Post by hilwithonelary on Apr 19, 2015 10:31:21 GMT -5
I'm not an experienced flyer. I'm looking at tickets for my family of four to fly to my grandma's 90th birthday party. Tickets through Expedia (can't remember which airline) were looking to be around $4000. I checked out Southwest and it would be around $2500. Why the big difference?
Post by hellonurse on Apr 19, 2015 10:37:58 GMT -5
I love Southwest! I know there are plenty of people who don't, but we fly with them almost exclusively and have never had an issue. *knock on wood* I do spend the extra $ for priority boarding.
Post by hilwithonelary on Apr 19, 2015 10:40:43 GMT -5
If I don't spring for priority boarding, how impossible will it be for us to get seats together? I don't mind splitting up 2 and 2 so each parent gets 1 kid (that might be preferable to prevent fighting, lol), but our kids can't sit by themselves.
Post by emilyinchile on Apr 19, 2015 10:40:48 GMT -5
Southwest doesn't give you an assigned seat. The earlier you check in, the closer to the front of the line you get to board (excepting people who may more for priority boarding upfront/are frequent fliers). Otherwise it's a great airline in my experience - friendly service and no major problems. I'd gladly fly them for the same price as many airlines, so in this case I wouldn't even hesitate to book with them.
The biggest difference is the boarding process. You get selected based on when you check in (unless you pay extra for the early automatic check in) and you can be assigned to boarding group A, B or C. Obviously if you're in C and wanting to sit with someone else it becomes difficult if not impossible if it's a full flight.
However, if you have children and arrive at the gate early/on time you get to board after the business class/preferred members board so it usually isn't a problem for those with children.
I love Southwest and haven't had any issues with them except for the occasional late flight. Several times I thought I was going to miss my connecting flight (before the 1st flight was late) and they held back the 2nd flight for myself and a few others. Their flight attendants are usually quirky and funny. You get free bag check and if you have to cancel or change your flight they'll give you credit without any fees.
My only complaint is their internet service, out of 20 recent flights it's probably only worked 2 maybe 3 times. To add insult to injury they always send me this friendly email about how my flight will have internet and then when we board the FA always apologize that it's not working.
Post by midnightmare81 on Apr 19, 2015 10:43:23 GMT -5
We love southwest! I don't find it to be very different from other airlines aside from price, the fact that they still give out snacks, free tv on your laptop or iPad, and 2 free bags. O, and in my experience, the FA are nicer then on other airlines.
Post by tripleshot on Apr 19, 2015 10:46:15 GMT -5
We love southwest. I signed up for the visa and got 50,000 points, which paid for our flights to Orlando this June. We've flown them many times and never had an issue.
It's just no frills. Very little food/drink, no entertainment. No assigned seating. Pay the extra $10pp for priority boarding and call it a day. I prefer Virgin America, but regularly fly Southwest
We love Southwest! I almost exclusively fly them for business and personal travel. I would pay the $12.50 for the early bird check in. I think that will be enough for you to all get seats together.
Even if you don't, IME Southwest customers are more likely to move around to accommodate you if you want than on other airlines.
Post by tacosforlife on Apr 19, 2015 10:49:02 GMT -5
Checking in online as soon as it opens up (24 hours ahead) will get you in an earlier boarding group, which will let you choose a better seat. Or, as mentioned, pay for priority boarding.
The service itself is generally very friendly.
I flew Southwest all the time as a kid (Texas is a big state!) and had no problems with it.
$1500 savings plus 2 free checked bags per person is a LOT of money to save. I would not hesitate.
It's just no frills. Very little food/drink, no entertainment. No assigned seating. Pay the extra $10pp for priority boarding and call it a day. I prefer Virgin America, but regularly fly Southwest
For wifi enabled flights you now can stream shows and movies and play games for free!
OP do you have small kids? If so, I'm not sure you need to pay for priority boarding because I've always heard them call those with children before they start going through A/B/C boarding.
Edit: just saw your siggy---I don't think you need to pay extra for priority boarding.
There is a reason it is called Walmart with Wings.
Southwest is NOT equal Walmart.
Southwest pros: they don't nickel and dime you. - 2 free checked bags -all the soda and snacks you want during the flight - attendants are much more pleasant
The con is that you don't get an assigned seat. But it's not some free for all - they have a process where everyone gets assigned a group and number. As long as you are in the A or B group you are fine. You can pay an extra $10 for A group ( which is what I do) or make sure you log on to check in right at 24 hrs prior. If you have kids under 4 or 5, you get family boarding which I believe is before C group anyway.
The only thing that beats southwest is economy plus or first class with the other airlines. Southwest is better than regular coach with anyone else.
Eta: unless I'm flying with H (who has status) I fly southwest. But I won't even consider spirit or frontier or the like where you even have to pay for carry on bags. Now that I consider equivalent to Walmart.
There is a reason it is called Walmart with Wings.
Southwest is NOT equal Walmart.
Southwest pros: they don't nickel and dime you. - 2 free checked bags -all the soda and snacks you want during the flight - attendants are much more pleasant
The con is that you don't get an assigned seat. But it's not some free for all - they have a process where everyone gets assigned a group and number. As long as you are in the A or B group you are fine. You can pay an extra $10 for A group ( which is what I do) or make sure you log on to check in right at 24 hrs prior. If you have kids under 4 or 5, you get family boarding which I believe is before C group anyway.
The only thing that beats southwest is economy plus or first class with the other airlines. Southwest is better than regular coach with anyone else.
Eta: unless I'm flying with H (who has status) I fly southwest. But I won't even consider spirit or frontier or the like where you even have to pay for carry on bags. Now that I consider equivalent to Walmart.
See, this is where my experience has not been the same.
I'm lurking here, but I love Southwest and go out of my way to fly them actually. The free bags are amazing and as long as you check in early, or pay extra for the priority boarding, you get great seats. I just flew them a few weeks ago with DH and our 3 kids. We were on brand new airplanes, the FAs did so much to help make our travel easy, and they let families board between the A and B groups, so we have never had a problem getting seats all together. Oh, and changing flights is SO easy- no fees, just the price difference in fares, even last minute! I would pay MORE for Southwest. I don't understand the Walmart comment. That said, we would never fly domestic first class in general, let alone with our kids. Southwest isn't anywhere near first class, but it is so much better than coach on the other major US airlines.
I'm A list in Southwest (fly that much with them - actually sitting in the San Diego airport waiting to board my flight to Oakland) and I love Southwest. To say they are equivalent to Walmart has to be from someone who doesn't fly them.
I regularly have to meet up with someone that flies American out of Dallas and his flights are always delayed for one mechanical reason or another.
Southwest is also the only airline I've ever dealt with that has refundable tickets, no hassle changes, and generally has excellent customer service.
It is not the Walmart with wings. It just chooses not to cover up the fact that it is hosing you with add ons and shit service with a guaranteed window seat.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Apr 19, 2015 11:35:20 GMT -5
I vastly prefer Southwest to other airlines. I get pissed at having to pay for checked bags on other airlines, and I hate the way they board -- they should board from the back to the front to make things more efficient, but they never do.
I *think* people with small kids board after A group and before B. So you may not get four seats all together, but you won't have any trouble getting 2 sets of 2 seats together. If getting all four of you together is important, then sign in online exactly 24 hours ahead or pay the $40 per flight ($10/person per flight) for priority boarding.
Post by cleosprite on Apr 19, 2015 11:37:52 GMT -5
I think southwest is great. Their boarding structure can be a problem if you don't like not having assigned seats, but otherwise, they are fantastic. Worth the $1500 in saving, for sure. Not to mention saving the checked bag fee.
Not sure how young your kids are, but if they're small enough, I doubt you'll have any problem sitting two and two. Not many people want to sit next to an unaccompanied toddler, and I'm guessing people will be willing to switch. And that's assuming families with small children don't get called for priority boarding first (I haven't ever flown southwest with kids, so I don't know how they do that).
Southwest is awesome! Less canceled flights and more ontime flights. The no assigned seats is no big deal--pay the extra $10-$15 to board early if you are worried. It is my preferred airline.
Maybe non-budget airlines are better if you have status, but definitely not for me who only makes 4-8 trips a year.
I love Southwest. When a SW flight is available, that's all we fly. We have never had trouble getting seats together. Just check in exactly 24 hours before your flight. (But with young kids, you can board early anyway, I think.)
I would fly Southwest exclusively if possible. In addition to what others have mentioned, their frequent flyer program (Rapid Rewards) is much simpler and than other airlines and they have no blackout dates. Also, if the price of the flight you book drops, you can cancel and rebook the same flight (with no change fee) and pocket the savings! For that reason, I have zero anxiety about trying to time when I book my flights with them. If they have a sale, I just cancel and rebook. Easy peasy. And their customer service has always been awesome in my experience.
I use to hate them, back before they numbered the groups. When it was just A, B, and C and you'd have to get to your gate an hour or more early, just to sit on the floor behind your letter. Now that you get numbered in the group, that true Southwest Stampede experience is gone and it's closer to a typical flight, except no assigned seats and free bags.
I fly them almost exclusively now. Mostly bc they have 85% of the traffic at our local airport. But going to see my folks, I actually choose a southwest flight + 2 hour drive over a US Air flight + layover + 45 min drive.
There is a reason it is called Walmart with Wings.
Southwest is NOT equal Walmart.
Southwest pros: they don't nickel and dime you. - 2 free checked bags -all the soda and snacks you want during the flight - attendants are much more pleasant
The con is that you don't get an assigned seat. But it's not some free for all - they have a process where everyone gets assigned a group and number. As long as you are in the A or B group you are fine. You can pay an extra $10 for A group ( which is what I do) or make sure you log on to check in right at 24 hrs prior. If you have kids under 4 or 5, you get family boarding which I believe is before C group anyway.
The only thing that beats southwest is economy plus or first class with the other airlines. Southwest is better than regular coach with anyone else.
Eta: unless I'm flying with H (who has status) I fly southwest. But I won't even consider spirit or frontier or the like where you even have to pay for carry on bags. Now that I consider equivalent to Walmart.
Boarding for people with kids is after group A and before group B.
There is a reason it is called Walmart with Wings.
Southwest is NOT equal Walmart.
Southwest pros: they don't nickel and dime you. - 2 free checked bags -all the soda and snacks you want during the flight - attendants are much more pleasant
The con is that you don't get an assigned seat. But it's not some free for all - they have a process where everyone gets assigned a group and number. As long as you are in the A or B group you are fine. You can pay an extra $10 for A group ( which is what I do) or make sure you log on to check in right at 24 hrs prior. If you have kids under 4 or 5, you get family boarding which I believe is before C group anyway.
The only thing that beats southwest is economy plus or first class with the other airlines. Southwest is better than regular coach with anyone else.
Eta: unless I'm flying with H (who has status) I fly southwest. But I won't even consider spirit or frontier or the like where you even have to pay for carry on bags. Now that I consider equivalent to Walmart.
I like SW overall. However, another con is their point-->point routing vs. using hubs like other airlines. This makes a cancellation in most airports more annoying, as there are typically fewer flights/day. I know they have been dinged a bit for their safety record as well, but my understanding is that some of that is better now. I would definitely consider SW for future trips and have had pleasant experiences with them in the past.