Southwest Early Bird Check In vs. 24 Hour Check In

[famsen]

Can't find the thread where people were posting there boarding numbers with and without Southwest Early Bird check in.
We leave Saturday- 3 adults. It does not look like the flight is completely booked. I am on the fence about buying Earyl Bird check in right now.
I always have done it before and usually regretted it because I felt scammed out of $30 for the three of us but now I am getting nervous.
Is it too late to get it at this point and is it even worth it?
I will be in front of my computer at the 24 hour mark tomorrow.

 

[lovingthemouse]

Not sure which site or thread you are referring to - we leave tomorrow and no early bird check-in. However, on my return flight I did get it simply because I don't want to leave a park to go back and check-in.

 

[serene56]

Personally- save your 30 bucks. the time to get those EB seats is in the begining.

Just be online 24 hours ahead of your flight to get your boarding passes. THe longer you wait the higher your number will be

(how do you know how much availabilty is on your flight?

 

[famsen]

(how do you know how much availabilty is on your flight?

I plugged in a reservation for 8 adults for that flight and it still has availability. Other flights before and after mine show "unavailable".

 

[goofy4tink]

At this late date I wouldn't bother. I seldom do EBCI for my flight to MCO. I prefer to do it for my return flights. That way, I don't have to worry about being near a computer at the 24 hr window period.
Since you are a group of adults, you should be fine. I assume that you all don't 'have' to sit right next to each other. In any case, you shouldn't have an issue getting three seats together if you checkin right at the 24 hr mark.

 

[Jestocost]

Can't find the thread where people were posting there boarding numbers with and without Southwest Early Bird check in.
We leave Saturday- 3 adults. It does not look like the flight is completely booked. I am on the fence about buying Earyl Bird check in right now.
I always have done it before and usually regretted it because I felt scammed out of $30 for the three of us but now I am getting nervous.
Is it too late to get it at this point and is it even worth it?
I will be in front of my computer at the 24 hour mark tomorrow.

Given the location you show I assume you are flying out of MDW, which would be one of the worst airports for getting boarding numbers due to the high volume of connections coming through there. Just as an example, here is who will almost certainly be on any MDW-MCO flight (other than maybe the first early morning flight of the day) before those who are starting their travel at MDW and check in at 24 hours (in order):

1. People who arrived at MDW on that plane that will continue on to MCO
2. Medical preboards and unaccompanied minors
3. Business select ticket holders (usually only a handful of these even though A1-A15 are reserved for them)
4. People connecting to this flight from other flights that used EBCI
5. People starting their travel at MDW who used EBCI
6. People connecting to this flight from other flights who checked in 24 hours ahead of their original flight
7. (A-List Rapid Rewards members also probably are in this group too, but I can never figure out exactly where)

I'm not saying that you definitely will get higher boarding numbers or implying that if you get higher boarding numbers it will be the end of the world. Just trying to point out the realities of SWA travel today—particularly at one of their busier connection points (like MDW and BWI)—to set appropriate expectations.

My guess would be that checking in at 24 hours for an MCO flight from MDW likely would get you a BP in the B group and maybe even in the last half of the B group. I haven't flown through MDW on SWA for a long time, but I have gotten low B passes using EBCI when connecting through BWI (and that means I was checked in 36 hours ahead of my original flight, not just the BWI-wherever leg).

 

[Nanajo1]

Not sure which site or thread you are referring to - we leave tomorrow and no early bird check-in. However, on my return flight I did get it simply because I don't want to leave a park to go back and check-in.

If you have your confirmation number and picture ID Guest Sevices at the parks can print boarding passes.

 

[lovingthemouse]

thanks - i didn't know that.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If you have your confirmation number and picture ID Guest Sevices at the parks can print boarding passes.

Interesting. I wasn't aware of that either.

 

[Jestocost]

Interesting. I wasn't aware of that either.

Yes, the guest services locations at any of the parks or in DTD as well as the front desk at any WDW resort will do an SWA check in for you. You also can check in using a Web-enabled cell phone or other mobile device at mobile.southwest.com. Finally, you can even have a trusted (100 percent reilable) friend or relative check you in from their home or office computer. It's the checking-in parth, not the printing-out part, that's important as far as your boarding numbers go. You can always "reprint" boarding passes at the RAC desk or even at the airport and you'll have the same numbers you were assigned at check in.

 

[Brian Noble]

I felt scammed out of $30 for the three of us

If this is the way you feel, and you'd be okay sitting farther back (and *possibly* even separated), then skip it.

But, my attitude is: I'm on vacation. Little splurges like this make my vacation better. Live large!

 

[Lewisc]

Your flight leaves from MDW? Connecting passengers will be able to get their BPs 24 hours before their first flight--2 or more hours before your 24 window opens.

You might wind up with a mid B BP at T-24. Is that the end of the world? Paying for EBCI will get you ahead of the connecting passengers who check in at T-24.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If this is the way you feel, and you'd be okay sitting farther back (and *possibly* even separated), then skip it.

But, my attitude is: I'm on vacation. Little splurges like this make my vacation better. Live large!

Yes - fly on an airline where you can get seats pre-assigned!

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, normally I do. On those, I take the big bag and pay to check it, because...hey!...I'm on vacation.

(Technically, I don't even do that, because I'm a frequent flyer with delta and can check two bags for free. But, you get the idea.)

 

[famsen]

Well I ended up purchasing the EBCI. I was getting so nervous about this and I am a nervous flier anyway, I just didn't want to worry anymore about it.
I will post in the morning as to what boarding group we got. It will be interesting to see what waiting this long to get EBCI does to my numbers.

Thanks to all!

 

[famsen]

Here's the update:
I just checked in for our flight tomorrow and with me purchasing EBCI just 24 hours before our check in time we got A47 A48 A49.

I'm happy with that.

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

I would be happy too!
If you are able to check in 24 hours then I would I have even had a friend do it! But I agree it is worth it to do it on the way home then you don't take time out of your day!!