EBCI now $15 per person

[Livvie]

This may have already been posted and I missed it, but I just booked our airline tickets for our cruise this Fall and Early Bird Check In on Southwest is now $15 per person, per way. I wouldn't have paid the increased price, but I'm not sure I'll have access to reliable internet 24 hours before we leave to check in for the trip home.

This is more a heads up for anyone that may have missed the initial price increase.

 

[disfanforlife]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know. I can't book our next trip until the window opens in June. But I don't think I will be buying EBCI.

 

[mom2rose&john]

I am willing to pay that for peak season travel. I was returning to Buffalo from MCO and the plane was full yesterday. In fact there were announcements for volunteers to be bumped. They offered food vouchers and a $300 future travel credit voucher. There were also 11 names on standby. Many people could not sit with there spouse in the B's after family boarding was on the plane. I paid for four so I would not have to worry about check in 24 hours since I knew we were kayaking at that time. We sat A 44-47 and I purchased on Dec 31, 2015.

 

[scrapquitler]

the only time we ever do it is if we have a tight connection, so that we have a better chance of being able to sit near the front of the plane and get out of there faster.

 

[Minnesota!]

So, advice...

I fly out with my kids on a 515am flight in June. Tight connection somewhere. We don't have to sit by each other, it would be nice, but not a requirement. Would you do EBCI for it, or just check in at T-24?

 

[mom2rose&john]

How tight is tight? Can you check how far away the gates are on previous flights as an indicator? What is the on-time status of previous flights? IMHO, if you know you will be available at T-24 I would just check in at T-24, unless under an hour layover. We have changed planes in Baltimore with only 30 minutes between flights and had plenty of time even with a long walk and small children including a bathroom break using family boarding between A & B. We do EBCI only when we may not be available or have the ability to check in at T-24. It's all about the risk you are willing to take.

 

[davper]

For the sake of my marriage, I have to guarantee that we have seats next to each other.

And yeah, I learned this morning that it was now $15.

 

[iivye]

I don't get it for the flight to MCO but I always get it for the flight leaving MCO. Even if I am able to check in right at 24hr I could still end up with "B" and be behind all the family boarding. I would rather pay for early bird and not stress about it.

 

[marsh0013]

Guess I shouldn't have waited to add it. What a bummer. Guess enough people are buying it to justify a price increase.

 

[BCV2003]

We had purchased it for our return flight yesterday and it was basically useless. We were B6&7 and because in the family boarding like there were aunts, uncles, grandparents etc, that line grew to at least 30 people so instead of our boarding position being around 36 and 37, we were at about 66 and 67, actually higher because of pre-boards also. There was not one empty row when we boarded.

I try to fly Southwest exclusively for business and personal travel but have noticed family boarding getting out of hand. The rules are one parent per child under six, not the entire family and extended family.

 

[shoes99]

I don't get it for the flight to MCO but I always get it for the flight leaving MCO. Even if I am able to check in right at 24hr I could still end up with "B" and be behind all the family boarding. I would rather pay for early bird and not stress about it.

Traveling solo to see my sister. I also only purchased EBCI at $15 for the return trip from MCO.
I usually fly United but Southwest just recently started offering two non-stops per day from EWR to
MCO in addition to connecting flight. Flying solo so I'll give SW a try.

 

[iivye]

I agree that family boarding can get out of hand when the gate agent doesn't enforce the rules. I would send an email and ask for the early check in fee to be refunded. Worst they will say is no. They should make sure that if you paid for it you should board before the family boarding.

 

[BCV2003]

I agree that family boarding can get out of hand when the gate agent doesn't enforce the rules. I would send an email and ask for the early check in fee to be refunded. Worst they will say is no. They should make sure that if you paid for it you should board before the family boarding.

I did email them yesterday so we will see what happens!

 

[Minnesota!]

How tight is tight? Can you check how far away the gates are on previous flights as an indicator? What is the on-time status of previous flights? IMHO, if you know you will be available at T-24 I would just check in at T-24, unless under an hour layover. We have changed planes in Baltimore with only 30 minutes between flights and had plenty of time even with a long walk and small children including a bathroom break using family boarding between A & B. We do EBCI only when we may not be available or have the ability to check in at T-24. It's all about the risk you are willing to take.

It's under an hour, in Saint Louis, which I have heard is easy to navigate.

So, if I check in at T-24 for flight #1, it checks me in automatically for flight #2, too?

 

[Vernie822]

I had never purchased it before booking an upcoming trip. We had a full plane coming back on a Saturday night from MCO to Pittsburgh in November. I checked in at probably 23.5 hours in advance and we were in the early B's. We were among the last to board due to all the families boarding and my fiance and I were separated. I don't mind sitting alone, I'm 25 and we don't have children so I would rather families with children be able to sit together. I was a little annoyed that none of the solo adult travelers would move so that we could sit together, but it was only 2 hours so I just sucked it up.

I did purchase EBCI for our PIT -> LAX flights. We have a plane change in PHX and I think it's like an hour and 20 minutes we'll have between flights so I want to make sure we get off and get to the next gate in time.

 

[hoffman1]

We always purchase it because DH has some anxiety issues.
What I did not think about is his mom and dad are traveling with us this time and his dad is in a wheelchair. He could board with his dad and his mom and I get on at the regular boarding time. I threw away at least $30

 

[Crystal824]

We always purchase it because DH has some anxiety issues.
What I did not think about is his mom and dad are traveling with us this time and his dad is in a wheelchair. He could board with his dad and his mom and I get on at the regular boarding time. I threw away at least $30

Maybe not. My mom is also in a wheelchair. We flew to FL via SW last month. When she boarded first, they only allowed one of us to board with her. I went with her, but my DH and kids had to wait and do family boarding. Our kids are both under 6. It didn't really matter because we all sat together anyway.

 

[OhMari]

I never used it, but we are going on a Cruise next Fall out of NYC and I didn't know how good internet connection would be, so I paid for it. Wasn't it $12?

Planes from MCO are always packed, I don't think I have ever been on a plane that wasn't over booked from MCO to Milwaukee.
Medical gets on the plane first.
Business gets on next, usually Group A, then Families.