early bird check in with southwest

[babygirlamg]

so im confused...i got the ealry bird check in with southwest....now i thought there going to e mail me the boarding passes 36 hour before trip....but i havent got any e mail....the 24 hour mark is at 1:30pm......how does the early bird work..

 

[diesel]

they won't be emailing the boarding passes. Just go on line at the 24 hour mark and print them out. They'll check you in at 36 hours but for some reason you can't print them out until the 24 hr mark.

 

[goofy4tink]

SW doesn't email you anything. You have to do online checkin to get the boarding passes printed out. OR, just wait until you get to the airport.
Basically, when you buy EBCI, SW checks you in at the 36 hr mark, rather than you doing it for yourself at the 24 hr mark. Then, when you go get to the 24 hr mark, in your case 1:30, you can go to the SW site and print out your boarding passes. There are no emails involved.
Hope that helps a bit.

 

[babygirlamg]

thank you

 

[2binak]

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but I had a question about early check-in: SW's site says that early check-in doesn't gaurantee you A boarding. Can someone please tell me what is the advantage of early check-in is if it doesn't get in the A boarding group? Thanks!

 

[rwdavis2]

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but I had a question about early check-in: SW's site says that early check-in doesn't gaurantee you A boarding. Can someone please tell me what is the advantage of early check-in is if it doesn't get in the A boarding group? Thanks!

The advantage is that it checks you in 12 hours before anyone who did not buy EBCI. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone that did not get an A pass using EBCI. For us, the real advantage is having the checking done while you do something else. Mainly the return flight home. I don't have to mess with my cell phone while in the parks.

If you got a B with EBCI just think how screwed the people are that did not buy it.

 

[LisaS]

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but I had a question about early check-in: SW's site says that early check-in doesn't gaurantee you A boarding. Can someone please tell me what is the advantage of early check-in is if it doesn't get in the A boarding group? Thanks!

With EBCI, passengers are checked in in the order in which they purchased EBCI. Also, those who bought full-fare tickets and those with A-list status will be checked in ahead of everyone else. So depending on the number of full-fare passengers, the number of A-listers and the number of people who purchased EBCI before you did, you could end up in the B group. EBCI works best for those who purchase tickets early and add EBCI at that time. It also works for those who would rather enjoy the parks on their last day rather than have to remember to check themselves in 24 hours out.

 

[Tara]

With EBCI, passengers are checked in in the order in which they purchased EBCI. Also, those who bought full-fare tickets and those with A-list status will be checked in ahead of everyone else. So depending on the number of full-fare passengers, the number of A-listers and the number of people who purchased EBCI before you did, you could end up in the B group. EBCI works best for those who purchase tickets early and add EBCI at that time. It also works for those who would rather enjoy the parks on their last day rather than have to remember to check themselves in 24 hours out.

This has not been my experience at all. My experience checking in different family members with different confirmation numbers is that the ones checked in first got better numbers, despite when EBCI was added to each or when each fare was purchased.

Also, I often fly business select and despite booking after my boss, who until just recently was A-list and I wasn't, I was sometimes able to get A1 while he got A2. His assistant was always chagrined when I beat her in the check in process.

The other thing to remember for ECBI is where your flight originates. If you fly out of BWI, for instance, there will likely be people connecting in BWI from other cities. By virtue of the fact that they will have left their first departure city earlier in the day, they'll be able to check in earlier the day before...and therefore they'll get "better" numbers for the connection out of BWI because they're able to check in before people who begin their journey at BWI. (that was a convoluted explanation - sorry)

 

[jacthree]

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone that did not get an A pass using EBCI.

You have now. I got a B3 in November, leaving San Diego.

 

[jfugina]

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone that did not get an A pass using EBCI.

You have now. I got a B3 in November, leaving San Diego.

Add me to that list. We got a B5 out of Orlando with EBCI just this month. But... considering we were coming off a cruise, where we had no ability to check ourselves in or print passes before getting to the airport, it was still worth it.

 

[LisaS]

This has not been my experience at all. My experience checking in different family members with different confirmation numbers is that the ones checked in first got better numbers, despite when EBCI was added to each or when each fare was purchased.

I have read that before here on the boards so I tried an experiment of my own recently. I purchased my ticket and added EBCI first, then purchased DH's ticket and added EBCI. When I checked in 24 hours out, I checked DH in first, then me. I had the lower boarding number. So while this has happened to some people, it's not something that can be duplicated at will.

Someone offered a plausible explanation for why these aberrations occur. Perhaps if there have been cancellations, the system fills in the holes in the boarding positions as people check in at 24 hours out. So a few people get lucky and get a lower position despite when they purchased EBCI.

For the most part it seems to work as expected, given how few reports there are here of out-of-order boarding assignments.

Also, I often fly business select and despite booking after my boss, who until just recently was A-list and I wasn't, I was sometimes able to get A1 while he got A2. His assistant was always chagrined when I beat her in the check in process.

I believe Business Select fliers get assigned before A-listers so that sounds correct that you got a lower boarding position with a Business Select fare than he got as an A-lister. Also customers who purchased Anytime Fare tickets have priority over those who purchased Wanna Get Away, Senior or DING fares.

 

[Tissa]

I used EBCI for a flight out of Mco today and I received A-60. I mentioned that I was surprised when I was checking my bag and was told that was because everyone is using EBCI. Sounds like if you do not use it you may have no hope of getting an A on your own. I did better before EBCI.

 

[LisaS]

I used EBCI for a flight out of Mco today and I received A-60. I mentioned that I was surprised when I was checking my bag and was told that was because everyone is using EBCI. Sounds like if you do not use it you may have no hope of getting an A on your own. I did better before EBCI.

I agree. If you purchase your ticket as soon as SWA announces its schedule and add EBCI immediately you will get a low boarding assignment. If wait to purchase your ticket or add EBCI some time after you purchase your ticket, you have no idea what you're going to get, other than that it will be better than not purchasing EBCI at all.

It's still worth it to us for the convenience. It's one less thing to remember to do the day before our trip and we can fully enjoy our last day at WDW without having to think about checking in for our return flight.

 

[francie57]

We have never flown Southwest before so this is all new to me. We have always used Delta in the past with assigned seat but they did away with all non-stops to Orlando so we are going Southwest this trip since they have better times than JetBlue. We purchased our tickets as soon as they were available and bought the early boarding at the same time so we are hoping for good numbers when the time comes for our flights.

 

[rwdavis2]

We have never flown Southwest before so this is all new to me. We have always used Delta in the past with assigned seat but they did away with all non-stops to Orlando so we are going Southwest this trip since they have better times than JetBlue. We purchased our tickets as soon as they were available and bought the early boarding at the same time so we are hoping for good numbers when the time comes for our flights.

Don't worry you'll be fine. I'm almost at the point where I prefer SW to airlines with reserved seats. Consider that if a flight is cancelled where you have a reserved seat you could get put anywhere on the new flight. But with SW you may be better off with just a boarding position.

 

[2binak]

Wow - thank you all so much for the responses! Op - again, I am so sorry for hi-jacking your thread.

I just added EBCI to our tickets!

 

[mommytocalliesue]

So let me get this straight....if we did EBCI and are staying at a Disney Resort....they will print our boarding passes for us...correct??!!

 

[goofy4tink]

So let me get this straight....if we did EBCI and are staying at a Disney Resort....they will print our boarding passes for us...correct??!!

That hasn't been my experience. I have never been one of those who found their SW stuff in their room, or hanging from their door knob. I have always had to go down to RAC and get checked in...but that's okay with me. I have to go there anyway, to deliver my bags, so what's the big deal with having them print out my bp's.
Let me amend this by saying that yes, they will print out boarding passes. You don't need to have access to a printer. You can just head down to the front desk, or concierge area, of your resort and your boarding passes can be printed out, at the 24 hr mark. I made an assumption earlier....thinking you meant that you needed to do nothing, that your printed out boarding passes would just magically 'appear' in your room. Just wanted to be clear.

When flying SW, A1-15 are always saved for business select people, A-listers. BUT.....in all the times I've flown SW, I have never seen that group full...usually there is no one in those slots, sometimes just a few. I have actually paid full fare and been able to get A1-3..that was kinda nice.
But generally speaking, the regular, everyday traveler is going to start with A16 and go up from that. With so many people now buying EBCI, we are going to see many more EBCI people getting slots in the early B boarding group. I have only one issue with that....the family boarding group, especially when flying into and out of MCO. I truly would not be happy with paying extra only to have a largish family board prior to me. As long as SW is consistent with their family boarding policy...one adult family member per child...I'll be okay with it. But, don't start letting the entire family board together.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I just wanted to add that I'm a new A-lister who flies monthly to MCO and the best boarding number that I've had as one has been A20. Normally it has been closer to A23-25, so it seems there are quite a few of us which, depending on how many people buy EBCI, you could easily get placed in the B's.

 

[LisaS]

With so many people now buying EBCI, we are going to see many more EBCI people getting slots in the early B boarding group. I have only one issue with that....the family boarding group, especially when flying into and out of MCO. I truly would not be happy with paying extra only to have a largish family board prior to me. As long as SW is consistent with their family boarding policy...one adult family member per child...I'll be okay with it. But, don't start letting the entire family board together.

What they ought to do in that situation is allow all EBCI purchasers to board, even those in the B group, before family boarding. I wonder if they will make some adjustments to their boarding procedure now that more passengers are paying for EBCI and some are ending up with B boarding passes.