Is Early Bird Check In worth it on SW?

[Disneylover99]

Sorry, a bit off topic here.

We have purchased EBCI for our family both ways for our trip next month. I have never flown SW. I don't have to check in at the 24 hour mark right?

So how do I know my boarding letter/number. Can I check it online? Or will I find out at the airport?

Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

Sorry, a bit off topic here.

We have purchased EBCI for our family both ways for our trip next month. I have never flown SW. I don't have to check in at the 24 hour mark right?

So how do I know my boarding letter/number. Can I check it online? Or will I find out at the airport?

Thanks!

You can go in at 24 hours and view or print them.

 

[Disneylover99]

You can go in at 24 hours and view or print them.

Thank you!

 

[laughinplace199]

Can someone give me a crash course in SW or maybe "Southwest for Dummies?"

I've never flown SW before, but DH & I are flying them this January (going to Puerto Rico, not WDW). We'd like to sit together but won't be devastated if we don't. DH likes to put his carryon in the overhead compartment. I like mine in the floor at my feet.

I didn't purchase EBCI, but I'm wondering if I should. If I don't, I'll need to check in 24 hours before my flights?

If I check in online, can I still check my luggage when I get to the airport? I've never checked in online with any airline before. I think with JB (which is the airline we usually fly), you can only check in online if you're not checking bags, so I'm clueless about how SW works.

If I do purchase EBCI, do I have to do anything other than print out my boarding pass before my flight? That would work fine while I'm at home, but what if I don't have access to a printer while on vacation?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[DebbieB]

Can someone give me a crash course in SW or maybe "Southwest for Dummies?"

I've never flown SW before, but DH & I are flying them this January (going to Puerto Rico, not WDW). We'd like to sit together but won't be devastated if we don't. DH likes to put his carryon in the overhead compartment. I like mine in the floor at my feet.

I didn't purchase EBCI, but I'm wondering if I should. If I don't, I'll need to check in 24 hours before my flights?

If I check in online, can I still check my luggage when I get to the airport? I've never checked in online with any airline before. I think with JB (which is the airline we usually fly), you can only check in online if you're not checking bags, so I'm clueless about how SW works.

If I do purchase EBCI, do I have to do anything other than print out my boarding pass before my flight? That would work fine while I'm at home, but what if I don't have access to a printer while on vacation?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

If you don't buy EBCI ($12.50 per person per direction), you need to check-in at 24 hours to get your boarding #. All the WDW resorts and parks will do this for you. If you have a smartphone, you can do it on the Southwest app and then print them at the airport and print them out. If you check-in at 24 hours, you will most likely get seats together. You can use online check-in if you are checking bags or not.

 

[Sandi]

If you don't buy EBCI ($12.50 per person per direction), you need to check-in at 24 hours to get your boarding #. All the WDW resorts and parks will do this for you. If you have a smartphone, you can do it on the Southwest app and then print them at the airport and print them out. If you check-in at 24 hours, you will most likely get seats together. You can use online check-in if you are checking bags or not.

To me, it is a nice convenience to pay for EBCI just so I don't have to play the 24 hour game. That is especially so for the return trip. But, it does add $25 round trip for each traveler. The PP isn't going to WDW, but her resort in PR will likely offer to print off the Boarding Passes, too. It's a convenience many hotels offer. Otherwise, she can do that at the airport.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Can someone give me a crash course in SW or maybe "Southwest for Dummies?"

I've never flown SW before, but DH & I are flying them this January (going to Puerto Rico, not WDW). We'd like to sit together but won't be devastated if we don't. DH likes to put his carryon in the overhead compartment. I like mine in the floor at my feet.

I didn't purchase EBCI, but I'm wondering if I should. If I don't, I'll need to check in 24 hours before my flights?

If I check in online, can I still check my luggage when I get to the airport? I've never checked in online with any airline before. I think with JB (which is the airline we usually fly), you can only check in online if you're not checking bags, so I'm clueless about how SW works.

If I do purchase EBCI, do I have to do anything other than print out my boarding pass before my flight? That would work fine while I'm at home, but what if I don't have access to a printer while on vacation?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

You can check in online for any airline, whether or not you are checking luggage.

I suggest you go to Southwest's website and start reading:

http://www.southwest.com/flight/early-bird-retrieve-reservation.html

 

[laughinplace199]

Thanks for the help, everyone.

lost*in*cyberspace, thanks for the link. I was on SW's website earlier, but somehow missed that page, which had all the info I needed!

 

[rszdtrvl]

Thanks to this thread, I decided to pay the $62.50 for the 5 of us and get EBCI for our TPA-PVD flight home after Thanksgiving. Just one less thing to worry about.

I always factor EBCI into the cost of tickets with Southwest. We don't fly without it, even though DS is going to be 17. We prefer front of the plane (as do most people).

Years ago before SW vacations was able to do EBCI we ended up in the VERY BACK of the plane. It was horrible. We said that would never happen again!!

 

[ZooKeeper13]

We leave tomorrow morning and our boarding passes are A45 & A46. We fly from Islip to MCO and I purchased EBCI when I bought the tickets the day after SW opened our dates. Not bad numbers but not wonderful considering how small our airport is. Personally, I never even consider not buying EBCI.

 

[disneygal55]

We just got back from a trip to WDW about 3 weeks ago. We flew SW and bought EBCI when we booked our trip when the dates opened (using points). We were A40's on the way down...which we weren't that happy with but on the way back, we got high B20's. What made it worse on the return flight was that first they allowed w/c guests (which is perfectly understandable) then business class, then the entire A group. Next...instead of the rest of the EBCI more pre-borders...a very large group of families with children 4 and under. The group size was unbelievable! By the time they started the B group (EBCI) the available seats were pretty limited. Why did we pay the extra money for EBCI? And even though SW won't admit it...I feel fare price plays a part in what boarding position you get! When we called SW, customer service reps insisted that this was not the case, but it's hard to believe. We are flying in May (6 of us) and I have not booked EBCI. Unless SW allows all of the EBCI customers to board at the same time, without breaking the A's and B's with pre-borders, I don't think it's worth it to me.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

....... And even though SW won't admit it...I feel fare price plays a part in what boarding position you get! When we called SW, customer service reps insisted that this was not the case, but it's hard to believe.......

Southwest admits right on their website Anytime Fares get priority for EBCI:

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=earlybird_checkin

Yes. Customers who have purchased Anytime Fares will receive priority over other fare types that are assigned their position based on the time stamp of the EarlyBird Check-In purchase.

 

[sam_gordon]

We just got back from a trip to WDW about 3 weeks ago. We flew SW and bought EBCI when we booked our trip when the dates opened (using points). We were A40's on the way down...which we weren't that happy with but on the way back, we got high B20's. What made it worse on the return flight was that first they allowed w/c guests (which is perfectly understandable) then business class, then the entire A group. Next...instead of the rest of the EBCI more pre-borders...a very large group of families with children 4 and under. The group size was unbelievable! By the time they started the B group (EBCI) the available seats were pretty limited. Why did we pay the extra money for EBCI? And even though SW won't admit it...I feel fare price plays a part in what boarding position you get! When we called SW, customer service reps insisted that this was not the case, but it's hard to believe. We are flying in May (6 of us) and I have not booked EBCI. Unless SW allows all of the EBCI customers to board at the same time, without breaking the A's and B's with pre-borders, I don't think it's worth it to me.

I'm sorry, but I think you were a little unrealistic in your expectations. You weren't happy with A40? A1-15 is reserved for business class.

Group size allowed for Family boarding has been discussed a lot around here and it apparently varies based on the gate agent.

I understand your thought about not buying EBCI for your upcoming trip, but just know depending on how busy the flight is, you might end up with C boarding passes by checking in at 24 hours.

Good luck!

 

[disneygal55]

Southwest admits right on their website Anytime Fares get priority for EBCI:

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=earlybird_checkin

Yes. Customers who have purchased Anytime Fares will receive priority over other fare types that are assigned their position based on the time stamp of the EarlyBird Check-In purchase.

Thanks for the info.

 

[disneygal55]

I'm sorry, but I think you were a little unrealistic in your expectations. You weren't happy with A40? A1-15 is reserved for business class.

Group size allowed for Family boarding has been discussed a lot around here and it apparently varies based on the gate agent.

I understand your thought about not buying EBCI for your upcoming trip, but just know depending on how busy the flight is, you might end up with C boarding passes by checking in at 24 hours.

Good luck!

I guess we were surprised at the A 40's because we usually got A19 to A24 or so and A40's seemed kind of high. I just don't feel it is right to split up the A and B EBCI customers by putting family boarding in between when it can add numerous people (pre-boarders) in between them. We all paid the same amount for the privilege. I bet if they put all the A's after a big bunch of pre-boarders, that SW would be hearing a million complaints. This is the first time that we ever had this problem....just hate to spend and extra $150 for the 6 of us if we're in the mid B's again.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Did online checkin in yesterday right at the 24 hour mark and all 6 of us got A boarding!!! Yep, glad I didn't pay for EBCI. Thanks for all the help!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Did online checkin in yesterday right at the 24 hour mark and all 6 of us got A boarding!!! Yep, glad I didn't pay for EBCI. Thanks for all the help!

So glad being cheap worked out for you!

I think you benefited by flying out of a market that is new for SW - so many people are not familiar with the boarding process. I would expect that to change in the future.

 

[Skyhawk341]

There is no other flight or connecting flight to MCO the rest of the day...we are flying out if a small, unpopular airport...

Cutting OP a little slack here. Apparently BwT's Spidey Sense, knowledge of her market, reservation-fu, or just plain good luck worked for her.

No EBCI here, either. I will also let you all know how that works for us.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is only me and my 22 year old nephew flying to WDW next month, and I did pay for EBCI. I will be sure and post my results too!

 

[Sandi]

It is only me and my 22 year old nephew flying to WDW next month, and I did pay for EBCI. I will be sure and post my results too!

And I'm flying with my mom out of Flint, MI next month. I also bought EBCI and will post our experience.

I'm very curious about your GRR trip -- that's the airport DH and I will use in March.