Anyone know how many SW Early Bird Checkins are sold per flight?

[3happydancers]

For those interested, I did a bit of research and mad a few phone calls. Here is what I learned;

1. When calling the SWA 800 number a choice is given to inquire about policies. I did so and was connected with a representative. Specifically I asked about EBCI and seat saving. My question was: Is it ok to purchase 1 EBCI, board the plane and then save as many seats as I want for others who did not purchase EBCI? The rep's response was: Yes, EBCI is only for the privilege of being checked in at 36 hours. I told her I thought purchasing EBCI was meant to give paying customers the opportunity to choose their seats BEFORE regular boarding passengers. She said that SWA has open seating and EBCI does not guarantee seats and that they do NOT have a policy about saving seats. OK, thank you. She refers me to SWA Customer Service and suggested I call them. So I did.

2. As per SWA Customer Service, if you purchase 1 EBCI, you are allowed 1 seat. If 2 are purchased, you are allowed 2 seats and so on. Seat saving is NOT allowed when it comes to EBCI. I explained that because SWA does not have a written policy, this poses a problem. I also explained that their rep's at the 800 number outwardly tell customers that it is OK to purchase 1 or 2 EBCI's and commence to saving as many seats as they want for those who DID NOT. I also explained how Flight Attendance will not address these problems for the most part because SWA does not have a written policy. I further explained the problems this is causing NOT have a policy in place. Then I asked why I should bother paying for 5 family members and 122.50 later for EBCI when I could just purchase 1 and save all these seats and maybe I should ask for a refund.

The representative was very nice. When I finished speaking, she reiterated that this should NOT be happening and seat saving is NOT allowed when it comes to EBCI. I explained that all of SWA must be on the same page when it comes to giving out policy information verbally and suggested that SWA implement a written policy so that all passengers know the proper rules. She said that this matter would be addressed (don't know how or what will come of it).

There you have it. If you are interested in following up on your own, the phone number to Customer Relations is: 214-932-0333.

 

[3happydancers]

That situation isn't a problem for us, it really isn't. We've dealt with it a couple of times when DH found out later he could get some time off. I have a lower number, he has a higher. We just both board together at his number.

We have done the same exact thing!

 

[gwynne]

For those interested, I did a bit of research and mad a few phone calls. Here is what I learned;

1. When calling the SWA 800 number a choice is given to inquire about policies. I did so and was connected with a representative. Specifically I asked about EBCI and seat saving. My question was: Is it ok to purchase 1 EBCI, board the plane and then save as many seats as I want for others who did not purchase EBCI? The rep's response was: Yes, EBCI is only for the privilege of being checked in at 36 hours. I told her I thought purchasing EBCI was meant to give paying customers the opportunity to choose their seats BEFORE regular boarding passengers. She said that SWA has open seating and EBCI does not guarantee seats and that they do NOT have a policy about saving seats. OK, thank you. She refers me to SWA Customer Service and suggested I call them. So I did.

2. As per SWA Customer Service, if you purchase 1 EBCI, you are allowed 1 seat. If 2 are purchased, you are allowed 2 seats and so on. Seat saving is NOT allowed when it comes to EBCI. I explained that because SWA does not have a written policy, this poses a problem. I also explained that their rep's at the 800 number outwardly tell customers that it is OK to purchase 1 or 2 EBCI's and commence to saving as many seats as they want for those who DID NOT. I also explained how Flight Attendance will not address these problems for the most part because SWA does not have a written policy. I further explained the problems this is causing NOT have a policy in place. Then I asked why I should bother paying for 5 family members and 122.50 later for EBCI when I could just purchase 1 and save all these seats and maybe I should ask for a refund.

The representative was very nice. When I finished speaking, she reiterated that this should NOT be happening and seat saving is NOT allowed when it comes to EBCI. I explained that all of SWA must be on the same page when it comes to giving out policy information verbally and suggested that SWA implement a written policy so that all passengers know the proper rules. She said that this matter would be addressed (don't know how or what will come of it).

There you have it. If you are interested in following up on your own, the phone number to Customer Relations is: 214-932-0333.

Thanks for making that call, and letting us know what you learned. Very much appreciated!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

..... Cc

2. As per SWA Customer Service, if you purchase 1 EBCI, you are allowed 1 seat. If 2 are purchased, you are allowed 2 seats and so on. Seat saving is NOT allowed when it comes to EBCI. I explained that because SWA does not have a written policy, this poses a problem. I also explained that their rep's at the 800 number outwardly tell customers that it is OK to purchase 1 or 2 EBCI's and commence to saving as many seats as they want for those who DID NOT. I also explained how Flight Attendance will not address these problems for the most part because SWA does not have a written policy. I further explained the problems this is causing NOT have a policy in place. Then I asked why I should bother paying for 5 family members and 122.50 later for EBCI when I could just purchase 1 and save all these seats and maybe I should ask for a refund.

The representative was very nice. When I finished speaking, she reiterated that this should NOT be happening and seat saving is NOT allowed when it comes to EBCI. I explained that all of SWA must be on the same page when it comes to giving out policy information verbally and suggested that SWA implement a written policy so that all passengers know the proper rules. She said that this matter would be addressed (don't know how or what will come of it).

.....

I can tell you what will happen; nothing! Flight attendants have no interest in becoming seat saver police and I don't blame them. There's a reason Southwest has no seat saving policy.

 

[3happydancers]

Thanks for making that call, and letting us know what you learned. Very much appreciated!

You are welcome!

 

[3happydancers]

I can tell you what will happen; nothing! Flight attendants have no interest in becoming seat saver police and I don't blame them. There's a reason Southwest has no seat saving policy.

Maybe, Maybe Not! We shall see. Rome wasn't built in a day; and change takes time. SWA I am sure, would not be happy with lost profits.

 

[goofy4tink]

In all reality.....there just aren't enough seat savers per flight to be a huge issue.. This is why FAs don't get involved with seat savers. In theory though?SW should have one policy in place. As I said before, and has now been confirmed..if you ask SW about saving seats, you will get several answers. So, people will ask until they get the answer they want.....then they will say 'Well, I was told by a SW person I can do that', even though someone else was told the complete opposite, also by a SW person. Recipe for a lot of confusion and some angst!

 

[DebbieB]

I can tell you what will happen; nothing! Flight attendants have no interest in becoming seat saver police and I don't blame them. There's a reason Southwest has no seat saving policy.

But their phone reps should not be advocating buying 1 EBCI and saving seats for others. They are costing their company revenue.

 

[3happydancers]

In all reality.....there just aren't enough seat savers per flight to be a huge issue.. This is why FAs don't get involved with seat savers. In theory though?SW should have one policy in place. As I said before, and has now been confirmed..if you ask SW about saving seats, you will get several answers. So, people will ask until they get the answer they want.....then they will say 'Well, I was told by a SW person I can do that', even though someone else was told the complete opposite, also by a SW person. Recipe for a lot of confusion and some angst!

You're right. I needed to call and hear for myself and thought I would share what I learned. At the very least SWA should be giving the same answer; yes it is allowed or no. Don't know why they cannot be consistant

 

[peel]

I can tell you what will happen; nothing! Flight attendants have no interest in becoming seat saver police and I don't blame them. There's a reason Southwest has no seat saving policy.

Maybe not. If there is a written policy that is posted on the SW website for the public and in the Rules and Regulations when purchasing EBCI, the attendants would have something to refer to that spells out in no uncertain terms that seat saving is not allowed. I would love to see this happen. Then there would be no grey area and no basis for argument.

 

[3happydancers]

In all reality.....there just aren't enough seat savers per flight to be a huge issue.. This is why FAs don't get involved with seat savers. In theory though?SW should have one policy in place. As I said before, and has now been confirmed..if you ask SW about saving seats, you will get several answers. So, people will ask until they get the answer they want.....then they will say 'Well, I was told by a SW person I can do that', even though someone else was told the complete opposite, also by a SW person. Recipe for a lot of confusion and some angst!

Maybe not. If there is a written policy that is posted on the SW website for the public and in the Rules and Regulations when purchasing EBCI, the attendants would have something to refer to that spells out in no uncertain terms that seat saving is not allowed. I would love to see this happen. Then there would be no grey area and no basis for argument.

Exactly!

 

[LisaS]

That situation isn't a problem for us, it really isn't. We've dealt with it a couple of times when DH found out later he could get some time off. I have a lower number, he has a higher. We just both board together at his number.

We're always in this situation due to DH being an A-Lister. He will always have a much lower boarding number than I can get with EBCI. He could be as low as A16 while I might be in the A30s to A50s. He lines up and boards with me. We always find seats together.

 

[djmeredith]

For those interested, I did a bit of research and mad a few phone calls. Here is what I learned;

1. When calling the SWA 800 number a choice is given to inquire about policies. I did so and was connected with a representative. Specifically I asked about EBCI and seat saving. My question was: Is it ok to purchase 1 EBCI, board the plane and then save as many seats as I want for others who did not purchase EBCI? The rep's response was: Yes, EBCI is only for the privilege of being checked in at 36 hours. I told her I thought purchasing EBCI was meant to give paying customers the opportunity to choose their seats BEFORE regular boarding passengers. She said that SWA has open seating and EBCI does not guarantee seats and that they do NOT have a policy about saving seats. OK, thank you. She refers me to SWA Customer Service and suggested I call them. So I did.

2. As per SWA Customer Service, if you purchase 1 EBCI, you are allowed 1 seat. If 2 are purchased, you are allowed 2 seats and so on. Seat saving is NOT allowed when it comes to EBCI. I explained that because SWA does not have a written policy, this poses a problem. I also explained that their rep's at the 800 number outwardly tell customers that it is OK to purchase 1 or 2 EBCI's and commence to saving as many seats as they want for those who DID NOT. I also explained how Flight Attendance will not address these problems for the most part because SWA does not have a written policy. I further explained the problems this is causing NOT have a policy in place. Then I asked why I should bother paying for 5 family members and 122.50 later for EBCI when I could just purchase 1 and save all these seats and maybe I should ask for a refund.

Thanks for calling, although I don't think we learned anything new because we had all already agreed that SW had no official policy on the matter. Your own call proves the lack of official policy. The "policy" expert at SW said seat saving is perfectly fine. The "customer service" expert at SW told you seat saving was not okay. I am not a rule breaker, and if SW had a policy against seat saving I would never even attempt it. Since their own employees tell me its okay, then I have absolutely no moral qualms about attempting to save seats on SW.

As to those of you who infer that seat saving is somehow undermining the moral development of children, I think that is ludicrous! Teaching kids to play by the RULES is what every parent should do, and as an aunt that is what I do for the children in my life. However, I also feel strongly that every parent should also teach their children how to obtain everything they can for themselves in life WITHIN THE RULES as long as doing so does not interfere with someone else's rights. Saving the seat is not interfering with the ECBI rights in any way because the only right they have under ECBI is the promise of not having to check themselves in at the 24 hour mark.

Under current SW policy, ECBI is nothing more than paying for the guarantee of not having to check yourself in 24 hours before the flight. It does not guarantee you anything else including the right to a "good seat" or the right to sit together. Keep in mind that SW elite flyers (don't know exactly what they're called) board even before ECBI. And what about disabled passengers who also board before ECBI? What if they take up the precious seats you wanted as an ECBI purchaser? And is it morally wrong for a disabled passenger's travelling companions to board with them so that they get to sit together? None of those able bodied people paid for early boarding yet they get they get to actually occupy a seat before ECBI gets on! (I'm being sarcastic here.) My point is that ECBI does not GUARANTEE you anything so why would you choose to pay for it?

Under the moral argument, how is seat saving any different than the person who buys 0 ECBI but boards last with children on a full flight and asks politely to be allowed to sit together? Is that parent morally wrong for merely asking? They aren't being rude or breaking any rules; therefore, it's no different than seat saving. You might not be willing to do the same thing as them, but it doesn't make it wrong. Just as your unwillingness to take the seat saving gamble doesn't make seat saving wrong. The only entity that can make seat saving wrong is SW, and they haven't done so.

In all reality.....there just aren't enough seat savers per flight to be a huge issue..

This was my point in my original post!! There might be an occassional flight where it is an issue, but overall I doubt it is a significant problem or else the flight attendants' union would have made a stink about all the fighting over seats and the rules/policies would've changed. I can tell you from experience, the FA unions are all over things that jeopardize their members safety, and people fighting over seats would do just that.

And that is really the major point, isn't it. What are we teaching our children and others around us?

We pay the EBCI because we want to sit together and don't want to inconvenience others.

But ECBI does NOT guarantee you either of those things, and if you tell your children it does then you are not being honest (which is more morally wrong than seat saving in my book). ECBI, under SW's current policy, merely guarantees that you will not have to check yourself in 24 hours ahead of your flight.

 

[Gracie09]

Thanks for calling, although I don't think we learned anything new because we had all already agreed that SW had no official policy on the matter. Your own call proves the lack of official policy. The "policy" expert at SW said seat saving is perfectly fine. The "customer service" expert at SW told you seat saving was not okay. I am not a rule breaker, and if SW had a policy against seat saving I would never even attempt it. Since their own employees tell me its okay, then I have absolutely no moral qualms about attempting to save seats on SW.

As to those of you who infer that seat saving is somehow undermining the moral development of children, I think that is ludicrous! Teaching kids to play by the RULES is what every parent should do, and as an aunt that is what I do for the children in my life. However, I also feel strongly that every parent should also teach their children how to obtain everything they can for themselves in life WITHIN THE RULES as long as doing so does not interfere with someone else's rights. Saving the seat is not interfering with the ECBI rights in any way because the only right they have under ECBI is the promise of not having to check themselves in at the 24 hour mark.

Under current SW policy, ECBI is nothing more than paying for the guarantee of not having to check yourself in 24 hours before the flight. It does not guarantee you anything else including the right to a "good seat" or the right to sit together. Keep in mind that SW elite flyers (don't know exactly what they're called) board even before ECBI. And what about disabled passengers who also board before ECBI? What if they take up the precious seats you wanted as an ECBI purchaser? And is it morally wrong for a disabled passenger's travelling companions to board with them so that they get to sit together? None of those able bodied people paid for early boarding yet they get they get to actually occupy a seat before ECBI gets on! (I'm being sarcastic here.) My point is that ECBI does not GUARANTEE you anything so why would you choose to pay for it?

Under the moral argument, how is seat saving any different than the person who buys 0 ECBI but boards last with children on a full flight and asks politely to be allowed to sit together? Is that parent morally wrong for merely asking? They aren't being rude or breaking any rules; therefore, it's no different than seat saving. You might not be willing to do the same thing as them, but it doesn't make it wrong. Just as your unwillingness to take the seat saving gamble doesn't make seat saving wrong. The only entity that can make seat saving wrong is SW, and they haven't done so.



This was my point in my original post!! There might be an occassional flight where it is an issue, but overall I doubt it is a significant problem or else the flight attendants' union would have made a stink about all the fighting over seats and the rules/policies would've changed. I can tell you from experience, the FA unions are all over things that jeopardize their members safety, and people fighting over seats would do just that.



But ECBI does NOT guarantee you either of those things, and if you tell your children it does then you are not being honest (which is more morally wrong than seat saving in my book). ECBI, under SW's current policy, merely guarantees that you will not have to check yourself in 24 hours ahead of your flight.

I must commend you on some excellent justifications of your actions. Ebci guarantees that you will be checked in at 36 hours before your flight or before those who check in at 24 hours. Since boarding position is determined by when you check in (with a few limited circumstances involving people canceling between 36 and 24 hours) if you but ebci you should board and choose your seat before those who don't. As for people who board early due to a disability, they are limited in where they can sit ie can't sit in an exit row and the number of people who board with them are limited to those necessary to get them in there seat, so 1. Elite flyers have essentially bought their position by flying frequently as have those who pay full fare.
In the example of the man boarding with his children, he is not physically moving people from their seat to seat his children. A seat saver is physically preventing another from sitting In their desired seat. Would I say he had morality issues, no but unless he was breathless from running from a late arriving connection, I would say he failed at parenting in that situation.

 

[Marypoppins14]

Well the FAs out of ISP and MCO have been stepping up and helping folks whom purchase EBCI -- the purpose of which is to check in early AND GET A BETTER SEAT SELECTION (contrary to some of the most loosely defined logic that I have ever read -- felt like an ice pick was jammed into my head, reading some of the posts wherein folks justify their poor behavior). My son LOVES the snarky comments by the FAs! "Sorry, folks, but you won't be flying with your imaginary friend on this flight, so please remove your coat or hat or purse from the seat next to you, because it will be filled by the next passenger who wants it. I'm talking to YOU -- the Gentleman in the brown coat and wearing a baseball hat in row 12! And sorry folks, but avoiding eye contact is not going to work today. Let's make nice and move it along, folks!" Hilarious! He even prefers SWA to JetBlue, but I prefer JetBlue - just hate the darned trip to JFK (I avoid LGA). I love the snarky FAs too. They need to load the aircraft quickly and efficiently, and seem to have no time for such nonsense... Anyway that's been my experience... Oh and on one or two flights I observed folks attempting to save seats by taking the aisle seat -- and it went all the way to the rear of the aircraft! So yes there are plenty of seat savers to create plenty of chaos. Thank goodness for the kick - butt FAs!

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok....I looked at what SW says about EBCI....they do say that it gets you checked in, automatically, at the 36 hr mark. BUT......it also says that while buying EBCI doesn't guarantee you an A boarding spot, it does get you checked in before those checking in at the 24 hr mark thereby giving you a better chance of getting the seat you want. So....it is NOT only about being automatically checked in at the 36 hr mark.

Lets say there are 10 families that have decided to pay for just one EBCI. Lets also say that each family has 4 people in it. That now has 10 seats taken legitimately, while 30 seats are now being saved for later arriving family members. Now? There are 2 rows, for each family, with saved seats. 20 rows total! That's 20 rows that are unusable for a family of 3 or more. And...that remaining aisle or window seat will most likely be grabbed by a solo traveler. Very few people will take a middle seat unless that's all there is.

As soon as people feel they can save seats for the rest of their group, we will see fewer and fewer passengers buying EBCI for everyone in the group. They will guy just one,and save the rest of the seats. We will see more and more seats being saved, which will negatively impact those who have bought EBCI! If you are far enough back in the EBCI pack, you could very well have to walk back many, many rows before finding seats for those in your group, that paid for EBCI.

Now.....once this becomes more commonplace, and it will, fewer and fewer people will buy EBCI. SW will start missing that cash cow. I would see SW just raising fares by a small amount, to cover the loss of EBCI sales. Or....they will have to have some consistent policy in effect!

 

[goofy4tink]

Well the FAs out of ISP and MCO have been stepping up and helping folks whom purchase EBCI -- the purpose of which is to check in early AND GET A BETTER SEAT SELECTION (contrary to some of the most loosely defined logic that I have ever read -- felt like an ice pick was jammed into my head, reading some of the posts wherein folks justify their poor behavior). My son LOVES the snarky comments by the FAs! "Sorry, folks, but you won't be flying with your imaginary friend on this flight, so please remove your coat or hat or purse from the seat next to you, because it will be filled by the next passenger who wants it. I'm talking to YOU -- the Gentleman in the brown coat and wearing a baseball hat in row 12! And sorry folks, but avoiding eye contact is not going to work today. Let's make nice and move it along, folks!" Hilarious! He even prefers SWA to JetBlue, but I prefer JetBlue - just hate the darned trip to JFK (I avoid LGA). I love the snarky FAs too. They need to load the aircraft quickly and efficiently, and seem to have no time for such nonsense... Anyway that's been my experience... Oh and on one or two flights I observed folks attempting to save seats by taking the aisle seat -- and it went all the way to the rear of the aircraft! So yes there are plenty of seat savers to create plenty of chaos. Thank goodness for the kick - butt FAs!

One of the issues with SW and seat saving is that many times it isn't truly 'seat saving'....at least not for a family member or friend. They will usually put a coat or other belonging on that middle seat, in the hopes that no one will want to sit there. They have no problem with someone sitting in the window seat, or the aisle seat if they happen to choose the window seat. I have been on many flights where the FAs made the announcement that the flight was nearly full with very few empty seats and to remove any belongings from seats not being used. On one flight like that. There was one really large family group that had spread out over about 5 rows, with two people per row, and a coat in that dread middle seat. Well, you should have seen how fast they moved when the FA announced that the flight was full, with not one unsold seat! It was now obvious that they had hoped to have those middle seats empty so they could spread out......they couldn't move quickly enough! Suddenly there were 2 empty rows right up towards the front. There were some very surprised, but thrilled, people in the late C boarding group!

 

[Leslieloody]

Good gracious people. I am sorry I brought it up. I thought of it as a money saving tip, not to cause an uprising. It was presented to me as a money saving tip and that's how I took it. Heaven forbid SW ever finds out who suggested it, because I'm sure they'll be strung up by their toes. By no means did I mean my comment to take over this thread. One comment even questioned my morals! Really? Morals? My morals are just fine, thank you. I'm off of my soapbox now. Maybe everyone should just please move on.

 

[Anna114]

We live about 10 minutes from ISP airport and the only carriers are SWA and US Airways. US Airways only offers connecting flights; won't take them and they are more expensive. Otherwise I have to travel to JFK which I try to avoid like the plague. So for now, we are stuck with SWA. JetBlue has talked about joining our airport for years, but as of right now, they have not moved forward. Wish they would!

Oh amen! I don't want to schlep to the city for a different airlines. I like the fact that I am 20 minutes from McArthur. I buy EBCI for all in my party, it wouldn't occur to me to buy one EBCI, if everyone was a rule follower things would run much smoother.

As for the PP that said they liked the old way with A/B/C OMgosh hell no! I use to feel such anxiety waiting to get on. I like that if I run a little later (I'm a get there early person) I know my place in line as opposed to the end of the A/B/C line.

 

[3happydancers]

[QUOTE=djmeredith;51009377]Thanks for calling, although I don't think we learned anything new because we had all already agreed that SW had no official policy on the matter. Your own call proves the lack of official policy. The "policy" expert at SW said seat saving is perfectly fine. The "customer service" expert at SW told you seat saving was not okay. I am not a rule breaker, and if SW had a policy against seat saving I would never even attempt it. Since their own employees tell me its okay, then I have absolutely no moral qualms about attempting to save seats on SW.

SWA is absolutely wrong having one area of representatives telling passengers one thing while another department is stating the opposite. The one thing that was confirmed was the purpose of EBCI. The purchase of EBCI provides two things; 1- It allows SWA to check passengers in 36 hours early and 2- Provides an earlier boarding position for a better selection of seats PRIOR to those who chose not to pay for this service. Seat savers can try to justify all they want that they are within their rights to take up as many seats as they want for those who did not pay for said service but the bottom line is, this behavior is wrong; written policy or not. If you purchased 1 EBCI for yourself, then 1 seat is what you get; not 2, 3, 4 or more.

As to those of you who infer that seat saving is somehow undermining the moral development of children, I think that is ludicrous! Teaching kids to play by the RULES is what every parent should do, and as an aunt that is what I do for the children in my life. However, I also feel strongly that every parent should also teach their children how to obtain everything they can for themselves in life WITHIN THE RULES as long as doing so does not interfere with someone else's rights. Saving the seat is not interfering with the ECBI rights in any way because the only right they have under ECBI is the promise of not having to check themselves in at the 24 hour mark.

With all due respect, this behavior does teach children to make wrong choices, regardless if there is a written rule. EBCI is a product for purchase that some believe they don't need yet, will take seats that should have been left empty for those boarding who DID purchase said product therefore this DOES interfere with their right. EBCI is the purchase of being checked in earlier AND provides an EARLIER boarding position than those who decided to take their chances and not purchase that right. Those who purchased to board first get to choose first. Those who chose not to purchase this privilege, do not get to choose first. You do not take something you did not purchase. It's that simple.

Under current SW policy, ECBI is nothing more than paying for the guarantee of not having to check yourself in 24 hours before the flight.

Wrong! It is the guarantee of being checked in 36 hours ahead AND providing an EARLIER boarding position. If one did not pay for this privilege, then one does not have the right to take a seat until that person physically boards the plane.

It does not guarantee you anything else including the right to a "good seat" or the right to sit together.

No one said EBCI guarantees the purchaser a "good seat". It does guarantee them earlier boarding and a better selection of seats PRIOR to those who did not purchase this product.

Keep in mind that SW elite flyers (don't know exactly what they're called) board even before ECBI. And what about disabled passengers who also board before ECBI? What if they take up the precious seats you wanted as an ECBI purchaser? And is it morally wrong for a disabled passenger's travelling companions to board with them so that they get to sit together? None of those able bodied people paid for early boarding yet they get they get to actually occupy a seat before ECBI gets on! (I'm being sarcastic here.) My point is that ECBI does not GUARANTEE you anything so why would you choose to pay for it?

EBCI guarantees a person an earlier boarding position AND provides a better selection of seating than those who chose not to purchase it. When a passenger chooses to buy 1 EBCI for themselves and then saves multiple seats for those who did not make a purchase this is taking what you did not purchase. Would you go into a store and take what you did not purchase???
And even though you are being sarcastic, I have a parent who was very disabled who flew with me and needed assistence boarding so I take this very personal.

Under the moral argument, how is seat saving any different than the person who buys 0 ECBI but boards last with children on a full flight and asks politely to be allowed to sit together?

The difference here is that they waited and ASKED! They did not TAKE!I]
Is that parent morally wrong for merely asking?

No, but again, they did not take it upon themselves to just TAKE seats.They aren't being rude or breaking any rules; therefore, it's no different than seat saving. You might not be willing to do the same thing as them, but it doesn't make it wrong. Just as your unwillingness to take the seat saving gamble doesn't make seat saving wrong. The only entity that can make seat saving wrong is SW, and they haven't done so.

EBCI is meant for those who paid to board early for a better selection of seats. It is not for those who buy 1 EBCI and save multiple seats. If you want to save seats, then wait for regular boarding to begin.

But ECBI does NOT guarantee you either of those things, and if you tell your children it does then you are not being honest (which is more morally wrong than seat saving in my book). ECBI, under SW's current policy, merely guarantees that you will not have to check yourself in 24 hours ahead of your flight.[/QUOTE]

Again, you seem to ignore that EBCI provides 2 services with purchase. It guarantees check in 36 hours ahead AND provides an earlier boarding position than those who chose not to purchase this service. Therefore, if you buy 1 EBCI and board you get to decide where YOU want to sit. You do not get to save additional seats for those who did not pay for this service. If you do, then you are interfering with the rights of others who did purchase this service. In my book, THIS is being dishonest and a wrong lesson to be teaching children.