My SW boarding experience today

[dudspizza]

Nothing bad to report, all went off without a hitch, no complaining or threats, but I did want to pass on this bit of info.

BWI-STL-MSP flight today

We had B 6-7-8-9 for the STL-MSP flights. The A 1-15 business select was full, so there were 60 A's, 5 B's, and 3 family boarding between A and B. So 68 people boarding before us. When we go on the plane every row for the first 18-20 rows had someone in the aisle and window seats....... the rest of the way back had at least 1 person in a each row.... the only empty 3 seat row was the last row of seats on both sides in the back. My 3 ladies took that one and I was in an aisle about 2 rows up. It all worked out fine, but I see people saying a mid-B boarding number will be fine and that those folks would be able to find seats together. That was not my experience today and I just wanted to share that. If sitting together is very important, EBCI is the way to go, which we did not purchase.

I did find it interesting that this was our 2nd leg of the flight and I checked in at the T24 mark. So, I checked in before any of the people who's flights originated on my second leg (and didn't purchase EBCI).

Just an FYI. No rant, no worries at all on my part.

The awesome part was the BWI-STL flight. Only 68 people on the plane and NO ONE, not one person, had to sit in a middle seat. My kids each got their own row and were able to lay down and sleep!

Duds

 

[PatMcDuck]

I had something similar. Boarded a plane in NC, going home to Philadelphia. We had low/middle "A" numbers, so I was not concerned at all with seating. (Not EBCI, just got these As at 24 hour mark).

The flight had originated in Orlando. When we boarded, to my surprise, it was packed! LOL, almost no one got off in NC, I was not paying attention to that. We did not get seats together, but it was ok that we did not, DD was 19 or so when this happened, short flight.

The worst part, was all those people were SETTLED in, and had their stuff all over the seats, they had spread out and gotten comfortable. They were quite cranky that they had to move when us NC travelers boarded.

 

[rszdtrvl]

After our last flight, we now figure EBCI in when we look at flight costs.

We checked in at T24 from PDX-LAS and ended up with B15 and B24.

We had EBCI on our way back and had A24 & A25.

I didn't think it would make a difference on our outgoing flight, as we were able to check in 24 hours prior, but it did.

We were shocked that our numbers were in the B category, much less almost mid-B.

An extra 37.50 for the 3 of us each way is not a huge deal, or even $25 for just DH and I. Much better than a seat on the back of the plane.

 

[MEK]

I fly BWI to MCO or PHL to MCO all the time. I always get a mid B boarding. I have never had trouble sitting with my companion and its usually right after the middle of the plane.

When I am a solo traveler I just take the first middle seat I see which looks it has nice people in the row. Sometimes I like to shake it up a bit and sit between two men.

 

[dudspizza]

I fly BWI to MCO or PHL to MCO all the time. I always get a mid B boarding. I have never had trouble sitting with my companion and its usually right after the middle of the plane.

When I am a solo traveler I just take the first middle seat I see which looks it has nice people in the row. Sometimes I like to shake it up a bit and sit between two men.

Now that was possible on my flight, but there seems to be a lot of people looking for a whole row to sit together and that wasn't possible on my flight after B15 or so.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have to ask. Did you happen to notice what happened to those empty middle seats as more people boarded? I have to wonder if there were people flying with others, but choosing aisle and window seats....hoping to have that middle seat remain empty. I just find it hard to believe that there were 68 ( I think that's the number you used) traveling solo.
Glad you had a good trip!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have to ask. Did you happen to notice what happened to those empty middle seats as more people boarded? I have to wonder if there were people flying with others, but choosing aisle and window seats....hoping to have that middle seat remain empty. I just find it hard to believe that there were 68 ( I think that's the number you used) traveling solo.
Glad you had a good trip!

That's actually pretty common, but it's not a big deal. My coworkers and I do that a lot... but we don't move to the middle seat when the plane starts to fill up

 

[Jestocost]

Nothing bad to report, all went off without a hitch, no complaining or threats, but I did want to pass on this bit of info.

BWI-STL-MSP flight today

We had B 6-7-8-9 for the STL-MSP flights. The A 1-15 business select was full, so there were 60 A's, 5 B's, and 3 family boarding between A and B. So 68 people boarding before us. When we go on the plane every row for the first 18-20 rows had someone in the aisle and window seats....... the rest of the way back had at least 1 person in a each row.... the only empty 3 seat row was the last row of seats on both sides in the back. My 3 ladies took that one and I was in an aisle about 2 rows up. It all worked out fine, but I see people saying a mid-B boarding number will be fine and that those folks would be able to find seats together. That was not my experience today and I just wanted to share that. If sitting together is very important, EBCI is the way to go, which we did not purchase.

I did find it interesting that this was our 2nd leg of the flight and I checked in at the T24 mark. So, I checked in before any of the people who's flights originated on my second leg (and didn't purchase EBCI).

Just an FYI. No rant, no worries at all on my part.

The awesome part was the BWI-STL flight. Only 68 people on the plane and NO ONE, not one person, had to sit in a middle seat. My kids each got their own row and were able to lay down and sleep!

Duds

We fly out of STL all the time and I have to say that we get higher numbers here than we do from almost any other airport. There are a lot of connecting flights through STL so that probably accounts for some of it.

 

[dudspizza]

I have to ask. Did you happen to notice what happened to those empty middle seats as more people boarded? I have to wonder if there were people flying with others, but choosing aisle and window seats....hoping to have that middle seat remain empty. I just find it hard to believe that there were 68 ( I think that's the number you used) traveling solo.
Glad you had a good trip!

That's actually pretty common, but it's not a big deal. My coworkers and I do that a lot... but we don't move to the middle seat when the plane starts to fill up

I didn't see anyone move. I actually watched for it wondering if it would happen. We were way in the back, so I was able to watch the entire plane. Once the aisle and window seats were full, the FA in the back announced to not pass up an open seat since since it is only middles left........ the middle seat next to me was the second to last seat filled.......

Duds

 

[sam_gordon]

Nothing bad to report, all went off without a hitch, no complaining or threats, but I did want to pass on this bit of info.

BWI-STL-MSP flight today

We had B 6-7-8-9 for the STL-MSP flights. The A 1-15 business select was full, so there were 60 A's, 5 B's, and 3 family boarding between A and B. So 68 people boarding before us. When we go on the plane every row for the first 18-20 rows had someone in the aisle and window seats....... the rest of the way back had at least 1 person in a each row.... the only empty 3 seat row was the last row of seats on both sides in the back. My 3 ladies took that one and I was in an aisle about 2 rows up. It all worked out fine, but I see people saying a mid-B boarding number will be fine and that those folks would be able to find seats together. That was not my experience today and I just wanted to share that. If sitting together is very important, EBCI is the way to go, which we did not purchase.

I did find it interesting that this was our 2nd leg of the flight and I checked in at the T24 mark. So, I checked in before any of the people who's flights originated on my second leg (and didn't purchase EBCI).

Just an FYI. No rant, no worries at all on my part.

The awesome part was the BWI-STL flight. Only 68 people on the plane and NO ONE, not one person, had to sit in a middle seat. My kids each got their own row and were able to lay down and sleep!

Duds

Was the flight a continuation? I've got to assume so, because 68 people boarding can't fill up 18 rows of aisles & windows (18*4=72), much less 20.

The continuation thing is something to look out for if you're flying SW.

 

[DebbieB]

Was the flight a continuation? I've got to assume so, because 68 people boarding can't fill up 18 rows of aisles & windows (18*4=72), much less 20.

The continuation thing is something to look out for if you're flying SW.

I flew PIT-BWI-MCO in March, a continuation flight. 41 people remained on board. After they did a head count, you could switch seats. So when the first person got on at BWI, there were not any empty rows in the front (I moved up to row 3).

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I wouldn't fly SW if I didn't buy EBCI. I like to be up near the front of the plane so I can get off quickly when the plane lands. It is worth every penny because I have never had a boarding number higher than A29. I am always 29 or less. Sometimes there are 5 of us sometimes just 2. There is usually not too many business select travelers so the max ppl who will be boarding ahead of me is around 20. The JAN/MCO flight always has ppl from the originating flight on it but never too many. We are always able to get in the first 5 or 6 rows.

 

[dudspizza]

It must have been a continuation flight..... it came from Boston. I looked up the flight today (BOS-STL-MSP) and it is a continuation....... so that would probably explain it.

That it another reason why people have to look at EBCI if they want to sit together. If you are on a continuation flight, the chances of sitting together become less....

 

[CarolMN]

That's actually pretty common, but it's not a big deal. My coworkers and I do that a lot... but we don't move to the middle seat when the plane starts to fill up

My DH likes the window and I like the aisle. We don't care if someone else sits between us, so we don't usually move, either.