| Posted By |
Message |
| Pages: 1 2 [3] |
GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by Michelle
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.
THANKS! That's very good to know! I always bring my laptop when we travel, but printers are much harder to come by. I would almost always be able to go on-line. That makes things much easier, then.
|
Posted 10/24/07 8:30 AM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
I guess Im the only one who kind of likes this new policy... if someone wants to sit next to my screaming children for 2+ hours while I don't THANK YOU!!!!
Honestly though there are only something like 45 A tickets that print so I wouldn't worry too much about being separated.
With flying with a lap child you can check in online and when you check your baggage you can just tell them you have a lap child and they make you fill out a form and staple it to your boarding pass.
|
| Posted 10/24/07 8:38 AM |
| |
|
SuzyQ
Mama to 3!?!?!?
Member since 7/06 8069 total posts
Name:
Susan
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by KPtoys
I guess Im the only one who kind of likes this new policy... if someone wants to sit next to my screaming children for 2+ hours while I don't THANK YOU!!!!
Honestly though there are only something like 45 A tickets that print so I wouldn't worry too much about being separated.
With flying with a lap child you can check in online and when you check your baggage you can just tell them you have a lap child and they make you fill out a form and staple it to your boarding pass.
We did find 3 seats together but it wasn't easy. We had to go pretty far back and it was a PIA to get through the plane holding DD & a diaper bag. I was thumping people as I went down the narrow aisle. And we had to stand on a pretty long line on the jetway while waiting for all of the As to get on. It was not fun with a squirmy 11 month old.
You're supposed to call them ahead of time to let them know you're flying with a lap child and then you can't print your boarding pass online.
|
| Posted 10/24/07 8:43 AM |
| |
|
MrsBumbleb
it's me
Member since 5/05 11234 total posts
Name:
Christine
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
that stinks and seems like more of an inconvenience and time waster.
|
| Posted 10/24/07 9:01 AM |
| |
|
Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Having worked for SWA for 8 years I can tell you why the boarding process was changed.
1. The number of complaints received by passengers was overwhelming. I can't tell you how many fits I had to defuse from people who "did what they were supposed to do" and got their A-boarding card, then waited on the A-line, then watched while the front half of the plane filled with preboarded families.
2. It took too long. Believe it or not- this new boarding process was tried in a few cities (Orlando being one) and it was found that THIS new way of doing things is actually quicker than the original way. I will say, many families needed a fire lit up under them once they got onboard trying to agree on where to sit. With this process, it was found that people just grabbed the first row available rather than looking for seats with the best view/closest to bathroom/"looked" like it has more legroom, etc.
This process really isn't that much different than what it was-it's a little more "fair" to the people who really wanted that front row (WHY is that front row so sacred? There's no tray table and you get to watch me watching you the whole time). The families STILL get their seats together (the whole reason for preboarding) as there are only like 45 seats per baording group.
As for the wheelchair/medically approved preboards? That is covered under the ADA and is a LAW. Regardless of whether they were*healed* inflight or not- that blue preboard slip allows them to board first and deplane however they want. Yes- that process is abused as well- but by law we cannot question it.
Preboarding families was always a courtesy.The old *family policy* stated that all families had to sit beyond row 14- I wish they would just go back to that policy.
|
| Posted 10/24/07 9:21 AM |
| |
|
clydrak
LIF Infant
Member since 2/06 141 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by CkGm
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!
I could be wrong, but I think it is an FAA regulation that the car seat has to be in the window seat so if you tell them when you're checking in that you have a child in a carseat they will switch your seats at that time. I don't think they can easily do this ahead of time but they will do it at check in or the gate, you shouldn't be just switching around on the plane. But you may all have to sit in the regular coach section if you want to sit together, I would guess that they have more flexibility to seat you together in the back of the bus.
Oh, also if you and DH and traveling with two children, I don't think you can all sit in one row of three seats since there are only 4 oxygen masks per three seats, you would have to sit on opposite sides of the aisle if you have one kid in a car seat, one on your lap, and two adults.
Message edited 10/24/2007 9:55:01 AM.
|
| Posted 10/24/07 9:49 AM |
| |
|
Michelle
My Little Yankee Fans
Member since 1/06 4018 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by Porrruss
Having worked for SWA for 8 years I can tell you why the boarding process was changed.
1. The number of complaints received by passengers was overwhelming. I can't tell you how many fits I had to defuse from people who "did what they were supposed to do" and got their A-boarding card, then waited on the A-line, then watched while the front half of the plane filled with preboarded families.
2. It took too long. Believe it or not- this new boarding process was tried in a few cities (Orlando being one) and it was found that THIS new way of doing things is actually quicker than the original way. I will say, many families needed a fire lit up under them once they got onboard trying to agree on where to sit. With this process, it was found that people just grabbed the first row available rather than looking for seats with the best view/closest to bathroom/"looked" like it has more legroom, etc.
I have never been on a SWA that boarded so quickly then the last two I just took. It seemed like a dream and also there was very little wait time once I got the car seats in and got the boys strapped in until take off time.
The thing is, it is not like you are not allowed to board in A you just have to get the boarding pass online the day before for the adult passengers and you can get on early enough to pick your seat.
|
| Posted 10/24/07 10:05 AM |
| |
|
Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by clydrak
Posted by CkGm
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!
I could be wrong, but I think it is an FAA regulation that the car seat has to be in the window seat so if you tell them when you're checking in that you have a child in a carseat they will switch your seats at that time. I don't think they can easily do this ahead of time but they will do it at check in or the gate, you shouldn't be just switching around on the plane. But you may all have to sit in the regular coach section if you want to sit together, I would guess that they have more flexibility to seat you together in the back of the bus.
Oh, also if you and DH and traveling with two children, I don't think you can all sit in one row of three seats since there are only 4 oxygen masks per three seats, you would have to sit on opposite sides of the aisle if you have one kid in a car seat, one on your lap, and two adults.
Carseats that would block access to the aisle (like an infant seat) must go on a window seat. Regular convertable seats (as long as they don't block access to the main aisle) can go window OR middle. It sounds like United has set themslf up for a headache on that one.
As for the oxygen mask thing- this only applies to lap babies on a full flight. 3 seat, 4 oxygen masks, so no 3 adults with 2 lap babies. basically, no more than 1 lapbaby per row on a full flight....
|
| Posted 10/24/07 10:19 AM |
| |
|
clydrak
LIF Infant
Member since 2/06 141 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by Porrruss
As for the oxygen mask thing- this only applies to lap babies on a full flight. 3 seat, 4 oxygen masks, so no 3 adults with 2 lap babies. basically, no more than 1 lapbaby per row on a full flight....
Ha! Apparently I can't count! Must make cup of coffee! 
|
| Posted 10/24/07 10:26 AM |
| |
|
KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
|
Re: Southwest changed their family boarding policy
Posted by SuzyQ
Posted by KPtoys
I guess Im the only one who kind of likes this new policy... if someone wants to sit next to my screaming children for 2+ hours while I don't THANK YOU!!!!
Honestly though there are only something like 45 A tickets that print so I wouldn't worry too much about being separated.
With flying with a lap child you can check in online and when you check your baggage you can just tell them you have a lap child and they make you fill out a form and staple it to your boarding pass.
We did find 3 seats together but it wasn't easy. We had to go pretty far back and it was a PIA to get through the plane holding DD & a diaper bag. I was thumping people as I went down the narrow aisle. And we had to stand on a pretty long line on the jetway while waiting for all of the As to get on. It was not fun with a squirmy 11 month old.
You're supposed to call them ahead of time to let them know you're flying with a lap child and then you can't print your boarding pass online.
Believe me, Ive flown with all 3 kids. I know what a PITA it is to have a squirmy child (x3) in an airport and on the plane. I like preboard but when people board with their parents, uncles, 2nd removed cousins I can see why they changed their policy. I've never had a problem with putting in car seats and dealing with children that couldn't have been dealt with boarding later in the boarding process.
I called SW when I flew in September and they said nothing about Lukie (lap child). They said I fill something out when I get to the airport. I did print out all our passes online (got all A's)
|
| Posted 10/24/07 10:31 AM |
| |
|
| Pages: 1 2 [3] |
