Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[Vijoge]

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.


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

Now this would be a policy I could whole heartedly support. My seat of choice is 23D!

 

[Lewisc]

How many passengers pay to check a second bag? Charging for a second bag might result in some revenue when a passengers only checked bag is overweight. It might result in some fuel savings.SW doesn't carry that much cargo. Other airlines can fill the space vacated as a fewer passengers check a second bag with cargo. I suspect SW will collect a lot more revenue from the $10 charge for EB then they'd collect charging for the second bag. Charging for the first checked bag is counter to SWs current marketing plan.

I think SW should just offer assigned seats. You want to be different? Don't let passengers select the seat. Require all passengers in the family be on the same reservation number. Offer a single passenger the choice of window or aisle. Offer a couple the choice of aisle/middle or window/middle. SW will assign seats from the back of the plane. Passengers who don't pay for their entire party will be all but be guaranteed their party will be split.

 

[Dizholic]

You know...as I sit and think about the whole EBCI system...I have to wonder. No, it isn't a 'fee' per se. It is giving someone the option of not having to sit there, at the 24 hr mark, to check themselves in. They are free do go off and get on with their lives. But..and this is the thing that bothers me...it does impact others who have not paid for that option. Yes, I realize they can also pay the fee for that perk as well. But for some reason it just doesn't sit well with me. It isn't a level playing field. At least if you have to pay for that extra leg room on JetBlue, you aren't impacting someone else's ability to get a seat..no, they can't get that particular seat, but there will most likely be others available. Or if you decide that you want to bring two checked bags, you aren't making it harder for someone else to do the same.
Now...if SW told everyone that there were a finite number of these EBCI spots available, then fine. Then they could say there are 10 more spots left, or whatever. But I can just imagine what it would be like if there were 55 passengers who paid that $10 fee, pp, to do EBCI....now, there are no A's left and families are going to grab seats together, making it almost impossible for those with end of B group and all of C group to find two seats together.
Man....just charge for that second checked bag and be done with it.

Thanks!!!! You said exactly what I have been trying to say!!! Lets see if people disagree with you.........LOL

 

[seashoreCM]

Here comes another idea for colored boarding passes. Any Group Boarding.

Any group of three (colleagues?) can go up to the podium and trade in their boarding passes for a set of three boarding passes all with the same 3 digit number on them. (They don't have to be any special color, really.)

Once on the plane each group must be sitting side by side (no empty seat or aisle intervening).

Not sure how to handle couples, perhaps they too could get Any Group Boarding again with the requirement of sitting right next to each other. Or maybe team up with some undecided person in the gate area to make three.

Actually the singles boarding last don't have all that bad a deal. Many of the leftover seats will be windows and aisles.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks!!!! You said exactly what I have been trying to say!!! Lets see if people disagree with you.........LOL

Oh they will....you can be sure of that!!

 

[Lewisc]

Airlines are reducing costs. Almost all passengers get their BPs via OLCI or a self-service kiosk. SW GAs used to handle one gate. They now handle multiple gates.

Any idea which involves the GA distributing replacement BPs, in color or B&W, might require increasing staffing. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Offering assigned seats, computer assigned, under the terms suggested by a previous poster makes some sense.

 

[TheWog]

You know...as I sit and think about the whole EBCI system...I have to wonder. No, it isn't a 'fee' per se. It is giving someone the option of not having to sit there, at the 24 hr mark, to check themselves in. They are free do go off and get on with their lives. But..and this is the thing that bothers me...it does impact others who have not paid for that option. Yes, I realize they can also pay the fee for that perk as well. But for some reason it just doesn't sit well with me. It isn't a level playing field. At least if you have to pay for that extra leg room on JetBlue, you aren't impacting someone else's ability to get a seat..no, they can't get that particular seat, but there will most likely be others available. Or if you decide that you want to bring two checked bags, you aren't making it harder for someone else to do the same.
Now...if SW told everyone that there were a finite number of these EBCI spots available, then fine. Then they could say there are 10 more spots left, or whatever. But I can just imagine what it would be like if there were 55 passengers who paid that $10 fee, pp, to do EBCI....now, there are no A's left and families are going to grab seats together, making it almost impossible for those with end of B group and all of C group to find two seats together.
Man....just charge for that second checked bag and be done with it.

I think it is that unknown that gives the uneasy feeling or apprehension. Will this flight be all EBs or will it be just a normal flight. Should I pay to make sure or should I wing it and check in at 24 hours. I check in at 24 hours and all Cs show up and now I am worrying if I am screwed and as you mentiond with families showing up. I like the idea of limiting the number, but I doubt they will to encourage people to select the 'option' and pay for the EB service, so in a sense they will be mandating the fee to be able to select the seat you want once you board. It is not a fee in the strictest sense, but it could very well turn out to be and they will still be able to claim it isn't. I think they need to bite the bullet and assign seats whether they charge for them or not.

 

[bicker]

I think it is that unknown that gives the uneasy feeling or apprehension. Will this flight be all EBs or will it be just a normal flight. Should I pay to make sure or should I wing it and check in at 24 hours. I check in at 24 hours and all Cs show up and now I am worrying if I am screwed and as you mentiond with families showing up.

Indeed, the low price ($10) reflects that there is an element of uncertainty... but this reflects the fact that the more certainty provided, the closer they get to the point where, due to how the money works out, they might as well just go straight to assigned seating.

 

[DisneyLiz44]

I did. I signed up for early bird check in on our return trip (on 9/29). This way I don't have to worry about getting back to the hotel 24 hours prior to check in ( I will be eating dinner in Teppan Edo 24 hours prior).

Then I got to thinking about our departing flight (9/24). At first I thought we would be ok. New program maybe no one will use it yet. But, in August I booked a flight to Orlando with my mom. We checked in exactly 24 hours prior and still only got B23 and B24. We did get to sit together. No big deal if we didn't anyway.. But

This time I am going to Disney with DH and DS's (10 & 8). I want to be sure we will be able to sit near each other. This is only their 2nd time on an airplane.(did great 1st time though) Plus it is a surprise trip. 24 hours before is exactly during the mad rush of getting them off to school. So, I bit the bullet and did the early bird for that flight too. I just wonder what kind of # I will get.

I know even with early bird we are behind the Priority Seating customers, A-list customers, special boarding needs customers AND behind families with kids under 4.... so we will see if it is worth it. I do fell it was worth something because I do feel less stressed about getting the boarding passes 24 hours prior cutie:

I know it has only been 2 days... but has anyone used the early bird servie and if so did they get an A ticket?

Thanks

 

[dis-happy]

SW can't charge for bags, at least not right away. For the past year their entire mottos has been "Bags Fly Free".


First it was "Friends Fly Free"

Then "Bags Fly Free"

Now: "Bags Fly Free But You'll Have To Pay $10. To Ensure You Sit With Your Friend Who No Longer Flies Free"

 

[CPer'sMom]

I know even with early bird we are behind the Priority Seating customers, A-list customers, special boarding needs customers AND behind families with kids under 4....

I know it has only been 2 days... but has anyone used the early bird servie and if so did they get an A ticket?

Thanks

As long as you have an A pass you will board before the families - they board between A and B.

Yes, got A16 on a flight from MCO to BWI using EBCI.

 

[goofy4tink]

I did. I signed up for early bird check in on our return trip (on 9/29). This way I don't have to worry about getting back to the hotel 24 hours prior to check in ( I will be eating dinner in Teppan Edo 24 hours prior).

Then I got to thinking about our departing flight (9/24). At first I thought we would be ok. New program maybe no one will use it yet. But, in August I booked a flight to Orlando with my mom. We checked in exactly 24 hours prior and still only got B23 and B24. We did get to sit together. No big deal if we didn't anyway.. But

This time I am going to Disney with DH and DS's (10 & 8). I want to be sure we will be able to sit near each other. This is only their 2nd time on an airplane.(did great 1st time though) Plus it is a surprise trip. 24 hours before is exactly during the mad rush of getting them off to school. So, I bit the bullet and did the early bird for that flight too. I just wonder what kind of # I will get.

I know even with early bird we are behind the Priority Seating customers, A-list customers, special boarding needs customers AND behind families with kids under 4.... so we will see if it is worth it. I do fell it was worth something because I do feel less stressed about getting the boarding passes 24 hours prior cutie:

I know it has only been 2 days... but has anyone used the early bird servie and if so did they get an A ticket?

Thanks

Your flight may very well have originated elsewhere, hence the higher BP numbers. I have found that there just aren't all that many people boarding before the A16 and up group. Usually there is only one, if that, in the A1-15 grouping...I've actually paid full price and been in that group and we were the only three there. And medical preboards may be about 5 or 6 but they aren't usually a huge factor.
So..if you are booked on the start of a flight, rather than on it's second leg, and you get an A bp, you should be fine.
Those with kids 4 and under are allowed to board after the A group, and before the B group...so they shouldn't impact you either.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't see where this option ever guarantees that your party will be seated together. All it guarantees is that if you pay, you get checked in automatically and before the passengers who didn't pay. That's all that's being offered here.

 

[Mayhem1976]

A little off topic, but does Guest Services at DTD let you check in there? We'll be at DTD T- 24, and I'm wondering if I should just suck it up and do the EBC if I won't be able to do it there!

 

[TheWog]

I don't see where this option ever guarantees that your party will be seated together. All it guarantees is that if you pay, you get checked in automatically and before the passengers who didn't pay. That's all that's being offered here.

If you get to check in before other passengers who didn't pay, you will be issued a lower boarding pass number, potentially an A pass. That will then allow you the ability to have more seats to choose from and thus a greater ability to sit with the rest of your traveling party provided you also chose to pay for them to utilize the service. If you get checked in earlier and have a better boarding pass number you are going to sit with your party vs. not paying, waiting, getting a lower number, boarding after others who have then already chosen seats to sit in that negates your party's ability to easily or with greater certainty choose seats together.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can't find an online link to it, but I belong to Parking PASSPort at Logan and in the August newsletter they had an announcement that with SWA starting service on August 17th, Massport was looking to keep the growth of the discount airline business by adding Economy priced slots to the central parking and terminal E lots in fall 2009. I asked when in the parking office a few weeks ago and was told October is the target date. That's the good news, the bad news is "economy" to Massport is $18 a day. They announce these nuggets in the newsletter and usually they happen on time. The Terminal C Security check-in work to link the United and JB sides and replace two, slow check-in line areas with one new 14 lane area and to allow movement between both sides of C without having to go through security again has begun as promised with a fall 2010 completion.

You know, it sounds high - but Logan Express will cost me $88 for six days (five and a half, technically, but once I go over six hours that last day the charge goes to a full day) parking plus the bus ride itself. It's probably worth the additional $20 for the convenience of (a) not having to wait 59 minutes for the bus*, not having to get on the bus, get off the bus, get in the car, get out of the car...

Thanks again!

 

[kaytieeldr]

You know...as I sit and think about the whole EBCI system...I have to wonder. No, it isn't a 'fee' per se. It is giving someone the option of not having to sit there, at the 24 hr mark, to check themselves in. They are free do go off and get on with their lives. But..and this is the thing that bothers me...it does impact others who have not paid for that option. Yes, I realize they can also pay the fee for that perk as well. But for some reason it just doesn't sit well with me. It isn't a level playing field.

You're right - I do disagree . As long as every passenger has the opportunity/option to purchase ECBI, it IS a level playing field.

 

[goofy4tink]

You're right - I do disagree . As long as every passenger has the opportunity/option to purchase ECBI, it IS a level playing field.

While I agree with you in theory, here's my issue. Until every single person is aware of the whole EBCI system, it isn't a level playing field. Let's say I bought my tickets for my visit to my dad in Florida the day SW opened the window for my flights. There was nothing on the website that said anything about EBCI. Of course there wasn't...it wasn't in effect yet. So....assuming that I am a normal traveler and don't frequent online message boards, I have no idea what is going on. I go to my trusty computer at the 24 hr mark and find that I now have bps that are A58 and A59..what the heck?? Or worse yet..it's a great time to travel and I go online to checkin and get B bps!!! Now, I have the entire A group boarding first, then all the families (who are now going to be saving seats because SW seems to think that's okay). I had no idea there was such a thing as EBCI.

But, once it has been in effect for a bit, things will even out. Everyone will have the chance to buy that EBCI perk. But, I'm not going to be happy if I shell out the money for my family to be checked in at the 36 hr mark, only to find that the best I could get were B group bps..not when families who had paid nothing are boarding before me.

I don't know. It all doesn't really impact me. I'm just playing devil's advocate I guess.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you get to check in before other passengers who didn't pay, you will be issued a lower boarding pass number, potentially an A pass. That will then allow you the ability to have more seats to choose from and thus a greater ability to sit with the rest of your traveling party provided you also chose to pay for them to utilize the service. If you get checked in earlier and have a better boarding pass number you are going to sit with your party vs. not paying, waiting, getting a lower number, boarding after others who have then already chosen seats to sit in that negates your party's ability to easily or with greater certainty choose seats together.

BUT...according to the way this works, if 75 people pay, they are not all going to get A passes. Some will get B passes. Then you have to wait until after family boarding. If 130 people pay, then some of them might get C passes. If there are already people on the plane, that obviously cuts down on available seats. There's no guarantees about what pass number you'll get or where you'll sit. It's all based on how many people pay per flight.

 

[Nohal]

We booked our flights for our trip starting tomorrow when they released the dates. As PP said, early bird was not an option. After it was announced, I came to this board and decided that it was definately worth the extra $10 for our return flight which is 12 noon. It is just DH and me and we really don't care where we sit, but the convenience of not losing park time our last day to check in at noon it was worth the extra money. I should not have booked early bird for flight going down. Printed our boarding passes at 24hr mark and we got A16 - A17. Are these the first boarding numbers? I think that you will see more people using this option that are currently booking for future flights and not for people who have booked before EBCI was announced.