ETA asking in relation to boarding and ticketing.

Anyone that has recent experience that can shed some light?

Really bummed as southwest was a solid staple and you knew what you were buying.

Especially with family boarding.

May be traveling with just me and my 1.8mo old so a lot of questions and it looks cheaper to fly another carrier which is surprising

After all the changes, I was planning on jumping to United. The routes I fly are typically still much cheaper with SWA. So I'm still flying with them despite the changes.

I will say, it's been nice saving $8 on the free wifi now.

And OP, I dont know what you're asking. The experience itself hasn't changed much yet. Other than having to pay for bags. They still have family boarding.

Assigned seats come next month, so no one has experienced that yet.

CDub06 said:

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And OP, I dont know what you're asking. The experience itself hasn't changed much yet. Other than having to pay for bags. They still have family boarding.

Assigned seats come next month, so no one has experienced that yet.

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Thanks I thought the boarding processed had changed already

Was that a typo, or are you really flying with an 8 week old baby?

My wife flew SWA recently and asked a stewardess about the new upcoming process and they sounded like it would be a more positive experience for all. The other side was they would actually know who was sitting where and it could open up other foreign destinations that require "assigned seating".

Personally, I will take a wait and see approach. I do have flights already booked with assigned seating, but they are not for a few months out and hopefully by then the bugs can be worked out.

I do also agree that their pricing is often not very competitive on common routes of other carriers.

My largest gripe with the recent changes is was the loss of flexibility on changing/canceling flights. Thankfully, I have not had any credits expire yet, but I can see it coming.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Was that a typo, or are you really flying with an 8 week old baby?

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Was a typo..18 month old.

Ended booking American. Was cheaper, faster, and better times.

May finally be done flying southwest after it was my main flagship since 2012.

Langley said:

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Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Was that a typo, or are you really flying with an 8 week old baby?

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Was a typo..18 month old.

Ended booking American. Was cheaper, faster, and better times.

May finally be done flying southwest after it was my main flagship since 2012.

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Because of the assigned seating change? I always thought most people preferred assigned seating.

use to be my go to airline for travel

Once points are gone and credit i have I will have no aligiance to this or any carrier

Texag5324 said:

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Langley said:

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Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Was that a typo, or are you really flying with an 8 week old baby?

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Was a typo..18 month old.

Ended booking American. Was cheaper, faster, and better times.

May finally be done flying southwest after it was my main flagship since 2012.

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Because of the assigned seating change? I always thought most people preferred assigned seating.

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Not if you have a lap child. Southwest was the best. Just ask the gate agent if there were any open seats on the flight then board with family boarding and head to the back where you can spread out.

Another SW flyer here for much of 2000s and into 2010s. I switched to United about 7 years ago and never looked back. Got the club card and SW just doesn't even come close to our family flying experience.

I finally emptied my sw bank on one flight back in october since I was down in Kemah, (actually close to hobby), but it had been years since I flew them.

Txhuntr said:

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Texag5324 said:

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Langley said:

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Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Was that a typo, or are you really flying with an 8 week old baby?

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Was a typo..18 month old.

Ended booking American. Was cheaper, faster, and better times.

May finally be done flying southwest after it was my main flagship since 2012.

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Because of the assigned seating change? I always thought most people preferred assigned seating.

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Not if you have a lap child. Southwest was the best. Just ask the gate agent if there were any open seats on the flight then board with family boarding and head to the back where you can spread out.

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So for 18 months of your flying life, SW is better lol.

2 years per kid, so it was what I booked for family vacations for 5 years. Now I've just moved us over to American as that's what I fly for work. Beyond that, good luck finding an entire row of available seats if booking a flight less than 30 days out.

With SW's any seat model, They were ideal for family travel. Now they are no different than any of the other big domestic carriers, and anyone that travels for business probably already has status/loyalty with one of the big three.

Txhuntr said:

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2 years per kid, so it was what I booked for family vacations for 5 years. Now I've just moved us over to American as that's what I fly for work. Beyond that, good luck finding an entire row of available seats if booking a flight less than 30 days out.

With SW's any seat model, They were ideal for family travel. Now they are no different than any of the other big domestic carriers, and anyone that travels for business probably already has status/loyalty with one of the big three.

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are you often booking family vacations just 30 days out?

I don't how you think it's ideal for a family to have to rely on family boarding to get 4 seats together, which means being at the gate early, standing around fighting those crowds, and being on the plane longer than nearly everyone else.

My ideal family flight is spending an hour in the united club where we can all get a meal, relax in comfortable seats, mom and me and get a few beverages, kids playing shuffleboard or foosball, then showing up to the gate 5-10 minutes before the gate closes, going to the seats we paid for and then taking off shortly after.

Certainly different opinions of 'ideal'

62strat said:

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Txhuntr said:

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2 years per kid, so it was what I booked for family vacations for 5 years. Now I've just moved us over to American as that's what I fly for work. Beyond that, good luck finding an entire row of available seats if booking a flight less than 30 days out.

With SW's any seat model, They were ideal for family travel. Now they are no different than any of the other big domestic carriers, and anyone that travels for business probably already has status/loyalty with one of the big three.

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are you often booking family vacations just 30 days out?

I don't how you think it's ideal for a family to have to rely on family boarding to get 4 seats together, which means being at the gate early, standing around fighting those crowds, and being on the plane longer than nearly everyone else.

My ideal family flight is spending an hour in the united club where we can all get a meal, relax in comfortable seats, mom and me and get a few beverages, kids playing shuffleboard or foosball, then showing up to the gate 5-10 minutes before the gate closes, going to the seats we paid for and then taking off shortly after.

Certainly different opinions of 'ideal'

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My ideal is spending as little $$$ on travel to spend more at said destination. I'll never spend a dime for lounge/club access. Hell, I'm just parking the car in remote parking 90 mins before departure on a domestic flight (60 mins if traveling by myself).

And as far as the 30 days out. My wife is from okc, so yeah, things come up every year or 2 that require some short notice travel, and I try to avoid 7 hours in the car any time I can

I used to love SW when I flew solo. It was easy to find a seat next to someone that fit only in their seat and grab it. With assigned seating you are stuck if there is someone next to you coming over the armrest.

I have a companion pass with SWA and when I book my trip, I book mine and then add the companion which gives them a different confirmation number.

On SWA press releases, they are saying that up to 8 people traveling together on the same confirmation number will be able to book together and no later than the 5th group (or something like that)

Is there a way to add your companion pass traveler onto your confirmation and keep just one number to ensure that they can board together?

It should work in the same manner as the current companion process. Different confirmation numbers but still linked to the companion pass holders status.