[karliebug]

As long as you have the reservation numbers, you should be able to do it.

[Andrea]

The best way to get your seat is to be a total commando.

Check in online 24 hours ON THE DOT. You really, really want that A pass.

Get to the airport as early as you can, and PLANT yourself in the front of the "A" line (they'll be marked at the gate). Be prepared to give people dirty looks and worse for trying to nudge in ahead of you. The only way you're going to get that exit row seat is if you are one of the very first people in line. Don't worry about looking like a dork or like you're obsessive- that's what you've got to be to get that good seat. It's still not guaranteed if you walk on first that you'll get it- preboarders (fortunately, only those without children since kids can't sit in exit rows) may take them, or if there people already on the plane from an earlier leg of the flight, they'll move into them.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! It's a jungle out there! (Really, it does go very smoothly... you just have to be focused about getting your seat if it's important to you.)

[KarenT]

Originally Posted by Laneysdad

So how bad is it boarding a Southwest flight to Orlando.

I hear you can check-in early via the internet though I don;t know how early.

I hear passengers with Children can board early which would in my guesstimation be 90% of the flight boarding at once.

What can anyone tell me. I need better seats than my traveling DC cohort Asp8tis . I'm talking exit row window. I'm 6'4" I need the leg room for sanity.

Can anyone shed some light on the Southwest procedures from experience?

Anyone out of Chicago-Midway even better!

We have flown on SW out of Midway a few times. We always print out our boarding pass the before we leave for the airport. That way you are in the A section of seating. I think you can print it out at 12:01 AM the day of your flight.
In our experience people with children 4 and under can preboard( you would be surprised how many moms and dads have tried to pass a 6 or 7 y/o for 4 and under!). They limit the preboarders to Mom, Dad, Child and any brothers or sisters. So if Grandma and Grandpa or aunts or unlces are traveling with you they can not preboard with you ( this has been my experience, others may have a different story to tell)

If you are able to preboard you pretty much get your choice of seats. You should be able to get one of the exit row seats. My DH is 6'3 so I know how important that exit row is.
However kids are not allowed in the exit row. So he sits in the exit row and we sit in the row behind him.

Our experince on SW out of midway has been great, no complaints at all. As long as you print out your boarding pass before you leave you should be fine.
We normally fly United, because we have friends who work for United, so we are doing our best to keep them employed! But if we do not fly United, we fly Southwest.

My best bit of advice would be print out your boarding pass from home and get there early, and get in line to board. That way you should be one of the first to board the plane.

[Laneysdad]

Originally Posted by KarenT

They limit the preboarders to Mom, Dad, Child and any brothers or sisters. So if Grandma and Grandpa or aunts or unlces are traveling with you they can not preboard with you ( this has been my experience, others may have a different story to tell)

Can you save surrounding seats for Grandma and grandpa? Probably not advised but does it happen?

[lovemysons]

The last time we flew with SW, there were people saving seats, and it worked for them. I was truly shocked at how well seating went, even without assigned seats. It was civilized and peaceful! We did print out our boarding passes ahead of time at home, so we were in the "A" seating group, but there were still plenty of good seats available for the "B" group.

[asp8tis]

Originally Posted by Laneysdad

I need better seats than my traveling DC cohort Asp8tis

Hey...I'm the one with 3 kids, including an infant. If you're REALLY lucky maybe you'll end up sitting by us!

At least now I'll know where to find you when we get to Midway, staking out your claim at the head of the "A" line! Can you save me a spot?

[quakercub]

And for those who don't have a printer (like us), never fear!!! You can still reserve your boarding pass 24 hours in advance, get the A group and they'll print it for you when you get to the airport. We love Southwest!!! Great way to travel!!

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by Laneysdad

Can you save surrounding seats for Grandma and grandpa? Probably not advised but does it happen?

People were saving seats on our flights and I didn't see any problems. Seating went very well from what I could see. The last group to board was a man with two young boys, they couldn't get 3 seats together so free drinks were offered to people willing to move for them.

[Jess]

When I am not flying down alone, we have 1 person rush to the A line and chill out there until the door opens, then that person calls us whilst we are shopping/getting food and then the person will save us X amount of seats. Simple. Usually it is no more than 4 or 5 people.

[asp8tis]

Originally Posted by KarenT

In our experience people with children 4 and under can preboard. If you are able to preboard you pretty much get your choice of seats.

That's us Laneysdad! Let's hear it for preboarding! Hopefully your parents will be able to find a seat near you.

[Laneysdad]

Originally Posted by asp8tis

That's us Laneysdad! Let's hear it for preboarding! Hopefully your parents will be able to find a seat near you.

pffff they're adults even if they are not near us they will be fine. I am entitled to selfishness to secure my 2.5 hours of comfort.

[Boss Mouse]

Ld, We don't shower the week before we leave. That way no one wants to sit near us. We also eat a lot of cabbage the night before. It's only a 1 and 1/2 hour flight so the boys and I compete for most odorifous.



C'mon it's Friday - I'm just kidding.

[Jess]

Originally Posted by Boss Mouse

Ld, We don't shower the week before we leave. That way no one wants to sit near us. We also eat a lot of cabbage the night before. It's only a 1 and 1/2 hour flight so the boys and I compete for most odorifous.



C'mon it's Friday - I'm just kidding.

Last year I was alone and I was like the 3rd A and the plane was half-full already and I chose a seat closer to the front and there was one woman next to me, with a seat between us. About 10 minutes before take off, this man that totally REEKED of cigarettes and old milk sits between us.

Please, spray Oust or Febreze on yourself if you smell that bad for the sake of others.

[asp8tis]

Originally Posted by Jess

About 10 minutes before take off, this man that totally REEKED of cigarettes and old milk sits between us.

Ewww! How long was that flight?

[ddoll]

This past weekend, on our way home from Nashville, I totally forgot to get boarding passes. So, needless to say, even with arriving at the airport more than 2 hrs before our flight, we had C passes.

It was a completely full flight, and even then my mother and I were able to sit one seat away: we were both on aisle seats, one in front of the other.

Most people are happy to rearrange with you if you're polite.