Family boarding rules
Apr 28, 2022, 1:13 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 402
I have a flight in July K.C. to Orlando round trip with my 14 year old son. I used the 2 free early bird check in that come with my Chase card. I bought my son early bird for the return trip. For the outbound, I didn’t, figuring that I could go onboard with early bird, take a seat in the back half , and set my coat on the adjoining seat. If I check my son in at exactly 24 hours, hopefully he gets no worst than B 35-40. If that doesn’t work, I’ll move further back.
Apr 28, 2022, 3:18 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 402
Last edited by AllThePants; May 3, 2022 at 5:31 pm
Apr 28, 2022, 3:28 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
Exactly. 
May 3, 2022, 9:01 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 73
yep, experienced this yesterday in ATL. The sign at the gate showed 65% full (BTW, I really like this feature) and then you board and the flight attendants keep saying it will be a full flight. Sign was correct. Also had an empty middle seat on my "completely full" BNA/STL flight last week.
May 3, 2022, 9:51 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
Differing goals. FA's want everyone in a seat ASAP and not spinning around the cabin looking for a "better" seat. Customers want comfort. Chicken and the egg... I used to take a look at the boarding screen and do the math. Would love to see a picture of this new sign.
Aug 4, 2022, 9:51 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SJC,SFO, SEA, PDX, SAN, SNA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, National Executive, Alaska MVP
Posts: 560
I was on a flight from SJC to LAS last month, my kids are 8 and 9. I didn't board with family boarding but when it was my turn, the agent told me we should have/could have board when they called for family boarding.
Same flight tomorrow. Policy says under 6 but it's still not practical for an 8 and 9 year old to sit alone. I think the age limit need to be up to something like 12 IMO.
Same flight tomorrow. Policy says under 6 but it's still not practical for an 8 and 9 year old to sit alone. I think the age limit need to be up to something like 12 IMO.
Aug 4, 2022, 10:15 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
I was on a flight from SJC to LAS last month, my kids are 8 and 9. I didn't board with family boarding but when it was my turn, the agent told me we should have/could have board when they called for family boarding.
Same flight tomorrow. Policy says under 6 but it's still not practical for an 8 and 9 year old to sit alone. I think the age limit need to be up to something like 12 IMO.
Same flight tomorrow. Policy says under 6 but it's still not practical for an 8 and 9 year old to sit alone. I think the age limit need to be up to something like 12 IMO.
Aug 4, 2022, 10:22 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SJC,SFO, SEA, PDX, SAN, SNA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, National Executive, Alaska MVP
Posts: 560
Aug 4, 2022, 1:31 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Hello, we are booked on the OAK-HNL flight in August, we are two adults and two children (aged 7 and 4).
It says on Southwest website, two adults can board with a child aged 6 or under during family boarding. In our case, would all of us be able to board at family boarding or one of us needs to board separately? Ie. One parent board with both children at family boarding and the other parent board according to his boarding position?
Thanks.
It says on Southwest website, two adults can board with a child aged 6 or under during family boarding. In our case, would all of us be able to board at family boarding or one of us needs to board separately? Ie. One parent board with both children at family boarding and the other parent board according to his boarding position?
Thanks.
Aug 4, 2022, 4:03 pm
#30
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
Hello, we are booked on the OAK-HNL flight in August, we are two adults and two children (aged 7 and 4).
It says on Southwest website, two adults can board with a child aged 6 or under during family boarding. In our case, would all of us be able to board at family boarding or one of us needs to board separately? Ie. One parent board with both children at family boarding and the other parent board according to his boarding position?
It says on Southwest website, two adults can board with a child aged 6 or under during family boarding. In our case, would all of us be able to board at family boarding or one of us needs to board separately? Ie. One parent board with both children at family boarding and the other parent board according to his boarding position?