Southwest Early Bird Check In: Can you just pay for 1 person?

[HeatherC]

This just occurred to me. Would you be able to just pay for one person to get Early Bird Check in and have them get on and save your seats?

Just curious.

And...please don't respond if you're just going to say...you shouldn't be saving seats. Yeah...I know that. Just asking a question.

Thanks!

 

[Goofy_Dad_24]

It's not that you shouldn't be saving seats, its that you can't. I mean, sure you could lay your stuff over the seats next to you, but if someone that enters the plant prior to the people you are saving the seats for wants that seat, they are going to get it.

 

[HeatherC]

Thanks...I understand that. Should have been clearer. Wasn't sure if they would actually let just one person in a party do it if you were all on the same confirmation number.

I just paid for it anyway since it's worth it to me to avoid the hassle.

Just wondering if this is an option for another time?

 

[HeatherC]

Also wanted to say. I really like Southwest, but I wish they would just let me pay the $10 per ticket fee and pick my seat ahead of time instead of the cattle call. Kind of like Airtran does.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Southwest has no policy against saving seats. They also don't have a policy that you must purchase EBCI for all people on your reservation.

 

[uva185]

You can always call Southwest and have them split the record so each person will be under their own confirmation number.

 

[dburg30]

Yes, you can buy EBCI for any or all or none of the passengers.

 

[n2mm]

I flew SW on Jan. 21 out of Dulles and there was plenty of saving seats going on in the first 3 rows. And I mean saving for a long time! One person was in a wheelchair and only he and one companion was allowed to board, so each of them saved an entire row for their party that were all C boarders. (I'm thinking that none of them bothered to get online and get their boarding pass thinking that the entire party would be allowed on the plane first) (which I have seen in BWI when flying them last year -- a party of 10!) We sat across from them because we lucked out with A45-46 at the 24 hr. mark. We listened as people kept asking to sit there and they said no, we're saving! None of my business, but was interesting to watch it happen first hand. Also there was a young lady with an infant (lap) and she was indeed allowed to board in family boarding, but only she and the infant, no dad or any other family member was allowed to board.....not a problem, she too was busy saving seats for the rest of her party too.

 

[phred52]

hummm. My girlfriend flew SW last weekend. There was seat saving going on, but she just plopped herself down in the aisle seat anyways. Boy was the person in the middle seat mad, but the flight attentant told them it was first come first served.

 

[goofy4tink]

I was on a SW flight a few years ago. When dd and I boarded the plane, those that had boarded before us had plopped down in the middle seats. It was obvious that they were the same family...much talking between rows. They took up about 3 rows on one side and 2 rows across, on the other side. They put coats, backpacks, whatever they had handy, in the window and aisle seats. Well....when the C group started boarding, it was obvious that there were plenty of 'empty' seats down front. The FA made an announcement that it was a full flight and any empty seat would be taken....there would NOT be any empty seats. You should have seen that family scrambling to get seated next to each other. It opened up about 3 rows, completely, with one row with only one in it!! It was really hysterical to watch...very Keystone Cops type thing.

 

[keishashadow]

fyi, here is the SW partyline on people saving multiple seats (rows), as taken from Dec email response to my complaint.

We were saddened to learn of your dissatisfaction. We appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We feel that Customer feedback only makes us a better airline. Thank you for giving us the privilege to respond to your correspondence.
As you know, all flights on Southwest are "open-seating," and Customers are free to take any available seat onboard the aircraft. In light of this, it is not uncommon for a Customer to want to reserve a seat (or seats) for a friend, family member, or associate who will be boarding behind them. Truthfully, we don’t have a policy either way--for or against--saving seats. In fact, we share our perspective on this issue on southwest.com as follows: "because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, general-boarding Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat." With this in mind, as long as there is no Safety concern, it would be acceptable for a Customer to "claim" a seat for his/her family member or traveling companion who may be in a later boarding group. We are aware that the saving of seats is a by-product of our policy, and as long as the boarding process is not delayed, it usually isn’t a significant issue. That said, we are sorry for your frustration and we apologize for any disappointment. Please know that we have tracked the main points of your e-mail via our monthly summary, which is distributed to our Senior Leadership.

Your patronage and friendship mean the world to us. We appreciate your feedback and we hope to have an opportunity to share the skies with you soon.


Sincerely,
Krisanne, Southwest Airlines

 

[mrsstats]

That is the same answer I received when I made a complaint last year. I would just rather pay extra to have assigned seating. I know, fly another airline but where I live the airport closest to me have Southwest and 1 other airline. No much of a choice unless I want to drive over an hour. So, as much as I would prefer assigned seating I accept SWA policies. But I don't have to like them. Other than that, I love SWA

 

[brittanyherndon]

Not sure if I like open seating. Although I am spoiled and always use one of the fallowing.

1. Delta
2. Contenal
3. American Airlines

All asigned seating never the less it takes the stress off of me cuse I don't have to worry about geting a seat or not

 

[crashbb]

Not sure if I like open seating. Although I am spoiled and always use one of the fallowing.

1. Delta
2. Contenal
3. American Airlines

All asigned seating never the less it takes the stress off of me cuse I don't have to worry about geting a seat or not

You don't have to worry about not getting a seat on SW. You may not get the seat you want, but you will get a seat*

*Standard caveat about overbooking notwithstanding. I know that SW doesn't officially overbook, but it can still happen with them (mechanical issues, weather issues, etc.).

 

[Brian Noble]

as long as the boarding process is not delayed, it usually isn’t a significant issue.

Translation: "Our business model is built on getting planes off the ground as fast as we can, because planes in the air make money, but planes on the ground do not. As long as you don't mess that up, we don't really care what you do."

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I was always a fan of paying extra to fly an airline that allowed you to pick your seats ahead of time. That said, since Northwest has changed to Delta, things have gone down hill rapidly. Whereas before I would have not dared to think of flying Southwest, if the price is right, I will. I'm in Detroit so SWA is not terribly competitive here.

On topic, it sounds from the responses that people have posted here, purchasing just one Early Bird check in would work just fine.

 

[keishashadow]

I was always a fan of paying extra to fly an airline that allowed you to pick your seats ahead of time. That said, since Northwest has changed to Delta, things have gone down hill rapidly. Whereas before I would have not dared to think of flying Southwest, if the price is right, I will. I'm in Detroit so SWA is not terribly competitive here.

On topic, it sounds from the responses that people have posted here, purchasing just one Early Bird check in would work just fine.

As long as you're willling to 'defend your turf'

Im waiting to hear of a flight where somebody tries to save multiple seats & an altercation starts when; perhaps a single passenger plops down in one of themfur would fly

 

[Brian Noble]

since Northwest has changed to Delta, things have gone down hill rapidly.

I think that Delta's in-cabin service is better, though the website and frequent flyer program is worse. On balance, I view it as an improvement, but a small one.

Agreed on SW though---they are very rarely competitive from here.

 

[formill]

I just could not do it myself- I purchased the early bird check in for all 7 of us when we flew home. I would just feel too nervous/guilty sitting there trying to save the seats till my family got on. Those 10-15 minutes would seem like FOREVER waiting and hoping for the rest to board......so until Southwest changes its seating in my head when I see the prices I will just add on the $10 to each ticket. Save myself all the anxiety. I would MUCH rather the $10 go to a real assigned seat though!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Flying is aleady stressful enough...I don't want to have to defend my 'turf' so to speak. So....when I fly SW the next time, I'll be doing EBCI for everyone. Fair is fair.
Should you try to save a seat?? Sure, go ahead. But realize that anyone is allowed to sit in any 'empty' seat. And putting your coat in a seat does not mean it is occupado!! So, save the seats on either side of you if you must, but I certainly wouldn't go any further than that.