Vegas Free-for-All - southwest airlines question

lizzyjoe

Sep 26, 2014
11:26pm

Just returned from Vegas flying SW airlines. I am a little confused about their check in policy. I waited until 24 hours before the flight to check in hoping to get an A seat. My husband got B5 and by the time I filled in my name to check in it was B 42. These were booked under my hubby's rapid reward miles. I called SW to see if they had to be checked in separately and they said yes. It seems to me that 2 people traveling together can never have consecutive numbers. At the airport they want you to line up according to numerical order. I just got behind my husband and entered the plane with him .Am I missing something. Is there a better way to do it or can the first person entering the plane save a seat for the 2nd person? I know you can also pay 12.50 for an earlier boarding number,

teach8

Sep 27, 2014
4:52am

Block User

If you book together under one reservation, you should be able to check in both names (as long as they have the same confirmation number.

If we get separated, one of us saves a seat for the other. My husband likes the saisle, so I usually take the dreaded center seat.

When leaving LV for home, we both pay the $12.50 to havee early bird check in. In September, we got A47-48 automatically. However, when traveling to LV, my husband gets the early bird, but I hope for the best.

You have to remember that with cell phone apps, many more people are able to check in without hunting down a computer.

Joy

Captain

Sep 27, 2014
6:45am

Block User

Since all our flights are free its no big deal getting EB for both of us (so always have seperate confirmation #s). Maybe 1 in 7 flights we do not get consecutive numbers (and thats when we book within a month of the flight). Only got a B once in the last 2 years and it was B 1&2.

lizzyjoe

Sep 27, 2014
6:48am

Block User

Thanks Joy, I will try to book under one reservation next time. One person paying the 12.50 sounds like a good idea.

O2bnVegas

Sep 27, 2014
10:18am

Block User

You'll get different answers to the question about saving seats.

And some people get in a twist about it.
Personally I don't object to husband/wife (or any other two people) saving a seat or three.

One time a disgusting nasty man insisted he could have the seat I was saving for my husband. Exit row, a nice guy is on the aisle seat. Nasty man hollered "You can't save that seat and I am taking it." The flight attendant said she was sorry but the nasty man was correct, no saving seats in the exit row, SWA policy. (Later I was unable to confirm that this is actually policy.) The nice man in the aisle seat offered to swap seats to let hubby and I sit together, but I declined to sit in the same row with the disgusting nasty man, grabbed my husband and we headed to another row. Other passengers were offering to swap seats so that we could sit together. In a guesture of solidarity, the nice man got up and took a seat in a regular row. The flight attendant kept apologizing. She bought a drink for the nice man. It was funny, actually.

Sometimes you can do EB and still get in the B section. As long as you are in B, you are pretty much going to get seats together.

Sura83

Sep 27, 2014
12:19pm

Block User

We are just back from our yearly trip. Flew SW both ways, and for the first time ever I didn't purchase the EB. Checked in exactly 24 hours ahead of time for both flights (one check-in since we were booked on the same reservation) and ended up with middle B both times. No problems at all getting two seats together.

One strange thing about our boarding numbers though - on both flights we were one number apart even though the check-ins happened at the same time. B29 and B31 on the way home, can't remember the exact numbers on the flight there.

I'm thinking I'll never spend the extra $50 on the EB again.

coldhoist

Sep 27, 2014
12:20pm

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: lizzyjoe
Just returned from Vegas flying SW airlines. I am a little confused about their check in policy. I waited until 24 hours before the flight to check in hoping to get an A seat. My husband got B5 and by the time I filled in my name to check in it was B 42. These were booked under my hubby's rapid reward miles. I called SW to see if they had to be checked in separately and they said yes. It seems to me that 2 people traveling together can never have consecutive numbers. At the airport they want you to line up according to numerical order. I just got behind my husband and entered the plane with him .Am I missing something. Is there a better way to do it or can the first person entering the plane save a seat for the 2nd person? I know you can also pay 12.50 for an earlier boarding number,

So you basically disregarded the boarding policy and boarded when you wanted to board.
You did not pay for early boarding but you probably boarded before someone who paid for early boarding.
You should have boarded as B42, not with your husband. You probably still could have sat together.
Your husband could have easily saved a seat for you.

Boilerman

Sep 27, 2014
1:28pm

Block User

I fly SW often, and I've never objected to someone saving a seat. That being said, I believe that you are wrong for doing so.

Quote

Originally posted by: O2bnVegas
You'll get different answers to the question about saving seats.

And some people get in a twist about it.
Personally I don't object to husband/wife (or any other two people) saving a seat or three.

One time a disgusting nasty man insisted he could have the seat I was saving for my husband. Exit row, a nice guy is on the aisle seat. Nasty man hollered "You can't save that seat and I am taking it." The flight attendant said she was sorry but the nasty man was correct, no saving seats in the exit row, SWA policy. (Later I was unable to confirm that this is actually policy.) The nice man in the aisle seat offered to swap seats to let hubby and I sit together, but I declined to sit in the same row with the disgusting nasty man, grabbed my husband and we headed to another row. Other passengers were offering to swap seats so that we could sit together. In a guesture of solidarity, the nice man got up and took a seat in a regular row. The flight attendant kept apologizing. She bought a drink for the nice man. It was funny, actually.

Sometimes you can do EB and still get in the B section. As long as you are in B, you are pretty much going to get seats together.

snidely333

Sep 27, 2014
1:58pm

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: Boilerman
I fly SW often, and I've never objected to someone saving a seat. That being said, I believe that you are wrong for doing so.

Quote
Originally posted by: O2bnVegas
You'll get different answers to the question about saving seats.

And some people get in a twist about it.
Personally I don't object to husband/wife (or any other two people) saving a seat or three.

One time a disgusting nasty man insisted he could have the seat I was saving for my husband. Exit row, a nice guy is on the aisle seat. Nasty man hollered "You can't save that seat and I am taking it." The flight attendant said she was sorry but the nasty man was correct, no saving seats in the exit row, SWA policy. (Later I was unable to confirm that this is actually policy.) The nice man in the aisle seat offered to swap seats to let hubby and I sit together, but I declined to sit in the same row with the disgusting nasty man, grabbed my husband and we headed to another row. Other passengers were offering to swap seats so that we could sit together. In a guesture of solidarity, the nice man got up and took a seat in a regular row. The flight attendant kept apologizing. She bought a drink for the nice man. It was funny, actually.

Sometimes you can do EB and still get in the B section. As long as you are in B, you are pretty much going to get seats together.

I'm going to have to agree with Boiler. You can save a middle non-exit row seat for a companion but not an exit row seat, an aisle or a window. I have no problem swapping seats so people can sit together just as long as I get aisle on flights over 2 hours.

Don

Sep 27, 2014
10:31pm

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: lizzyjoe
At the airport they want you to line up according to numerical order. I just got behind my husband and entered the plane with him.

Whenever "they" want poor old DonDiego to line up "in order", he will do his best to disobey.

DonDiego commends lizzyjoe for showing some spunk.

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