Early bird Check in for Southwest - is it worth it?

[Nohal]

Last September we flew Southwest and went with the early bird check in both ways. We were the first seats isssued. Since this was new at the time, and not many people used, I felt like it was a waste pf money on the flight down. Coming back it was worth the extra money not to have to worry about finding someplace to check in at Disney at the 24hr mark. I am wondering if this is still the case or are more and more people using early bird?

 

[ljcrochet]

I flew on southwest last saturday going to orlando. We were B1-B5 checking in at 24 hours. Coming home we did the early bird check in since we were on a cruise. We were A17-A21 , but A 16 was not there so we were the first non preboarders on the plane. I would do it for the way home on my next trip, still on the fence about on the way down.

 

[Nohal]

Thanks. I will do it for the way back. It is just me and DH going so it doesn't matter if we sit together on the way down nor where we sit. Think I will use the money for a Fiesta Marguerita instead of paying for the way down.

 

[Danibelle]

I did not use Early Bird on 12/18 and still got A's. On the return (12/28) I used Early Bird and got A's. When you are traveling with a family and/or at holiday time, I think the money is worth it.

And you don't have to worry on your last day at WDW!!

 

[paras4ri]

I'm on the fence too. I bought it for our return flight for many of the same reasons others here have - don't have to worry about interrupting part time and also we're flying home on a Sunday. I didn't get it for our outbound flight - a Wednesday evening on the week after schools are out on vacation in our neck of the woods. I think we'll take our chances on that flight and save 40.00 for something fun in Disney.

 

[DISNEYNY]

I didn't use it either way in Dec. We had something like A40 on the way down to MCO. A50 coming back. We fly again in Feb and will not spend the extra $80 for my family of 4.

 

[prncess674]

Thanks. I will do it for the way back. It is just me and DH going so it doesn't matter if we sit together on the way down nor where we sit. Think I will use the money for a Fiesta Marguerita instead of paying for the way down.

if you are two adults who are willing to gamble on not sitting together why waste $20 for the return. There is no law saying you have to check in at t-24 exactly. Just stop by guest services or the front desk of any hotel and check in then. Also if you have a web enabled phone you can check in using your phone.

 

[mybabesuz]

I did not use Early Bird on 12/18 and still got A's. On the return (12/28) I used Early Bird and got A's. When you are traveling with a family and/or at holiday time, I think the money is worth it.

And you don't have to worry on your last day at WDW!!

Just don't forget if you are traveling with small children...I think under 5...
You can board at Family Boarding which is between A and B.
We paid for Early Bird Check-in our last flight home and got A46-49...
We could have saved the money and boarded 10 passengers later anyways.

 

[NotUrsula]

Last September we flew Southwest and went with the early bird check in both ways. We were the first seats isssued. Since this was new at the time, and not many people used, I felt like it was a waste pf money on the flight down. Coming back it was worth the extra money not to have to worry about finding someplace to check in at Disney at the 24hr mark. I am wondering if this is still the case or are more and more people using early bird?

IME, not many passengers use it EXCEPT on flights into and out of MCO. It is most popular on the Orlando route because of all the families.

Business travelers are not going to use it too often because a) many companies won't pay for it, and b) they usually will seize on a good excuse to NOT sit with the colleague travelling with them. After spending an entire working day joined at the hip, it's a relief to get a bit of space.

I just check in on my cell phone when travelling; doesn't take more than a couple of minutes whereever I am.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd went from Manchester NH, with her dad, stepmom, and sister, to MCO a few weeks ago. They told me that they got B35 and up when they checked in right at the 24 hr mark.
They were in a tizzy trying to decide how to get themselves checked in for their flight home since they weren't going to be near a computer or in WDW..they were actually at Busch Gardens. I offered to check them in at that 24 hr mark. I got them checked in, right on time and ended up with B6, 7, 8 and 9. They were thrilled but that was the first time I have ended up with anything in the B section...well, not including the time we had to fly back to FtL after being diverted to Philly and then having to make reservations for less than 18 hours later, but even then, we got mid B's.

 

[Microcell]

We are doing it on the way down because we want to be sure we are sitting together and hoping the kids can have a window seat. On the way back our flight isn't as full and I am not as concerned as long as each kid has a parent, and it will just take me a few minutes to check in.

 

[cindykelley]

We didn't do it either way for our trip in early December. Got A group both times. For the way home, we were about to have lunch in the Japan pavilion in epcot and my husband checked us in on his blackberry. Worked nicely.

We found seats two in one row by the window and two behind them by the next window. Each kid got a window and we could still talk between the seats.