Is SW raising Early Bird seating prices?

[focusondisney]

I end up paying for Business Select if I'm flying to/from MCO - the amount of groups family boarding means that if I'm in a B group, I'm getting a middle seat in the back somewhere. EBCI doesn't even seem worth it for Orlando since it seems like everyone buys it IMO. I'm really bummed that Jetblue pulled out of BWI. I loved flying them to Orlando but now the options are Southwest and Spirit.

I flew Southwest a few weeks ago and was glad I did Business Select. Many people in the later groups had to check their carry ons due to all of the bins being completely full.

We’ve been booking Business Select too. Luckily we have JB at our airport. They have 1 nonstop a day so as long as the times work, I like to book them too. Planning to get their credit card to cover the luggage fees.

 

[georgina]

I feel for those of you who need it. I am usually solo, leave DCA at 6 or 7 AM so no issues there with 24hr checkin, and on the way home if I need it I can use one of the 4 upgraded boardings from DH's SW priority card. (He rarely flies SW, but the card gives an annual $75 credit and 7500 miles, which basically cancels out the $150 AF, plus those 4 free A1-15 boarding numbers)

 

[sponica]

I think when they allow family boarding before EBCI (especially on flights to and from MCO), then those families should have to sit in the back 10-15 rows of the plane. Advertise it and announce it at the gate prior to boarding families. Families would be able sit together, and if they want to be closer to the front, then pay for EBCI.

I've never used family boarding, it never seemed worth it to me. I've always bought EBCI because what's an extra two hundred bucks on 3k in airfare?

 

[Lewisc]

Isn't seeing miracle and miracle on Southwest worth paying extra? So many immobile people who can barely walk getting onto the plane are miraculously cured during he flight and their mobility is restored by landing. They have Jesus on every flight.

That bothers you more then parents who "forget" the ages of their kids when lining up for family boarding? More then families who pay EBCI for one passenger who saves seats?

Some people abuse pre-boarding. Some people can't handle standing in line waiting to board. Some people can't walk the length of the Jetway and plane. Allowing pre boarding eliminates the delays associated with have some passengers board with an aisle wheel chair.

Flights to FL tend to have older passengers, with more pre boards.

SW boarding system is broken.

 

[jo-jo]

Maybe SW should use a first on, last off policy. The wait for strollers and such take quite awhile. I always have to wait for DH's rollator.

 

[MillauFr]

That bothers you more then parents who "forget" the ages of their kids when lining up for family boarding? More then families who pay EBCI for one passenger who saves seats?

Some people abuse pre-boarding. Some people can't handle standing in line waiting to board. Some people can't walk the length of the Jetway and plane. Allowing pre boarding eliminates the delays associated with have some passengers board with an aisle wheel chair.

Flights to FL tend to have older passengers, with more pre boards.

SW boarding system is broken.

Yeah I'll never fly on Southwest because they have very few non-stop flights from Sea-Tac. I always fly on non-stop flights on Alaska. Their boarding policy doesn't make me want to chose to fly them either.

 

[georgina]

Definitely doesn't work for everyone, but I like SW boarding. They have several non-stops a day to/from MCO to DCA, I can usually get a one way for less than $99. My Sept flight is 3389 points.

 

[sponica]

Definitely doesn't work for everyone, but I like SW boarding. They have several non-stops a day to/from MCO to DCA, I can usually get a one way for less than $99. My Sept flight is 3389 points.

The last time I flew SW, we boarded so efficiently, we pushed off from the gate 5 to 10 minutes early.

 

[AussieFan8]

Definitely doesn't work for everyone, but I like SW boarding. They have several non-stops a day to/from MCO to DCA, I can usually get a one way for less than $99. My Sept flight is 3389 points.

Wow, I'm envious! We used to see fares like that all the time, but now the lowest seems to be $179 one way. Unfortunately since I have to travel at school break times, those less expensive fares aren't typically available.

 

[paults]

I stopped buying early bird when it went to $25. IMO, it's not worth it anymore

 

[Simba's Mom]

I predict that Southwest increasing the cost of Early Bird is going to come back to bite them in the ****. I'm one who needs wheelchair pre boarding. On a recent SW flight, there were about 20 of us all in wheelchairs needing pre boarding. Since only Southwest employees are allowed to push the wheelchairs down the jetway, and there were only a couple employees available, the gate agent announced that "if you're able to walk down the jetway, please do-otherwise pre boarding will take a long time." What a miracle! At least 80% of the people in wheelchairs jumped up and walked as quickly as possible down the jetway, leaving about 4 of us needing wheelchairs to try to push the abandoned wheelchairs out of the way to make an organized pre-board line out of the few of us left. I've read an article in the paper that some people are using the "I need a wheelchair to pre board", rather than pay for EB.
Although I've been loyal to SW for about 7 years, seeing this abuse, especially if it gets worse now, could lose SW a customer.

 

[MagicDVC]

I stopped buying early bird when it went to $25. IMO, it's not worth it anymore

Don't think it's worth it anymore since everyone seems to get EBCI. Few years ago, I got EBCI and got B-45 and that was the last time I bought it. I do try to get upgraded boardings since I get it from my SWA CC.

 

[reddog21]

I predict that Southwest increasing the cost of Early Bird is going to come back to bite them in the ****. I'm one who needs wheelchair pre boarding. On a recent SW flight, there were about 20 of us all in wheelchairs needing pre boarding. Since only Southwest employees are allowed to push the wheelchairs down the jetway, and there were only a couple employees available, the gate agent announced that "if you're able to walk down the jetway, please do-otherwise pre boarding will take a long time." What a miracle! At least 80% of the people in wheelchairs jumped up and walked as quickly as possible down the jetway, leaving about 4 of us needing wheelchairs to try to push the abandoned wheelchairs out of the way to make an organized pre-board line out of the few of us left. I've read an article in the paper that some people are using the "I need a wheelchair to pre board", rather than pay for EB.
Although I've been loyal to SW for about 7 years, seeing this abuse, especially if it gets worse now, could lose SW a customer.

This is not going to hurt SW it's only going to hurt the consumer. When privileges are abused then those priviliges are removed or there's going to be a fee attached to those priviliges.

 

[SL6827]

Wonder if they will eventually just go to charging everyone who wants to pick thier seat like other airlines? Surely that would be easier?

 

[georgina]

It was reported in April that SW is looking for ways to raise more revenue.

 

[reddog21]

It was reported in April that SW is looking for ways to raise more revenue.

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It also wouldn't surprise me if they start charging for luggage.

 

[Pooh2]

If they change to buying your seat ahead instead of early boarding, they would get me back as a customer.

 

[IndyToThere]

We always get Early Boarding, mostly so we can sit together as a family (x3 of us total). Last time we flew to Orlando (last fall), we ended towards the front of B group. That didn't bother me, but the amount of family boarding on that flight was at least x40 people (I counted)... almost an entire boarding group by itself. We finally got a side to ourselves but it was 4 or 5 rows from the back of the plane. Crazy.
Since they know what tickets have early board, I wish they had Family boarding start AFTER the people who paid extra for EB.
Or just put Family Boarding in the back.

 

[georgina]

It also wouldn't surprise me if they start charging for luggage.

That would be fine with me as I almost never check a bag! It would probably slow down boarding though if more people have more carryons.

 

[dreamer17555]

It also wouldn't surprise me if they start charging for luggage.

That would make Southwest a non starter for us. Luggage is half the reason we fly SW