Paid extra for SW Early Bird and got B15+

[disneyfan2kids]

Wish I hadn't paid extra to what basically equated to the last 30% of seats (since families preboard).

So frustrating. If they can't guarantee an "A" checkin they should stop selling EBC.

I do have a toddler - do I still qualify as family boarding? Also - is it just me and him or my whole family?

 

[Spunky946]

I’ve had that happen to me occasionally. Yes you can board at family boarding with a child under the age of 6. How many are in your family total?

 

[FCDub]

Sorry you didn't get the result you were hoping for.

On the Southwest website, it says:

"Will EarlyBird Check-In Customers get an "A" Boarding Pass and be among the first to board?

While EarlyBird Check-In doesn't guarantee an A boarding position, it improves your seat selection options to help you get your favorite seat."​

Also, families don't preboard. They board between A and B. The Southwest FAQ might be helpful, as it details exactly what happens during family boarding, ages, and procedures: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html

 

[Missyrose]

So frustrating. If they can't guarantee an "A" checkin they should stop selling EBC.

A 1-15 is taken for SW's Business Select group. So EBCI doesn't even start until A16. With EBCI, you are basically betting on getting a slot ahead of family boarding, but you don't know if the bet has paid off until you get your boarding number.

 

[sponica]

B15 is still pretty good (honestly) if you're on an ORIGINATING plane and not a continuing service plane.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

I’ve had that happen to me occasionally. Yes you can board at family boarding with a child under the age of 6. How many are in your family total?

5 total - Me, DH, 3 kids (only 1 being a toddler)

 

[disneyfan2kids]

B15 is still pretty good (honestly) if you're on an ORIGINATING plane and not a continuing service plane.

Not if you're going to Disney during Spring Break and 99% of the plane will have toddlers and gets on before the B group.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

You will be able to family board between A & B
How old are the other 2 children?

 

[disneyfan2kids]

You will be able to family board between A & B
How old are the other 2 children?

13 and 17

 

[Cinderumbrella]

13 and 17

I highly doubt they will be able to board between A&B. You can try to save seats for them.
(I understand the frustration. I had B12(ish) in February with EBCI and we were in the second to last row because half the plane was medical preboard and family boarding.)
Best of luck tomorrow!

 

[disneyfan2kids]

I highly doubt they will be able to board between A&B. You can try to save seats for them.
(I understand the frustration. I had B12(ish) in February with EBCI and we were in the second to last row because half the plane was medical preboard and family boarding.)
Best of luck tomorrow!

Thanks, I'm not picky about the row - and my DH, and older son can fend for themselves - I'd just like to ensure my toddler has familiar faces on both sides of him so he doesn't freak. (Me and my 13yo) - so I want a row for us.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks, I'm not picky about the row - and my DH, and older son can fend for themselves - I'd just like to ensure my toddler has familiar faces on both sides of him so he doesn't freak. (Me and my 13yo) - so I want a row for us.

I’m sure that’s doable. Family board with the toddler and save a middle seat temporarily for your son. He won’t be the last one on the plane.
Good luck!

 

[sponica]

Not if you're going to Disney during Spring Break and 99% of the plane will have toddlers and gets on before the B group.

Sometimes when there are that many families with small kids, they suspend family boarding, at least I've seen reports of that happening. You can always hope. Or you take middle, put younger kid on aisle and older kid in other aisle seat, if that configuration works and is available.

ETA: Or what @Cinderumbrella said. That's a good plan too.

 

[jormom1030]

That happened to us on our trip to Disneyland in March from BWI. I bought the tickets in September and paid for Earlybird for all 5 of us. It was so stressful when we got in the B section. If we would have been a few more numbers back in the Bs (we were single digit numbers) we would not have been near each other. We got the next to last row with 5 seats (3 and 2). I feel like I did my job by buying the tickets 6 months in advance and paying an extra $60 for my family so we could be together. We shouldn’t be penalized because my youngest is 7 now.

 

[jo-jo]

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.

 

[focusondisney]

We shouldn’t be penalized because my youngest is 7 now.

The same way others of us shouldn’t be penalized for traveling without kids?

When your youngest was 6, did it bother you to do family boarding in front of other people who paid for EBCI?

 

[focusondisney]

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.

It isn’t on the BP. So they would have to change the whole A- B - C system & revise it to preboard, business select, A listers, group A, anyone else with EBCI, family boarding then any other B & C. Or the agent could get an update on the computer for each flight saying how far EBCI went. Such as: EBCI goes to B5. So they let everyone board & stop it at B6 to do family boarding. Sounds like too much work & confusing for the public. I doubt they would actually do either of those things, but who knows.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

OP Southwest operates on an algorithm for assigning their Boarding Positions

1. A1-15 are only for those with Business Select fares purchased or Upgraded Boarding purchased (which is done at the gate and subject to availability)
2. After that is A-list Preferred
3. After that is A-list
4. After that is Anytime Fares purchased with EBCI in the order in which EBCI was purchased
5. After that is Wanna Get Away Fares purchased with EBCI in the order in which EBCI was purchased
6. Companion Pass is in there somewhere along with passengers with Anytimes Fares and Wanna Get Away fares without EBCI which is determined by the passenger checking in at 24 hours prior to their flight.

Nothing and I mean nothing guarantees you A Boarding except for option #1. Unfortunately this falls into the category of misunderstanding things. In the future if you fly Southwest and purchase EBCI do so with the understanding that EBCI is not related to Boarding Groups (ABC).

 

[jormom1030]

The same way others of us shouldn’t be penalized for traveling without kids?

When your youngest was 6, did it bother you to do family boarding in front of other people who paid for EBCI?

The other times that I flew with Southwest and had a child under 6 we paid for Earlybird (from BWI to MCO) and got A’s so we didn’t use family boarding.

 

[gwynne]

The other times that I flew with Southwest and had a child under 6 we paid for Earlybird (from BWI to MCO) and got A’s so we didn’t use family boarding.

We've nearly always gotten A's in the past as well.
I sort of wonder if more folks are buying EBCI these days because of the Boeing 737 Max grounding and all the effects.