how does EB check in work with a plane change?

daisyx3

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Dec 30, 2009
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Just got on southwest bought our tickets for our flight to Orlando on April 3. (can't book return tickets yet because it's April 10 and flights only open through April 9).
I booked EB check in because it worked well last time we went on Southwest. However, last time we didn't change planes...we stayed on a plane that stopped in Nashville. This time we switch in Baltimore (and only 25 minutes to do so).
I remember people coming on board in Nashville last time and I'm assuming it's still A, B, C. Do we keep the same designation? Since it's almost 7 months out I'm assuming we'll have "A" passes. I would like to think since I paid the money for EB it will work for both of our flights, but with the short turnaround time I'm a little worried.
Daisyx3
 
anyone? Bueller? I just don't want to be shuttled over to a plane that already has all but center seats filled when I paid for EB checkin.
Daisyx3
 
When EB checks you in it will check you in for both flights. You will get two seperate boarding passes and you will have different numbers for each flight. Both will most likely be A's it just depends on how many others may have bought the EB before you. We just did this on our flight back from Ca with a plane change in Las Vegas. It worked fine. :goodvibes
 

When does SW start boarding? OP, you say you only have 25 minutes to change planes, is that based on the arrival time of the first plane and departure of the second? I'm guessing even if you hold an 'A' boarding pass for the second plane, if they've started boarding, you could end up with the 'B's or the 'C's.
 
When does SW start boarding? OP, you say you only have 25 minutes to change planes, is that based on the arrival time of the first plane and departure of the second? I'm guessing even if you hold an 'A' boarding pass for the second plane, if they've started boarding, you could end up with the 'B's or the 'C's.

This would be my worry as well. While EB does check you in for the second part of your flight, you have to be there to board to take advantage of that. With only 25 minutes between flights (is that really it?) it is possible that boarding will start as you are getting off the first flight. This would mean that you might not be there in time to board with your group.
 
I am a little worried about that as well. I would hate for the 4 of us to all get center seats (although since my kids are 13 and 16 they can sit alone without an issue) because of flight times. It looks like the flight arrives in Baltimore at 7:25 and the next one takes off at 7:50. I just hope they are close gates and they move my luggage too!
Daisyx3
 
I did double-check----the flight from Detroit to Baltimore arrives at 7:25, the flight from Baltimore to Orlando leaves at 7:50.
While it will be nice to have good, close seats for the first leg (at least I'm assuming so since I got EB 7 months out), it is only 1:25...it will totally suck to possibly NOT have good seats for the leg that takes 2:25!
The flight after ours leaves at 7:45 AM from Detroit and stops in Chicago, but they have 50 minutes between flights. Most of the other flight layover times are even longer. My flight has already gone up to $149 (I got it for $89).
I wonder, will I have any recourse if we do get crappy seats? A partial refund of the EB fee perhaps? Southwest did put the legs of the flight together with the short flight difference. Even if I had not done EB and checked in at 24 hours, it is likely I would be at least a B.
Oh well, I hope we can at least get 2 and 2 together. My 16 year old shouldn't mind, but now that I think about it if we sit in the theatre and it's full she always asks me or DH to sit by strangers. I hope the strangers don't mind my 13 year old's long, gangly legs or his Ipod!;)
Now I see the flight I would like to get home (4/10 isn't open yet) is a 2 stop with a 35 minute plane change--and most of the time is the last leg. Maybe before I buy that SW flight home I should check out my other airline options.
Daisyx3
 
EB is not refundable, not even if you get a crappy seat. EB only puts you in queue for a better boarding number it doesn't guarantee you any particular seat.

I did double-check----the flight from Detroit to Baltimore arrives at 7:25, the flight from Baltimore to Orlando leaves at 7:50.
While it will be nice to have good, close seats for the first leg (at least I'm assuming so since I got EB 7 months out), it is only 1:25...it will totally suck to possibly NOT have good seats for the leg that takes 2:25!
The flight after ours leaves at 7:45 AM from Detroit and stops in Chicago, but they have 50 minutes between flights. Most of the other flight layover times are even longer. My flight has already gone up to $149 (I got it for $89).
I wonder, will I have any recourse if we do get crappy seats? A partial refund of the EB fee perhaps? Southwest did put the legs of the flight together with the short flight difference. Even if I had not done EB and checked in at 24 hours, it is likely I would be at least a B.
Oh well, I hope we can at least get 2 and 2 together. My 16 year old shouldn't mind, but now that I think about it if we sit in the theatre and it's full she always asks me or DH to sit by strangers. I hope the strangers don't mind my 13 year old's long, gangly legs or his Ipod!;)
Now I see the flight I would like to get home (4/10 isn't open yet) is a 2 stop with a 35 minute plane change--and most of the time is the last leg. Maybe before I buy that SW flight home I should check out my other airline options.
Daisyx3
 
EB is not refundable, not even if you get a crappy seat. EB only puts you in queue for a better boarding number it doesn't guarantee you any particular seat.

You beat me to the punch. When buying EBCI, you could feasibly end up with numbers in the B group....EBCI doesn't say you'll get a certain boarding group, it does say that you will be checked in, by SW, 12 hrs prior to those not buying EBCI.
If 50% of the passengers all bought EBCI, there are going to be a lot of very unhappy people. I never buy EBCI for earlier seating, but for the ability to not have to worry about checking in for that 24 hr window.
 
Every time we've had a short connecting time, it always seems our first flight gets in 15 to 20 minutes early. We just plan on sitting near the front so we can get off quickly, make a potty break or snack break and get to our gate in time to line up.
 












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