Extra $10 for SW checkin, is it worth it?

[Prince Eric1]

We ( 2 adults and two teens) are flying from Albany to Orlando on SW and are debating if it would be worth the extra $80.00 round trip for the advance check in. We really only care about being two and two somewhere and are not looking for four consecutive seats. Does anyone with experience think that I would need to pay the extra or should we be able to get two adjacent seats one spot on the plane and two in another? We also don't care where we sit.

 

[helenk]

I personally don't bother with the EB check in for my flight down. I am generally at a computer at the 24 hour mark so I have had no problems getting okay boarding passes. With ages of your children I am sure you will be fine.
Going back from WDW though I do pay the $10.00 charge, this way I do not have to worry about getting to guest services or to the hotel to check in.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Check your departure time. If you know you can check-in on-line exactly 24 hours before departure, you'll get an A or B boarding pass. With either, you should have no problem finding seats together. With a C boarding pass things get more desperate. Ditto your return flight. Will you be at a place where you can check-in 24 hours before departure? Maybe you'll need it one way but not the other. But otherwise, save your money.

BobK/Orlando

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

In my opinion, a complete waste of your money.

 

[Tara]

If I am not flying Business Select, then I pay for EBCI both ways. It SO worth the money to me to not even have to think about it. I have enough to do as it is...waking up early the day before vacation is pretty low on my list. During the summer I sleep until 8:30am. Waking up to check in for a 7:15am flight is NOT my idea of a good time.

If you're just concerned about 2 seats together, then you probably don't NEED to use EBCI.

BTW, I fly out of Albany. Since EBCI came out, I think the highest number I've had flying to Orlando is A19. The highest number I've had going home from Orlando was A26 or A27 I think.

 

[rie'smom]

Depends on when you're traveling. For our trips around holidays I definitely use it otherwise I don't.

 

[Donut23]

GREAT investment in no stress. I fly ALL the time and I no longer stress about being next to a computer....Southwest has already taken care of it for me.

$20 little to pay for peace of mind. Especially when you compare it to a Disney travel budget!

Know what...try it once. If you hate it, you don't have to do it anymore!

Have a great flight!

 

[Pinnie]

This past weekend, I flew SWA from BNA to DTW and used EBCI and got B 12 as a boarding pass. I think most passengers are now using it.

 

[Poohlovr]

After our experience last month, I would definitely get it-at least flying out of Orlando.

We had EBCI and still had A40-46. We bought our tickets in Feb for July flights and bought EBCI at the same time.

Unless you are positive that you can be at that computer at exactly the t-24 hr time, it's well worth the money to me.

I agree with a pp that more people are using it.

 

[bakalorber]

I always do it on my returning flight. No worries no thinking about it. There are four of us so it's 40.00 but rather get my seats and be done with it!!

 

[Prince Eric1]

Thanks, think I'll do it for the return flight so I don't take out of the park time but will try to do it in the 24 hour period for the flight down.

 

[westjones]

Is the letter assignment based on when you pay the extra $10. Like if you pay the extra $10 per person 6 months ahead of time you are more likely to get an A than if you pay it 4 months ahead of time?

Is that how it works? Next week hopefully our travel dates for spring break will open and I am wondering if I should just pay for it then because, of course, we want an A boarding pass.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Yes, the earlier you buy your EBCI for your flight, the lower boarding pass number you will get. Be mindful that even if you purchase EBCI, it is no guarantee for an A pass, you could still end up with a B depending on how many other people purchased EBCI on that flight.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I personally don't bother with the EB check in for my flight down. I am generally at a computer at the 24 hour mark so I have had no problems getting okay boarding passes. With ages of your children I am sure you will be fine.
Going back from WDW though I do pay the $10.00 charge, this way I do not have to worry about getting to guest services or to the hotel to check in.

me too! Esp when using rapid rewards. Then the free flights are on a sep res # and trying to enter 2-4 codes right at the 24 mark is a PITA while in FL, even more so when cruising. I'm not wasting my precious time on Castaway Cay dealing with checking in for our flights.

 

[brenda1966]

I think it's a waste of money. I just put a reminder in the calendar of my phone. Then, no matter where I am, I can use my phone to check in online at that 24 hour mark. I have always gotten B tickets and have never had trouble getting seats.