A Few Southwest Booking Questions

[Disneybuckeye]

We flew SW out of CMH a few years ago on a 10am flight. No EBCI, but received A20 & 21. Flight originated out of DEN. The only seats together when we boarded the plane were in an exit row where you cannot sit. Have you looked at Delta?

 

[jeweaver]

Yes, Disney will print BPs for you but they don't actually check you in. I believe you still have to do that yourself. At least this has been my experience.

Nope. They do actually check you in. Have done it many times

 

[jeweaver]

I never thought to just book Early Bird for one or two of us and they could get seats for the rest of us. Will the system allow you to just book it for two individuals? Something to think about.

Yep. You can add it for just one of you

 

[jeweaver]

Y

You can choose who in your party you want it for when you purchase - I have myself with a lap infant, a 6 year old, and DH. I purchased ebci for DH and DS6 but not myself since ill get family boarding.

And saving seats on SW seems to be controversial, but from what I've read it isn't against policy so you can try but aren't guaranteed it will work.

All of you can actually board using family boarding. Although for the last few years they make you do family between a and b group instead of before a. It used to make me mad when people would save seats but they definitely allow it. Lots of people do it. So we decided to just go with the flow when needed

 

[Meeko5]

Y
All of you can actually board using family boarding. Although for the last few years they make you do family between a and b group instead of before a. It used to make me mad when people would save seats but they definitely allow it. Lots of people do it. So we decided to just go with the flow when needed

I'm hoping that's the case, but I've heard conflicting stories so for piece of mind on our return flight (with layover) I.opted to.spend the extra for ebci. I'm secretly hoping DH somehow gets stuck with both kids and I sadly have to sit alone (I kid, I kid).

 

[AngieInOH]

Y
All of you can actually board using family boarding. Although for the last few years they make you do family between a and b group instead of before a. It used to make me mad when people would save seats but they definitely allow it. Lots of people do it. So we decided to just go with the flow when needed

I thought I kept reading you had to have a child 4 or under for Family Boarding.

 

[AngieInOH]

We flew SW out of CMH a few years ago on a 10am flight. No EBCI, but received A20 & 21. Flight originated out of DEN. The only seats together when we boarded the plane were in an exit row where you cannot sit. Have you looked at Delta?

Have to fly SW. I have enough points for at least 3 round trips... possibly 4.

 

[Meeko5]

I thought I kept reading you had to have a child 4 or under for Family Boarding.

This is correct based on their policy - which says 1 adult may board with the child. However I've read many instances where the whole party was able to board, and other where they let anyone with young-ish kids and their families board early as well. For me, I'm planning on myself and the infant getting family boarding and will be happy DH and DS get to come then too. If not, ill try to save seats. If that doesnt work, sucks to be us

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Can I tag along here?
It's been a while since I've been on the transportation board and even longer since I've felt the need to book as soon as SW releases new dates but I'm wondering what time do they open the calendar? It used to be around 11 am ET but then it seemed much earlier the last time I had to do this. Does anyone know when exactly they've been releasing the new dates?
I need spring break tickets and have a feeling they'll jump in price if I don't get them early.
Thanks!

 

[Kirk]

My daughter did a very similar thing but a little more complicated. Her, I and her 3 kids with 2 points accounts. Enough points between the two us to do 3.5 out of 5. Did it over the phone. Ended up on 2 separate reservations. Bought the early bird later even though we'll be with a 3 YO just to be sure.

 

[jeweaver]

I thought I kept reading you had to have a child 4 or under for Family Boarding.

They let the whole family board with the child. We fly 2-3 times a year with Southwest and that has always been the case. The rules used to be that if one of the kids was 5 or under u could use it but they changed it a year or two ago to 4. However we still use family boarding and thy have never once questioned her age and she just turned 6.

 

[kaytieeldr]

They let the whole family board with the child. We fly 2-3 times a year with Southwest and that has always been the case. The rules used to be that if one of the kids was 5 or under u could use it but they changed it a year or two ago to 4. However we still use family boarding and thy have never once questioned her age and she just turned 6.

Please stop cheating.

As for saving seats, SWA has no policy. They neither allow nor prohibit it. If you're saving a seat and someone who boards before your travel companion wants it, it's theirs.

 

[AngieInOH]

FAQ off of Southwest:
If a Customer is booked in the same reservation with other Passengers, can he/she purchase EarlyBird Check-In even if the others do not choose to do so?
Yes, if EarlyBird Check-In is purchased and added to an existing itinerary. If EarlyBird Check-In is purchased within the same transaction as the air purchase, then all eligible Customers must purchase EarlyBird Check-In as well.

Does this mean if I want to purchase Early Bird for just a couple of us I need to first purchase the flights, and not add Early Bird. Then after that is complete I can go in and add Early Bird to just specific people?

 

[HeatherC]

Yes...you can pay for EBCI after booking flights...right up until a day or so before the flight.

 

[pooch]

Nope. They do actually check you in. Have done it many times

Not that I am doubting your word! But I have been flying SWA to Disney since before it was RAC eligible. Since then, I have always found our BPs in with our DME paperwork on our door. But I have always checked us in. I'd love to experiment and see if Disney does check me in but I'm afraid of what I'd get for a BP if you're wrong!!! Anyone else able to confirm this?? Wouldn't they need your confirmation #? How would they get it?

 

[Julylady]

We always buy early bird seating. It buys me peace of mind which is well worth the $96 it costs me. On our last direct flight to Orlando, the gate agent announced that there would be no family boarding between groups A and B due to the large number of families. Just a heads up.

And saving seats didn't seem to be working too well on my last couple of Southwest flights. My advice would be to buy EBCI if sitting together is important.

 

[Geomom]

Not that I am doubting your word! But I have been flying SWA to Disney since before it was RAC eligible. Since then, I have always found our BPs in with our DME paperwork on our door. But I have always checked us in. I'd love to experiment and see if Disney does check me in but I'm afraid of what I'd get for a BP if you're wrong!!! Anyone else able to confirm this?? Wouldn't they need your confirmation #? How would they get it?

We 'used' to let Disney check us in...then in 2010 we stayed at Saratoga Springs...the other 4 people in our party got checked in and boarding passes in the B 20-30 range...'I' never got checked in until I got to the airport and ended up at the end of the C group. I was NOT happy. Ever since then we've always done EBCI on the way home, and in the past year have switched to doing EBCI both ways as we keep ending up further and further into the B's if I do it myself right at 24 hrs out. (Must be more people doing EBCI.)

 

[sharona]

I always buy ebci unless traveling alone. It is a real stress saver not to have to worry about it. And the earlier you buy the ebci the better your number so just get it when you book.

When checking flights I just automatically add $25 to any SW fare when comparing with other airlines. For the others I add their baggage fees if I don't get free bags due to status or a credit card perk.

 

[AngieInOH]

Booked this morning!!! Had enough points for 4 round trips!! Wahoooo!! With my savings I think I'll get the EBCI. Didn't get it initially because I just wanted to be sure to get the flights booked. Thanks everyone for your help!!!

 

[austinwildflower]

Buying just one EBCI seat and then saving a seat for someone who didn't buy it is completely unfair. You're denying others who purchased EBCI the right to choose any empty seat by doing that. If you have to sit together, either everyone should buy EBCI or you should all wait together in a latter boarding position.