seat ages to change.
I'm almost positive the flight out there will be an originating flight. But the flight home has me worried that there will already be people on it when we board. I need to check that out.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 14, 2015 3:28:52 GMT
When we flew last summer (NOT on Southwest), the only folks allowed to pre-board were people with disabilities. No more early boarding for small children. I would check their current policy - definitely don't assume! We just flew last month and young children board between A and B Sometimes even with Early Bird Check in, you will get low A, but I would still pay the 12.50 each way to ensure piece of mind and the best part is you don't have to remember to check in. It does it for you automatically.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:53:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2015 3:31:38 GMT
We just flew Southwest in January. We were in B group for each flight. We had no problems getting seats together and there are five of us. I sat with our two girls and dh sat with ds. Our kids are 11, 9, and 5 so the older two could have sat by themselves if they had to. The flights were crowded too. Don't worry. You'll be fine.
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Post by padresfan619 on Apr 14, 2015 3:38:01 GMT
I have been in the tail end of the B group and still managed to get two seats together for my husband and I. Seriously, if you go up for family boarding you won't have any thing to worry about.
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