I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[mamathompson]

If you book want to get away flights next week paying cash ...those flights are not refundable and the travel credits must be used a year from the booking date by the person on the reservation....
If it’s around Easter...those flights from ISP anyway have only gone up ...if it’s later on you may be okay waiting until you get the points and CPs

Well darn, I was hoping there was a way just to switch it to a points booking. It's not around Easter and I don't want to end up with a credit from them so I guess I'll just have to wait and see. It's for a return flight only anyway.

 

[mamathompson]

Actually Delta specifically says "children in strollers/under 2" which is why it's more annoying that teenagers were boarding with multiple adults early. Apparently DL got enough complaints that they're after First/DL One so my heartburn is over. Bad apples definitely spoiled it for the young families for sure. ☹

What is the actual etiquette on family boarding? We haven't used it in a while but will have a three year old and baby on our next trip. Should a family like mine with a variety of ages split up and I do family boarding and DH does regular boarding with the older kids? I guess I just assumed it would be ok for us all to board together but I wouldn't want to be upsetting other passengers or breaking the rules.

 

[Alexle2007]

My building gets bombarded by coupon mailers all the time. But this is San Francisco. Are you in any rush? I’m sure we’ll get another batch in a few weeks.

Maybe I need one so DS can join the cool kid club? But then I would have to purchase him $300 sneakers to go with it.

 

[Alexle2007]

Well darn, I was hoping there was a way just to switch it to a points booking. It's not around Easter and I don't want to end up with a credit from them so I guess I'll just have to wait and see. It's for a return flight only anyway.

Do you have URs? If the price is right, you could easily move URs to cover the flight. It’s at least a Plan B. You won’t be able to move them back but you will at least have gotten your flight.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

My building gets bombarded by coupon mailers all the time. But this is San Francisco. Are you in any rush? I’m sure we’ll get another batch in a few weeks.

Thanks for the offer! I'm all set right now, though who knows, we might want to get a larger checked size bag in the future

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Actually Delta specifically says "children in strollers/under 2" which is why it's more annoying that teenagers were boarding with multiple adults early. Apparently DL got enough complaints that they're after First/DL One so my heartburn is over. Bad apples definitely spoiled it for the young families for sure. ☹

Sorry. I was referring to SW. I’ve never flown DL.

 

[orangecuse]

@tink1970 and its like WHYYY. I am in no rush to get on the plane haha (for airlines w/ assigned seats anyway)

 

[tink1970]

@tink1970 and its like WHYYY. I am in no rush to get on the plane haha (for airlines w/ assigned seats anyway)

Dude, my PDB of course...gotta start getting my diet cokes going

 

[Alexle2007]

What is the actual etiquette on family boarding? We haven't used it in a while but will have a three year old and baby on our next trip. Should a family like mine with a variety of ages split up and I do family boarding and DH does regular boarding with the older kids? I guess I just assumed it would be ok for us all to board together but I wouldn't want to be upsetting other passengers or breaking the rules.

Here’s the info from SW:
Two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.

How old are the older kids? We have let DS12 board on his own at times when my mom was with us. If you comfortabl, DH could board with you and the 2 littles and the others could at their #. (assuming they are not in the A group.)

 

[mamathompson]

Here’s the info from SW:
Two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.

How old are the older kids? We have let DS12 board on his own at times when my mom was with us. If you comfortabl, DH could board with you and the 2 littles and the others could at their #. (assuming they are not in the A group.)

Altogether they will be infant, 3, 8, 10, 12, 14. I would be fine with the older two boarding alone but not the younger four. I guess we should probably just split up.

Do you have URs? If the price is right, you could easily move URs to cover the flight. It’s at least a Plan B. You won’t be able to move them back but you will at least have gotten your flight.

That's a thought, I'll need to think if that's the better strategy or not. Thanks for the info!

 

[tink1970]

What is the actual etiquette on family boarding? We haven't used it in a while but will have a three year old and baby on our next trip. Should a family like mine with a variety of ages split up and I do family boarding and DH does regular boarding with the older kids? I guess I just assumed it would be ok for us all to board together but I wouldn't want to be upsetting other passengers or breaking the rules.

Sorry. I was referring to SW. I’ve never flown DL.

No worries @CyndiLouWho -that's what I figured.

I am totally not the boarding enforcer...it was just something I've noticed at MCO especially. I know SW is 6 and under but DL is much more rigid (well, now that they're gone from allowing teenagers and their adult entourages, lol). I actually felt guilty the last time I flew when a family with a baby went after my boarding group. Again, bad apples and all...

@mamathompson I think it depends on the airline the gate agents at the time. If it's SW @Alexle2007 and others are very knowledge about their proceedings.
Delta likely wouldn't bat an eye if you have baby, DH has baby gear, and one of the older kids is escorting toddler.

 

[LB002]

My emailed 10% off says it has to be in store

Mine worked online on another item, but not on DGC or Lily Pulitzer clearance

Edited: @Haley R my 10% coupon says in store only too! Whoops. It did work on a tester item in my online cart though. Are they working on DGC in store (I'm guessing no!)

 

[Haley R]

I know you didn't ask, but one of my favorite little kids' books is Pout Pout Fish. Great vocabulary and a fun cadence to read aloud. Just a thought

My SIL just mentioned that book! I’ve seen it but I’ve never actually read it. Maybe someone will buy it for us. I have tons of books from when I was a kid but also ones I got from garage sales through the years. I had to go through and get rid of a bunch because I had too many

 

[Haley R]

Mine worked online on another item, but not on DGC or Lily Pulitzer clearance

Huh mine says in store only. I got on in the mail for an additional 5% off that could be used online

 

[LB002]

What is the actual etiquette on family boarding? We haven't used it in a while but will have a three year old and baby on our next trip. Should a family like mine with a variety of ages split up and I do family boarding and DH does regular boarding with the older kids? I guess I just assumed it would be ok for us all to board together but I wouldn't want to be upsetting other passengers or breaking the rules.

At those ages I would have DH go on with the carseats during family boarding. He would install the seats and wipe everything down with wipes (airplanes are one of the only places I'm that germ crazy). He would get out the kids water/toys/tablet and set everything up. I would use that time to do one last potty/diaper stop and then me and the kids would be one of the last people on the plane. That way the kids spend less time cooped up and DH had everything set up and waiting when we arrived.

We would typically sit 3 (2 kids, 1 parent) and 1 on the aisle across.

Now the kids are older, no car seats and they carry their own bags. But by the time we fly SW again we won't have family boarding anymore and will have to pay or chance it!

 

[afan]

You can actually go as low as $500.

Awesome! If I lower it next week mondat would it be enough time to apply a week later? The statement may drop during that time too, but I need to double check the due date when I make a payment.

 

[KPK02090]

Lol that makes me laugh! I definitely would not sit there! How old are the kids - can one of them go during family boarding (</= 6yrs old)? If not, then your plan of doing EBCI for your DH and 3 kids sounds fine to me. This summer, due to canceled flights I ended up with a C29 boarding number, but I was able to use the upgraded boarding and got A3. I share that so you don't think your boarding number indicates anything about the availability of upgraded boarding on the day of the flight.

SW doesn’t actually have a policy against saving seats, or so they’ve said. If none of the kids is 6 or under, I’d go with 2 or 3 EBCI. You, your mom and sister should be able to get 2 rows plus one together.

If it were me I’d get the EBCI for your DH and 3 kids....

..if you are at the airport early enough I don’t think you should have an issue buying 1 of the upgrading boarding positions...even in June when our original flight from MCO was cancelled and the flight we were on was sold out online the upgraded boarding was available

Thanks for the advice! The kids will be 8, 11 and 12, so no family boarding.
But from your comments, I’m feeling better about the upgraded boarding as an option and holding some undesirable seats.
Just keeping my fingers crossed that the prices aren’t as ridiculous, as they currently are on every other airline for my dates. And that I have enough points to cover them.

 

[GusGus16]

Well darn, I was hoping there was a way just to switch it to a points booking. It's not around Easter and I don't want to end up with a credit from them so I guess I'll just have to wait and see. It's for a return flight only anyway.

Yeah unfortunately no way to convert to a point booking when booking with cash. If it is not during a busy time, hopefully you will have no problems getting the flights you need. I have had luck when I had to wait for points or switch a companion with flight availability. The other good news is that for many flights opening price is not the best price and southwest typically does a plethora of sales that you will be able to rebook at the lower point cost.

 

[miztressuz]

Check your Chase Offers!

Lowe's
10% back
Expires 11/22/2019

Earn 10% back on your Lowe's purchase, with a $13.00 back maximum! (Maximize by spending $130.)

The Disney Gift Cards Deals thread is also reporting a better 15% back offer with a $20 maximum.

RE this, don't forget biz cards have offers too now. I got the 15% on my CSR and CIP. ( Didn't notice if anyone found it on a biz yet).

 

[disneybirds]

So my question for the Amex users here is, where have you tried to use Amex and NOT been able to?

Here in the south, I rarely have a merchant not take Amex. The place I hear "we don't take Amex" the most is Portland, Oregon!