Is Early Bird Check In worth it on SW?

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I haven't purchased it yet and would rather put the $150 towards something else. What dies it really get you? It seems I've read that if you don't the attendants will do their best to seat you together? They did for us last year on AirTran at least.

 

[Cubicleprisoner]

If you can commit to checking in on-line exactly 24 hours before your flight, then save yourself the money and forgo early bird. You will most likely receive an assignment in the B group, where your party will still be able to sit together but you might not end up in your favorite section of the plane. The only time you need to worry about being separated from your family/friends on Southwest is when they place you in the C group.

 

[LilyWDW]

Depends on who is traveling and how important it is to be seated together.

 

[jennyjinx3]

I have paid for it, it gives me more peace of mind and one less thing to worry about. For me, less stress on vacation is better.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I'm going to pass on t...thanks for the info!

 

[mikehn]

early bird check in is just that. You pay for the right to check in early, nothing else. For some reason, this topic has morphed into people thinking they are paying for the right to sit together.

 

[boswellnakia]

I like to continually watch my SWA airfares. I book when the flights first open for my dates and then adjust them if better rates become available. I found out that the EB doesn't not transfer. If you buy it and you change your tickets, the EB is forfeited and has to be repurchased with the new ticket. I lost several EBs before I figured out what was going on. We no longer add it for this reason.

 

[KGK]

Depending on my schedule 24 hours before the flight -- I sometimes use early boarding. Almost always for the return flight after a vacation. Who wants to be on space mountain and think about checking in?

 

[mlittig]

I have often changed my flights on Southwest to take advantage of lower fares and my Early Bird check-in has always been transferred as well I have never lost my money

 

[LisaS]

I like to continually watch my SWA airfares. I book when the flights first open for my dates and then adjust them if better rates become available. I found out that the EB doesn't not transfer. If you buy it and you change your tickets, the EB is forfeited and has to be repurchased with the new ticket. I lost several EBs before I figured out what was going on. We no longer add it for this reason.

It depends on how you rebook your flight. If you use the "Change Flight" option, your confirmation number stays the same and, since EBCI is tied to the confirmation number, you will not lose your EBCI. If you cancel your flight and make a new reservation, you get a new confirmation number and your EBCI will be lost.

I have repriced my flights using the "Change Flight" option many times and have never lost EBCI.

 

[ibob52]

It depends on how you rebook your flight. If you use the "Change Flight" option, your confirmation number stays the same and, since EBCI is tied to the confirmation number, you will not lose your EBCI. If you cancel your flight and make a new reservation, you get a new confirmation number and your EBCI will be lost.

I have repriced my flights using the "Change Flight" option many times and have never lost EBCI.

Ditto ... I agree ... Do Not Cancel Flight with EBCI

EBCI will be forfeited if you cancel flight.

 

[sam_gordon]

I haven't purchased it yet and would rather put the $150 towards something else. What dies it really get you? It seems I've read that if you don't the attendants will do their best to seat you together? They did for us last year on AirTran at least.

There is NO guarantee the FA will try to seat you together. If where you sit or who you sit with is important to you, I would get EBCI.

If you are travelling with kids and you MUST sit next to them, get EBCI at least for one adult and child (not necessarily the entire party). If you can get by without sitting next to each other, skip EBCI.

 

[DebbieB]

It's open seating, the flight attendants do not seat you. If there's a small child who would be by themselves, they will sometimes ask someone to move to get them near a parent but not the whole family.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Depending on my schedule 24 hours before the flight -- I sometimes use early boarding. Almost always for the return flight after a vacation. Who wants to be on space mountain and think about checking in?

Ditto. I purchased EBCI on our return back from Orlando when I realized that the airline will check me in and I don't have to do a thing.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

I have often changed my flights on Southwest to take advantage of lower fares and my Early Bird check-in has always been transferred as well I have never lost my money

THANKS! - For some reason I did not think you could change your flight and still keep EBCI. I did and it worked!

 

[kappyfamily]

I always get early bird when traveling with 3 or more people.

 

[goofy4tink]

More and more travelers are using EBCI. What does this mean for the traveler that chooses not to buy EBCI? You could end up boarding in the mid-B group. If you have kids under 4, then you will probably be able to board in between the A and B groups, in family boarding. If your kids are older than that, then it may be tough to find enough seats together. Based on your signature and the amount you said you would spend for EBCI, I'm assuming you have four kids. So you're going to be hoping for two completely empty rows next to each other, for your family. That's going to be hard to do. You may find two empty rows in the very rear of the plane.
Will the FA's try to get you all seated together? Nothing I would count on. If I've paid for my EBCI, there is no way I'm giving up my seat. I paid to get a seat I would be happy with. I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. It's up to each family to decide what's important to them, and to make their own choices.

 

[mlittig]

THANKS! - For some reason I did not think you could change your flight and still keep EBCI. I did and it worked!

Glad to help and happy it worked for you too

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm going to pass on t...thanks for the info!

Please realize that the Flight Attendants MAY ask people to move so that an adult can sit with a small child. But it is nothing to be counted on, and they will not rearrange a bunch of people so that your whole family can sit together.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I'm fine wit that. We can be separated for 2 hours in order to save $150...just another way for airlines to make money. Which they have every right to, but I also don't have to agree to pay it. More money for Disney!