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LisaI
Momma's Little Beans
Member since 1/06 3923 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
I think most airlines changed this. For over a year now Delta and AirTran no longer do pre boarding for children.
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Posted 10/23/07 2:49 PM  |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
I think the unfortunate abusive of the policy is why they changed it. Everytime I have flown them, they make the families announcement and the parents, the 7 year old kids, the grandparents, the uncles, etc. all pre-board. I remember on the way back from WDW they specifically said only children with their parents or guardian or immediate family member traveling with them may pre-board.
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| Posted 10/23/07 2:54 PM |
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JennasMom
?**?
Member since 11/05 3463 total posts
Name:
does it matter
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
So now what about the people in wheelchairs. When we flew to Ft LAuderdale over the summer the gate agent called it the miracle flight as there were 9 wheelchairs pre -boarding and once in Florida only two, the rest walked
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:04 PM |
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by steph4777
Posted by SuzyQ
Posted by -DonnaMarie-
Posted by mommy2bella
see I am the opposite...when we flew with Bella in June, we made sure we were some of the LAST people to board...
having Bella sit for 45 minutes before even we start to taxi, no thanks.
same with us, we always wait to board.
I let him get his energy out in the terminal.
And you still get seats together on Southwest?
Kelly said she's never flown SW, so they probably had assigned seats. That's the only case where I can see why a parent would wait to be the last one to board. I've never had a problem with Nate sitting on the plane after pre-boarding.
ditto for me, we fly pretty frequently and I've always had assigned seats, I didn't think you couldn't.
So wait, you don't have seat numbers? Its just first come first served?
Message edited 10/23/2007 3:07:57 PM.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:07 PM |
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clydrak
LIF Infant
Member since 2/06 141 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by SuzyQ
Posted by steph4777
That sux..... I fly out of Midway all the time with them. It was nice knowing that no matter what time we got to the airport we would get to board first. Now we have to make sure we get to the airport early. They might as well do assigned seating.
I agree. On the way on home we had A's since we knew to print out our boarding passes early after the flight going there and we still didn't want to stand on line. We had to give DD breakfast. so we ended up boarding at the end of the As anyway. It was just annoying when we had to stand on line in the jetway too. I've heard that they are changing the overall policy in November. I think it's moving to numbers or something.
They have been testing the number system in certain cities....I don't know how but its supposed to limit the liining up by grouping people into smaller groups like 15 or so to get people on board.
I'm kind of surprised that they did this, since if you're traveling with a child in a car seat and you bought them a seat, you have to put them in the window seat and sit next to them, so you are limited torows with window and center seats opne in this situation, its really going to start causing problems once the holiday rush begins. We're flying out on Southwest on Sat and since DD is in my lap, they will not let us check in on-line so we'll be between the A's and the B's...I am not thrilled!
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:18 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by JTK
Posted by Michelle
Posted by GoldenRod
Plus, car seats have to be in the window seat. Without pre-boarding, some adults may have to move their seats so the carseat can be against the window.... I don't understand the logic behind this... 
You are still boarded before 2/3 of the plane so there is room.
The flight I took to Orlando was full and they had to ask one person to move so a family could sit together, and the switch took 2 seconds.
And regarding the time factor - we left early both times, there was no issue.
I really don't get the concept as to why becuase I ahve children I should be entitled to get there at the last possible second to get in line and get on the plane before 85% of the plane?
i have traveled by myself and also with children and it is alot easier and alot quicker to get to the terminal without kids than with.. you have more luggage, more people to search at security, more shoes to put on, more strollers to fold to get thru.. ect.. its not always possible to get an A pass.. even getting to the airport 2 hours early!
You are not kidding! I dont think its about timing. I am always on time. If they just assign seats there would be no issue of who goes on first.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:21 PM |
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clydrak
LIF Infant
Member since 2/06 141 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by JennasMom
So now what about the people in wheelchairs. When we flew to Ft LAuderdale over the summer the gate agent called it the miracle flight as there were 9 wheelchairs pre -boarding and once in Florida only two, the rest walked
My DH has a few friends that fly for Southwest and they claim to be proud to work for the miracle airline...since this phenomenon seems to happen on every flight.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:22 PM |
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mommy2bella
Where does time go?
Member since 12/05 9747 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by steph4777
Posted by SuzyQ
Posted by -DonnaMarie-
Posted by mommy2bella
see I am the opposite...when we flew with Bella in June, we made sure we were some of the LAST people to board...
having Bella sit for 45 minutes before even we start to taxi, no thanks.
same with us, we always wait to board.
I let him get his energy out in the terminal.
And you still get seats together on Southwest?
Kelly said she's never flown SW, so they probably had assigned seats. That's the only case where I can see why a parent would wait to be the last one to board. I've never had a problem with Nate sitting on the plane after pre-boarding.
correct, we flew American and JetBlue.
assigned seats...I don't know what I would do if it wasn't
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:22 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by clydrak
Posted by JennasMom
So now what about the people in wheelchairs. When we flew to Ft LAuderdale over the summer the gate agent called it the miracle flight as there were 9 wheelchairs pre -boarding and once in Florida only two, the rest walked
My DH has a few friends that fly for Southwest and they claim to be proud to work for the miracle airline...since this phenomenon seems to happen on every flight.
I actually dont have a problem with the wheelchairs going on first. I can understand that they need extra time etc... Also, some peoples disabilities are not apparent so i guess you will never know. BUT...if they RUN off the plane after utilizing a wheelchair...thats another story!
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:26 PM |
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JennasMom
?**?
Member since 11/05 3463 total posts
Name:
does it matter
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
For those of you that have never flown Southwest it is like a cattle call You get boarding passes with the letter A,B, or C then stand in queues with the correpsonding letter. The earlier you get on line in your queue the better seat selection you have
There is no assigned seating
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:27 PM |
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CkGm
They get so big, so fast :(
Member since 5/05 13848 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
We have an even stranger problem- they would only let DH book one extra seat in the premium plus area of United. So we have one seat on the aisle for DH, a middle seat for DD and carseat and one aisle seat in the back. They know we are traveling with an infant and a car seat but they refused to give us all three seats together in the plus section where my DH has to sit. SO basically the customer in the window seat will have to switch with me from the regular coach section unless he wants to be trapped next to my child and not be able to get out the whole flight.
SO DUMB!
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:29 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by JTK
Posted by Michelle
Posted by GoldenRod
Plus, car seats have to be in the window seat. Without pre-boarding, some adults may have to move their seats so the carseat can be against the window.... I don't understand the logic behind this...
You are still boarded before 2/3 of the plane so there is room.
The flight I took to Orlando was full and they had to ask one person to move so a family could sit together, and the switch took 2 seconds.
And regarding the time factor - we left early both times, there was no issue.
I really don't get the concept as to why becuase I ahve children I should be entitled to get there at the last possible second to get in line and get on the plane before 85% of the plane?
i have traveled by myself and also with children and it is alot easier and alot quicker to get to the terminal without kids than with.. you have more luggage, more people to search at security, more shoes to put on, more strollers to fold to get thru.. ect.. its not always possible to get an A pass.. even getting to the airport 2 hours early!
You are not kidding! I dont think its about timing. I am always on time. If they just assign seats there would be no issue of who goes on first.
You can check in online and print your boarding pass. You can do it 24 hours before, and that increases your chances of getting an A pass.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:30 PM |
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SuzyQ
Mama to 3!?!?!?
Member since 7/06 8069 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by Summerrluvv
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by JTK
Posted by Michelle
Posted by GoldenRod
Plus, car seats have to be in the window seat. Without pre-boarding, some adults may have to move their seats so the carseat can be against the window.... I don't understand the logic behind this...
You are still boarded before 2/3 of the plane so there is room.
The flight I took to Orlando was full and they had to ask one person to move so a family could sit together, and the switch took 2 seconds.
And regarding the time factor - we left early both times, there was no issue.
I really don't get the concept as to why becuase I ahve children I should be entitled to get there at the last possible second to get in line and get on the plane before 85% of the plane?
i have traveled by myself and also with children and it is alot easier and alot quicker to get to the terminal without kids than with.. you have more luggage, more people to search at security, more shoes to put on, more strollers to fold to get thru.. ect.. its not always possible to get an A pass.. even getting to the airport 2 hours early!
You are not kidding! I dont think its about timing. I am always on time. If they just assign seats there would be no issue of who goes on first.
You can check in online and print your boarding pass. You can do it 24 hours before, and that increases your chances of getting an A pass.
You can't check in online if you did not buy DC a seat. They make you check in at the airport if you are carrying them on your lap, which you're allowed to do if DC is under 2. Then there's no way you're getting an A.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:34 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by SuzyQ
Posted by Summerrluvv
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by JTK
Posted by Michelle
Posted by GoldenRod
Plus, car seats have to be in the window seat. Without pre-boarding, some adults may have to move their seats so the carseat can be against the window.... I don't understand the logic behind this...
You are still boarded before 2/3 of the plane so there is room.
The flight I took to Orlando was full and they had to ask one person to move so a family could sit together, and the switch took 2 seconds.
And regarding the time factor - we left early both times, there was no issue.
I really don't get the concept as to why becuase I ahve children I should be entitled to get there at the last possible second to get in line and get on the plane before 85% of the plane?
i have traveled by myself and also with children and it is alot easier and alot quicker to get to the terminal without kids than with.. you have more luggage, more people to search at security, more shoes to put on, more strollers to fold to get thru.. ect.. its not always possible to get an A pass.. even getting to the airport 2 hours early!
You are not kidding! I dont think its about timing. I am always on time. If they just assign seats there would be no issue of who goes on first.
You can check in online and print your boarding pass. You can do it 24 hours before, and that increases your chances of getting an A pass.
You can't check in online if you did not buy DC a seat. They make you check in at the airport if you are carrying them on your lap, which you're allowed to do if DC is under 2. Then there's no way you're getting an A.
Oh. I always buy a seat so I didn't know that.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:40 PM |
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SuzyQ
Mama to 3!?!?!?
Member since 7/06 8069 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by Summerrluvv
Posted by SuzyQ
You can't check in online if you did not buy DC a seat. They make you check in at the airport if you are carrying them on your lap, which you're allowed to do if DC is under 2. Then there's no way you're getting an A.
Oh. I always buy a seat so I didn't know that.
We did this time too and probably will in the future as well.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:41 PM |
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CookiePuss
Cake from Outer Space!
Member since 5/05 14021 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by Summerrluvv
I think the unfortunate abusive of the policy is why they changed it. Everytime I have flown them, they make the families announcement and the parents, the 7 year old kids, the grandparents, the uncles, etc. all pre-board. I remember on the way back from WDW they specifically said only children with their parents or guardian or immediate family member traveling with them may pre-board.
This is why I was never crazy about the policy to begin with.
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:52 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by Summerrluvv
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by JTK
Posted by Michelle
Posted by GoldenRod
Plus, car seats have to be in the window seat. Without pre-boarding, some adults may have to move their seats so the carseat can be against the window.... I don't understand the logic behind this...
You are still boarded before 2/3 of the plane so there is room.
The flight I took to Orlando was full and they had to ask one person to move so a family could sit together, and the switch took 2 seconds.
And regarding the time factor - we left early both times, there was no issue.
I really don't get the concept as to why becuase I ahve children I should be entitled to get there at the last possible second to get in line and get on the plane before 85% of the plane?
i have traveled by myself and also with children and it is alot easier and alot quicker to get to the terminal without kids than with.. you have more luggage, more people to search at security, more shoes to put on, more strollers to fold to get thru.. ect.. its not always possible to get an A pass.. even getting to the airport 2 hours early!
You are not kidding! I dont think its about timing. I am always on time. If they just assign seats there would be no issue of who goes on first.
You can check in online and print your boarding pass. You can do it 24 hours before, and that increases your chances of getting an A pass.
Unless you have no access to a printer the night before.... our last trip, I printed the boarding passes at home the night before, but wasn't able to find a printer the night before we flew home......
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| Posted 10/23/07 3:58 PM |
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JennasMom
?**?
Member since 11/05 3463 total posts
Name:
does it matter
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Not to change the thread but how I wish Macarthur Aiport would get a more diverse selection of airlines. I wish JetBlue would fly out of there
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:09 PM |
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Michelle
My Little Yankee Fans
Member since 1/06 4018 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by JTK
Posted by Michelle
Posted by GoldenRod
Plus, car seats have to be in the window seat. Without pre-boarding, some adults may have to move their seats so the carseat can be against the window.... I don't understand the logic behind this...
You are still boarded before 2/3 of the plane so there is room.
The flight I took to Orlando was full and they had to ask one person to move so a family could sit together, and the switch took 2 seconds.
And regarding the time factor - we left early both times, there was no issue.
I really don't get the concept as to why becuase I ahve children I should be entitled to get there at the last possible second to get in line and get on the plane before 85% of the plane?
i have traveled by myself and also with children and it is alot easier and alot quicker to get to the terminal without kids than with.. you have more luggage, more people to search at security, more shoes to put on, more strollers to fold to get thru.. ect.. its not always possible to get an A pass.. even getting to the airport 2 hours early!
You get the A pass the day before online, it has nothing to do with going thru security and having to remove 10 pairs of shoes. It should be done the day before.
I get that people are in the way, but it is so unfair to be waiting in line for 45 mintues to have someone walk up with a kid as if they just got to the airport and walk right on the plane.
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:10 PM |
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Michelle
My Little Yankee Fans
Member since 1/06 4018 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by JennasMom
So now what about the people in wheelchairs. When we flew to Ft LAuderdale over the summer the gate agent called it the miracle flight as there were 9 wheelchairs pre -boarding and once in Florida only two, the rest walked
People that need assistance, have a blue card, or wheelchair go on before the A's.
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:11 PM |
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Disneygirl
Disney cruise bound!
Member since 5/05 8126 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by mommy2bella
see I am the opposite...when we flew with Bella in June, we made sure we were some of the LAST people to board...
having Bella sit for 45 minutes before even we start to taxi, no thanks.
I feel the same way. Personally I'd like to run on board the second before the plane takes off. Maddie is not one to sit still
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:12 PM |
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JennasMom
?**?
Member since 11/05 3463 total posts
Name:
does it matter
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Yeah I saw the blue cards but was so surprised at how once some reached their destination they could miraculously walk unassisted
Message edited 10/23/2007 4:13:55 PM.
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:13 PM |
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Michelle
My Little Yankee Fans
Member since 1/06 4018 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by clydrak
Posted by SuzyQ
Posted by steph4777
That sux..... I fly out of Midway all the time with them. It was nice knowing that no matter what time we got to the airport we would get to board first. Now we have to make sure we get to the airport early. They might as well do assigned seating.
I agree. On the way on home we had A's since we knew to print out our boarding passes early after the flight going there and we still didn't want to stand on line. We had to give DD breakfast. so we ended up boarding at the end of the As anyway. It was just annoying when we had to stand on line in the jetway too. I've heard that they are changing the overall policy in November. I think it's moving to numbers or something.
They have been testing the number system in certain cities....I don't know how but its supposed to limit the liining up by grouping people into smaller groups like 15 or so to get people on board.
I'm kind of surprised that they did this, since if you're traveling with a child in a car seat and you bought them a seat, you have to put them in the window seat and sit next to them, so you are limited torows with window and center seats opne in this situation, its really going to start causing problems once the holiday rush begins. We're flying out on Southwest on Sat and since DD is in my lap, they will not let us check in on-line so we'll be between the A's and the B's...I am not thrilled!
You can get a boarding pass for yourself online and then DH and DC can baord with that group. Anytime I was with my kids under 2, we were able to get our own boarding passes and then we got ones a tth airport for them, but they boarded with us.
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:13 PM |
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Michelle
My Little Yankee Fans
Member since 1/06 4018 total posts
Name:
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Golden Rod - actually you do not need to print them. If you go online and get the baording passes you have that letter. When you get to the airport they can print you a duplicate and you have the same number. We were traveling with my SIL's family and we printed thier boarding passes, but they went ot the counter and got reprints so we did not have to meet up at the airport since they got to there before us.
I called Southwest about this and they told me this info, so it is not just luck that is happened to us.
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:16 PM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Oh wow -- we are going to Sedona and Grand Canyon Nov. 1 -- I HOPE they revise this policy by then!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:54 PM |
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