On Southwest, how does it work now to get seats together with kids?

[Anonymous]

Just board with family boarding and you will be fine. I would only pay extra for group A if you have a tight connection and need to be in the front of the plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pay the extra $15 per ticket to get early check in. You'll be fine.

Or 1 adult in your group pays the extra fee and hope that 1 person can successfully spread out abd "reserve" a row for you and the others until you get on the plane.
If you sorta go towards the wing, you can pull this off (usually) bc most of the A group fill the front immediately.

No. This is against their policy. Also, you're a jerk if you do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just board with family boarding and you will be fine. I would only pay extra for group A if you have a tight connection and need to be in the front of the plane.

This. We’ve had no problem getting seats together with family boarding after group A and have never had to ask people to move.

[Anonymous]

Families board after A group. I’ve never been separated from my kids. People who don’t like this policy can pay for A boarding and kiss my behind.

[Anonymous]

Are you also trying to do carry-on bags and kids? If so I would 100% pay. Recently sister in law was traveling with her 11 year old - forgot to check in late (didn't pay for A Group), Ended up in C - she wasn't allowed to board with families and she had carryon luggage that had to be gate checked.

[Anonymous]

We recently boarded in the high B section and had no problem getting three seats together.

[Anonymous]

It depends a bit on flight—on our flight to Orlando, 3/4 if the plane boarded during family boarding. We had older kids, boarded at the beginning of B, and not much was left.

[Anonymous]

If you want priority seating or to be assured to sit together - pay for it. Depending on where you are traveling to/from airports will differ on what you can get away with. Every SW flight I have flown on in the last year has been 100% full. Families waiting may not get seats together or have overhead bin space. And if you do gamble its worth planning ahead who is willing to sit in center seats and try to find at least seats "nearby" but I can tell you this - I'm not getting up to help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don ' t be cheap and then expect others to move for you. Pay to be in Group A

But, would we really have to ask people to move? My recollection from prepandemic flying was that after the A group, there were still plenty of seats together toward the back of the plane.

The kids can easily sit in a middle seat. I would just like it to be a middle seat next to one adult they know.

I read the policy and it says that  »up to two adults can board with a child under 7 . » We have one child under 7 and then two over seven but under 10. I’m asking people with recent experience, will they let our whole family board together after the A group. If so, we’re good and there is no reason to worry about being in the A group.

We fly Southwest with kids all the time. We have never had an issue with older siblings getting into family boarding as along as we have one kid under the age cutoff. I have seen them be pretty strict about other adults, though. I would not expect your third adult to be able to get into family boarding with you.