More Southwest Questions..

[verlee]

1. Can anyone tell me how Southwest boarding procedures work? Are they different then say, Air Tran? Is it worth it to buy the early boarding time? It is just two adults traveling.

2. If I have around $30 in reserve at Southwest from a price decrease in our flights, can I use that to purchase the early boarding? I could not find a way to do this online and it says you cannot call to book early boarding?

Thanks

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I've never flow Air Tran...so sorry can't compare....hubby and i fly southwest all the time out of Islip, NY...since we are 10 min from the airport...I've never purchased the early check in since we are able to be at our computer or phone 24 hr prior to check in....and have had no problems getting A Boarding passes.....as far as using SW credits to pay for the early bird check in...southwest does not allow that..

 

[Bobo912]

With just two of you traveling, I think the only reason to buy EBCI would be convenience, so you wouldn't have to be at your computer at T-24. Or if you want to sit near the front. I've gotten early C boarding passes before and still been able to find two seats together in the rear of the plane.

 

[verlee]

Thanks,

We should have no problem doing the 24 hr check in on the way down. But is there a way to do it at WDW for the flight back? We will be staying at ASMU?

 

[Hockey Ninja]

The CMs at the concierge desk at ASMu or in Guest Relations in any of the parks (wherever you happen to be at your 24 hour mark) can do the online check in for you.

 

[Bobo912]

Or if you have web enabled phone, a blackberry, or similar device you can checkin at mobile.southwest.com. Or if you have someone at home you trust to remember to do it for you, they can check in for you. Or you could spend $10 and buy EBCI for one of you for the return flight and save a seat. Since there's just two of you, if you sit together one of you would be in a center seat anyway and it probably wouldn't take any effort to save it. Since you're at ASMu you can take advantage of RAC. You're boarding passes will be hanging on your door the morning of your departure.

 

[verlee]

Thank you all. I think we can figure out something. Any one of those choices would work. I had read about southwest boarding horrors. I think this sounds managable.

 

[prncess674]

Thank you all. I think we can figure out something. Any one of those choices would work. I had read about southwest boarding horrors. I think this sounds managable.

Remember that you are two adults and being separated on a plane for a three hour flight is not the end of the world. Bring a book to read if you per chance are not able to sit side by side. Is it worth $40 to get early boarding? Only you can answer that. Personally I can entertain myself or sleep on a plane and don't need to be attached at the hip to my adult traveling companions. Sure our first choice is to be seated together and 95% of the time we do, but it isn't worth $40 for the other 5% of the time "what if we might be seated separately" time.

 

[dburg30]

Just for plain ease of not worrying about it, I would probably get EBCI for the return trip. Again, not wouldnt really matter about getting split up, as when my mom goes with us, usually our flights arent full so my wife and mom sit one row forward or back of me with a seat in the middle open and I grab the window. If it starts booking up, mom would move over if someone wanted / needed the middle seat, and usually someone grabs the aisle seat of my row. But I do like to get on board so I would get the EBCI coming home.

 

[CarolMN]

We got EBCI for our return trip just because I didn't want to worry about getting a boarding pass 24 hours ahead of time when we would be in a park or somewhere else enjoying our last day. No need to get it for the departure as I will be home and can easily check in myself.

Don't care where we sit, or even if we don't get to sit together, but the $10 each for the return trip was worth it to me for the convenience. Especially true since we got such a good price for the airfare and SWA doesn't charged for checked luggage. Will be even better if they expand their participation on RAC to all of the WDW resorts before we take our APril trip.