Southwest -- Not a good Boarding # -- Is there hope?

nkereina said:
I always buy EBCI, mostly so I don't have to worry about checking in exactly at 24 hours. If I had someone I *had* to sit next to, I would most definitely buy the EBCI.

In your case, you could rely on family boarding between the A group and B group. It wouldn't matter what your boarding position is. But if you'd prefer to be in the A group or are picky about where on the plane you sit, I would buy EBCI.
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not so picky on where just making sure making sure the kids are with one of us. I heard the family boarding doesn't really happen since most are families headed to Orlando. Do I just get 2 early check in's?
 
happymom2one said:
not so picky on where just making sure making sure the kids are with one of us. I heard the family boarding doesn't really happen since most are families headed to Orlando. Do I just get 2 early check in's?
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We fly out of Buffalo and we have never been on a Southwest flight that did not have family boarding. Even on flights to Orlando. It may vary by airport, flight, or even staff at the gate.

Technically speaking, you should purchase 4 EBCIs - one for each person so you all board right in a row (most likely). But many people will only buy one or two EBCis for their group and just save seats for everyone else when they board. While saving seats is not against the rules, it could lead to some contention if someone tries to sit in a seat your saving. If you decide to only buy one or two EBCIs, I would head to the back of the plane when you board and check the other two people in exactly at 24 hours.
 
happymom2one said:
So, after reading this... Do you guys suggest the early check in or not? we are a family of 4 flying to Orlando with 2 kids (9 and 3.5). We do not need to sit all together but each kiddo has to be by a parent... I do have a credit, could that be used for the early check in? We are flying on Saturday if that makes a different? Thanks.
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Well...if you're flying on Sat, I'm not sure I would bother with buying EBCI. Many here believe that slots are assigned based on the fare you booked, then when you booked EBCI. We 'think' that if you book your Oct flight back in April, but don't buy EBCI at that time, if/when you decide to buy EBCI, you could find yourself behind all those people that booked their flights after you and bought EBCI at the same time. Is that how it happens? I don't think anyone is 100% sure, but it seems to be about right.
So...if you buy EBCI now, you could still get boarding slots way back in the B group. As far as family boarding goes, the vast majority of airports have it. It's only when there is a huge number of people trying to use it that a gate agent may say it won't be available. I would go with family boarding. You might want to buy EBCI for your return flight though! It's nice not to have to worry about checking in at that 24 hr window while in a park!!!!
 
Well..now I am kind of stressing over this. I asked a few people online if I should buy the EBCI for me and my 3 year old and many people told me up and down that we will be seated together and they won't split us up. We leave in 12 days so EBCI would be pretty pointless to add now, correct? There's no way that they would separate me and my 3 year old, right? I just can't see that happening and I definitely wouldn't let that happen. I don't care at all where we sit on the plane as long as we are sitting directly next to each other. Ugh. I should have just bought it :rolleyes2
 


KT0191 said:
Well..now I am kind of stressing over this. I asked a few people online if I should buy the EBCI for me and my 3 year old and many people told me up and down that we will be seated together and they won't split us up. We leave in 12 days so EBCI would be pretty pointless to add now, correct? There's no way that they would separate me and my 3 year old, right? I just can't see that happening and I definitely wouldn't let that happen. I don't care at all where we sit on the plane as long as we are sitting directly next to each other. Ugh. I should have just bought it :rolleyes2
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I've been on a flight and the FA may ask if someone will move to accommodate you, but they won't make someone move. Since you'll be boarding with the family boarding, I'm pretty sure you'll be OK, just get in line earlier since folks do start lining up in the family boarding line, which is usually behind the disability folks. I fly with my grandkids and ALWAYS have purchased EBCI. I won't take a chance at all! But I generally stick with Jetblue most flights.
 
OP here.

Just got back from vacation late last night. And...we actually got three seats together even with those late boarding numbers! We even got three seats in a row for me and the boys, with one right behind us for DH. Granted, we were only 3-4 rows from the back, but that doesn't bother us at all.


12disneybee said:
Not to be rude, but you know this prior to booking... so I am not sure where the surprise is? If seating is a priority and makes you nervous, choose another airline that assures you get seat assignments.
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And, not to be rude, but the surprise is that with multiple flights, always on the weekends, usually morning flights (the most coveted around here), I've never, ever gotten boarding numbers close to that. So, yes, it was a surprise! We flew out at 4:00 on a Tuesday afternoon, checked in sitting at my computer with my info loaded, waiting to push the button as soon as the clock turned to 24 hours. So to get B50 under those circumstances, yes, it was a surprise.

I always pay for EBCI on the return flight and have no problem doing so. Have never needed to do it on the way down before.
 


n2mm said:
I've been on a flight and the FA may ask if someone will move to accommodate you, but they won't make someone move. Since you'll be boarding with the family boarding, I'm pretty sure you'll be OK, just get in line earlier since folks do start lining up in the family boarding line, which is usually behind the disability folks. I fly with my grandkids and ALWAYS have purchased EBCI. I won't take a chance at all! But I generally stick with Jetblue most flights.
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Family boarding is after group A, not after disability boarding.
Disability boarding
Group A
Family boarding (unless they suspend it due to too many families)
Group B
Group C

Unless you are talking about actual physical lining up, which often is the the same location as where the disability queue begins
 
I think you will be ok, and you saved some $$. They are even old enough to sit alone if necessary.
 
KT0191 said:
We leave in 12 days so EBCI would be pretty pointless to add now, correct?
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Even if you buy EBCI now, while you may be behind people who purchased it earlier, you'd still be in front of the people who didn't purchase it at all and check-in at 24 hours (or later). There's no telling whether you'll be in the A group or not because that depends on how many people purchased EBCI, so there is a possibility you'd be in the B group which then negates the value of EBCI for you since you can board during family boarding (between A and B).

Some people would prefer to take their chances and save a few bucks. Others would prefer to pay to have some peace of mind. Just depends on where you fall. FWIW, EBCI is $15 per person per way so it's not an astronomical fee. It's not much in the grand scheme of things.
 
anonymousegirl said:
Family boarding is after group A, not after disability boarding.
Disability boarding
Group A
Family boarding (unless they suspend it due to too many families)
Group B
Group C

Unless you are talking about actual physical lining up, which often is the the same location as where the disability queue begins
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Yes, I was referring to the location of where the line begins. I know the order, but thanks for clarifying it for those who may be unaware.
 
Fire14 said:
my issue is I like Aisle, hubs like window I'm not spending my 2.5 hr flight climbing over ppl if I can avoid it and hubs wants his window. we buy EBCI or pray for early boarding numbers. I'm sorry that leaves a middle seat but Life happens. My other issue is if I buy EBCI when I buy flights I lose it when I rebook flight for cheaper. I'm in a no win situation.[/QUO
!
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Just wondering how many times you typically have to get up during such a short flight?
 
KT0191 said:
Well..now I am kind of stressing over this. I asked a few people online if I should buy the EBCI for me and my 3 year old and many people told me up and down that we will be seated together and they won't split us up.
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If I had a nickle for every time I shook my head .. when I have read *Oh you won't need EBCI*

well .. I would have a bunch of nickles. I am of the belief that *not all airports* are the same.

What works at one Airport will *not* necessarily work at another Airport.

When I travel to and from my Home Airport .. I will always buy EBCI

Now by saying that .. turnabout is fair play .. I would not suggest that at every Airport EBCI is needed.

Buying EBCI .. is a gamble and for me .. my luck is not always that great .. so I pay for EBCI.
 
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VillainFavs said:
OP here.

Just got back from vacation late last night. And...we actually got three seats together even with those late boarding numbers! We even got three seats in a row for me and the boys, with one right behind us for DH. Granted, we were only 3-4 rows from the back, but that doesn't bother us at all.




And, not to be rude, but the surprise is that with multiple flights, always on the weekends, usually morning flights (the most coveted around here), I've never, ever gotten boarding numbers close to that. So, yes, it was a surprise! We flew out at 4:00 on a Tuesday afternoon, checked in sitting at my computer with my info loaded, waiting to push the button as soon as the clock turned to 24 hours. So to get B50 under those circumstances, yes, it was a surprise.

I always pay for EBCI on the return flight and have no problem doing so. Have never needed to do it on the way down before.
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glad you made out OK. we are flying from PVD at noontime on a Saturday and debated if we needed EBCI but ended up getting it both ways. When I add the $30pp to the fare, SW is still hundreds of $$ less than Jetblue.
 
Another point to make would be the size of the plane on the SW route. Some have 143 seats, others now have 175. We had mid-B's on a 175 seater and there were at least a dozen rows with nobody in them when we boarded. If there aren't 15 business select either, you also move up. In theory, if the plane seats 175, there are 5 business select, the plane wouldn't even be 2/3 full so a 2/2 seating arrangement would be easy to find.
 
ibob52 said:
If I had a nickle for every time I shook my head .. when I have read *Oh you won't need EBCI*

well .. I would have a bunch of nickles. I am of the belief that *not all airports* are the same.

What works at one Airport will *not* necessarily work at another Airport.

When I travel to and from my Home Airport .. I will always buy EBCI

Now by saying that .. turnabout is fair play .. I would not suggest that every Airport EBCI is needed.

Buying EBCI .. is a gamble and for me .. my luck is not always that great .. so I pay for EBCI.
Click to expand...
This is definitely true. EBCI is more important at airports that are common connections, like BWI and midway.

The reason is that you check in for both legs of a flight 24 hours before you first one. So lets say I'm flying to Jacksonville by going ALB - BWI - JAX and your going BWI to JAX.

Neither of us get EBCI. I check in at 24 hours and do just fine. ALB to BWI is such a common flight the numbers aren't bad and BWI to JAX I got to get my pass before all of the people only taking one leg. People that took longer flight or had a longer connection into BWI are still in front of me though.

So when you go to check in your now behind every person that is business select, has EBCI, or just had another flight before this one. Which is most of the plane. Your probably getting into C positions by now.
 
DisneyMommyMichelle said:
On our flight to Dallas, we had terrible numbers and ended up stepping onto a full flight. I got 100% lucky that the flight attendant knew I was flying alone with 3 kids and saved us a row of seats in the very back! My near panic was enough to get me to pay extra for better boarding on the way back!
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Why couldn't you use family boarding?
 
luvbwv said:
Just wondering how many times you typically have to get up during such a short flight?
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Depends on day and time of flight. Sometimes none, sometimes 2. It is just depends on what I was doing prior to getting to airport that day. Plus I have a knee that doesn't like to be bent in tight quarters for long so it's needs stretching and being on asile allows that.
 
My youngest was 7 at the time, so too old for family boarding but too young for me to safely want out of my sight for too long!
 
goofy4tink said:
Just a reminder...EBCI is not 'early boarding'. It's early checkin. And because you're getting checked in 12 hrs before those without EBCI, you should get a better boarding slot. EBCI is just that...early checkin, done by SW, so you don't have to worry about doing it. There will be those passengers that pay for EBCI and get boarding spot A18 and others that pay for it and end up with B47!
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This is what happen to me this evening. I purchased EBCI for both legs of my trip when I purchased the fares in February. I ended up with B47, B48, and B49. We fly out tomorrow (Saturday) to PIT.
I doubt there are many business class passengers. I think everybody now purchases EBCI.
 
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