Sitting my family together
Jul 26, 2017, 6:22 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Poster mentioned a "guarantee." That word has a standard definition in the English language. It means 100%.
None of this stuff on any airline is 100%.
Other airlines split groups, move people around (Ann Coulter), seat an air marshal at the last second, change plane types, etc.
None of this stuff on any airline is 100%.
Other airlines split groups, move people around (Ann Coulter), seat an air marshal at the last second, change plane types, etc.
On WN you don't get to choose in advance.
Jul 26, 2017, 9:52 pm
#32
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles,
Posts: 822
Who cares what boarding group everyone in your party is in. Just board with your whole family. Worst case Scenario you have to ask someone to move seats. Most kind people would be happy to help.
Jul 26, 2017, 11:30 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: St. Louis, MO
Programs: Southwest Companion Pass
Posts: 790
Jul 27, 2017, 12:19 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
Jul 27, 2017, 12:54 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Good luck @ T- 24!
https://www.southwest.com/html/trave...the-plane.html
Per SW website: "Family boarding is available - Families traveling with children six years or younger may board before the "B" boarding group"
Personally I wouldn't worry about paying for EBCI. In your situation here's what I would do:
Bonus tip - highlight, copy and paste the record locator (rather than typing it in) in case the app or website loses your information at the last second. It's quicker to repaste the locator and then type your name back in rather than re-finding that cryptic sequence of digits and letters.
Per SW website: "Family boarding is available - Families traveling with children six years or younger may board before the "B" boarding group"
Personally I wouldn't worry about paying for EBCI. In your situation here's what I would do:
- Set a reminder @ EXACTLY 24 hrs + 5 mins before the flight to pre-enter your information (record locator, first and last name) into your SW app or via website.
- Then start hitting / tapping the "check in button" repeatedly/mind numbing endlessly. You'll get a "too early to check in" message about 30-50X...
- Keeping hitting the virtual "check in button". As soon as the SW computer clock hits T-24 you'll get in.
- DON'T STOP to add check in bags (you can always add them later or at the counter).
- Click thru as quickly as possible until you get a boarding pass assigned. The quicker you get thru this part, the higher your number 'should' be
a 10 second delay could mean the difference between A55 and B38 (we have had that happen to us! 2 separate PNRs - Android app vs iPhone app both checking in for the same flight.)
Bonus tip - highlight, copy and paste the record locator (rather than typing it in) in case the app or website loses your information at the last second. It's quicker to repaste the locator and then type your name back in rather than re-finding that cryptic sequence of digits and letters.
Jul 27, 2017, 4:47 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
I flew WN for 18 months and had whatever A-List is best but not companion and my wife was turned away three times because she was a high A, while trying to board with me. I was told we could board together during "Family Boarding"... it's a joke at best. My post Airtran experiment was a huge failure in many ways but that was one of my biggest issues.
Jul 27, 2017, 9:01 am
#37
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,240
I flew WN for 18 months and had whatever A-List is best but not companion and my wife was turned away three times because she was a high A, while trying to board with me. I was told we could board together during "Family Boarding"... it's a joke at best. My post Airtran experiment was a huge failure in many ways but that was one of my biggest issues.
Jul 27, 2017, 10:38 am
#39
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles,
Posts: 822
Personally this is one of the reasons I hate southwest so much...you shouldn't have to pay for your family to sit together. As for you flyer talk people... really??? If you want to sit together then pay? I'm trying to figure out why everyone must follow the rules except for y'all.
Jul 27, 2017, 11:00 am
#40
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
That doesn't make sense. Why would you have to board later than her boarding number? If she was high A that would be before family boarding. In any event, you both could board at her A position or you could board at yours and save her a middle seat for when she boards. Actually if she was boarding high A's you wouldn't even need to save the middle. No one in front of her would be likely to sit in the middle next to you with so many windows and aisles open. Of course YMMV if there were a significantly high number of through passengers.
And your recommendation works, sometimes, but it is not a guarantee.
Jul 27, 2017, 11:05 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,598
Personally this is one of the reasons I hate southwest so much...you shouldn't have to pay for your family to sit together. As for you flyer talk people... really??? If you want to sit together then pay? I'm trying to figure out why everyone must follow the rules except for y'all.
"Y'ALL " are free to pay for EBCI also.
Jul 27, 2017, 11:40 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,963
THEY.
SAT.
IN.
THE.
<bleeping>
BACK.
Jul 27, 2017, 11:47 am
#44
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,963
Couldn't tell ya, I'm always on the aisle. 
But I'm always back there 'cause unless the plane is 100% full, there's usually at least an empty middle.
But I'm always back there 'cause unless the plane is 100% full, there's usually at least an empty middle.
Jul 27, 2017, 12:10 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
If for some sickening reason I was on a SW flight the "I'm saving this seat" crap would not fly if I wanted the seat and got there before whoever you were saving it for did.
Paying is following the rules. What are you on about?
Personally this is one of the reasons I hate southwest so much...you shouldn't have to pay for your family to sit together. As for you flyer talk people... really??? If you want to sit together then pay? I'm trying to figure out why everyone must follow the rules except for y'all.