Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[cbsnyber1]

I've never had the Airport Check In required -- but I've read from others it is usually a TSA watch list issue. The name is close to a watch list name. They recently switched to checking middle name and initial -- so there may be more people who need to check in at the airport rather than on-line.

Since there are 6 of you (I saw from other post), even if the watch list person has a c boarding pass, you will not have trouble saving that seat..it's mostly an annoyance (but if it does anything to keep us all safer, so be it).

Yea, I'm pretty sure it's the watch list thing, since I registered only first and last names - that's all you could do at the time.

We did EBCI for everyone, so I'm pretty sure she has her boarding position assignment (especially since we got A16, 18, 19, 20, 21 - missing A17). And, even if not, we'll just save the seat for her.

 

[johde]

I checked in this morning for my trip December 12th to Tampa a couple of minutes after T-24 (had internet trouble) received A-38. Good enough for me. For the return trip on the I have EBCI because it's Dec 23 and didn't want to worry about checking in my last day.

 

[Jenn4615]

where do I checkin for early bird! HELP PLEASE!!

 

[pamjb]

Go to Southwest.com and then click on "Check in Online" . Enter your confirmation number and one of the names on the reservation. You should be able to print all of the boarding passes.

 

[Jenn4615]

Thank u! I was worried that there was a different link to check in!! I didnt want to do the wrong place! Thank u!! Just checked in!! whoo hoo!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Just an FYI...

I just checked in for my flight tomorrow at T-24 from MHT to MCO and got positions A36-A39. I did buy EBCI for our return flight because of the convenience while on vacation but I knew I would be able to be online at T24 for our outbound flight so I decided to save the money. I'm really glad I did. Of course I know we have no connecting flights going through our airport and it's the first nonstop flight of the day so I figured I'd be safe doing so. It worked out well for us.

 

[keishashadow]

Just wanted to relay my experience on return flight from MCO to PIT last Saturday. I did purchase EB both legs of trip, all went well going to...fro was another story entirely.

We did obtain A #20-22 but, wound up half-way back on the planedue to 4 blue-sleeve guests (2 actual - elderly individuals - and their companions) who planted themselves in staggered fashion with arms draped over the aisle in front & behind them throughout the first 6 rows of the plane...effectively taking 36 seats out of 'play'.

I questioned "why", they indicated that they had a large group and wanted to insure they would sit together. I suggested they move to back of plane, wonder why they didn't think it was a good idea?

Another passenger complained to FAs, was told there were plenty of seats further back. Note: it was later announced on the flight that 2 of the FAs were recognized as being FAs of the year

I fired off an email to SW describing the above, here is the reply i received. Needless to say I won't waste the $10 for everybody in my party again, one per group appears to be the gold standard aka save seats early & often?

We were saddened to learn of your dissatisfaction. We appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We feel that Customer feedback only makes us a better airline. Thank you for giving us the privilege to respond to your correspondence.
As you know, all flights on Southwest are "open-seating," and Customers are free to take any available seat onboard the aircraft. In light of this, it is not uncommon for a Customer to want to reserve a seat (or seats) for a friend, family member, or associate who will be boarding behind them. Truthfully, we don’t have a policy either way--for or against--saving seats. In fact, we share our perspective on this issue on southwest.com as follows: "because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, general-boarding Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat." With this in mind, as long as there is no Safety concern, it would be acceptable for a Customer to "claim" a seat for his/her family member or traveling companion who may be in a later boarding group. We are aware that the saving of seats is a by-product of our policy, and as long as the boarding process is not delayed, it usually isn’t a significant issue. That said, we are sorry for your frustration and we apologize for any disappointment. Please know that we have tracked the main points of your e-mail via our monthly summary, which is distributed to our Senior Leadership.

Your patronage and friendship mean the world to us. We appreciate your feedback and we hope to have an opportunity to share the skies with you soon.


Sincerely,
Krisanne, Southwest Airlines

 

[agnes!]

They saved seats for 36 PEOPLE?!?

Wow. Just wow.

agnes!

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Wow. I would have been furious! This is exactly why I'm not going to bother to spend an extra $100/RT for the 5 of us. Sorry that happened & I'm even more sorry that Southwest has such a lame policy about saving seats... especially 36 seats!

 

[keishashadow]

yep, 36 seats 'saved', passengers doing so were just inconsiderate jerks imo. Im really surprised somebody didn't just duck under their outstretched arms and plop down in open row. Although, we were all a bit on edge with extra security while waiting to board. IDs were checked again when lined up in our boarding slots and several searches of carryons. A medical emergency ensued (several passengers in back of plane got sick) and paramedics and 4 county police officers waiting for our flight.

I was blaming the FAs entirely for not stepping up, until I received the email reply stating SW's policy or lack thereof depending on your interpretation.

jmho, don't understand how SWA can toute their famous open seating policy, then turn around and sell EB anyway. Just playing both sides of the fence and angling for extra $s...just charge a stinking bag fee for 2nd bag & be done with it!

 

[Anal Annie]

Oh I would've also been furious and may have been tempted to plop myself down in a row just to prove a point! I hope you made it clear that you had paid for their silly EBCI for your entire party in order to avoid this kind of childish, selfish, rude, inconsiderate behavior?! Another reason I prefer Air Tran. Let me get an assigned seat number so I don't have to deal with this type of nonsense, thank you very much!!!! Sigh. If only AT ALWAYS had the best prices.

 

[toledo13]

OMG. That is unreal. I would have done the exact same thing, and that's horrible that it was 'ok' for those people to save all of those seats. I agree- the people who saved the seats should have gone to the back of the plane... not taken up the middle!!!! GRRR on them!!

So, what has been the general feel of this new early check-in garble? Are more and more people doing it so now everyone is going to have to do it? If everyone does it, then it's really not going to make much difference... we're all get lower and lower numbers WAHH!!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I've been following an ebci thread on flyertalk for quite some time and let me tell you, it's not pretty. Overall I think people are okay with the boarding numbers they get but the biggest dissatisfaction is that the gate agents are not enforcing the boarding order--at all! Between that and the saving seats I'm just not looking forward to our flight down. I refuse to pay for the ebci and I'm only flying SW because I had a substancial credit to use up. We're trying AirTran on the way home. I've been happy to book my own seat without a fee plus we always travel with carry-ons only so in the end it turns out to be a better deal. It's sad because I used to fly SWA exclusively but I'm a stressful flyer as it is and I don't need any further aggrevation once I get to the airport.

 

[SnowWhitee]

We did not purchase EBCI for our flight tomorrow (STL to MCO @ 7:20 am). I checked in this am exactly 24 hrs ahead. I had two ressies and was worried our boarding numbers wouldn't be together, so I brought up two browsers and input the conf #s so I could press "submit" at the same time. Ended up getting A45 - A48 for all of us.

That's pretty good, right? I can't recall, but I thought A's went to 50?

 

[toledo13]

We did not purchase EBCI for our flight tomorrow (STL to MCO @ 7:20 am). I checked in this am exactly 24 hrs ahead. I had two ressies and was worried our boarding numbers wouldn't be together, so I brought up two browsers and input the conf #s so I could press "submit" at the same time. Ended up getting A45 - A48 for all of us.

That's pretty good, right? I can't recall, but I thought A's went to 50?

Yeah, as long as you're in the A group you're fine. You have to remember that the first 20ish numbers are all business class-type people, so many times there aren't REALLY 45 people ahead of you.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Southwest just opened up their flights for our travel dates yesterday. I purchased them as soon as they went on sale. $64pp/each way. Both nonstops and great times. I did not purchase the EBCI for our trip down, as the day before is a Sunday, so both my mom and I will be home to be able to check-in 24 hours ahead.

I did purchase the EBCI for the return trip because we will be in Epcot and I don't want to worry about going to guest services. When EBCI checks us in, we can still print out the boarding passes that evening at the hotel, correct?

Although my mom and I are two adults who can sit alone, it would be nice to sit together. And since we purchased early we will probably be assigned right after the business class/anytime fares, I believe.

 

[keishashadow]

Yeah, as long as you're in the A group you're fine. You have to remember that the first 20ish numbers are all business class-type people, so many times there aren't REALLY 45 people ahead of you.

we were first in line (no business ahead of us) received A-16 thru 18, Im thinking the 1st slot in line depends on number of business reservations.

 

[toledo13]

we were first in line (no business ahead of us) received A-16 thru 18, Im thinking the 1st slot in line depends on number of business reservations.

Right. I have never had a lower number than A16... so maybe A 1-15 are reserved for Business class automatically.

 

[DISNEYNY]

Buffalo to Orlando. Did not buy EBCI for the way down. Got A47 - A49. Then our flight was cancelled & had to rebook...got B42 - B44. We were still able to sit together. We had 2 confirm #s for the way home. I booked EBCI for my son, he got A-34. Did not book it for my DD & I, we got A54 & A55. I don't think I will bother to pay the extra next time. I'll just get the seat assignment 24 hrs out.

 

[LidoDeck]

I absolutely understand keishashadow's frustration! I emailed Southwest about the same issue right after my flights to/from MHT in September. And I received precisely the same response. Southwest fails to understand that they are charging some guests for something but inviting others to simply take it.

I'd be inclined to plunk down in one of those saved seats...and tell the seat hogs to fry ice cubes.