Originally Posted by
Fangorn
If you check in at the 24 hour mark, you really shouldn't have any issue with sitting together. You will most likely get an A boarding pass. If not, you can just do family boarding between the A and B groups.
It is mathematically impossible for there NOT to be at least 47 seats available in groups of 2 or more after the A group boards. Realistically, there will be 15 or more rows completely unoccupied at that point.
I'm sure it has happened that families have been split up, but my experience has been that even with C boarding pass and a completely full plane, SW will do their absolute best to figure out a way. On a flight in June, the flight was completely full. The last person to board was a mom with 3 children under 6(?). Before she even stepped onto the plane, the flight attendants were explaining the situation, and asking for volunteers to move around so as to seat them all together. There were so many
volunteers, that the family was seated quickly, and there was a round of drinks for the whole plane for being such good sports.
Unless you're a family of 54, you don't really need to worry. :)
The early bird thing is great for the flight home though - you just don't have to even think about taking time from your vacation to do the check in chore.
Steve