Southwest Early Bird Check-In

[bookgirl2632]

I haven't flown Southwest since the instituted their Early Bird Check-In. Has anyone used it and did they think it was worth it? On the flip side, have you not used it and found yourself in Group C as a result? It would be three adults traveling, so it's not imperative for us to sit together like those with kids would have to. All the same, we'd still like to be able to find seats together.

So, is EBCI necessary or should we save the extra money and take our chances?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I have used EBCI and love it. We have received very early "A" passes when using it, but it was early in the program. I love the convenience of not having to be at my computer at 24 hours til my flight. It is a lot less stressful and worth the $10 to me. I have read that people have not used EBCI and have received "B"s but have not read of anybody getting a "C".

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Have never used it. For our last trip, we were early B's going to MCO and A's leaving MCO. We were 2 adults and 2 children and got to sit together for both flights.

 

[TDC Nala]

I never use it. I'm usually just one person traveling. I like the exit rows, and most people seem to prefer the very front of the plane. Returning from Vegas early this month I boarded at B-2 (checked in at 24 hours) and got an exit row, aisle seat. No need for EBCI as far as I am concerned.

If you have a thing for sitting at the very front of the plane or it will give you peace of mind as far as sitting with children, you can try it. Otherwise I would just check in at 24 hours, assuming you have a way to do that.

 

[n2mm]

I've not purchased it out of Dulles for any of our flights:

January NO EBCI and had A20s
March NO EBCI and had A30s
April No EBCI and had A 40s
May NO EBCI and had A 50s

I figured I better quit while I'm ahead, but we've managed A for all 4 flights this year, but these were only the Dulles to MCO flights in the morning. We flew home on JetBlue for the return flights and had assigned seating. Now that the non-stops out of Dulles are discontinued starting this summer, we won't be flying SW anymore.

However, if I was flying home on SW, I probably would get it depending on who is flying with us. Just adults, maybe not, but with the grandkids, maybe some of us.

 

[LidoDeck]

We've used EBCI a half dozen times. The highest number I recall getting was A36 & A37. Hubby is flying Manchester to Orlando tomorrow and got A21 with EBCI. Score! It's worth it to us, but we are picky about our seats.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We flew from Providence to MCO for spring break in April. We didn't buy EBCI for either flight and got A boarding passes both times.

 

[simzac]

Just returned, did not use EBC either way. Checked in at the 24 hour mark going down, got A42 & A45. Checked in at the 22 hour mark coming home, got A54 & A55. Hope this helps.

 

[jamstew]

I haven't used it and haven't needed it. Checking in online at 24 hours, the highest I've had was in the A-40's.

 

[sue Z]

i tried it going from Boston to Minneapolis and back going to I was no higher then 36 and on return I was in the 20's going to all the seats I wanted were taken ( exit rows) and since I couldnt get them I went to the back where the seats dont recline which i like.

foing from minnie I couldnt get exit row but did try the row near and missed my seat that didnt recline lol chicago to boston I grabbed the window seat of the row that has two seats woo hoo!! since i was only one traveling it was good

 

[thedeans]

We did it in March from CMH to MCO, but it was just my kids and I. I wanted to make sure they were sitting with me. The way down the plane was full and even with EBCI we were A35-38. Coming back we probably didn't need to use EBCI. We are all going in June and have decided to use it on the way down since the flight was sold out. We are watching the flights coming home and may or may not use EBCI.

 

[thedeans]

We did it in March from CMH to MCO, but it was just my kids and I. I wanted to make sure they were sitting with me. The way down the plane was full and even with EBCI we were A35-38. Coming back we probably didn't need to use EBCI. We are all going in June and have decided to use it on the way down since the flight was sold out. We are watching the flights coming home and may or may not use EBCI.

 

[TillyMarigold]

I used it both ways last week, $10 a person is totally worth it to me to sit anywhere we wanted, we got A17-18 on the way out and A22-23 on the way back.

 

[disneymayz]

You are the only one that can say if your time is worth the $10 eachway. A few weeks ago it was just my wife and I so we did not get it. The $20 eachway was not worth it. We used the cell phone and did moble check-in at the 24hr mark. Both times we were in the As.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I am a 56 year old woman who usually travels solo. That said - paying the extra $10. each way was well worth it to me. I cannot stand sitting in the middle, and I want to make sure that doesn't happen. I really prefer the window seat. I usually got a decent number by checking in at the exact 24 hour mark, but even if I'm only 20 seconds off, it can make a difference.
So - I consider paying the extra $20.00 for me as an investment in a bit less stress for my trip.

 

[Wigit12]

Never use it for the trip down. Even if we get a B pass, never have a problem sitting together or grabbing DH a window seat. But we will get it (depending on the flight time) for the return trip. Simply for the ease of not having to worry about being at the resort or Guest services at the 24 hour mark. If we have a dinner time flight or early AM, we wil normally plan a meal around the time and just visit the resort front desk to check-in.

 

[Iggipolka]

I'm trying it for the 1st time on my upcoming trip, mostly because I don't want to worry about checking in at the RAC for the return trip. It's worth the $10 just for that.

 

[kimkim]

I need to book my tickets on SW soon and have never flown them before.

Do you have to select EBCI when you book your tickets? Or can you go into your reservation later on and add it to the reservation (and pay the fee then)?

I just thought I'd check to prices to gauge how full the flight is. If it's filling up, I'd probably spring for the ECBI. If the prices are still low, I may assume it's not overly full and forego it.

Thanks!
Kim

 

[Jo-Anne]

I have an $80 credit on southwest. Can I use it to go back and put the early bird checkin on our reservation?

 

[disneymayz]

I have an $80 credit on southwest. Can I use it to go back and put the early bird checkin on our reservation?

Don't see why you couldn't! If you don't use it before the year from booking you lose it so go for it.