How do you early bird?

[MommyMK]

I just booked our first flight after my youngest turns 5, so after 8 years I'm done with family boarding.

I didn't book early bird yet, but I will most likely go back and add it for piece of mind. When we fly we usually do myself and the two kids together in a row of 3 and DH across the aisle. When you book early bird do you do it for all members of your party or just some? I'm thinking about just doing it for the myself and the kids, frankly I don't really mind if DH isn't across from us, he doesn't really interact with us on the flight anyways. Figured I'd say $25 that way.

Also one of our flights was booked with points so 4 different confirmation numbers. How does that work with early bird? If I buy it all at once will we get checked in all at once too? I'd hate to spend the $$& and then have our boarding numbers be far apart anyways.

 

[rwdavis2]

We do it for everyone and we almost always travel on the same confirmation number. There's no guarantee you can sit together if you are not all in the same boarding group/sub-group regardless of early bird.

So yes, you can have boarding numbers far apart if you are not all on the same confirmation number. Each different confirmation number must be checked in separately. Early Bird is purchased on a per passenger basis so confirmation numbers are irrelevant (I think) in this case.

The solution is you all board with the highest number boarding group or your family if you all want to sit together.

 

[bjscheel]

You could skip getting EBCI on DH if it doesn't matter where he sits, but I would get it for the 3 of you to be safe. I have booked our last two flights with points (so 4 different confirmation numbers) and EBCI and I'm pretty sure we have always been all in a row, i.e. A18, A19, A20, A21.

 

[paults]

if you do book all of you then list your husband last. That way if you don't get the same letter at least you'll have an adult with each child. If you get 3 A's and 1 B then your husband will get the B not a child.

 

[leebee]

When you book a trip using points on SW, you get 4 separate reservation numbers and therefore have to do 4 separate check-ins if you are checking in at 24 hours prior. There's no guarantee that your boarding assignments will be all together, so unless you are comfortable with your kids standing in line alone (or you all standing together at the least desirable boarding location), I'd do EBCI for at least you and the kids. Even with the separate confirmation numbers, I would guess that SW would notice this and board you consecutively. (Just don't forget to check-in your DH at the 24 hour advance time!) As far as the flights where you paid cash are concerned, you should have one reservation number for this. PERSONALLY I wouldn't bother paying for EBCI on this flight, as you should be able to get all boarding positions at 24 hours prior with one keystroke as you are all on the same reservation. If you do this as soon as the timeframe opens, you should at least be able to sit 2-and-2, but I bet you'll still be able to do 3 and 1- IF you do it as soon as it's available to you. However, if you are worried, do EBCI for you and the kids on this flight, too, and then just do DH at 24 hours prior. (I'd definitely save the money and let DH check in at 24 hours prior, regardless of what you and the kids do!)