I Paid for SW EarlyBird - Now What?

[PSUGuy]

Despite many opinions expressed here that we'd get seats together in Oct on our PHL to MCO trip on SouthWest, wifey got nervous about being separated and badgered, um, convinced me to spring for the EarlyBird option both ways. So, I don't have to do a thing in advance of our flight or is there still some online work to do the day before?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[disneydeal]

we too bought early bird. My understanding is we can print boarding passes up to 24 hours in advance at home or just get at airport, but no need to get right at 24 hours like we'd have too without early bird.

hope I didn't just confuse you more.

 

[6elginfans]

Southwest boards in groups of 30.
A1-30
A31-60
B1-30 and so on.

As long as you are in the B1-30 group there will still be plenty of seats together. Even B31-60 should be OK since middle seats go last.

Buying the early bird pretty much guarantees you will get a low boarding pass, as it is intended.

Print your boarding pass at Home as soon as you can. This should also help to get a low number.

 

[Gracie09]

Ebci had nothing to do with when you print your boarding passes. Sw will automatically check you in at 36 hours before your flight. You can print your boarding passes starting at 24 hours before. When you print does not jangle your number.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

the B 1 to 31 helps a lot but if there are a lot of people already on plane from an earlier stop you will still be a ways back in plane before you can sit together. had one trip where plane was about 1/4 full before the first from our airport boarded and we were in med preboard. I would try for an early early flight and yes this was at Philly

 

[paults]

we go every OCT and never by EBCI from PHL to Mco going down only coming back. We have 2 to 9 people and never had a problem going down sitting together. You only have 2. As long as you check in at 24 hrs you'll be fine.
Only reason we get it coming home is because we are at the parks and won't have the 24 hr chance to book. We let SW do it at 36 hrs

 

[jessrose18]

i booked my tickets and purchase ebb (never flown southwest before) i had to change my flight dates and did so online.... do i have to rebuy early bird or will it transfer to my new flight dates?

 

[disneygal55]

i booked my tickets and purchase ebb (never flown southwest before) i had to change my flight dates and did so online.... do i have to rebuy early bird or will it transfer to my new flight dates?

I think that if you change your flight by changing the dates of travel, the EB will get transferred too. But if you cancel the old flight first, EB will get cancelled. I think that you can see the EB option attached to your new flight if you check the itinerary.

 

[slimplaw]

If you change your trip, your EB transfers to your new reservation. I usually do purchase EB since I prefer to sit closer to the front of the plane. From Dallas with an EB, I am usually in the A group with an EB. Slots A1-15 are always for business level people who pay more for their tickets.

 

[sam_gordon]

Southwest boards in groups of 30.
A1-30
A31-60
B1-30 and so on.

As long as you are in the B1-30 group there will still be plenty of seats together. Even B31-60 should be OK since middle seats go last.

Buying the early bird pretty much guarantees you will get a low boarding pass, as it is intended.

Print your boarding pass at Home as soon as you can. This should also help to get a low number.

The bolded is NOT true. EBCI only guarantees you a boarding position before those who check in at T-24. The more who buy EBCI (and more and more people are), your boarding position can slip.

 

[LisaS]

i booked my tickets and purchase ebb (never flown southwest before) i had to change my flight dates and did so online.... do i have to rebuy early bird or will it transfer to my new flight dates?

If you use the "Change Flight" option on Southwest's website you will keep the same confirmation number. EBCI is tied to that number so you will be all set. If you use the "Cancel" option and then make a new booking you get a new confirmation number and you will lose EBCI.

 

[jessrose18]

thanks! i was able to put in my confirmation number on ebci page and see it is still there, grateful I didn't lose it!

 

[mzozzietj]

This is great about it transferring if you change your flights. Mine did not transfer in the past but we may have cancelled then rebooked I don't recall. Love learning new things! Thanks

 

[PSUGuy]

The bolded is NOT true. EBCI only guarantees you a boarding position before those who check in at T-24. The more who buy EBCI (and more and more people are), your boarding position can slip.

So. for those who opt for EBCI, how is their order determined, first come first served? Or is it a mad rush by all EBCI holders at the same time?

Bill From PA

 

[Mkrop]

So. for those who opt for EBCI, how is their order determined, first come first served? Or is it a mad rush by all EBCI holders at the same time?

Bill From PA

When the computer checks you in at the T36, you will be assigned a number. It has been said that this is determined by when you buy the EBCI to the type of ticket you bought. So at T36, it will assign you say A36 and A37. At T24, you are already checked in and can now print your BP at any time, right then or when you get the airport. Then when they call the A groups, you line up at the pole with your numbers and you board.

 

[sam_gordon]

So. for those who opt for EBCI, how is their order determined, first come first served? Or is it a mad rush by all EBCI holders at the same time?

Bill From PA

I *BELIEVE* the rate you pay and when you purchase EBCI factors in. So Business Select folks, then Anytime, then Wanna Get Away.

I think if you purchase a 'Wanna Get Away' w/EBCI as soon as the flight opens, and I purchase a Business Select with EBCI 48 hours before the flight, I would get a better boarding position then you. However, you would have a better boarding position than someone who purchased a WGA fare a month before the flight.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll be corrected.

 

[LisaS]

The first to board will be the pre-boarders. I believe they just line up in any order. I don't think pre-boarding uses any sort of numbering scheme.

Boarding positions A1-A15 are reserved for Business Select. By reserving that section, they can sell someone a Business Select fare up to the point where boarding is due to start and still give them a low boarding position. Even if A1-A15 was full (and I've never heard of that happening) they would have any Business Select customers board before A16. Any open positions in that reserved section are available for purchase 45 minutes prior to departure for $40 each. Even with that option, I've never seen more than 5 or 6 people in A1-A15 so most of that section is usually empty.

The order of boarding assignments for A16 and beyond starts with A-List Preferred, then A-List, then Anytime fare customers with EBCI and finally Wanna Get Away with EBCI, all in order by date/time of ticket purchase for A-Listers, date/time of EBCI purchase for Anytime and WGA. A-Listers who get a "B" boarding position are allowed to board at the end of the A line, ahead of family boarding which occurs between the A group and the B group. After this come those who did not purchase EBCI but checked in starting at 24 hours prior to departure.

It is quite possible to pay for EBCI and end up in the B group. So even though you paid for EBCI, if you're in the B group those using family boarding will board ahead of you.

It's also possible to snag a low boarding position by checking in a few hours before departure. For example, an A-Lister with A18 cancels his/her flight a few hours before departure. The next person to check in for the flight gets A18 rather than a position at the end of the B's or somewhere in the C group. In other words, when a cancellation occurs, they don't leave a "hole" in the boarding queue, they give that position to the next person who checks in for that flight.

 

[LisaS]

So. for those who opt for EBCI, how is their order determined, first come first served? Or is it a mad rush by all EBCI holders at the same time?

Bill From PA

There is a boarding video on this page on southwest's website: https://www.southwest.com/html/travel-experience/boarding-your-flight/