If you're on the fence for EBCI on return flight

[Brer Chump]

Just wanted to share my experience on my return flight on June 11 for Southwest.

Had the last flight for the day MCO-CAK. I checked in at T-23h59m ( another tip: disconnect from Universal Studios (and probably Disney's) Wi-Fi when checking in. I had network problems which delayed my check-in) and I got B-16 to B-20. Due the numerous pre-boards and family boardings, there was not one single open row on the plane when we boarded. Most of the rows had two people. We were scattered on the plane but DW and DD12 were able to sit to next to one another.

BTW, this was an originating flight and no one was on board when boarding began.

 

[disney world dreamer]

meh. i've never had a problem checking in at 24hrs exactly for my return flight from MCO to BUF and i've never had a problem finding a full row empty even with the boarding numbers you have.
i don't find EBCI worth it.

 

[DebbieB]

The big question is if the tests they are doing will increase the age of family boarding. They are talking about the possibility of age 7, 9 or 11. If it's 11, it's going to be difficult to get seats together on an Orlando flight without an A unless you have a kid up to that age.

 

[achang2001]

For those that have experienced the new family boarding...so, we have an upcoming trip with 8 adults and 3 kids ages 5, 9, and 10. In this scenario, does the whole group, all 11 of us, board early?
I just don't understand the need of the entire family boarding early all together. Especially for flights to/from MCO, I can see how there wouldn't be any seats together left. FWIW, my husband and I don't have children (we are taking the grandparents, nieces/nephew, BIL/SIL).
I think I would get annoyed if there were not any seats together left with a late A or early B boarding pass. Just think, no one with kids even has to think about checking in early because they get early boarding "for free" but for all others, you have to pay an additional $25 pp to get seats together.

 

[disney world dreamer]

For those that have experienced the new family boarding...so, we have an upcoming trip with 8 adults and 3 kids ages 5, 9, and 10. In this scenario, does the whole group, all 11 of us, board early?
I just don't understand the need of the entire family boarding early all together. Especially for flights to/from MCO, I can see how there wouldn't be any seats together left. FWIW, my husband and I don't have children (we are taking the grandparents, nieces/nephew, BIL/SIL).
I think I would get annoyed if there were not any seats together left with a late A or early B boarding pass. Just think, no one with kids even has to think about checking in early because they get early boarding "for free" but for all others, you have to pay an additional $25 pp to get seats together.

in theory (and according to the southwest website) AN adult may board with A child that is within the age range for family boarding.
so if there's 3 children within the age range then at max 3 adults can board with them during family boarding.

 

[SirDuff]

For those that have experienced the new family boarding...so, we have an upcoming trip with 8 adults and 3 kids ages 5, 9, and 10. In this scenario, does the whole group, all 11 of us, board early?
I just don't understand the need of the entire family boarding early all together. Especially for flights to/from MCO, I can see how there wouldn't be any seats together left. FWIW, my husband and I don't have children (we are taking the grandparents, nieces/nephew, BIL/SIL).
I think I would get annoyed if there were not any seats together left with a late A or early B boarding pass. Just think, no one with kids even has to think about checking in early because they get early boarding "for free" but for all others, you have to pay an additional $25 pp to get seats together.

Actually, none of you board early since none of the children "qualify" for family boarding (it is for those with children four-years-old or younger).

I agree with the rest of your post!

 

[n2mm]

They are testing for flights out of Mco with kids 8 and under going in the family preload now. I've read several reports now where folks have participated. This will change everything. It is so unfair to those who pay for early bird and get a B and can't board until after family. I'm stressing about this. We are taking our granddaughters in August. They are 10, 10, & 8. We Bought EB for all of us. It is just me and my husband. One of the 10 yo has never flown. I did everything right, now I get to worry about getting Bs even with EBs.

 

[disney world dreamer]

Actually, none of you board early since none of the children "qualify" for family boarding (it is for those with children four-years-old or younger).

I agree with the rest of your post!

if you'll note the poster said the NEW family boarding.
southwest is testing the waters to included older children in family boarding.

 

[tjmw2727]

The big question is if the tests they are doing will increase the age of family boarding. They are talking about the possibility of age 7, 9 or 11. If it's 11, it's going to be difficult to get seats together on an Orlando flight without an A unless you have a kid up to that age.

My kids are older now but when they were young I did pay for EBCI when it was implemented, checked in at T24 before that and even prior to that arrived at the airport ridiculously early and sat in line for A position when it was first come first served!

My next SWA trip is in August and if the age is increased and the "an adult" per child isn't enforced I will do the only thing I can. If I board after "school aged children" who's family members don't care enough to pay what I do - than SWA will loose my business and Chase will loose my SWA credit card.

I fly at least monthly and use my SWA credit card for most of my purchases to build up points - that will transfer to US Air/American or some other CC'd that offers perks I can use.

 

[Jhondy210]

They are testing for flights out of Mco with kids 8 and under going in the family preload now. I've read several reports now where folks have participated. This will change everything. It is so unfair to those who pay for early bird and get a B and can't board until after family. I'm stressing about this. We are taking our granddaughters in August. They are 10, 10, & 8. We Bought EB for all of us. It is just me and my husband. One of the 10 yo has never flown. I did everything right, now I get to worry about getting Bs even with EBs.

I agree with what you are saying. I'm flying to Disney with my mom. She has flown before but is extremely afraid of take off and landing and any bumps in between. She is not a good flier. I bought EB so that we could sit together so I could calm her down if need be. Now I'm worried I should have chosen a different airlines in this situation. Normally, I enjoy SW when it is my husband and I because, while we buy EB, it isn't a big deal if we don't sit together but with my mom it is different. Plus, no one is going to be willing to move for two adults to sit by each other. So, I'm just hoping since I bought EB and bought tickets early and we are going during a "slow" season that we won't have any problem getting two seats together.

 

[Brer Chump]

I was aware of the new family boarding when I was at MCO, for some reason I did not hear the ages the Gate Agent announced for family boarding. (Leaving CAK it was the standard 4 year olds and younger) From what I remember most of the families who boarded between A and B had children in strollers. There may have been a family or two that had a 6 or 7 year old who boarded with family boarding that did not have a younger sibling with them. I did count the pre-boarders and there were 7, most who flew alone. I would guess the family boarders numbered between 20-30. The last full row, which was the last row on the starboard side, was taken by a group around the B12 boarding position.

What I found odd was that it seemed most families had two children and mom and one kid was in one row and dad and the other was in the other, most had the middle and window seat occupied. Many aisle seats were available in fact 4 out of the 5 of us were in an aisle seat when we eventually found seats.

If I could change the past, I would not have shelled out $62.50 for 5 of us for EBCI. Besides myself and DW, DD, the other 2 travelling were MIL and FIL so being separated for 2 hours wasn't that much of a hardship.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I agree with what you are saying. I'm flying to Disney with my mom. She has flown before but is extremely afraid of take off and landing and any bumps in between. She is not a good flier. I bought EB so that we could sit together so I could calm her down if need be. Now I'm worried I should have chosen a different airlines in this situation. Normally, I enjoy SW when it is my husband and I because, while we buy EB, it isn't a big deal if we don't sit together but with my mom it is different. Plus, no one is going to be willing to move for two adults to sit by each other. So, I'm just hoping since I bought EB and bought tickets early and we are going during a "slow" season that we won't have any problem getting two seats together.

But other airlines have been known to change the size of the planes after they've made seat assignments, so when they reconfigure the seating arrangements, you still have the risk of not being able to sit with your family.

 

[DeniseR]

So, I'm not a frequent SW flyer, but our trip in September will be me, DH, DD and her DH, and their twins, age 2. We did get Early Bird Check In, mostly because of the twins and the fact we will have a stroller. With this family check in thing yall are talking about, will the family check in thing be called before the people (like us) that paid for EBCI? If so, do we just go then? I'm pretty confused about what yall mean about boarding A and B. Someone help me understand please! We just got Southwest flights in our area and I have only flown on them once. And I just did whatever my friend did so I really wasn't paying attention!

 

[katallo]

How long do you think they will test this new program? We won't have children traveling with us but we will have to rethink buying EBCI or SW if this happens.

 

[CT Disney]

The thing I've noticed with Southwest Family Boarding at MCO is that they often let the whole family board. For example, I've seen families with two parents, one toddler and one older child (obviously over the age of 4). In this instance, the toddler should be allowed to board during family boarding with one adult. The older child and the second parent should board with their actual boarding group. Instead, they frequently let the entire family board together during family boarding.

We finally stopped flying SW because the boarding process drove us crazy. The family boarding line was always huge and if we had a B boarding number, I would sit there and stress over not getting seats together. My kids are both well over 4, but they still want to sit with mom or dad. Flying can be nerve-wracking even for adults. The last time we flew home from MCO it was nighttime, and we landed during a huge lightning and rain storm. It was super, super, super bumpy. I know my kids were happy to have their parents right next to them during that flight.

It's interesting that they are testing new family boarding parameters. I can only imagine the size of that family boarding line!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

What I found odd was that it seemed most families had two children and mom and one kid was in one row and dad and the other was in the other, most had the middle and window seat occupied. Many aisle seats were available in fact 4 out of the 5 of us were in an aisle seat when we eventually found seats.

Why do you find this odd? We always do a 2-and-2 configuration, in two consecutive rows, for our family of 4. Each parent is responsible for one kid, so the responsibilities are split evenly, and each kid gets to sit by the window so there's no fighting. It's easy to hand stuff back and forth over the seat, if needed, and we always put our youngest behind our oldest so that if he accidentally kicks the seat, he's only bothering a family member and not a stranger. When we were rookies we did 3-and-1, with the single parent on the aisle, but then that left one parent essentially responsible for both kids, while the other parent got to kick back, which really isn't fair.

 

[jimandami]

So, I'm not a frequent SW flyer, but our trip in September will be me, DH, DD and her DH, and their twins, age 2. We did get Early Bird Check In, mostly because of the twins and the fact we will have a stroller. With this family check in thing yall are talking about, will the family check in thing be called before the people (like us) that paid for EBCI? If so, do we just go then? I'm pretty confused about what yall mean about boarding A and B. Someone help me understand please! We just got Southwest flights in our area and I have only flown on them once. And I just did whatever my friend did so I really wasn't paying attention!

When you purchase EBCI, the only thing you are guaranteed is that SW will automatically check you in 36 hours (I think that's right, we don't buy it) ahead of your flight. Depending on how many people purchased early bird and when they purchased in relation to you, you could be given an A boarding number or a B boarding number. If you are all given A boarding numbers, you will be allowed to board before family boarding with those boarding passes. If you are given B boarding numbers, you can board during family boarding (as long as it is offered...it usually is) which is between A and B.

 

[DeniseR]

When you purchase EBCI, the only thing you are guaranteed is that SW will automatically check you in 36 hours (I think that's right, we don't buy it) ahead of your flight. Depending on how many people purchased early bird and when they purchased in relation to you, you could be given an A boarding number or a B boarding number. If you are all given A boarding numbers, you will be allowed to board before family boarding with those boarding passes. If you are given B boarding numbers, you can board during family boarding (as long as it is offered...it usually is) which is between A and B.

Okay that makes more sense to me. So, when do you find out what you are given (A or B)? Do you receive some sort of notification by email?

 

[sam_gordon]

With EBCI, you are checked in 36 hours prior to your first flight. At 24 hours prior to your flight, you can log in and print your boarding pass. THAT'S how/when you find out what your boarding assignment is.

 

[KrazeeK120]

When you purchase EBCI, the only thing you are guaranteed is that SW will automatically check you in 36 hours (I think that's right, we don't buy it) ahead of your flight. Depending on how many people purchased early bird and when they purchased in relation to you, you could be given an A boarding number or a B boarding number. If you are all given A boarding numbers, you will be allowed to board before family boarding with those boarding passes. If you are given B boarding numbers, you can board during family boarding (as long as it is offered...it usually is) which is between A and B.

That's actually not correct, I don't think. If everyone in the group has A boarding numbers, yes, that's correct that they'll board before family boarding.

However, if they have B boarding numbers, the PP's DD, DD's husband, and the 2 kids can board during family boarding. Grandparents aren't typically supposed to board during family boarding as I understand it. PP and her husband will need to board with their boarding number.