Paid extra for SW Early Bird and got B15+

[tjmw2727]

And I was responding to this part of your post







Again it's not Early Board, it's Early Bird Check In.

There's Pre-Boarding and that is different than Early Bird Check In.

I never said it was - and family boarding isn't pre boarding, its between A and B. IMHO nothing wrong with politely asking if the immediate family can board with the mom and toddler.
/out

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I never said it was - and family boarding isn't pre boarding, its between A and B. IMHO nothing wrong with politely asking if the immediate family can board with the mom and toddler.
/out

You're totally confusing this all up.

I understand what I'm talking about. You may not be because you are using terms that don't mean what they actually mean.

Let me put it more simply.

• You keep describing it as Early Board.
• EBCI stands for Early Bird Check In NOT Early Board. Too many people confuse EBCI with calling it Early Board. Sounded like you were doing that because you kept referring to it as Early Board.
• Some people say Early Board when they are referring to Pre-Boarding. I was just clarifying they are not related
• Purchasing EBCI does NOT grant you special privilages towards Family Boarding. Your comment was "in light of purchasing EBCI" and connected it with Family Boarding.

Hope that helps out.

 

[tjmw2727]

I made a TYPO - my boarding pass says EARLY BIRD in bold letters, pp's had said this isn't on the boarding pass - that was my point.
I fly SWA at least 2x a month rt and I know full well how it works. One typo doesn't change that.

The OP IS entitled to family boarding (between A&B) as she has a 4yo.

You're totally confusing this all up.

I understand what I'm talking about. You may not be because you are using terms that don't mean what they actually mean.

Let me put it more simply.

• You keep describing it as Early Board.
• EBCI stands for Early Bird Check In NOT Early Board. Too many people confuse EBCI with calling it Early Board. Sounded like you were doing that because you kept referring to it as Early Board.
• Some people say Early Board when they are referring to Pre-Boarding. I was just clarifying they are not related
• Purchasing EBCI does NOT grant you special privilages towards Family Boarding. Your comment was "in light of purchasing EBCI" and connected it with Family Boarding.

Hope that helps out.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I made a TYPO - my boarding pass says EARLY BIRD in bold letters, pp's had said this isn't on the boarding pass - that was my point.
I fly SWA at least 2x a month rt and I know full well how it works. One typo doesn't change that.

The OP IS entitled to family boarding (between A&B) as she has a 4yo.

I was clarifying since you said it twice. And yes a typo does change it;it's a common error seen and more for the benefit of anyone else reading later on.

The OP and the 4 year old are within the written policy. The 13 and 17 are not. That is the point myself and a couple other posters were making. No one was having an issue with the 'toddler' (4 year old) boarding with the OP in Family Boarding. It was the suggestion to take the others that was what was being spoken about.

My issue I had with your wording is you said "in light of purchasing EBCI". The OP isn't entitled to anything related to Family Boarding just because they purchased EBCI. You phrased your comment that way and I commented regarding that.

Hopefully you can understand why I clarified.

In any case clarifying is done; it's good now

 

[pixiedustedme]

Where is the "Let It Go" emoji when you need it?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Where is the "Let It Go" emoji when you need it?

lol where's the 'had to chime in just because' emoji

 

[focusondisney]

Just finished cleaning out my carryon from last weekend and found my SWA Boarding Pass and EBCI is listed on my pass. Its on the left hand side under the flight information, Early Bird is in all caps and bold lettering.
ETA - EARLY BIRD is on the BP - this was a typo

Thanks! I never noticed it, I will have to check my BP next week.

 

[jo-jo]

Thanks! I never noticed it, I will have to check my BP next week.

Now the other poster made it sound like her boarding pass might be a little old, so I'd be very interested to hear what your boarding pass does say.

If it does say Early Bird or something like that, it would be very easy for SW to say boarding A-1 to A-60 (or whatever) and then any remaining EBCI, then family boarding.


edit---oops, the other poster said from last weekend.....guess it's not old at all.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Thanks! I never noticed it, I will have to check my BP next week.

I just asked my husband and he flew a couple weeks ago and purchased EBCI. He always uses Mobile Boarding pass and it does NOT say it on there.

So what I'm thinking it Mobile Boarding passes don't say it (maybe space issues? IDK) but paper ones must be saying it.

I do remember back in 2016 we had purchased EBCI for me because I was flying alone and my paper boarding pass did say EBCI but others mentioned theirs didn't so I assumed it had changed in that time period.

Maybe all it really is is paper boarding passes do show it but mobile ones do not.

 

[Lewisc]

Now the other poster made it sound like her boarding pass might be a little old, so I'd be very interested to hear what your boarding pass does say.

If it does say Early Bird or something like that, it would be very easy for SW to say boarding A-1 to A-60 (or whatever) and then any remaining EBCI, then family boarding.

That's not the point. Family Boarding requires empty seats so families can sit together. Southwest doesn't appear to limit the number of EBCI sold. It defeats the purpose of family boarding if 2/3 of the plane board before families.

JMO but Southwest should attempt to limit seat saving and try to limit the number of EBCI sold so customers who purchase EBCI board before families.

HISTORY--SWs boarding system motivates passengers to line up and board as soon as they are allowed. Push back is at or even before published time. Assigned seats means some passengers will wait until the last minute to board. Too many passengers line up at T10 the plane is delayed.Southwest started with short intra Texas flights. The quicker turn around allowed Southwest to schedule one, and maybe even, two more flights. Today. Southwest as longer flights. Passengers with assigned seats want to board early in order to grab limited bin space.

edited to add I'm sure Southwest could, in some way, indicate who paid for EBCI on BPs. I don't think that's the issue.

 

[jo-jo]

That's not the point. Family Boarding requires empty seats so families can sit together. Southwest doesn't appear to limit the number of EBCI sold. It defeats the purpose of family boarding if 2/3 of the plane board before families.

JMO but Southwest should attempt to limit seat saving and try to limit the number of EBCI sold so customers who purchase EBCI board before families.

HISTORY--SWs boarding system motivates passengers to line up and board as soon as they are allowed. Push back is at or even before published time. Assigned seats means some passengers will wait until the last minute to board. Too many passengers line up at T10 the plane is delayed.Southwest started with short intra Texas flights. The quicker turn around allowed Southwest to schedule one, and maybe even, two more flights. Today. Southwest as longer flights. Passengers with assigned seats want to board early in order to grab limited bin space.

edited to add I'm sure Southwest could, in some way, indicate who paid for EBCI on BPs. I don't think that's the issue.

I agree, SW should limit the number sold. I would not be happy to pay extra only to get a B boarding knowing dozens of people will be boarding before me that didn't pay extra. If SW told me , sorry the EBCI is sold out for that flight, at least I would know where I stood.

I wonder if people who are counting on Family boarding , do they checkin at 24 hrs or figure it doesn't matter since they have family boarding. I just wonder since some had experience flights with no family boarding.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

The problem is family boarding when half the plane qualifies. No one’s number in B or C matters if 55-60 people boarded during A and 70 boarded in between. At B15 (that I paid for to not board last), I’m boarding last. I take issue with that.

Is it common? I don’t know. But it did happen to us in February (I’m guessing there was no one in the C group who boarded in their assigned spot).

 

[Allison]

my boarding pass says EARLY BIRD in bold letters, pp's

I just looked at my boarding pass. No mention of EBCI, just wanna get away and TSA precheck.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

This is nuts LOL!

I’m at WDW.

1. My 4yo son is a toddler. Not sure what the definition is, not do I care, but he is not in school, nor will he be in school next year. So he is a toddler. If this definition is too broad for your liking maybe you should join a board that adheres to exact definitions more closely. Or maybe you just need a vacation yourself?

2. SWA at the gate told me “yes EBCI does not guarantee you an A boarding and actually with a child under 6 you shouldn’t have even bought it. Call back and explain and try to get a refund. I specifically asked if it was just me and my “TODDLER” or if the whole family can board after A. She said “absolutely the whole family can board.”

FWIW . The family in front of me had a child the same age as mine (about) and 2 parents and what appeared to be 4 grand parents and some aunts and uncles? 8 adults and an (about) 4 yo.

 

[tjmw2727]

I just looked at my boarding pass from February. No mention of EBCI, just wanna get away and TSA precheck.

If I can figure out how I would be glad to post a picture of my BP with Early Bird printed on it!

 

[Ben E N]

I agree, SW should limit the number sold. I would not be happy to pay extra only to get a B boarding knowing dozens of people will be boarding before me that didn't pay extra. If SW told me , sorry the EBCI is sold out for that flight, at least I would know where I stood.

I wonder if people who are counting on Family boarding , do they checkin at 24 hrs or figure it doesn't matter since they have family boarding. I just wonder since some had experience flights with no family boarding.

I'm sure I don't speak for every family with young children, but when I don't use Early Check in, I still check in as close to 24 hours out as possible. I feel like I am "butting" less people in line that way, and feel a little more relaxed just in case something happens that cancels family boarding.
Then again, my wife and I are pretty type A people, so we probably don't speak for every family.

 

[goofy4tink]

Said this on other threads, but I think EBCI should be boarded before family boarding. I had thought it was noted on the boarding pass, but someone said no it isn't. So not sure how they would know who did and didn't pay extra.

My mobile boarding passes from my last 4 flights don't have anything about EBCI on them. No reason why they would.

This is nuts LOL!

I’m at WDW.

1. My 4yo son is a toddler. Not sure what the definition is, not do I care, but he is not in school, nor will he be in school next year. So he is a toddler. If this definition is too broad for your liking maybe you should join a board that adheres to exact definitions more closely. Or maybe you just need a vacation yourself?

2. SWA at the gate told me “yes EBCI does not guarantee you an A boarding and actually with a child under 6 you shouldn’t have even bought it. Call back and explain and try to get a refund. I specifically asked if it was just me and my “TODDLER” or if the whole family can board after A. She said “absolutely the whole family can board.”

FWIW . The family in front of me had a child the same age as mine (about) and 2 parents and what appeared to be 4 grand parents and some aunts and uncles? 8 adults and an (about) 4 yo.

And this is my issue......one eligible child and 8 adults. That's not right, IMHO. And that has nothing whatsoever to do with EBCI.



Okay...here it is folks, the bottom line...
E (early) B (bird) C (check) I (in). CHECK IN. Nowhere does it mention anything about boarding, nowhere. EBCI is only for being able to get checked in at the 36 hr window, vs the regular 24 hr window. You will have a better boarding slot than those that didn't pay for EBCI. But again, it does not mean you are going to get into the A group..it means you don't need to worry about checking in for your flight.
If those of you that are upset with the whole family boarding are so inclined....speak up. Tell SW that you can no longer fly with them since they are allowing entire families to board together. I tend to agree with you. Just because my dd is now 25 it doesn't mean that I don't care about not sitting with her. One adult per young (6 and younger) child. Unless there are no other adults to board with the older kids.

 

[Searc]

I know what early bird is I use often. I replied to the post that said EB wasn't printed on the boarding pass, it is printed on the boarding pass.

Nope, EBCI is not printed on a SW boarding pass.

 

[tjmw2727]

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

Nope, EBCI is not printed on a SW boarding pass.

I am holding one in my hand - on the left hand side it clearly says EARLY BIRD in bold letters.

 

[kaytieeldr]

1. My 4yo son is a toddler. Not sure what the definition is, not do I care, but he is not in school, nor will he be in school next year. So he is a toddler.

Fine that you don't care, but the actual dictionary (not any individual's) definition is, "a young child who is just beginning to walk." It would seem to exclude most four year olds.

We don't get to define words to mean what we want them to.