Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[CPer'sMom]

3. I wonder how EBCI is working for people who have to make
a connection. Also for people who are getting on a
flight that originated in another city and already has
passengers on it.

My DD flew from Boise to BWI with a plane change in SLC. She did EBCI and received A16 BOI-SLC and A18 for SLC-BWI. When she boarded the plane in SLC it was about 3/4's full with passengers already on the plane from wherever it had originated. She was able to get a window seat in the front half of the plane but was glad she was traveling alone and didn't have to worry about finding seats together.
So, even when you think you have a *good* number that's not always the case!

 

[Lewisc]

I agree, and I don't believe that the true impact of EBCI has been felt yet. Wait until some of the really busy MCO travel times such as your Thanksgiving holiday, and it may get unpleasant.

Southwest is anticipating revenue from EBCI. Posters on DIS and FT are still getting reasonable BP sequence numbers at T-24. DIS members will pay for one EBCI and let that passenger try to save enough seats for their entire extended family. I think EBCI will be a failure from the perspective of generating revenue. I don't think charging for a second checked bag will generate revenue. The vast majority of passengers will make do with one checked bag. SW will save a couple of dollars in fuel. Legacy airlines can fill the space formerly occupied by passenger luggage with freight. SW doesn't carry much freight.

SW might as well charge for assigned seats. Structure it so a family can't effectively pay for some family members. Assign seats starting at the back of the plane.

 

[Bobo912]

I sent them a letter complaining about seat saving. There position is they expect it to happen and do not have a policy against it. I then sent them another letter and said, fine, now I will only pay for on EBC and they responded by saying if someone asked for the seat I was saving, I would have to give it up. Sounds like a plan for confrontation on the plane. I think they would want to avoid that.

If their plan is to generate revenue that seems like a foolish position to take. I feel stupid for paying for the second EBCI (and I've done it for 4 flights). I won't do it again - just one for me from now on too. There are just two of us, so I'll send my kid on the plane first. He's old enough to go on by himself, but young enough that nobody would want to sit next to him anyway.

 

[ReggieB]

Just got my EBCI #'s A30, A31 & A32. Flying from BWI.

 

[twinklebug]

If their plan is to generate revenue that seems like a foolish position to take. I feel stupid for paying for the second EBCI (and I've done it for 4 flights). I won't do it again - just one for me from now on too. There are just two of us, so I'll send my kid on the plane first. He's old enough to go on by himself, but young enough that nobody would want to sit next to him anyway.

Count me in as a fool too. I paid for EBCI for the 3 of us for 4 flights (easy math, that's $120). Granted 2 of the flights are during peak travel period, so that helps to offset the pain.

I follow the rules. I was informed this was a per-person thing, so that's what I paid for. Now, I'm ticked to find out that they're allowing "seat saving". This reminds me of my elementary school days. How is this any better than line cutting? Ugh, now I'm sounding like the whiny little kid in line, hehe.

The thing is, I didn't mind paying the extra $10 per person and at the time didn't expect anything from it other than the system to check me in before it reaches T-24 hr mark. But it does not need to be said that we should all expect fair treatment at all times, and seat saving is less than fair. If I knew it were perfectly "legal" in SW's eyes to just pay $40 for EBCI for myself and then save seats for my kids, would I have? You bet! That $80 in savings could go a long way. SW needs to stop the seat saving practice. If Uncle Joe is in the bathroom and looses his seat, his loss. As I tell my kids - you can hold it.

My solution to all this? SW sells the seat toppers that the theaters use to reserve seats. $10 a pop. If a saved seat doesn't have the red topper on it, then it's fair game.

 

[Tara]

Forgive me if this has been asked previously, but are you able to use SWA credits to pay for the EBCI?

No, credits can't be used.

 

[rie'smom]

Southwest is anticipating revenue from EBCI. Posters on DIS and FT are still getting reasonable BP sequence numbers at T-24. DIS members will pay for one EBCI and let that passenger try to save enough seats for their entire extended family. I think EBCI will be a failure from the perspective of generating revenue. I don't think charging for a second checked bag will generate revenue. The vast majority of passengers will make do with one checked bag. SW will save a couple of dollars in fuel. Legacy airlines can fill the space formerly occupied by passenger luggage with freight. SW doesn't carry much freight.

SW might as well charge for assigned seats. Structure it so a family can't effectively pay for some family members. Assign seats starting at the back of the plane.

These are our favorite seats!!!
I agree that SW needs to stop the saving of seats. Pay for everyone in the group or just sign in 24 hours beforehand.

 

[Maxwell]

If I get an A and my wife gets a B we are going to board with the As or I am going to save her a seat.

 

[RMAMom]

I just signed into my Southwest account to print my boarding passes for my flight tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. I did the EBCI a few days after it was announced and we got A17 & A18. I expected to do well on this flight, the test will be for the flight home from MCO next Saturday night! I'll let you know.

 

[huey578]

One of our party who paid for EBC is not able to print boarding pass, it asked them to check in at airport. The rest of party was able to print boarding passes. We got A's. What happens in a case like this? Will he end up getting on C or is his place in line saved i.e. A group ???

 

[helenk]

We did the early bird check in for our flight coming home on 10/13, I signed up the day it was offered. I opted to check in on my own for the trip down.
Going down I went in at the 24 hour mark 7:20 am and I got A boarding passes but they were 31,32,33 and 40.
Coming home our passes were A 17,18,19 and 21. I really thought it was worth the $10 per person to not have to scramble to guest services while in WDW.
I did the early bird check in for my return trip in Dec, again I signed up when it was first announced. This trip is a solo trip but it will nice not have to worry about checking in from the hotel or the parks.

 

[mickeyluv]

Please forgive me if this is a stupid question but I'm not sure I'm understanding EBCI. I did sign up although not as soon as it was announced so I'm not sure if or how that will change things. My question is if we paid for EBCI do I still need to check in at the 24 hour mark to print boarding passes? I really should not have paid for the flight down I guess as I will be home and would have been able to check in at the 24-hour mark but I was told about this about three days after it was announced by my sister and so I bought for RT! The other question I have is how will we know what seat we have...when I print boarding pass? Help me understand please!! Thanks so much!!

 

[twinklebug]

if we paid for EBCI do I still need to check in at the 24 hour mark to print boarding passes?

With EBCI, the people that have purchased it should be checked in automatically by the system around 36 hours prior to the depature time (T-36). At T-24, those who do not have automatic check-in will start banging away at their keyboards in effort to obtain the lowest boarding pass still available. At this time, you will be able to view and print your boarding pass. Note, You can choose to print or re-print it at the airport. This is what I'm doing - ink is expensive LOL.

I really should not have paid for the flight down I guess as I will be home and would have been able to check in at the 24-hour mark but I was told about this about three days after it was announced by my sister and so I bought for RT!

Your statement has me wondering: Are you sure you paid for both down and back & did you do so for all tickets (or is it just you flying solo)? You can check by going into the 'retrieve reservation' link (under tools) on the SW website and look to make sure all trips / people have the 'EB' mark next to them. Any without that mark will require you to check in yourself, or purchase it.

The other question I have is how will we know what seat we have...when I print boarding pass?

On SouthWest Airlines, no seats are assigned - for anyone. It's open seating. The benefit of having a low boarding number (in the A's) is that you have a better shot at the prime seats and/or entire rows open so you can sit as a group.

 

[OntFamily]

I've read just about every message in thiis thread, and there's one thing I'm still not 100% sure.

Is there anyone whose used EBCI, while staying at a value resort (site of SW "test" of RAC), and was successfuly able to use RAC to check their baggage? I've seen varying messages that said RAC was possible, and others where is was not possible with EBCI.

 

[Bobo912]

You can check by going into the 'retrieve reservation' link (under tools) on the SW website and look to make sure all trips / people have the 'EB' mark next to them. Any without that mark will require you to check in yourself, or purchase it.

Where exactly do you see the "EB" when you retrieve your reservation? I have 4 reservations and I paid for EBCI for all of them, but I don't see an "EB". Maybe I'm just overlooking it. I modified one of the flights and made it a day earlier and I emailed SWA to confirm that my EBCI had carried over to the new flight and they assured me that it had. But I don't see any indication on the web site.

 

[bellemeeko1]

Where exactly do you see the "EB" when you retrieve your reservation? I have 4 reservations and I paid for EBCI for all of them, but I don't see an "EB". Maybe I'm just overlooking it. I modified one of the flights and made it a day earlier and I emailed SWA to confirm that my EBCI had carried over to the new flight and they assured me that it had. But I don't see any indication on the web site.

I didnt see any by our names either...all 6 of us. So I called SW and the agent asked for my reserv # and when she pulled it up she told me all 6 of us were all set for EBCI......it was by all our names when I originally purchased it but when I look now its not there...so maybe its a site fluke or maybe they dont keep it there?

 

[Bobo912]

I didnt see any by our names either...all 6 of us. So I called SW and the agent asked for my reserv # and when she pulled it up she told me all 6 of us were all set for EBCI......it was by all our names when I originally purchased it but when I look now its not there...so maybe its a site fluke or maybe they dont keep it there?

I went back and reread the email I got from SWA and this is what they said:

Although, we are unable to send a receipt, please know that the EarlyBird Check-In purchase confirmation page serves as your only receipt (you won't find this information on your air travel itinerary).

So it sounds like you won't see it on your reservation on the web page. I hung on to my original receipt in case something goes wrong. Our first flight is tomorrow at 6:35 so I'll see tonight what boarding number we get.

 

[junebugTN]

We did EB for our trip from Nashville to Orlando on October 3rd through 10th. On the way down, we got A15, 16, 17. On the way back, we got A17, 18, 19. It was a good thing that we paid the extra for this service, because I was having so much fun at the Magic Kingdom on our last day that I forgot all about checking in at T minus 24 hours.

June

 

[twinklebug]

Where exactly do you see the "EB" when you retrieve your reservation? I have 4 reservations and I paid for EBCI for all of them, but I don't see an "EB". Maybe I'm just overlooking it. I modified one of the flights and made it a day earlier and I emailed SWA to confirm that my EBCI had carried over to the new flight and they assured me that it had. But I don't see any indication on the web site.

I didnt see any by our names either...all 6 of us. So I called SW and the agent asked for my reserv # and when she pulled it up she told me all 6 of us were all set for EBCI......it was by all our names when I originally purchased it but when I look now its not there...so maybe its a site fluke or maybe they dont keep it there?

Sorry Guys, my mistake, it's under "Travel Tools" > "EarlyBird Check in". Basically all you're doing is asking the system if you can add EBCI. It will come back with something like this:

This is a shot of my screen, but I removed the personal info, which makes it look odd. So their response that it's not on the reservation is correct, but if you're still more than 25 hours out, this should work to show you if you have it attached or have the option of buying it. In my image above the checkboxes that would have been open for purchase were replaced by the orange EBs indicating those tickets are all set for EBCI.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Southwest is anticipating revenue from EBCI. The vast majority of passengers will make do with one checked bag. SW will save a couple of dollars in fuel. Legacy airlines can fill the space formerly occupied by passenger luggage with freight. SW doesn't carry much freight.

SW might as well charge for assigned seats. Structure it so a family can't effectively pay for some family members. Assign seats starting at the back of the plane.

You are incorrect - from bts.gov - Southwest ranks as the 3rd biggest carrier of freight and mail (among 88 passenger carriers).