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Summer2011Bride
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Flying Southwest?
in Travel
Has anyone flown Southwest before and if so, what was your experience? I have never flown this airline before, and I know they do seat assignments differently. It's saving us about $600 though to fly them over United or American to California this summer.
A couple questions: We were going to pay the $10/ticket to do Early Bird Check-in. Is this beneficial? I really don't mind the extra ten bucks, esp. since checked bags are free. If we do Early Bird, are we automatically checked in and don't have to go online to check in?
Also, if we do Early Bird, do you think H and I will be able to sit together? Have you ever had issues with sitting next to your traveling partner(s) on Southwest?
Re: Flying Southwest?
You can do the early bird check in if you'd like, but it is really no big deal either way. You'll still have to check in online or in person to get your tickets.
If you check in online 24 hours in advance of the flight, you'll get a line placement in the mid to late A's or at worst in the early B's. My husband and fly Southwest all the time and have never had a problem getting 2 seats together. Even the times I've forgotten to check-in near the 24 hour advance mark we've still not had to worry about there not being 2 seats together.
If you don't want to bother with remembering to check in 24 hours in advance, then it may be worth it to pay the fee. You'll get a line placement behind the frequent fliers but before those who do regular check in. But you have to pay the fee again for the return flight.
We have flown SW numerous times and have never had any issue sitting together. We usually do early bird check in and get in the early A positioning. Only once did we get a C position during early bird, but still had no issue getting seats together.
Yes
Fine. It's a great cheap way to fly
It's not worth the $10 for early bird check-in, IMO. If you can get onto a computer to check in 24 hours before the flight, you should still be able to get an A spot in line.
I think you still have to check in with Early Bird, but confirm with SW
Even if you don't do Early Bird, you'll more than likely get to sit together. Here's how it works:
When you check in (at the airport or online), you are given a boarding position. There are 60 A positions, 60 B, and 60 C. Frequent fliers get the first set of positions (I think A1-10), and Early Birds get the second set (A11-15 or so). After that it's somewhat randomly assigned, but timing also factors into it.
When you get to your gate, first they have all the A people line up, 1-30 on one side and 31-60 on the other. When they call your side, you get on the plane and pick a seat. As the A group is boarding, the B group is lining up, and so on. At the end the plane is filled.
Typically as long as you get anywhere from the beginning of the A group to the middle of the B group, there will be plenty of opportunities to find a seat, and find seats together. It doesn't really start to get spotty until that plane is at least halfway full and all the "premium" spots are taken. Even then, a simple "hey, do you mind if my husband and I sit together?" will get the average person to move.
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