Southwest Early Bird and MCO

[tjmw2727]

Great suggestion about putting the wiggly kids behind us so if they start messing around - it is me they are bugging and not some poor stranger.

Plus the back of the plane is closest to the washrooms for potty trips/diaper changes (soooo looking forward to that!! I HATE airplane lavatories. Ewwwww)

I'm making the assumption that like most other airplanes, people generally want the front? So if we can "secure" the back rows - that would be awesome. My biggest worry is that the plane will be overbooked and we will all be separated. Hopefully not.

So if we do online check-in 24 hours pre-flight - is there any option to choose the very back?? Probably not, right?

And nope, we will not "save" seats. I graduated from the class of 2012 SW MCO thread . I am following the rules baby!!!

I have to say I love your attitude !
Head over to the SWA website and visit the section called "boarding school" - I think there is even a video Southwest boards the aircraft by zones and there is no assigned seating so No - you can't reserve anything .

By checking in at T24 you increase your chances at an A boarding pass. There are 60 spots in the A group and between 137 -145 seats on the SWA plane. So even if you get a B boarding pass you can still use the family boarding between the A and B groups. Assuming there were no continuing passengers you "should" have your choice of the remaining seats - however folks somtimes spread out and as you have read sometimes save seats.

Heading to the rear is a great option as mentioned pior as people ususlly choose the first good seat they see.

 

[1tufgt]

Great suggestion about putting the wiggly kids behind us so if they start messing around - it is me they are bugging and not some poor stranger.

Plus the back of the plane is closest to the washrooms for potty trips/diaper changes (soooo looking forward to that!! I HATE airplane lavatories. Ewwwww)

I'm making the assumption that like most other airplanes, people generally want the front? So if we can "secure" the back rows - that would be awesome. My biggest worry is that the plane will be overbooked and we will all be separated. Hopefully not.

So if we do online check-in 24 hours pre-flight - is there any option to choose the very back?? Probably not, right?

And nope, we will not "save" seats. I graduated from the class of 2012 SW MCO thread . I am following the rules baby!!!

If checking in at T24 you should get in that A boarding group. Even if you get in the early B's there are still plenty of seats available in the rear of the plane since like you stated people like to be up front.

 

[bumbershoot]

Heading to the rear is a great option as mentioned pior as people ususlly choose the first good seat they see.

Yep.

Very few people willingly just head on back to the back, I've noticed!

 

[goofy4tink]

Great suggestion about putting the wiggly kids behind us so if they start messing around - it is me they are bugging and not some poor stranger.

Plus the back of the plane is closest to the washrooms for potty trips/diaper changes (soooo looking forward to that!! I HATE airplane lavatories. Ewwwww)

I'm making the assumption that like most other airplanes, people generally want the front? So if we can "secure" the back rows - that would be awesome. My biggest worry is that the plane will be overbooked and we will all be separated. Hopefully not.

So if we do online check-in 24 hours pre-flight - is there any option to choose the very back?? Probably not, right?

And nope, we will not "save" seats. I graduated from the class of 2012 SW MCO thread . I am following the rules baby!!!

Terrific attitude!!! Thanks!! I'm one of the few people that likes to head to the back. I do that all the time with Airtran. In fact, if I'm flying solo, and doing carryon only? I pay to book seats in the back of the plane!!
You shouldn't have any huge issues if you are online right at the 24 hr mark. You will most likely be able to board in between the A and B groups in any event.

And SW doesn't overbook their flights...that's a nice thing.

 

[lugnut33]

We flew on Dec. 22 and Jan. 1 using SW and I'm really glad I did the EBCI. We had group A22-A25 on the way down and A41-44 on the way back. Got seats for all 4 of us. Bought the EBCI the day I reserved way back in June.

It was worth the $80 I spent because I didn't have to remember to jump on line and get my boarding numbers. The day before we left I would have had to remember to check in while we were playing mini-golf. It was right there when we showed up at the airport the next day. Loved it and it cost less than the two sit down meals at Le Cellier.

 

[1tufgt]

We flew on Dec. 22 and Jan. 1 using SW and I'm really glad I did the EBCI. We had group A22-A25 on the way down and A41-44 on the way back. Got seats for all 4 of us. Bought the EBCI the day I reserved way back in June.

It was worth the $80 I spent because I didn't have to remember to jump on line and get my boarding numbers. The day before we left I would have had to remember to check in while we were playing mini-golf. It was right there when we showed up at the airport the next day. Loved it and it cost less than the two sit down meals at Le Cellier.

That's good to hear. The suggestion has always been get EBCI on the way back since as you stated you could be out and about and forget.

 

[mmouse50]

I got a response from SW and it basically said that if I had purchased an EBCI and received a B position that I was just SOL. They said that because MCO had many families that family boarding would always take place. They did "mention" that family boarding was to be 1 parent with 1 child and that they "ask" the extended family members to board in their positions but didn't say that they would enforce the rule. So I still intend to purchase EBCI going out of MCO and hope and pray that I get an A boarding pass.

 

[1tufgt]

I got a response from SW and it basically said that if I had purchased an EBCI and received a B position that I was just SOL. They said that because MCO had many families that family boarding would always take place. They did "mention" that family boarding was to be 1 parent with 1 child and that they "ask" the extended family members to board in their positions but didn't say that they would enforce the rule. So I still intend to purchase EBCI going out of MCO and hope and pray that I get an A boarding pass.

Yeah A is not guaranteed with EBCI it just possibly increases your chances but with assignment numbers B1-30 there are still plenty of seats together. Remember A1-A15 is reserved for business select.

 

[jayhawk74]

So I still intend to purchase EBCI going out of MCO and hope and pray that I get an A boarding pass.

Just remember whatever boarding position you get with EBCI it would have been worse than if you had checked in at the 24 hour time.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

We didn't purchase the early bird, but yesterday I checked us in at the 24 hr mark and we got A38-A42.

Thinking it must be a quiet flight, or no one at all purchased the early bird.

 

[DisneyFEB2013]

I am confused. Please help a newbie. So, if you purchase EBCI, which I have, you do not have to check in at the 24 hour mark? Will you have the same position if you check in at the 12 hour mark? How does this work?

Thanks!

 

[Jestocost]

I am confused. Please help a newbie. So, if you purchase EBCI, which I have, you do not have to check in at the 24 hour mark? Will you have the same position if you check in at the 12 hour mark? How does this work?

Thanks!

Correct. You will be checked in automatically 36 hours before your flight time. You can check your boarding numbers and print out boarding passes any time starting 24 hours before your flight, but your boarding numbers will be the same whether you check and print at the 24-hour mark or if you wait to print at the airport. The advantages to printing your BPs in advance are that if you have only carry-on bags you can go straight to security, and at many airports SWA has "express" bag check lines for passengers who arrive with BPs in hand.

 

[lugnut33]

As an example:

On our flight down in Dec. I printed out the boarding passes the night before we flew. I didn't actually have to check-in because we had already done the EBCI. My boarding number was already assigned 36 hours before the flight.

On the way back I didn't have access to a printer so I did nothing until we arrived at the airport that morning. The check-in line for SW was huge inside so we went to the skycap outside (come on, for a few extra dollars we didn't have to wait in the giant line, why would anybody opt to stand in the line) and checked in. He printed our boarding passes and we had our previously assigned numbers without a problem.

 

[lugnut33]

We didn't purchase the early bird, but yesterday I checked us in at the 24 hr mark and we got A38-A42.

Thinking it must be a quiet flight, or no one at all purchased the early bird.

There's a huge difference between flying in the middle of January and flying during the holidays.

 

[Pumpkin910]

Am I right in thinking that buying the EBCI only means you will get on the plane together but not guarantee you will sit together? I keep seeing posts where people say to buy EBCI to guarantee to sit together but surely that depends what seats are left when you get on??

We are a family of 5 with two 8 yr olds and a 3 yr old flying the Buffalo-MCO route. I am trying to decide whether check in at T24 in both directions and hope family boarding goes ahead for me to use with the little one or to buy EBCI.

 

[LilyWDW]

Am I right in thinking that buying the EBCI only means you will get on the plane together but not guarantee you will sit together? I keep seeing posts where people say to buy EBCI to guarantee to sit together but surely that depends what seats are left when you get on??

We are a family of 5 with two 8 yr olds and a 3 yr old flying the Buffalo-MCO route. I am trying to decide whether check in at T24 in both directions and hope family boarding goes ahead for me to use with the little one or to buy EBCI.

Technically, only one adult and the 3 year old will be allowed to use family boarding.

ECBI checks you in at the 36 hour mark. The better your boarding position, the better your chances at seats together. 36 hours puts you ahead of the game and gives you a better chance at a better boarding position. Thus, giving you a better chance at seats together.

 

[LisaS]

Am I right in thinking that buying the EBCI only means you will get on the plane together but not guarantee you will sit together? I keep seeing posts where people say to buy EBCI to guarantee to sit together but surely that depends what seats are left when you get on??

We are a family of 5 with two 8 yr olds and a 3 yr old flying the Buffalo-MCO route. I am trying to decide whether check in at T24 in both directions and hope family boarding goes ahead for me to use with the little one or to buy EBCI.

You are correct. Imagine if everyone on the plane bought EBCI. The last to board will find only middle seats available, EBCI or not. Fortunately it hasn't gotten to that point yet. Flights to/from Orlando don't usually have a lot of Business Select and A-Listers either (they get the best boarding numbers) which also helps.

 

[Pumpkin910]

Thank you. Between the stress of this and checking rental car prices what seems like 20 times a day, I am going to need a holiday after my holiday

 

[pigletto]

Thank you. Between the stress of this and checking rental car prices what seems like 20 times a day, I am going to need a holiday after my holiday

I think in your case what I would do is buy the EBCI and if the position isn't too great, use family boarding for one adult and your 3year old. Then it may be easier for the remaining adult and two 8 year olds to find 3 seats together.
In the end it might cost more but would be worth the peace of mind for me.

We buy the EBCI but I am really particular about 2 things. One, I really prefer to sit on the aisle, and two, we like to have one parent with each child. From Buffalo it has been good for us so far and we've always managed seats together. We don't go over holidays though and buy our flights early so we're always in A group, usually somewhere in the middle of the numbers.

This time we are only using Southwest back from MCO and I bought our tickets later than I usually do so we might end up in B group. Fine with me. I just hope to at least be able to sit 2 and 2 somewhere with the kids. I can't see it being an issue.

 

[DisneyFEB2013]

Correct. You will be checked in automatically 36 hours before your flight time. You can check your boarding numbers and print out boarding passes any time starting 24 hours before your flight, but your boarding numbers will be the same whether you check and print at the 24-hour mark or if you wait to print at the airport. The advantages to printing your BPs in advance are that if you have only carry-on bags you can go straight to security, and at many airports SWA has "express" bag check lines for passengers who arrive with BPs in hand.

Thank you! We just checked in and received A37-A40. Never done this before but that sounds like great boarding positions! Can't wait to leave for our first trip to Disney!!!