Has anyone gotten a 'B' boarding pass using EBCI?

[DISNEY FIX]

Has anyone gotten a 'B' boarding pass when using EBCI?

 

[goofy4tink]

Haven't heard of that happening, but it could be possible. I know that when I had to check my dd and her dad/step-mom in last month, I was online right at the 24 hr. mark. I managed to get them something like B16 and up. That has never happened to me, but they were thrilled since they had only been able to get B30ish on their flight down.
So...seems to be more and more people using EBCI. It has been a topic of discussion since EBCI came along as to how many EBCI's there would be on each flight....how many would actually be sold for a flight. But no one has reported back that they got a B yet....if they did, I missed it.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I would be bent if it happened. I haven't heard it happening tio anyone either so I figued I'd inquire. We are going down Mar. 23 and coming back April 1 flights are sold out all over these days. We purchased on the way down the fare was cheap enough at the time now it's $194 and coming back the filght is up to $292.
I can't decide if it is worth it to purchase EBCI for the return trip I keep waffeling.
One one hand I could save $40 and get on the family boarding line. If we don't score an A pass.
The other hand is not to have to worry about it because I have a diff. confirmation # than the rest of my party. Wich almost assures me a "B" because our T24 mark is at 8pm (good or bad I'm not sure) and we'll be working off of a blackberry.
Any suggestions.

 

[Lewisc]

I think one poster of flyertalk got a "B" with EBCI. You're eligible for family mid-boarding? I'd save the $40.

 

[Hannathy]

I think one poster of flyertalk got a "B" with EBCI. You're eligible for family mid-boarding? I'd save the $40.

But haven't people reported them suspending family boarding out of MCO sometimes?

If sitting together is important I would pay.

 

[mom2carlee]

But haven't people reported them suspending family boarding out of MCO sometimes?

If sitting together is important I would pay.

WHAT?? They suspend family boarding? We are a family of 4 with 2 small children and are not up to paying for EBCI, I was relying on family boarding so that we can all sit together.

 

[Lewisc]

It's rare for the GA to suspend family boarding. More likely would be to restrict it to the child and one adult.

Blame parents who "forget" the age of their child. Family boarding doesn't work/make sense if 80% of the passengers claim they're eligible.

 

[Hannathy]

WHAT?? They suspend family boarding? We are a family of 4 with 2 small children and are not up to paying for EBCI, I was relying on family boarding so that we can all sit together.

Even if you got on at the end of B's you should be able to get 2 sets of 2 seats together without much problem. They might not be consecutive but there are usually sets of 2 seats still left long into the boarding unless it is a connecting flight.

 

[Tara]

Has anyone gotten a 'B' boarding pass when using EBCI?

I know someone who in January had EBCI and got B1 on a flight out of Vegas. I assume there were a lot of connectors on that flight so they had the advantage over her.

 

[Tara]

But haven't people reported them suspending family boarding out of MCO sometimes?

If sitting together is important I would pay.

I've heard this reported, but frankly, I've flown Southwest out of MCO many, many times (and observed not only my flight but many flights departing around me) and I've never seen family boarding suspended.

 

[KerriMc]

We just used EBCI and today got our boarding numbers. We got A16 through A22 ... so that is good I think they assign based on when you bought them ... betting I was first as I was ready and waiting when they were released for our dates. Now I have to decide if I'll do it in July as I bought them a few weeks ago now. I am leaning towards getting it ... just saves a little bit of stress I think

 

[ccgirl]

I have been on a flight from PVD to MCO where they haven't suspended the family boarding but decreased the age to 2 and under. There seemed to be an unusually large number of children on that plane and they said they did this because if you looked around, pretty much the whale plane would have family boarded. Even heard a dad next to me tell his 4 year old to sit in the umbrella stroller and not talk to pretend she was 2. Like a PP said, some parents "forget" how old their child really is. They didn't have a car seat either so really no reason to family board. Your party is not large, I would save the $$ and check in at the 24 hr mark. I did not purchase EBCI on a trip and still got A's.

 

[dburg30]

I added EBCI just a few days before departure from RDU heading back to CMH. I just wasnt going to be around to worry about checking in, and the family I usually have do it, was who I was with . Anywho. I got like a-40 something for my EBCI. I figure I was the last to add it so that was probably the worst . That flight happened to get cancelled anyway lol.

You can get a credit for EBCI for cancelled flight, but it appears you have to request it, and it took about 45 - 60 days to get it back.

 

[Pirate Dad]

Slightly off-topic... I want to get EBCI for our flights back but am hoping to change our flight times for earlier in the day (if anything comes available at the same price as what we originally paid). So how would EBCI work in this case, ie. we buy EBCI then change our flight to an earlier one?

 

[sassyredhead]

@Pirate Dad-I added EBCI for our flight down at puchase. A few weeks later, the price went down on an earlier flight, so I switched our flight. The EBCI stayed on our reservation
@everyone-with EBCI, we have A 20-24 for our flight tommorrow from KCI to MCO. I didn't buy EBCI for my brother, who is on the same flight, and I snagged A54 for him at the 24 hour mark. We purchaed EBCI about a week after booking the flights. Also, flights are non-stop and do not have connector passengers.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have been on a flight from PVD to MCO where they haven't suspended the family boarding but decreased the age to 2 and under. There seemed to be an unusually large number of children on that plane and they said they did this because if you looked around, pretty much the whale plane would have family boarded. Even heard a dad next to me tell his 4 year old to sit in the umbrella stroller and not talk to pretend she was 2. Like a PP said, some parents "forget" how old their child really is. They didn't have a car seat either so really no reason to family board. Your party is not large, I would save the $$ and check in at the 24 hr mark. I did not purchase EBCI on a trip and still got A's.

Well, there ya go...with all those 'whales' on the plane they couldn't have whole families boarding together!!!
Anyway.....the EBCI bp's are done according to when they were purchased. I purchased EBCI for my July 31 and Aug 8 flights at the end of Feb, when I bought the flights. I would assume that we will have pretty low bp numbers based on when I paid for the EBCI.
Since you're flying in two weeks, and haven't purchased it yet, you may very well have much higher bp numbers. But will they be in the B group? Who knows. Depends on how many passengers bought it before you did for that particular flight.

I have been on full SW flights, and watched as the B and C groups have boarded. Basically, all those in the B group were pretty much able to find seats that met their needs. Those in the C group were able to find some seats together that allowed at least two people in each group to be seated together. Those who were half way through the C group did have to split up and find seats apart from each other.

And, as someone else noted, I have seen SW do both those things....cancel family boarding completely...especially on flights going to and from MCO, or lower the age limit to under 3. Way too many people took advantage of family boarding...mom, dad, one child under 4 and 3 other children between 5 and 12, grammie, grampie, aunt anne and uncle bob..they all wanted to board together...and SW allowed them to. Many complained, so now family boarding is between the A and B groups and they no longer allow 'extra' family members along..you get mom, dad, and the kids..that's it.

 

[DVC-Don]

Even if you got on at the end of B's you should be able to get 2 sets of 2 seats together without much problem. They might not be consecutive but there are usually sets of 2 seats still left long into the boarding unless it is a connecting flight.

True, we were a party of 4 in mid January with boarding passes B46 to B49 without EBCI and we had no trouble sitting together in the middle of the plane. People stress a little too much over this.

 

[Tara]

Slightly off-topic... I want to get EBCI for our flights back but am hoping to change our flight times for earlier in the day (if anything comes available at the same price as what we originally paid). So how would EBCI work in this case, ie. we buy EBCI then change our flight to an earlier one?

If you rebook under the same confirmation number (as would most likely be the case here), then the EBCI transfers to your new flight.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I've been waffling about whether or not to purchase EBCI for our April trip. I'd really rather spend the money on something else. As long as DH gets to sit with our DD7 and I sit with our DD10 we're all set.

We had A boarding passes one time out of Hartford and ended up being very late getting to the airport due to CT state construction vehicles on the highway (ridiculous situation!) so we were almost the last people to board. We still got to sit with the kids. DH sat in the very last row with one DD and I sat somewhere in the middle with the other so it worked out just fine. We don't care where we sit on the plane as long as we're seated 2 and 2.

I was worrying about not being able to sit with the kids but it really seems to work out as long as we don't all have to be together and don't care how far back we sit.

 

[Pirate Dad]

@Pirate Dad-I added EBCI for our flight down at puchase. A few weeks later, the price went down on an earlier flight, so I switched our flight. The EBCI stayed on our reservation
@everyone-with EBCI

If you rebook under the same confirmation number (as would most likely be the case here), then the EBCI transfers to your new flight.

Thank you ladies! I'm going to add my EBCI right now...