Should I pay EBCI with Southwest. Have 2 kids 6 and 9

[Mynamewastaken]

I have not added EBCI and wondering if that is something I should be doing. I have hubby, DS 7 and DD 9. What are the odds without EBCI that we would be separated? IS it worth the extra 12.50pp or 50.00 each leg of the trip 100.00 total?? Never flown SW before.

 

[Gracie09]

It's $25 per person $12.50 each way and I would.

 

[crayforvaca]

Depends on the how full of the flight it, the seats are not assigned. Check in on the dot online, seriously. I'm a southwest Rapid Rewards member and it's $12.50PP. Kids and families go first anyway-- BTW.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

Kid under 5 years get on early if I read that correctly. My son will be 7 and daughter 9. I am nervous that we will be separated but 50.00 (12.50pp x4) each way is steep that is an additional 100.00 not sure what to do...

 

[DebbieB]

I would take a chance. If you check-in at 24 hours, you should get a low enough number to at least do 2 and 2.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

....I'm a southwest Rapid Rewards member and it's $12.50PP. Kids and families go first anyway-- BTW.

No, they don't. Family boarding is for one adult and one child, aged 4 and under, between the A and B group.

 

[Meeko5]

I would, I did for my 6 year old and my DH for our flight. Me and the almost 2yo will get family boarding.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Just remember there is no law saying that a child has to sit with a parent. The flight attendant can't force someone to move so you can sit together. Most flights to and from MCO are probably full of families who want to be seated together. If it is a concern pay the extra and cut corners somewhere else. Don't rely on people moving for you, especially those who paid for EBCI.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you want to be sure your family will sit together, then pay for it. If you are fine with having to split up, and fine with the chance that your children will have to sit apart from you or your spouse, then don't pay for it. Would you be ok with saving the $100 and having your children sit apart from you?

 

[Disneylover99]

I would buy it if I were you. Then you don't have to worry about checking in at that 24 hour mark.

 

[stormer]

My kids are 11 and 13 and we still buy EBCI every time. To me it is worth the peace of mind to know we will be together. One of our trips to Orlando we paid for EBCI and still got B1, 2, 3, and 4.

 

[minnierocks]

My "kids" are 20 and 22 and we pay for it. My vacation starts when I board the plane and I want to sit with my family. I do not want the stress of worrying about where we are sitting or if we can sit together. I am not paying for luggage so I will pay for the early check in. I love the fact that that I don't have to think about it while I am on vacation for the return flight. Southwest checks me in and we print our boarding passes when we get to the airport.

 

[bpadair32]

My kids are 6, 4, and 7 months and I have never paid for it. I get on the Southwest app on my phone and check in right at 24hrs. I always get B group and we have never had a problem sitting together, and worst case, my wife can have two kids in one part of the plane and I can have the other in another part or vice-versa.

 

[sharona]

I would buy it if I were you. Then you don't have to worry about checking in at that 24 hour mark.

This is my view as well when traveling with family. It's not worth the stress of worrying if you will be able to find seats together and also the hassle of checking in at 24 hours especially for the return flight when you may be busy having fun on your vacation! Also, the earlier you add the EBCI, the better your boarding position will be so waiting until the last minute is not the best bang for your buck.

When I price flights, I just automatically add in the round trip cost of checked bags for other airlines and the EBCI cost for Southwest that way I can get a true price comparison.

 

[supersnoop]

You are 4 people. Southwest's aircraft are set up as 3+3. How do you plan to sit. If one parent will sit with the two children in one row, then I'd pay for EBCI for those three. If you'll sit 2 and 2 in separate rows, then I'd probably skip it if you can check in at 24 hours.

 

[Geomom]

If nothing else, I would do it for the flight home. If you don't have EBCI, you have to check in exactly at 24 hrs (which takes away from vacation time and adds stress to your day). Even if you check in 24 hrs in advance, you're looking B 20-60 for the boarding group. After one too many times of sitting in the last 2 rows of the plane, but with my family(2x2), we now do EBCI all the time. We have been on many planes where the flight attendants come around asking for someone with an empty seat next to them to move to a different seat so that a child can sit with their parent, and yes, on flights to Orlando, it is mostly families.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

I added to our flight home and I think I am just going to do it. I don't want to stress and I already am.. Thanks for the input.

 

[rdevine10]

My kids are 9 and 12 (almost 13). We still buy it every time. Its important to my kids to sit near one adult. And, I find when we dont- I (the mom) spend more time stressing about the 24 hour check in and our assignment.

And I will add- even though we are super nice people, if I pay to board early- no one in my family will move to accommodate a family who needs to sit together. Otherwise I just threw my money in the trash!

Our last flights in August were Southwest- we were A each time, but even then we were mid plane before we got a full row.

 

[n2mm]

I flew with my granddaughters 10, 10 & 8 this summer and bought EB. Flying them in November and bought for all of us. I don't like flying so it would cause me stress. It was worth it to us. We all had A boarding passes.

 

[goofy4tink]

My kids are 6, 4, and 7 months and I have never paid for it. I get on the Southwest app on my phone and check in right at 24hrs. I always get B group and we have never had a problem sitting together, and worst case, my wife can have two kids in one part of the plane and I can have the other in another part or vice-versa.

Here's the problem with not buying EBCI. With so many people now paying for EBCI, those checking in at the 24 hr mark are getting pushed further and further back in the boarding process. There are EBCI people getting mid-B slots! Aggravating when family boarding happens before some who paid extra for EBCI.
So, just being online right at the 24 window opening might not get you a slot you're expecting.