Disappointed With Southwest Early Bird Check In

[Magic2000]

My family just returned from a wonderful Disneyland vacation.

I purchased my family's SW tickets as soon as they were released (I believe it was in November), and I bought the Early Bird Check In at that time. In late January, my mom decided to join us, so I bought her plane tickets and early bird check in at that time. My DD's friend came with us, but bought her tickets in May. I only did early bird check in for DD friend on the return trip.

Now, we did get A boarding passes, but my mom got A21, and I bought her early bird check in in late January. We had A33, A34, and A35, and my tickets were bought in November!

On the return flight, DD friend got A39, and we got A44, A45, and A46. Mom had A52.

I thought the early bird check in was done in order of when you bought your tickets/early bird check in. But that was not the case.

I'm still glad I did the early bird check in, so at least we didn't have to worry about checking in on our trip. I was a little disappointed that it didn't go in order though. Just wanted to let everyone know....

 

[NotUrsula]

What happened was that your Mom and your DD's friend got recycled EBCI positions.

This is a known bug in the EBCI system; there is discussion about it on Flyertalk all the time. The reason that it happens is that if someone who has purchased EBCI cancels their ticket, the position that they have goes back into the pool at the time of cancellation. It very much favors business passengers, who tend to book closer to travel date, and sometimes, on routes with a high percentage of EBCI purchases, some passengers who just check in at the airport get the best spots of all, because of last-second cancellations by business passengers. You can't count on gaming the system, however -- it's entirely luck of the draw.

 

[DebbieB]

My family just returned from a wonderful Disneyland vacation.

I purchased my family's SW tickets as soon as they were released (I believe it was in November), and I bought the Early Bird Check In at that time. In late January, my mom decided to join us, so I bought her plane tickets and early bird check in at that time. My DD's friend came with us, but bought her tickets in May. I only did early bird check in for DD friend on the return trip.

Now, we did get A boarding passes, but my mom got A21, and I bought her early bird check in in late January. We had A33, A34, and A35, and my tickets were bought in November!

On the return flight, DD friend got A39, and we got A44, A45, and A46. Mom had A52.

I thought the early bird check in was done in order of when you bought your tickets/early bird check in. But that was not the case.

I'm still glad I did the early bird check in, so at least we didn't have to worry about checking in on our trip. I was a little disappointed that it didn't go in order though. Just wanted to let everyone know....

I heard your fare also comes into play with the order.

 

[Lewisc]

Southwest no longer says the date you purchase EBCI determines your sequence number. It is believed the fare class "bucket" you book is the primary factor.

EBCI passengers get their BPs assigned 36 hours before their flight. Passengers who purchase EBCI within 36 hours get their BPs assigned T-25. I don't agree with the PP. BPs assigned to passenger who canceled their flight wouldn't have been given to Mom or DD. BP from EBCI passengers who cancel would either go to EBCI passengers who get their BPs at T-25 or who check in T-24.

Southwest explicitly says EBCI passengers who pay the anytime fare will get priority when EBCI is assigned.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Is the EBCI position attached to the level of the fare or what you actually paid?

I got my tickets for $80 each way during the 40/80/120 sale. I was planning on adding EBCI only for the return leg from MCO....I've done it before and like not having to deal with finding a computer at T-24. I don't have a phone with web and will not be bringing my laptop...no point with out free WiFi.

So what do you all think could be my number if I add EBCI now? Will I still get an A? I will be with my DH and DD.

 

[goofy4tink]

I doubt that it's going to make much difference between 'anytime' fares of $80 or $180....the fares that are fully refundable, and therefor very expensive, are the ones that are going to qualify for those lower boarding numbers..if that is, in fact, the way the numbers are disbursed.

I usually do EBCI for my return from WDW only. I don't do it for a 'better' boarding group/number. I do it so that I don't have to worry about checking in at that 24 hr mark. If I get a high A or low B I don't much care. With more and more people, especially those heading to and/or from Orlando, paying for EBCI, the lower numbers aren't going to be nearly as easy to get anymore.

 

[NotUrsula]

Southwest no longer says the date you purchase EBCI determines your sequence number. It is believed the fare class "bucket" you book is the primary factor.

EBCI passengers get their BPs assigned 36 hours before their flight. Passengers who purchase EBCI within 36 hours get their BPs assigned T-25. I don't agree with the PP. BPs assigned to passenger who canceled their flight wouldn't have been given to Mom or DD. BP from EBCI passengers who cancel would either go to EBCI passengers who get their BPs at T-25 or who check in T-24.

Southwest explicitly says EBCI passengers who pay the anytime fare will get priority when EBCI is assigned.

Yep, I know what SWA says, and I agree that the two top determining factors are now status and fare bucket, but within fare buckets it is apparently sometimes still happening.

 

[kinphilly]

so does that mean it makes sense to try to do the 24 hour ahead check in anyway, even if you have bought the $10 check in?

 

[Jestocost]

so does that mean it makes sense to try to do the 24 hour ahead check in anyway, even if you have bought the $10 check in?

You already will have been checked in by the time the 24-hour mark rolls around. You can't check in again and get a different number. The reason to "check in" at 24 hours even when using EBCI is that it's the earliest you can actually see your boarding numbers and print out your BPs. It's not even necessary for that, however, as you can wait until you get to the airport and still get the numbers.