Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[twinklebug]

We did EB for Vegas. Got A18 & 19. DH & I like to sit together and have a preference of where we sit on the plane. That is why I paid the extra.

Now, my observation on this trip was there were at least a dozen handicaped people who preboarded. I have no problem with that at all and no problem with a family member going with them. I do have a problem with the fact that 1 family saved about 3 rows of seats from rows 6, 7 & 8. I know if I wanted those seats I could take them but who wants to have a confrontation on a plane that you are going to be on for hours. I think something needs to be done about that from the airlines.

I guess there will always be people who do what is best for them and dont do what is right.

Perhaps if Sold seat toppers for $10 a piece like you see in theaters reserving seats for parties there'd be minimal chance for confrontation. I realize $10 matches the EB fee, but some people don't get it unless you give them something physical to hold onto and point to. Otherwise the FA can easily say "Sorry, you didn't purchase one of those for each seat, so you can't reserve it".

Edit: Thinking about it, charging only $10 wouldn't be proper for those who pre-board to reserve seats in advance of the BS and A+ folk. The only proper thing for SW to do is simply not allow the practice. Everyone takes their chances at boarding just like everyone else, and if we need to be with our family just count on the kindness of strangers to swap out with you. There are quite a number of good hearted people still left in this world

 

[Dizholic]

BTW, you are not paying to get on before other people. You are paying so that you do not have to hover by your computer at the 24 hour mark. You are paying for an automatic BP assignment. You are paying for convenience, not a particular spot in line.

I copied this right from the SW website:
What do I get?
EXTRA CONVENIENCE
Whether you choose to print your boarding pass the day before or just hours before the flight, your confirmed boarding position will be ready and waiting for you. Now you can print your boarding pass as your schedule allows.
BETTER BOARDING POSITION
We'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure - that's 12 hours before general boarding positions become available. While EarlyBird Check-in doesn't guarantee an A boarding position, it improves your seat selection options to help you get your favorite seat.
EARLIER ACCESS TO OVERHEAD BINS
Got bags? We've got room. By boarding earlier you'll get your pick of available overhead bin space.

So yes I think I am paying to board before people who have not paid.

 

[bicker]

I have an idea: Let's have families with children board first, filling the cabin from last row forward, filling in every seat, even if that means that a party needs to be split across an aisle or between two rows one in front of the other, as long as there is one adult with each young (qualifying) child. (Singletons that end up occurring as a result can be filled by the first party that has one more older child, or teen, or adult, who need not be paired with a qualifying young child.) Then the rest of the boarding can continue. This way, all that concerns raised about other random passengers having to take care of other people's children are assuaged.... first because the parents are nearby, and because these random passengers aren't random: They are part of a families with young children themselves. Also, this addresses a big concern about families with young children on deplaning: They take longer to deplane, of course, so putting them all together means that they won't hold up folks who can deplane faster. With all the full rows in the front of the cabin cleared so quickly, they might even be able to get started on cleaning the aircraft sooner.

Too bad logic doesn't work in airline travel.

 

[bookwormde]

Yes good logic and probable more fun and comfortable for everyone especially on MCO flights, but it makes to much sense to offer this, plus it does not make SW (or any other airline) $

bookwormde

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes good logic and probable more fun and comfortable for everyone especially on MCO flights, but it makes to much sense to offer this, plus it does not make SW (or any other airline) $

bookwormde

Ah, but it doesn't make a difference financially. Those that board inbetween A and B aren't paying anything extra anyway. They are banking on being able to get decent seats together without having to pay the extra charge for early bird checkin.
But it does make sense to have them board first but go to the back of the plane. The only issue is that there is a large percentage of families boarding that want to be as far up front as possible, and then they save seats for the rest of their group. They seldom head to the rear of the plane.
I certainly don't mean to say that familes with young children are 'lesser' travelers and should be relagated to the rear of the plane...but, most will say that they need that extra time to get situated and that's why they should get to board earlier. Or that they need to be sure to be seated with their children (which is understandable). So....why not make all that possible by having them preboard first, but fill up the back first. That way, there is no having to wait until they get settled in order to board the rest of the plane. And no waiting whilst they gather up all their belongings upon landing...can't tell you how many times I've stood and had to wait for a family to get all their stuff together in order to get off the plane. Not sure why they couldn't do that just before the seat belt light comes back on....before the plane starts to descend.
But, if there were one area for families, it might work out better for all involved. Except for those that want the best of both worlds...early boarding as well as front of plane seating. Can't tell you how many times I've boarded a SW flight only to find someone who boarded with the medical preboards or when families could board first, right after the medicals, seated in the much desired emergency rows!! They would argue with the FAs, telling them that they could easily perform any extra duties if needed!! Yeah, right. So why did you think you were eligible for early preboarding???? Boggles the mind.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Er, do I need to once again point out the smelly foreigner ownership agreement at JetBlue? Consider that they DO fly to certain countries and you DO have your own personal tour guide who WILL be delighted to show you places!

Hey, I'm not the one who invoked the 'smelly foreigner' myth but yes, you did need to remind me of that ownership agreement. I suppose, as long as that other airline operates under the same attitude and philosophy as JetBlue...

 

[seashoreCM]

Can't tell you how many times I've boarded a SW flight only to find someone who boarded with the medical preboards or when families could board first, right after the medicals, seated in the much desired emergency rows!! They would argue with the FAs, telling them that they could easily perform any extra duties if needed!!.

If that person was "preboarding" and I was "normallyboarding" it doesn't matter if he can perform any extra duties if needed. So can I. If I wanted the exit row seat then he must yield it to me if his normal boarding number came after mine. The flight crew is remiss in its duties and responsibilities if it cannot get me that seat.

Now it boggles my mind how one person can save two seats in a given row or any seats in a different row.

... this addresses a big concern about families with young children on deplaning: They take longer to deplane, of course, so putting them all together means that they won't hold up folks who can deplane faster. With all the full rows in the front of the cabin cleared so quickly, they might even be able to get started on cleaning the aircraft sooner.

Too bad logic doesn't work in airline travel.

We'll just need to be patient, to let it dawn on the airline that (if?) better cleaning and (in airline-ese) faster turnaround can be achieved by having persons who can get out faster sit up front.

(... just a scenario) 5 is travling to MCO during a busy vacation time. ... don't qualify for inbetween A and B boarding. But, I realize it's going to be a busy time to travel so I decide to pay the extra $10 so I can get a bit of a jump on the seating. I have now paid an addtl $50..yes, for early checkin, not early boarding. ... (and) I end up with B 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 spots. ... we get to the airport and find that there are about 25 people who qualify for boarding inbetween A and B groups, well, that's going to annoy me. I paid ... they didn't. Now, they get to all board, with their families (and they do tend to board in groups that really aren't immediate family!) and by the time they are onboard, there is no way my family can now sit anywhere close to each other...maybe 2 in row 12, another 2 in row 20, and who knows where Dad is going!!

Short comment, requires Ph.D. in literature: Let's cross that bridge when we get to it, and with much verbiage ask the troll for the toll back.
Since the comment to which I just replied was long, I also have a lo-o-ong comment but I will let this thread go on for awhile before I state same. Should the thread be closed before I can state same, please PM me.

 

[scard192]

If you pre-board you can't sit in the exit rows, that is SW policy. In recent years I've seen the FA's standing in the exit rows during boarding to keep those not "qualified" from sitting there.

 

[CPer'sMom]

My DD flew home from MCO yesterday - #A16 and was seated in the exit row. While waiting for everyone to board she & the FA were talking a bit and the FA mentioned that they've had people upset about doing EBCI and not getting to sit in the exit row. Seems they were sure that because they'd done EBCI they were *guaranteed* to sit in the exit row!!

Oh, and the last 3 people on the plane? A woman with her 2 kids about
6 & 8. As she walked by everyone could hear her commenting "Well if the FA won't get people to move for us the kids can just sit wherever and I'll get to relax for a bit"

 

[Lewisc]

I have an idea: Let's have families with children board first, filling the cabin from last row forward, filling in every seat, even if that means that a party needs to be split across an aisle or between two rows one in front of the other, as long as there is one adult with each young (qualifying) child. (Singletons that end up occurring as a result can be filled by the first party that has one more older child, or teen, or adult, who need not be paired with a qualifying young child.) .....
Too bad logic doesn't work in airline travel.

Southwest tried that, years ago. Famlies were complaining about being "second class" passengers being forced to sit in the back of the plane. FAs didn't want to take the effort to enforce the policy.. Operationally the FA didn't know which passenger was the last family pre-board and which was the first "regular passenger". Moving family boarding (between the A and B) was the solution to family members grabbing seats in the front of the plane.

I think SW might as well start offering assigned seats. I think they should make every family member pay the fee. Give two passengers the option of aisle/middle or middle/window. Let SW assign the exact seats. Family members would wind up getting seats in the back. A family member who doesn't pay might not be able to get a seat next to other family members.

 

[bookwormde]

duplicate

 

[bookwormde]

Goofy4tink,

Wow I am amazed you have seen FAs allow disability preboards to sit in the emergency exit rows. This is specifically spelled out in the regulation and for a FA to allow this certainly puts their job at risk.

If families wanted to sit up front they certainly could still avail themselves of the extra fee for the EB.

I think we are talking the same thing “We are offering to those families who wish an opportunity to board early and sit in our family area (rows say 18-24) in the rear of the airplane. We ask that if you are going to use this opportunity that you fill all seats contiguously (I know to big a word) in this area so there is room for all our families”.

As for getting ready to land maybe they should have a 5 minute warning light before turning on the seatbelt light since much of the stuff we have to organize needs to go in the overhead bins.

So who is sending these great ideas to the airlines?

bookwormde

 

[kpgriswold]

I kind of like the idea of a "kid ghetto" in the back of the plane.

It would take the pressure off of those of us who look (and sound) like a traveling circus. It would eliminate ugly glares from those who do not have -- and apparently never were -- children. And I would never again hold up an entire plane full of people while I try to simultaneously hold an infant, buckle a toddler, break up a squabble for the window between the older two, and stow my gear.

Can we also reserve a section of every restaurant for my kind, too?

 

[keishashadow]

Now, my observation on this trip was there were at least a dozen handicaped people who preboarded. I have no problem with that at all and no problem with a family member going with them. I do have a problem with the fact that 1 family saved about 3 rows of seats from rows 6, 7 & 8. I know if I wanted those seats I could take them but who wants to have a confrontation on a plane that you are going to be on for hours. I think something needs to be done about that from the airlines.

I guess there will always be people who do what is best for them and dont do what is right.

problem is everybody isn't on the same page for varying reasonsA couple of months ago on flight from SEA, despite paying for assigned seats on AirTran (upfront naturally) we encountered overhead bins occupied by guests who boarded 1st (they board business class, then start filling in the back of the plane). Apparently, it's easier to dump carryons in the front bins in lieu of dragging them to the back when one's seat is located. Things started to clog up as those of us to board last had nowhere to stow our stuffOne of the FAs proceeded to start pulling down the offending carryons & announce their owners needed to come & retrieve them pronto.

ive seen the seat saving, yet there is always an FA near the front of plane (meeting & greeting), shouldn't be an issue for them to monitor seating in the 1st few rows.

I kind of like the idea of a "kid ghetto" in the back of the plane.

ghetto is such a harsh word, how about kiddieland?

If they offered seats in the rear of plane @ a discount, they'd fill up in a flash

 

[seashoreCM]

Southwest tried that, years ago. Famlies were complaining about being "second class" passengers being forced to sit in the back of the plane. .

Another idea for colored boarding passes. You can choose to give up your B or C pass for a green pass which lets you preboard and you must go as far back as you possibly can.

Or keep your B, C (or A) pass and board normally as a non-second class citizen.

... retrieve them pronto.

You forgot to add a green smiling smilie face after that.

 

[BigTigger]

35 pages and the fact is still that this is purely and simply a revenue enhancement item for SWA. Play on the fear that you may not get an "A" pass. Play on the fear that your family may not be able to sit together. Give SWA time and they will be charging per flight segment and charging more $$$ for the longer flight distances. Bags may fly free, but the people are getting nickeled and dimed even on SWA.

 

[twinklebug]

35 pages and the fact is still that this is purely and simply a revenue enhancement item for SWA. Play on the fear that you may not get an "A" pass. Play on the fear that your family may not be able to sit together. Give SWA time and they will be charging per flight segment and charging more $$$ for the longer flight distances. Bags may fly free, but the people are getting nickeled and dimed even on SWA.

If that's the way you feel, simply refuse to fly with SWA. There are plenty of other airlines out there that fly out of Logan, Bradley, Providence and Manchester. No one is asking you to compromise your principals. Heck, my father refuses to use any of the toll roads in FL (takes him double the time, and probably more gas to get anywhere) - but it's his belief the roads should be free and he won't give in.

Disney will be just as enjoyable regardless of how you get there

 

[Tara]

35 pages and the fact is still that this is purely and simply a revenue enhancement item for SWA. Play on the fear that you may not get an "A" pass. Play on the fear that your family may not be able to sit together. Give SWA time and they will be charging per flight segment and charging more $$$ for the longer flight distances. Bags may fly free, but the people are getting nickeled and dimed even on SWA.

Of course it's a "revenue enhancement" - what on earth makes you think that Southwest is not out to earn a profit and looking for ways to bring in revenue to offset higher expenses and lower passenger loads? That was always a fact and I don't see anyone disputing it. And...don't all airlines charge more for longer flight distances? It certainly costs me more to fly from home to Orlando or Birmingham or even Las Vegas than it does to fly from home to Baltimore.

I somewhat agree on the nickel and dime thing - I'd have preferred to leave the boarding process as is and just pay a higher fare, but I do see the value in not having to be at my computer at T-24.

 

[MAH4546]

And...don't all airlines charge more for longer flight distances? It certainly costs me more to fly from home to Orlando or Birmingham or even Las Vegas than it does to fly from home to Baltimore.

Definitely not. In fact, shorter flights are typically much more expensive per mile. The average fare on Louisville-Atlanta is $673. Average fare on Miami-Los Angeles is $510, and both are monopoly routes flown by only one airline.

A whole combination of factors plays into it - competition, size of the local market, distance, etc. In the end, what really matters is how competitive a route is, not its distance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Definitely not. In fact, shorter flights are typically much more expensive per mile. The average fare on Louisville-Atlanta is $673. Average fare on Miami-Los Angeles is $510, and both are monopoly routes flown by only one airline.

"Monopoly" airlines are an entirely different issue, the exception far more than the rule; however, even those airlines charge competitively where there is competition.

Right now, Boston to Orlando in mid-November nonstop ranges from $194 (JetBlue) to $219 (Delta) and up, and $183 (AirTran) and up with a plane change. The lowest nonstop fare (again, JetBlue) to Las Vegas is $299, and $268 (United) with a change.