Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[Boardwalk Tigger]

Ahem! Disney just bought Marvel for 4 BILLION!!!! Cry me a river for their financial problems. I love Disney but think they could skip the price gouging holiday food surcharges in a bad economy.

As for Southwest, their demand will decrease if they start packing on the fees whether they label them that way or not. It isn't $10 either unless you are flying alone and one way! I paid the fees but feel very sorry for families who may not be able too. I wouldn't want to be checking in without paying the fees during any of the holidays.

 

[twinklebug]

Whether we watch the stocks, reports and news or not, I believe we all understand that the travel industry has taken a hard hit this past year. The strong and/or smart companies will survive - SWA is smart. Disney is both smart and strong. Can we get back to the topic at hand? EBCI.

And I maintain that if someone can't pay an additional $10, they really cannot afford to fly.

Was this even in question on this thread? I think the argument is not whether anyone can/can't afford to pay the EBCI fee, the argument is whether the EBCI IS a fee - or just a convienience charge. SWA is big on touting that they're fee-free. Now some are arguing that this is very hypocritical of SWA to point out all the fees other airlines charge while instituting the EBCI option.

I maintain EBCI is a convenience charge. Did I NEED to pay it to get my family on the plane for our upcoming flights? No. I choose to pay it. People's reasons for paying it will vary, but if anyone feels the need to pay it then they should just mentally add $10 to the cost of each ticket and be done with it. There are other options available to everyone: airlines, train and, *gasp*, even the dreaded drive.

 

[1hero2princesses]

KS Belle - interesting idea. Can you sign up to do this anytime? I don't know if it worth the 50 I would have to pay not to go to guest services but your right, it does add conveniece.

I will say this - I am not sure I would fly southwest again. They didn't really give us much choice here. I bought my tickets months before they announced this new seating issue. There was no warning. Yes, I might have flown someone else if I was going to pay 100 more anyway.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The real issue here is SW's new policy, which is in reality a fee. I just spent over $400 a ticket to fly to Florida. Some of these tickets were much more. The idea of having to pay a fee to make sure my family can sit together and not randomly looking for middle seats all over the plane is ridiculous

It's not a fee, it's an optional charge - and your family was never guaranteed to be able to sit together and not randomly look for middle seats all over the plane.

I never said anything about cancelling our reservation.

I'm extremely aware of that - which is why I suggested, "Perhaps some upset passenger ...". You know - a test case? To see if Southwest would actually refund someone irate over this new option?

 

[kaytieeldr]

The problem with Southwest's model is that it works exceptionally well when demand is high. When demand is low, there aren't a lot of places to go for cost cutting. They have bet the farm on no bag fees, so with virtually everyone else charging fees for SOMETHING, they have to figure out what fees customers would be willing to pay.

And Southwest knows (vs. having to figure out) that, based on the previous existence of websites offering to check in Southwest passengers for a fee, that some passengers WILL pay for this service. THOSE are the passengers at whom this option and its associated fee are directed. In fact, Southwest sweetened the pot by 'pre-checking' these passengers.

 

[KSBelle]

KS Belle - interesting idea. Can you sign up to do this anytime? I don't know if it worth the 50 I would have to pay not to go to guest services but your right, it does add conveniece.

You can sign up anytime after your purchase. It's most effective to sign up more than 36 hours before your flight but you have to sign up at least 25 hours before your flight to be in the EBCI group. Go to Southwest.com for more info.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Sounds like you're just the target demographic both SW and Disney love. Bottom-line price driven consumer who can't stop *****ing about things but can't resist going, either...

Ahem! Disney just bought Marvel for 4 BILLION!!!! Cry me a river for their financial problems. I love Disney but think they could skip the price gouging holiday food surcharges in a bad economy.

As for Southwest, their demand will decrease if they start packing on the fees whether they label them that way or not. It isn't $10 either unless you are flying alone and one way! I paid the fees but feel very sorry for families who may not be able too. I wouldn't want to be checking in without paying the fees during any of the holidays.

 

[Tara]

And Southwest knows (vs. having to figure out) that, based on the previous existence of websites offering to check in Southwest passengers for a fee, that some passengers WILL pay for this service. THOSE are the passengers at whom this option and its associated fee are directed. In fact, Southwest sweetened the pot by 'pre-checking' these passengers.

And I suspect that protecting its ability to offer this service itself is the primary reason they always worked to shut down those 3rd party services. Spend a little early to protect a future revenue stream...

 

[bicker]

You can love Disney( and Southwest) which we do, and still be critical of some of their policies.

You can love Disney (and Southwest) and still be disappointed with some of their policies. Big difference.

 

[ibob52]

I do not see the "no Fees airline" banner at SWA.com lately ... could it be ... that ... a "FEE" by definition *is a charge for services rendered* ...

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

Sounds like you're just the target demographic both SW and Disney love. Bottom-line price driven consumer who can't stop *****ing about things but can't resist going, either...

Actually I have to laugh because it is the people who mindlesssly agree "Yes, anything you say" that they love. Anyone can be a yes man ( or woman as the case may be). I think SW and Disney do want to hear feedback on new policies even if it is negative.


It is unquestionably a fee (especially for flights during the holidays).

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

You can love Disney (and Southwest) and still be disappointed with some of their policies. Big difference.

You are allowed to be critical of new policies too

 

[bicker]

The point is that there is a difference... I'm sorry you were unable to intuit that difference, without me elaborating. I'll do so now:

Being disappointed is completely reasonable, and can never be anything but legitimate, because it is your own personal feeling.

By contrast, being critical, in this case, required founding comments on unreasonable expectations, i.e., not based on any explicit promises or objective source for appraisal.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

It is completely reasonable. I have to laugh again at how some people make up these things. Critical simply means having an unfavorable opinion of something.

 

[bicker]

Often that word is used to imply some comparison to criteria more than your own personal opinion.

Thanks for clarifying that your comments were simply with regard to your own personal opinions. I'm sorry for my not realizing that.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I can see why you have almost 37,000 posts.

 

[bicker]

Nah... you wanna see why I have so many posts, check out the link in my signature.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I think unfortunately that the definition of your screen name says it all!

 

[goofy4tink]

While it's always good to learn something each day, this isn't the place for vocabulary lessons. Please stay on track, on-topic.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I agree!