Newbie to SW, need help with EBCI?

[msr709]

I've been reading the some of the threads about SW and have several questions. We don't travel until July 2013 but I'm an early planner and I'm considering SW for the first time since all the other airlines seemed to have gone crazy with all these new fees and charges.

There will be 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 children, a 2yo and 4yo. I'm inclined to purchase the EBs but do we really need to? and if we do, where do we get the EB? I tried a mock purchase (and it never asked about children, just adults and seniors?, how do we let them know we will be traveling with little ones) and I never saw anything about EBs? (I tried the link to the "Boarding School" but I'm at work and it would not let me download "Flash", so I can't see that).

We will be going out of EWR or PHL, whichever would be cheaper b/w the two. Her DGSon is a big kid, but he will be only 4 yo, do we need to bring their birth certificates? I usually fly alone so all this traveling with children this young is new to me and her! We will be picking up a car at the airport, not staying onsite. Also what is a Ding? Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I love Southwest for the reasons you stated. It may not be true for everyone but for me, adding those baggage fees would have me paying more if I flew another airline.

You won't see anything about children as far as booking seats on Southwest because for that airline, ages 2 and up is all the same price. There is an infant fare for children under 2, but it has to be booked over the phone. I used it last year when my son was 10 months old. Only then is a birth certificate required. You'd need it if you booked the infant at the infant fare or as a lap child. My son is 22 months and will be for our trip this month, but the online fare was fine so I just booked him as if he were 2 and paid the same price for his seat as my daughter's and mine. Since your younger child will be 2, you will just choose 4 "adult" seats when you book.

I would get EBCI especially in summer when more people travel to Orlando. What happens is that people who have purchased it, get checked in 36 hours prior to the flight departure. That is 12 hours prior to when people who have not purchased it have the opportunity to check in. And unlike regular check-in where you log in and check your family in for the flight, it is automatic. You don't have to do it yourself. You just log in later at or after the 24 hour mark to print the boarding passes, which will have your boarding position on them. People who purchase EBCI are checked in in the order of the EBCI purchase so if you purchase EBCI on say January 12, 2013 at noon, you would be checked in before someone who purchased EBCI on January 12, 2013 at 4pm. You only have the opportunity to add it after your book your flight. You can also go back and add it later. You just need your confirmation number to look up your reservation. You can add it for your outbound flight or your return flight or both.

I mainly did it because I was not going to be near a computer at the 24 hour mark to check us in myself. Our last flight we had A18, A19 and A20, which means we were in boarding group A and were the 18th, 19th and 20th people to get on the plane. You line up with your group in the exact order on your boarding pass. There are three groups, A, B and C and of course the A group gets on first. Right now, they do have family boarding where people with children 4 or under get on between group A and B, but that could change, so I would do EBCI.

Ding is where you give your email address and you are alerted to specials that Southwest runs.

HTH. It will be a while before they have flights listed for your dates though. We'll be traveling in June 2012 and those dates weren't up yet last I checked.

 

[kamik86]

For me I get EBCI when I am coming home so I don't have to remember during my vacation to stop and do check in on my phone (if your phone doesn't go online even more reason to do this on the way home)

However on the way there I can check in on my own. then again I work in front of a computer all day so taking a 5 min break to check in is no problem so I don't have to worry about being away from a computer at the right time.

 

[ccgirl]

I've been reading the some of the threads about SW and have several questions. We don't travel until July 2013 but I'm an early planner and I'm considering SW for the first time since all the other airlines seemed to have gone crazy with all these new fees and charges.

There will be 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 children, a 2yo and 4yo. I'm inclined to purchase the EBs but do we really need to? and if we do, where do we get the EB? I tried a mock purchase (and it never asked about children, just adults and seniors?, how do we let them know we will be traveling with little ones) and I never saw anything about EBs? (I tried the link to the "Boarding School" but I'm at work and it would not let me download "Flash", so I can't see that).

We will be going out of EWR or PHL, whichever would be cheaper b/w the two. Her DGSon is a big kid, but he will be only 4 yo, do we need to bring their birth certificates? I usually fly alone so all this traveling with children this young is new to me and her! We will be picking up a car at the airport, not staying onsite. Also what is a Ding? Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

I have never gotten it with the children and have flown MANY times. We are not picky about where we sit, and as long as 1 adult is with 1 child we do not all have to sit together. I do check in exactly 24 hours in advance. Even with C passes (when I forgot to check in until 12 hours in advance) at least 1 parent was able to sit with 1 child. Usually, they have family boarding between A and B so you would be eligible for that (even if you had a B or C boarding pass). Sometimes for Orlando they eliminate the family boarding; as the majority of the plane would family board or allow 1 parent with 1 child age 2 and under. On the way home, I just use RAC or my web enabled phone. The only time you need a birth certificate is when the child is flying as a lap baby (to prove they are under age 2). Have fun.

 

[msr709]

Thank you all so much, its much clearer to me now. I think I will do the EBCI because I'm planning this trip for 9-10 (not sure yet) but the less I have to worry about the better and this appears to resolve the "check-in" issue going and coming. Since we are traveling with 2 little ones that have never flown before I'd like to make it as painless as possible. Not that we really need seats up front, but I need an aisle seat since I have a bum knee that I have to stretch out every so often, its one of my concerns, if not, I won't be able to walk too well for hours after we get off the plane (happened once I was stuck in a middle seat to FL and I was useless for about 4 hours after I got of the plane, never will do that again!). You all have made the process a lot clearer for me and I really do appreciate it. I'm going to cut and paste this information into my Planning list. One thing I can check off my list! Thanks again!

 

[ccgirl]

Thank you all so much, its much clearer to me now. I think I will do the EBCI because I'm planning this trip for 9-10 (not sure yet) but the less I have to worry about the better and this appears to resolve the "check-in" issue going and coming. Since we are traveling with 2 little ones that have never flown before I'd like to make it as painless as possible. Not that we really need seats up front, but I need an aisle seat since I have a bum knee that I have to stretch out every so often, its one of my concerns, if not, I won't be able to walk too well for hours after we get off the plane (happened once I was stuck in a middle seat to FL and I was useless for about 4 hours after I got of the plane, never will do that again!). You all have made the process a lot clearer for me and I really do appreciate it. I'm going to cut and paste this information into my Planning list. One thing I can check off my list! Thanks again!

If you need an aisle seat, I would definitely do EBCI then. If you have a car seat, please note this must be placed on a window seat. As you can imagine, those aisle seats seem to go quickly. Have a great trip!

 

[msr709]

If you need an aisle seat, I would definitely do EBCI then. If you have a car seat, please note this must be placed on a window seat. As you can imagine, those aisle seats seem to go quickly. Have a great trip!

I'm planning on using the CARES for my grandson so that shouldn't be a problem, right? I am definitely doing EBCI if only because I forget everything once I'm in vacation mode, just Mickey on my mind! LOL

 

[ccgirl]

I'm planning on using the CARES for my grandson so that shouldn't be a problem, right? I am definitely doing EBCI if only because I forget everything once I'm in vacation mode, just Mickey on my mind! LOL

Yes, correct. They need the car seat by the window so it does not inhibit anyone from getting out of the aisle should there be an emergency. With the cares harness; there is nothing protruding so it doesn't matter (just not an emergency exit row obviously). I have never used one but have heard great things. We always rent a car so need a car seat once we get there anyway. Have a great trip!

 

[msr709]

Yes, correct. They need the car seat by the window so it does not inhibit anyone from getting out of the aisle should there be an emergency. With the cares harness; there is nothing protruding so it doesn't matter (just not an emergency exit row obviously). I have never used one but have heard great things. We always rent a car so need a car seat once we get there anyway. Have a great trip!

We're planning on renting a car seat so we don't have to lug one around besides the stroller. Too many things to carry!