As anyone flown since SW is limiting the number of EBCI

[Dznypal]

I booked our flights to MCO a few months just before SW said they were making changes.
I always take the EBCI
So as usual I bought but for this trip but wondering how will this effect our EB
We take the get away fare and since I check for cheaper fares it only lists EB for the higher fares with more perks.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If I understand it correctly, they're capping the number of EBs they'll sell for some flights. If you successfully purchased one for your flight, you shouldn't have any issue. I think the biggest change could be when someone goes to purchase EB and none are offered. Unless I'm misunderstanding the change they announced..........

 

[Dznypal]

since I had some time on my hands this morning I called SW and asked
I was told that EB was on my reservation and nothing for us had changed
I like to see how the fares are going so every once in a while I check as if I was making a new booking
and for the wanna get away it does not say anything about EB
but its listed under the most expesive booking so Im assuming thats the only fare you can buy EB
looks like I may have to look into other options for any other trips
I wish theyd do something about family boarding instead of letting them board between A and B this just pushes more people that paid for EB farther back as far as getting on the plane
I wounder how it would work if families boarded but went to the back of the plane
seems like they get a bit more perk being able to board early and not having to pay for EB oh well

 

[Dznypal]

as usual I was looking to see if there any cheaper fare for our trip
also these changes to EBCI still sort of bothered me
so I kept going as if I was making a new booking
and right after you fill in your name and everything
it asks if you wnat to buy EBCI
so its still available for end of Jan trips

I thought it would be listed right where they have wanna get away--and all the way up since it lists it for the most expensive fares
so looks like the only way to tell if you can get EBCI is to wait till you get to the information page

 

[focusondisney]

EBCI is included in anytime fares, so yes, it is listed as a benefit of that fare class. WGA & WGA + fares can purchase it. SW has not said exactly how they will limit EBCI. Most people assume it will be available until a certain amount of seats have been booked with it. They also haven’t said if they will note anywhere on the website that it isn’t available a particular flight. So it does seem the only way to know if it is available for your flight is to try to book it.

Just FYI, I haven’t read any reports of it being unavailable for purchase yet.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

We purchased EBCI for our late Oct flight and purchased on opening day. We did make a change for a price drop both was about 3 months before the flight. We flew out on a Wednesday and our flight a several open seats we were A 21-22 and family boarding was not a problem. On the return, a Sunday, they announced that family boarding had 32 children. We got B30-3. I was almost sorry I paid for EBCI with so many people getting family boarding. We found some of the last pairs of seats available. Returning from MCO with EBCI may not be worth it anymore. YMMV

 

[Dznypal]

I’m rather surprised yet not surprised that with 32 kids they even had family boarding usually if there so many kids I heard they sometimes don’t offer it


They really need to figure out a different way with families and EBCI. The ones that paid for EBCI should board before families since they paid extra while I know EBCI only gets yiu checked in earlier but when 30 families without EBCI boards before you that only obviously pushes every else back.

Those with young kids know they don’t have to buy extra when they can just go with family boarding

 

[juxtapose]

This was not a MCI flight, but we had early bird over Thanksgiving home from Cancun and got C15 (we booked months in advance). It was crazy, I have 2 kids but the youngest is 8 so we can’t usually do family boarding. They let us family board as they felt bad, and we still got the 2nd to last row available.

I just bought it again for our WDW trip in April and I hope we have a better experience, it was available for both flights. I just want to sit by my kids so they aren’t by a stranger, it shouldn’t be that difficult I would think.

 

[Mle8308]

I think restricting seating for family boarding to the back of the plane (certain section beyond a set row) would be a good idea if families choose not to pay for early boarding. They are still able to sit together, and if they want to sit closer to the front, they pay for EB. Let it be known ahead of time so people are aware and can make choices. Better than not offering it at certain destinations. There are always tons of kids on flights to/from Orlando and it can be frustrating for people who paid for EBCI and literally 40 people board before them who did not (when between A and B groups). This happened on my last flight out of MCO. Fortunately I was in group A. It's one of the reasons I'll only fly SouthWest if it's a really good fare and a good flight time.

 

[RedHead0186]

I just purchased several flights on Southwest to various destinations, and was offered (and purchased) ECBI for each flight. Never saw that it was limited/unavailable on any of the flights I booked.

 

[IndyToThere]

I think restricting seating for family boarding to the back of the plane (certain section beyond a set row) would be a good idea if families choose not to pay for early boarding. They are still able to sit together, and if they want to sit closer to the front, they pay for EB. Let it be known ahead of time so people are aware and can make choices. Better than not offering it at certain destinations. There are always tons of kids on flights to/from Orlando and it can be frustrating for people who paid for EBCI and literally 40 people board before them who did not (when between A and B groups). This happened on my last flight out of MCO. Fortunately I was in group A. It's one of the reasons I'll only fly SouthWest if it's a really good fare and a good flight time.

Yep, this happened to us as well when we flew to Orlando for our Oct trip. I've never really paid that much attention to the amount of people in Family Boarding until that flight. I counted at least x40 people on the outbound flight (and appeared to be about a similar number on the return flight). We had Early Bird purchased and got B3 -B5 on one flight and B4 - B6 on the other.

I'm all for families sitting together... that's the reason why we pay for EarlyBird. But when families who didn't pay for it get to jump in front of the non-A EarlyBird ticketholders, that's not right. I'm with you - have the non-EB family groups load in the back of the plane. It would be more efficient anyway by giving them time and room to get in their seats while the B group can find theirs seats closer to the front or middle.

 

[easyas123]

I think restricting seating for family boarding to the back of the plane (certain section beyond a set row) would be a good idea if families choose not to pay for early boarding.

I think that is a excellent idea.

 

[mmouse50]

Also with EB - they give out the lower "A" boarding numbers to the people that bought anytime fares and people that are A Listers, first. Then the ones that actually purchased the ticket and lastly the ones that are flying on travel miles. So depending on how you stand with Southwest you will either be lucky enough to get in the "A" boarding group or you will end up in the "B" boarding group and waste your money on EB (the way I feel) because you have to board after all the families (including grandpa and grandma). I feel that Southwest needs to limit the number of families boarding in family boarding - saving the back section of the plane is a good idea.

 

[EACarlson]

Also with EB - they give out the lower "A" boarding numbers to the people that bought anytime fares and people that are A Listers, first. Then the ones that actually purchased the ticket and lastly the ones that are flying on travel miles. So depending on how you stand with Southwest you will either be lucky enough to get in the "A" boarding group or you will end up in the "B" boarding group and waste your money on EB (the way I feel) because you have to board after all the families (including grandpa and grandma). I feel that Southwest needs to limit the number of families boarding in family boarding - saving the back section of the plane is a good idea.

You're factually incorrect. Check in order at T-36 goes, A List Preferred, A List, Anytime then EBCI in order of EBCI purchase of Wanna Get Away Plus, and finally EBCI on Wanna Get Away fares in order of purchase. Cash vs points is not a factor. My MCO flight in October I was A32 on the way down and A28 on the way back.
The test of boarding families first in the back half of the plane didn't show any real difference in available seats.
SW really needs to get better about enforcing the two adults with all children six or under. No additional people and it would be just fine. Mom, dad and the five year old in family isn't the problem, it's when one five year old is then used to bring on the three older siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents that it becomes an issue.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Then the ones that actually purchased the ticket and lastly the ones that are flying on travel miles.

Yeah no that's not how SWA works.

We've flown on points for IDK 5 years now for leisure and my husband travels for work frequently enough not on points. There's no difference between purchased on cash or purchased on points in determining boarding position. He's been A-list that whole time (since 2016), we had Companion 2016-2017 and have had promotional Companion (meaning only good for a certain time) for coming up on 3 years now.

The Boarding position all depends on each and every flight and the composition of it and does not take into consideration cash vs points.