Aloha Maui: Southwest Airlines

When Southwest Airlines officially announced service to and from Hawaii, there was a lot of excitement throughout the state.  When the airlines released super low introductory fares, it was a frenzy!

I just happened to be texting @melissa808 about a future trip, and she had asked if I wanted to go to Maui.  Long story short, we snagged unbelievably low round-trip fares to Kahului, and along with @incureablepicture, @yumiozaki, and @merelow, we set out for an #AlohaMaui adventure.

Seating at Southwest Airlines is first-come, first-serve based on check-in time.  You are given the option to pay for priority boarding, but if you remember to check-in exactly 24 hours prior, you will get an earlier boarding group and number compared to those who don't check-in until later.

Each way of my trip I checked in exactly 24 hours before and got in group A.

 You line up when your group is called, and try to stand in order based on numbered stands.

Since there is no assigned seating, you can sit wherever you wish. 

Yumi and I had group A.  Everyone else had group C, but we all managed to sit near each other. 

(Meredith is across the aisle from Melissa)

If you are traveling with kids and are all in one record, and if you can set a reminder to check-in early, you should have no problems being seated together.

On the return, we all had group A, so it was easier for all of us to sit in two rows. 

Onboard all guests are served juice and pretzels.  

Many commented on how roomier the plane was, and of course the 2 free checked bags are a big perk!  

I thought the service was friendly, and I would definitely fly Southwest Airlines again!