Kids being separated from parents on plane?

[vbeaudry]

You should be able to just pay for and then add EBCI at any time. That option may be in the manage my flight area. Head over to the SW site and find where it is.

Thanks, I found it. Just have to sign in with Reservation number and name. It brings up the whole family and flights.

 

[level2mommy]

Does it matter how early you purchase your tickets if you want to get early bird check in? My DH and I will have our 7, 5, 3, and 1.5 year old when we go next year. The reason I ask is that I'm following flight prices for this year in an attempt to figure out what would be the best time to purchase tickets for the first week of December for our trip in 2014. Everywhere I've read says that purchasing the tickets 2-3 months before your flight has much better prices than the tickets which are offered when the flights first become available (which I'm attempting to confirm while we are in the planning stage). However, if the EBCI is sold out by then, I don't want to deal with my 5 and 7 yo being separated from us on the plane (particularly since none of my kids have ever flown before) and I'd rather book earlier if that is the case. So I guess my question succinctly is: Are there a limited number of EBCIs?

(Thoughts on when to purchase those tickets wouldn't be amiss either, if what I'm reading is leading me astray please let me know!) Thanks!

 

[Allison]

Does it matter how early you purchase your tickets if you want to get early bird check in? My DH and I will have our 7, 5, 3, and 1.5 year old when we go next year. The reason I ask is that I'm following flight prices for this year in an attempt to figure out what would be the best time to purchase tickets for the first week of December for our trip in 2014. Everywhere I've read says that purchasing the tickets 2-3 months before your flight has much better prices than the tickets which are offered when the flights first become available (which I'm attempting to confirm while we are in the planning stage). However, if the EBCI is sold out by then, I don't want to deal with my 5 and 7 yo being separated from us on the plane (particularly since none of my kids have ever flown before) and I'd rather book earlier if that is the case. So I guess my question succinctly is: Are there a limited number of EBCIs?

(Thoughts on when to purchase those tickets wouldn't be amiss either, if what I'm reading is leading me astray please let me know!) Thanks!

I don't think there are a limited number but your assignment is based on when you purchase EBCI. So anyone who purchases it before you will be ahead of you in line.

 

[goofy4tink]

Does it matter how early you purchase your tickets if you want to get early bird check in? My DH and I will have our 7, 5, 3, and 1.5 year old when we go next year. The reason I ask is that I'm following flight prices for this year in an attempt to figure out what would be the best time to purchase tickets for the first week of December for our trip in 2014. Everywhere I've read says that purchasing the tickets 2-3 months before your flight has much better prices than the tickets which are offered when the flights first become available (which I'm attempting to confirm while we are in the planning stage). However, if the EBCI is sold out by then, I don't want to deal with my 5 and 7 yo being separated from us on the plane (particularly since none of my kids have ever flown before) and I'd rather book earlier if that is the case. So I guess my question succinctly is: Are there a limited number of EBCIs?

(Thoughts on when to purchase those tickets wouldn't be amiss either, if what I'm reading is leading me astray please let me know!) Thanks!

I always buy my airfare as soon as they open the booking window. Yes, sometimes fares go down, but I haven't seen huge drops. If you wait until 2-3 months out, you may find that the fares are higher than you had hoped for.
As far as getting EBCI goes, with the ages of your kids, you should easily be able to board in the family boarding group. I know that some have said one parent, one child in that group, but since you have two under the age of 4, I doubt that SW is going to have the other two kids board by themselves.
You can buy the EBCI in any case. I like to do it as a convenience, especially when departing from WDW. That way you don't have to worry about where you are at the 24 hr window.

As far as what slot you'll get, based on when you buy EBCI? No way to tell. I have seen people get low A slots while others in their group, but on different confirmation numbers but bought EBCI on the same day, with little to no time in between the two groups, got mid-A slots. Not a big deal but it can happen. Or if someone cancels their flight that had EBCI included, and you just happen to be there buying EBCI, you could very well take their slot, which would put you ahead of those that bought EBCI much earlier!! No way to tell really.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think there are a limited number but your assignment is based on when you purchase EBCI. So anyone who purchases it before you will be ahead of you in line.

I've heard it is also based on the fare you paid. People have reported buying EBCI before someone else and then getting a later boarding position.

 

[dreaming4disney]

I've heard it is also based on the fare you paid. People have reported buying EBCI before someone else and then getting a later boarding position.

That's exactly what happened to us. We went with another family. We purchases the same fare and EB with it. They purchase the fare and got EB a month before we left . They got better boarding assignments then we did. Also, the woman in front of me also get a better boarding assignment and she bought hers 3 days prior to the flight. It seems like a scam to me. I won't waste the cash again. I emailed southwest and they called me back only to say that's not how it should be. It's supposed to be first come first served( better boarding number). She had no exclamation as to why it didn't work that way.

 

[goofy4tink]

The first 15 spots are automatically reserved for business class people, or the full fare people. They are paying a huge amount, could be triple what we pay. So they automatically get those first 15 spots. The one time I booked that class, we ended up with A1, 2, and 3!! Soooo nice.
If no one books within that class, those spots remain empty. SW now allows passengers to upgrade to those spots at the gate for an addtl amount...around $50 if I remember correctly.

 

[stargazertechie]

If you have kids and its important pay whatever to make sure you are seated. Don't rely on people moving for you or for there to be family boarding. .

I think this is the biggest take-home message. I paid for EBCI for my flight home from Disney. I was assigned A30. The woman who had A29 also had two kids with C boarding passes. She tried to sneak them in with her, and EVERYONE in the A group heard her tell her kids "it's ok, just stay with mom, I paid for my seat so you can come with".

When she got to the gate, the agent wouldn't let her take the kids, stating that entirely too many people had paid to do it the right way, and she was welcome to do family boarding with the youngest, but one of the parents (Dad had a high A boarding position) would have to board later with the children who were over the family boarding age.

Needless to say by the time she was able to board with the kids rolled around, there were no seats left to sit together, and nobody was feeling especially charitable toward her since she had tried to cheat the system.

 

[dburg30]

Oh, I've missed this place...

 

[DebbieB]

I think this is the biggest take-home message. I paid for EBCI for my flight home from Disney. I was assigned A30. The woman who had A29 also had two kids with C boarding passes. She tried to sneak them in with her, and EVERYONE in the A group heard her tell her kids "it's ok, just stay with mom, I paid for my seat so you can come with".

When she got to the gate, the agent wouldn't let her take the kids, stating that entirely too many people had paid to do it the right way, and she was welcome to do family boarding with the youngest, but one of the parents (Dad had a high A boarding position) would have to board later with the children who were over the family boarding age.

Needless to say by the time she was able to board with the kids rolled around, there were no seats left to sit together, and nobody was feeling especially charitable toward her since she had tried to cheat the system.

Really no different than people who buy 1 or 2 EBCI and save seats for the rest of the family. They seem to get away with it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We've missed you too. Welcome back!

Oh, I've missed this place...

 

[brymolmom]

Really no different than people who buy 1 or 2 EBCI and save seats for the rest of the family. They seem to get away with it.

Yes - many times they do, but I've been on at least 2 - 3 SW flights where the FA's start saying LOUDLY at late B and C boarding 'No seat saving, just grab the first available and let the next person by'.

I think that manytimes people are too timid. I forgot to check in right at 24 hours ONE time and had 6 and 7 year olds. I prepared them for the possiblity that we wouldn't sit together and had their backpacks ready with their own stuff and snacks in them. I boarded with DS at his boarding pass number (which was behind my own) and dh boarded with dd at her boarding pass number (which was behind his)...I was VERY prepared to take the first two seats I found - even if one had a large suitcase sitting on it - LOL. And I know the FA's (at least on this flight) would have backed me...The object is to stand in the aisle until the person moves their stuff on the 'saved' seat. Because once the FA's start noticing a backup and no one moving in the aisle - they will make the person move their belongings.

I didn't have to make a scene...I ended up getting the last row of 3 together for me and both kids. But did witness a man get separated from his child (maybe 10 - 12 years old). He stood at the back and kept saying 'i need 2 together' but the FA's didn't do anythign (and likely never would with a child that is perfectly old enough to sit alone). It was fine though (at least from my point of view) - the man was in a middle seat in one row and I think his kid got an aisle in the row right behind him. So they were very close.

 

[dburg30]

Probably covered in one of the replies, but IF you happen to not be able to find seats together on SW... Be polite!!! If you DEMAND that someone HAS to move so you can sit with your kid, well, dont expect a lot of sympathy, especially when you have options to boost your chances of sitting together.. ie: EBCI...

I would more then likely move if it appeared to me that you really did NEED to sit with a child.. ie: 6 or 7... I know there are 6 or 7 year olds that are pros and wouldnt really care one way or the other. But if you roll eyes, raise your voice or in any other way make it seem like a demand... yea.. sorry..