Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[Dizholic]

this is exactly what my anal-retentive mind needed. Since we are at POP, I can also take advantage of RAC. Looks like an easy-breezy return trip (even though I never want to come home!!!)

I don't call it anal retentive, I always say I have a slight case of OCD...LOL

 

[bstnsprts]

I'm guessing the usage of EBCI will be relatively low on these first few days, but pick up steam in the coming weeks as people hear about it and figure things out. I did sign up for EBCI for our return trip, since will be on DCL and that eliminates having to try to check in from the ship (which can be a challenge), but am waiting to see how things settle out with EBCI volume as the program becomes more mature before I pony up for our flight in to MCO. If reports start coming in that people checking in at 24 hours are routinely getting high B and C boarding numbers, however, I'm likely to bite the bullet and sign up for EBCI on our inbound flight too. Our kids are older (12 & 15) and experienced flyers, so being split up wouldn't be the end of the world if I gamble and lose.

That's would be a huge issue because that could mean some people using EB are getting boarding numbers just below that. If this becomes popular alot of people are going to be paying SW $10 for absolutely nothing.

 

[buckirj1]

I routinely buy two seats: one for me and one for my fat a$$, in accordance with Southwest's rules and for my own comfort. My burning question is: will I still be able to sit with myself?

I've already had to tell a fellow passenger that I wasn't saving a seat (considering how a couple inches of my butt were already in it), that I had in fact purchased the seat and she may not have it nor may she plop her ******* in it. It wasn't my stellar logic as much as the word ******* that made her huff off toward the back of the plane. Thank you, childfree lexicon

Anyway, I ponied up the $40 even though I don't travel until November. It ought to be interesting to see how the drama develops.

 

[wdwmaw]

We fly in less than a month and I have not decided to do this yet. I was wondering if this will become like ADR's, you need to book early to get the better boarding #'s. Will the pre boarding #'s be given out based in order of booking or just randomly. Sorry if this has been mentioned. We just booked flights yesterday and this crossed my mind since I am really wanting to pay for pre board out of orlando.

 

[Lewisc]

Nice try. *** are eligible to pre-board. Absolutely no reason to pay extra.

I routinely buy two seats: one for me and one for my fat a$$, in accordance with Southwest's rules and for my own comfort. My burning question is: will I still be able to sit with myself?

I've already had to tell a fellow passenger that I wasn't saving a seat (considering how a couple inches of my butt were already in it), that I had in fact purchased the seat and she may not have it nor may she plop her ******* in it. It wasn't my stellar logic as much as the word ******* that made her huff off toward the back of the plane. Thank you, childfree lexicon

Anyway, I ponied up the $40 even though I don't travel until November. It ought to be interesting to see how the drama develops.

 

[Nermel9]

Actually, no...I only received an email confirmation after I'd paid for the early bird check-in. I was still a little fuzzy on how the whole process was going to play out, so I went to the SW site and tried to print out my boarding pass, but it wouldn't let me.

Not leaving anything to chance, I logged on as soon as my 24 hour window opened up. I was happy to see I was in the A group, but didn't realize until later on that A16 is pretty much as good as it gets.

Do you mean log on with your confirmation #? Because if we have to actually log on to the southwest website, I don't know what I'm gonna do...I have no idea what my member name or password is...I know I signed up a while ago but I have no clue...hopefully it's the same as when you check yourself in, using the confirmation # and your name...ugh this is confusing...glad I have 3 weeks to figure it out!

 

[Bobo912]

We fly in less than a month and I have not decided to do this yet. I was wondering if this will become like ADR's, you need to book early to get the better boarding #'s. Will the pre boarding #'s be given out based in order of booking or just randomly. Sorry if this has been mentioned. We just booked flights yesterday and this crossed my mind since I am really wanting to pay for pre board out of orlando.

Another thought that came to mind for me was, in the past if I book early and a DING comes out, I just cancel and rebook. But now, if I cancel my wanna get away fare at the last minute to get the cheaper DING fare, I lose my place in the early boarding queue. So I pay the $10 again, but now I'm lower in the food chain because I've booked a DING and because I'm booking closer to the date of the flight. It will make me think twice about booking the DING. Depending on how much I'm saving with the DING, I may just keep my wanna get away fare. So in addition to the $10 to board early, I may end up paying a higher fare than I normally would.

 

[123SA]

I fly out on Tuesday. I'll post a report.

 

[pinkerbell]

OK so I am trying to decide if we should pay the extra $40 for the EBPS. I dont want to as we have always gotten A's BUT this EBPS changes things - My ? is we are at Animal Kingdom 24 hrs before we depart @ 5:15 AK closes at 5:00 that day - will guest relations still be open and willing to print my pass at 5:15? If not I'mthinking I should get the Priority seating and as we have a 3 and 5 yo and we dont all have to sit together but we should at least be 2 and thanks for any thoughts

 

[Bobo912]

OK so I am trying to decide if we should pay the extra $40 for the EBPS. I dont want to as we have always gotten A's BUT this EBPS changes things - My ? is we are at Animal Kingdom 24 hrs before we depart @ 5:15 AK closes at 5:00 that day - will guest relations still be open and willing to print my pass at 5:15? If not I'mthinking I should get the Priority seating and as we have a 3 and 5 yo and we dont all have to sit together but we should at least be 2 and thanks for any thoughts

One of the adults would be able to pre-board with the 3-year-old after the A boarding passes, so you wouldn't need to pay the early boarding fee for your entire family. I think guest services would still be open.

 

[miprender]

I am not sure I really like this EB thing either. I am always on the computer at the 24hr mark and have always gotten A boarding passes.

I like not having to worry about checking in while at Disney, but I am now going to be over paranoid that we will not sit together.

Since you can book by individual I was thinking of just paying for 2 (DH and I) and not my kids who will be 2,4, and 6 that way the cost would only be $20and not $60. But then again what's another $40 and we would all have the same numbers hopefully. And worse case if we get a B boarding pass, we should still be able to board before the B's.

We are not flying until April and the prices haven't yet come out, but I am afraid everyone is going to use this for their return trip home from Disney

I'd rather pay the $10 more per 2nd bag.

 

[LexiC123]

Do you mean log on with your confirmation #? Because if we have to actually log on to the southwest website, I don't know what I'm gonna do...I have no idea what my member name or password is...I know I signed up a while ago but I have no clue...hopefully it's the same as when you check yourself in, using the confirmation # and your name...ugh this is confusing...glad I have 3 weeks to figure it out!

All I needed was the confirmation number and passenger(s) first and last names. It pulled my flight info up, no problem.

 

[Inkmahm]

Boy, am I glad that I'm still flying on AirTran and haven't given SW a chance yet.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

How do I find out if I have rapid rewards whatever- I know that I have rapid rewards.

 

[Bobo912]

I am not sure I really like this EB thing either. I am always on the computer at the 24hr mark and have always gotten A boarding passes.

I like not having to worry about checking in while at Disney, but I am now going to be over paranoid that we will not sit together.

Since you can book by individual I was thinking of just paying for 2 (DH and I) and not my kids who will be 2,4, and 6 that way the cost would only be $20and not $60. But then again what's another $40 and we would all have the same numbers hopefully. And worse case if we get a B boarding pass, we should still be able to board before the B's.

We are not flying until April and the prices haven't yet come out, but I am afraid everyone is going to use this for their return trip home from Disney

I'd rather pay the $10 more per 2nd bag.

Since you have two children under the age of 5, you would all be able to board after the A's, no matter what letter you have on your boarding pass. There are 137 seats on SWA 737 and there are at most 60 A boarding passes (assuming there are 15 Business Select and/or A-list customers - I've never seen more than 4 or 5 on any given flight). There would be 77 empty seats when you board, so you should all be able to sit together without paying the early boarding fee.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

I just grudgingly paid $60 for EBCI for our Oct/Nov trip (3 family members, both ways) because as much as others will say I'm crazy, I cannot stand the thought of my husband, our 7 year old DD, and me scattered throughout the plane. I don't care about "being first" or having "first dibs on overhead bins," or even where we sit. I just want to be able to sit with my family on a family vacation. Selfish?

So, since I was sort of steamed about feeling "forced" to pay up or risk it (I know, I know, it was my choice, no one forced me, but it feels like an underhanded kind of forcing by playing on your fears), I promptly shot an e-mail off to SWA customer service using their online form on their Web site, letting them know I was dissatisfied with this new service. I say, charge $10 more for the ticket at the outset. That way, we all know what the total cost and the rules for check-in are when we pay, and we're all on a level playing field. I'll post what I get, if anything, for a reply.

I'm sure writing and complaining will do little, since I already proved I'm willing to pay up which is what they want anyway--I guess I wasn't good about "voting with my pocketbook," LOL, but for some reason this whole thing sat really poorly with me and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. At least I got to share my thoughts as a repeat (loyal, in fact) consumer and as a mother.

By the way, I called Customer Service this afternoon when I was contemplating whether to do EBCI, to find out if or when ticketless travel funds might be accepted for this fee. Sounded like they wouldn't ever be.

Guess we'll see...

 

[Hannathy]

I

I say, charge $10 more for the ticket at the outset. That way, we all know what the total cost and the rules for check-in are when we pay, and we're all on a level playing field. I'll post what I get, if anything, for a reply.

See I'm glad they didn't just raise the fare! Guess I'll have to email them saying that. I think you should pay for what you want and I don't care where I sit and neither do my kids so doing it this way just saved my family $40. each way and we didn't get stuck paying for something we don't care about. Heck take $10 off my ticket and I'll get on last!

 

[pickles]

See I'm glad they didn't just raise the fare! Guess I'll have to email them saying that. I think you should pay for what you want and I don't care where I sit and neither do my kids so doing it this way just saved my family $40. each way and we didn't get stuck paying for something we don't care about. Heck take $10 off my ticket and I'll get on last!

I second this! I like the payment idea..better than paying for check bags

 

[Bobo912]

I'm not a big fan of early bird check in, but I'm glad they didn't raise the fares too. First, because I have a choice not to pay the fee unless I want. Second, because of the added convenience if I do decide to pay the fee. I have two upcoming trips to Orlando booked through SWA. I didn't pay the extra fee for either trip to Orlando, but I paid it for both return flights. Not so much because I'm concerned about where we sit, but because it's convenient. First trip we'll be at WDW at one of the parks when I need to check in. Second trip we'll be on a DCL cruise ship. So it's just easier. I definitely want to sit with my child on the plane, but if you have an early C boarding pass, it is still possible to find two seats together (I've done it). So having an A isn't that important to me.

 

[lawgs]

Another thought that came to mind for me was, in the past if I book early and a DING comes out, I just cancel and rebook. But now, if I cancel my wanna get away fare at the last minute to get the cheaper DING fare, I lose my place in the early boarding queue. So I pay the $10 again, but now I'm lower in the food chain because I've booked a DING and because I'm booking closer to the date of the flight. It will make me think twice about booking the DING. Depending on how much I'm saving with the DING, I may just keep my wanna get away fare. So in addition to the $10 to board early, I may end up paying a higher fare than I normally would.

maybe mistaken but thought i read somewhere that DING fares are excluded in this Early Bird offering ( of course they made no mention of people traveling on Rapid Rewards but it seems those people can use the Early Bird process )

any other input on the "DING" situation?????