? about Southwest charging practices

[irishbosoxfan]

On Saturday I set up our flight for December.

It is 4 ppl with early bird check-in. I got the email that said my total was $702.80

Well I was just going over my bank account and so far Southwest has taken $742.80. Plus I have something on hold. The hold is for $1 but we know how that works.

I don't have anything else coming out of my account so I'm thinking it's Southwest but I won't be able to find out till my bank opens.

I went to the SW site but I can't recreate the $702. Now I get $785.

So my question is...If I set up the flight with the Early Bird Check-in and was sent an email with the total being $702 ((my email doesn't say I have the EBC--Do they usually put that in there?? I've never done EBC before.)) can they charge me more than that?

Now the $40 that it's over by right now is the amount that the EBC cost. Do they charge seperately for it? Should I have gotten another email if that is the case?

If anyone who has a flight pending on SW with EBC could you look at your email and please tell me what it says.

 

[Apopper74]

The Early Bird is considered separate than the flight so it does go on your receipt. In fact you don't get a receipt. It's strange & if you go digging on SW FAQs you will find it. Rest assured what you are experiencing is normal. BTW I love EB & will not fly SW without it.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

The Early Bird is considered separate than the flight so it does go on your receipt. In fact you don't get a receipt. It's strange & if you go digging on SW FAQs you will find it. Rest assured what you are experiencing is normal. BTW I love EB & will not fly SW without it.

Well that's crappy! I didn't pay attention when I was setting up the flight so when I got the email I was like "Ok $702" and wrote that down in my budget book.

Now I'm "short" $40--I just hope that's it. I won't know till 9am what the hold on my account is for but I have to say I'm kinda worried now!

As for your EB---Have you gotten on pretty near the beginning? We are traveling with my sister and her family and they have a 3yo. I told her she will get to go on before the regular boarders because of the baby((I hope that's right!!)) So we got the EB so we can hopefully get a seat near them.

 

[Apopper74]

I meant earlier your EB will not show up on the receipt or in the price. Your boarding position depends on how many A+ travelers (frequent flyers) there and how many purchased the EB. It is not bad, I have always gotten my choice with no issues. I seriously hope it all works for you as far as seating it is a strong possibility but one I will not put any money on. Best bet is the first to board to go to the back of the plane. Most entering the plane tend to choose a suitable seat closer to the entrance.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

As for your EB---Have you gotten on pretty near the beginning? We are traveling with my sister and her family and they have a 3yo. I told her she will get to go on before the regular boarders because of the baby((I hope that's right!!)) So we got the EB so we can hopefully get a seat near them.

Family boarding is after A's and before B's....unless they get A boarding numbers, then they can board in their appropriate order.

 

[andrews_dad]

Family boarding is after A's and before B's....unless they get A boarding numbers, then they can board in their appropriate order.

Family does board after A's and before B's, but I thought that was for families with infants .... not only toddlers at 3 years old.

 

[ilovefh]

Family does board after A's and before B's, but I thought that was for families with infants .... not only toddlers at 3 years old.

I believe it is children under 4.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

Family does board after A's and before B's, but I thought that was for families with infants .... not only toddlers at 3 years old.

Family boarding is for those with children 4 years old or younger.

 

[puffkin]

Family boarding is for those with children 4 years old or younger.

Yes, this is correct. Our last trip in May was the first time we couldn't use family boarding as DS turned 5 in March.

Early Bird check in is a complete waste of money if you have children under age 5.

I personally find it to be a complete waste of money, period except for very special circumstances. I'd rather take that $80 (4 of us travel together) and do something FUN in Disney! But then again, we have an iPhone so no big deal checking in 24 hours early AND we don't really care if we get seperated. We fly a lot though on Southwest and have never gotten worse than a low B.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

yes, this is correct. Our last trip in may was the first time we couldn't use family boarding as ds turned 5 in march.

Early bird check in is a complete waste of money if you have children under age 5.

I personally find it to be a complete waste of money, period except for very special circumstances. I'd rather take that $80 (4 of us travel together) and do something fun in disney! But then again, we have an iphone so no big deal checking in 24 hours early and we don't really care if we get seperated. We fly a lot though on southwest and have never gotten worse than a low b.

+1

 

[malibuconlee]

Haven't done the EB, however, it would make sense for $702 to be your flight price. Then for $40 for the outbound, and $40 for the return, so $782 would be the "correct" amount, unless they add tax onto the EB.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

Thanks for the answers everyone.

I can't figure out why they don't put the EBC in the email. If I get there and they don't let me board early, I don't have proof I paid for it. KWIM.

I don't like SW but it was the best price for a nonstop flight so we took it. I like to be with my kids. The youngest two are 9 and 13. The 13yo would probably be ok but the 9yo isn't a fan of flying.

I got the EBC so we could get on earlier and be able to sit with her. Plus it would be extra sets of hands to help my DSIS out.

 

[ilovefh]

Thanks for the answers everyone.

I can't figure out why they don't put the EBC in the email. If I get there and they don't let me board early, I don't have proof I paid for it. KWIM.

I don't like SW but it was the best price for a nonstop flight so we took it. I like to be with my kids. The youngest two are 9 and 13. The 13yo would probably be ok but the 9yo isn't a fan of flying.

I got the EBC so we could get on earlier and be able to sit with her. Plus it would be extra sets of hands to help my DSIS out.

You won't get to board early. EBC just checks you in and gives a seating assignment at 36 hours rather than 24 hours if you do it yourself. The letter and number you get will depend on how many people before you bought EBC.

 

[fireflymedic]

If your going to be arond a computer 24 hrs before your flight, you can regester on line or what ever they call it and get a pretty low B setting,

from what I'v seen the A peopel will take up all the emergency exits seats (they have extra leg room) and the isle seats, the very very low B numbers take the windows so if you board last you have to break up the group all getting middle seats.

If you have a long flight paying for the A seating level is prob. worth it. but if its short prob. is a waiste of the $10.

 

[hsmamato2]

not to steal the thread,but,when buying EB,which I did for an upcoming trip, does it show anywhere? I'm sure I did, but I don't know where to find confirmation of this....(scatterbrained)