I really dislike flying with SWA due to their boarding process

[Baklava]

I need to stop reading this thread. I paid for EBCI for peace of mind of us all being able to sit together. Well, close as we're a family of 5- four adults one 8 year old (we'd like to have at least 3 seats together- then 2 somewhere else). I will be pissed if we end up with a mid to high B boarding group with a lot of families getting on before us.

I did too and my kid qualifies for family boarding. It will be irritating if my EBCI number places us behind family boarding and I'll probably board DH and DD in family boarding if that happens. Family boarding may not be fair, but neither is boarding behind it when I've paid for priority.

 

[siskaren]

I did too and my kid qualifies for family boarding. It will be irritating if my EBCI number places us behind family boarding and I'll probably board DH and DD in family boarding if that happens. Family boarding may not be fair, but neither is boarding behind it when I've paid for priority.

EBCI doesn't give you priority boarding; it just means that you get automatically checked in at 36 hours instead of doing it yourself at 24 hours.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm flying home tomorrow. After my experience on the way down, I bought EBCI on Monday, I figured it would at least save me from watching the clock. Just checked - A58! Yeah, before the family boarding!

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm flying home tomorrow. After my experience on the way down, I bought EBCI on Monday, I figured it would at least save me from watching the clock. Just checked - A58! Yeah, before the family boarding!

I'm happy to know that you were in A boarding group after purchasing EBCI just a few days out. It gives me hope. We purchased EBCI long ago, but changed our flight about two weeks ago for our trip next Saturday, and I'm kind of preparing for B boarding because of the late switch.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm happy to know that you were in A boarding group after purchasing EBCI just a few days out. It gives me hope. We purchased EBCI long ago, but changed our flight about two weeks ago for our trip next Saturday, and I'm kind of preparing for B boarding because of the late switch.

I'll let you know how full the flight is, I think that's a factor. I've also heard if you change flights but don't change the reservation #, you keep your "place in line". I just noticed that I also got TSA pre-check!

 

[sam_gordon]

EBCI doesn't give you priority boarding; it just means that you get automatically checked in at 36 hours instead of doing it yourself at 24 hours.

Well, it would (should) give you priority over those who DON'T purchase it.

 

[pens4821]

I'm happy to know that you were in A boarding group after purchasing EBCI just a few days out. It gives me hope. We purchased EBCI long ago, but changed our flight about two weeks ago for our trip next Saturday, and I'm kind of preparing for B boarding because of the late switch.

Does the order in which EBCI is purchased put you further ahead? Meaning, if I buy it today and you buy it tomorrow, I'll be ahead of you? I just assumed it was just random at the 36 hour mark.

 

[Disneylover99]

Does the order in which EBCI is purchased put you further ahead? Meaning, if I buy it today and you buy it tomorrow, I'll be ahead of you? I just assumed it was just random at the 36 hour mark.

I think the earlier you buy it, the lower your boarding number is will be.

 

[LisaS]

Does the order in which EBCI is purchased put you further ahead? Meaning, if I buy it today and you buy it tomorrow, I'll be ahead of you? I just assumed it was just random at the 36 hour mark.

Boarding positions are assigned in order by fare class and then the date and time they purchased EBCI. In other words, those who bought an Anytime fare ticket with EBCI get their boarding assignments first (in date/time order) and then those who purchased a Wanna Get Away fare with EBCI are assigned their boarding positions, again in order by the date/time of EBCI purchase.

So if you buy EBCI today and I buy it tomorrow and we're in the same fare class, you would be ahead of me. But if you had purchased a Wanna Get Away fare and I purchased an Anytime fare, I would be ahead of you.

 

[DebbieB]

Does the order in which EBCI is purchased put you further ahead? Meaning, if I buy it today and you buy it tomorrow, I'll be ahead of you? I just assumed it was just random at the 36 hour mark.

It's one of the factors. Fare class also factors in.

 

[Donald Duck888]

I am fine with SW boarding policy in general but not with the way they treat passengers when they mess up. I am flying with them tomorrow to Disney and bought EB tix for myself and my young daughter. Well they had a time change after i bought tix and somehow messed up carrying the EB forward on my daughters ticket so her BP is way back as I did not rush to get BPs as I had EB, in fact if i look at the ressie even now on SW site it says she has EB. Well at least so far (2 phone calls) SW is totally unwilling to fix the situation at all even thought they admit it was their mistake. I am going to try at the gate to see if they will just let my daughter board with me where i paid for her to board so we will see.

 

[DebbieB]

Update on today's flight. The boarding area was pretty full. There were maybe 20 people in family boarding (both parents & siblings, no 1 and 1). I had A58, I got a window seat behind the exit row. The FA made an announcement towards the end of boarding that there will only be 9 or 10 empty seats. A tall guy sat in the aisle seat so no one took the middle in my row. So I lucked out there.

 

[Donald Duck888]

Update on today's flight. The boarding area was pretty full. There were maybe 20 people in family boarding (both parents & siblings, no 1 and 1). I had A58, I got a window seat behind the exit row. The FA made an announcement towards the end of boarding that there will only be 9 or 10 empty seats. A tall guy sat in the aisle seat so no one took the middle in my row. So I lucked out there.

Nice, glad to hear you lucked out. I am truly surprised there were empty seats I can't remember the last time there was even 1 empty seat on a flight I have been on.

 

[LisaS]

I am fine with SW boarding policy in general but not with the way they treat passengers when they mess up. I am flying with them tomorrow to Disney and bought EB tix for myself and my young daughter. Well they had a time change after i bought tix and somehow messed up carrying the EB forward on my daughters ticket so her BP is way back as I did not rush to get BPs as I had EB, in fact if i look at the ressie even now on SW site it says she has EB. Well at least so far (2 phone calls) SW is totally unwilling to fix the situation at all even thought they admit it was their mistake. I am going to try at the gate to see if they will just let my daughter board with me where i paid for her to board so we will see.

Go up to the podium in the gate area and explain the situation. I expect they will tell you that you and your daughter should board at whatever boarding position you were assigned.

 

[subtchr]

Just FYI, I don't do EBCI because I don't really care where I sit, and I fly home tomorrow from Orlando.

I checked in on my phone at exactly 24 hours this afternoon (I was in Epcot listening to one of the musical acts, in fact). I got A43, A44, and A45 for my family. So excited to be ahead of family boarding! We even all got TSA precheck, so it should be a breeze.

 

[SaintsManiac]

On our flight to Orlando the FA had to make people move so a child could sit with a parent. She said, "either let this mother sit with her son, or you can play babysitter." It was amusing.

 

[maxiesmom]

On our flight to Orlando the FA had to make people move so a child could sit with a parent. She said, "either let this mother sit with her son, or you can play babysitter." It was amusing.

How is that amusing? It wouldn't have bothered me. But I wouldn't be much of a babysitter with my headphones on either.

 

[SaintsManiac]

How is that amusing? It wouldn't have bothered me. But I wouldn't be much of a babysitter with my headphones on either.

Half the plane laughed. Why did you find the need to ask why I thought I was amusing? No one was bothered. People moved. Everyone was happy. Good grief.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

On our flight to Orlando the FA had to make people move so a child could sit with a parent. She said, "either let this mother sit with her son, or you can play babysitter." It was amusing.

But that's just the entitlement mindset. Don't pay for EBCI but expect other people to move around to accommodate you.

 

[LilyWDW]

But that's just the entitlement mindset. Don't pay for EBCI but expect other people to move around to accommodate you.

Agreed. Some parents (NOT all so don't jump on me people) seem to think they deserve something special just because they increased the world's population. Sorry, but no. You and your child are no more important then someone who doesn't have kids. You are not special.