Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[MS_mom_1965]

Two questions: I didn't read back through all 600 odd posts, so forgive if these questions have already been covered.

If I book the EBCI for my return flight, can I do that now, then just show up at the airport via ME that day, or do I have to do something else?

If I don't book EBCI, and ask the guest services at POP to check me in, do I actually have to go down to the counter, or can I call them from my room?

 

[twinklebug]

If I book the EBCI for my return flight, can I do that now, then just show up at the airport via ME that day, or do I have to do something else?

Correct. SWA will check you in before the T-24 hr mark - you can wait until you arrive to print your boarding passes if you wish, or you can do so at any point after T-24.

If I don't book EBCI, and ask the guest services at POP to check me in, do I actually have to go down to the counter, or can I call them from my room?

If you don't elect to do EBCI and want to be checked in by your resort, you'll need to go down to the front desk. At both the resort front desks as well as any customer service counter in the parks they require your photo ID and it needs to match one of the names being checked in.

 

[Vickie46]

We bought our EB checkin for on our way home.. its so worth it not to have to worry about if we are going to be near guest services 24 hours before our flight... so worth it! We are not buying it for the trip down though.. I think we will be fine.. its coming home I didn't want the bother...

 

[huey578]

For those who have already used early bird check-in, can you print your boarding pass at the 36 hour mark or 24 hr mark? Is there a special link on SWA site for printing boarding passes for EB??

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Thought I read that EBCI boarding passes could only be printed at the 24 hr mark. I assume you access the EBCI bp as you do the regular ones. I did EBCI for my return flight from MCO and had it printed at the resort. I got an A bp and lined up in my appropriate place. Noticed as we were actually boarding that the people in front of me had a number about 10 places back in line and behind me. It really irked me that they jumped in front of everyone, but I kept my mouth shut this time. Consider me anal, but next time, I am checking numbers around me to be sure I get where I should be.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thought I read that EBCI boarding passes could only be printed at the 24 hr mark. I assume you access the EBCI bp as you do the regular ones. I did EBCI for my return flight from MCO and had it printed at the resort. I got an A bp and lined up in my appropriate place. Noticed as we were actually boarding that the people in front of me had a number about 10 places back in line and behind me. It really irked me that they jumped in front of everyone, but I kept my mouth shut this time. Consider me anal, but next time, I am checking numbers around me to be sure I get where I should be.

I am surprised the gate agent didn't say anyting. Our last SWA flight in August the GA made anyone jumping ahead stand aside until the folks with lower numbers boarded.

 

[poohbear8]

For anyone who is tracking this, I did not prebuy my checkin. Checked in yesterday on the 24 hour mark exactly. Got A22 and A24 for IAD to MCO this afternoon.

 

[pooch]

paid for the EBCI for DD & I - return flight MCO to BDL (Hartford CT) Wed 9/30 evening flight. Got the EBCI the day after this thread started for the convenience factor. My boarding passes (A17-18) were hanging on my door the morning of check out. Loved not having to go to Guest Services and we were also able to take advantage of RAC at POP. Dropped our luggage off on the way to a last short visit to F & WF & picked it up at home, now that was convenient!!!! (BTW we were upgraded to First Class on our Delta flight down to MCO so apparently there is PIXIE DUST on the Transportation Board!!!)

 

[bavaria]

(BTW we were upgraded to First Class on our Delta flight down to MCO so apparently there is PIXIE DUST on the Transportation Board!!!)

I believe that you are quite mistaken.... You may have been tainted with plain, ordinary household dust which builds up with a lack of activity, or you may have had dust mites, but you certainly didn't pick up any of that glittery, fancy stuff here! (It appears that you may have been lurking around in other places where that may exist?)

 

[nanceliz]

I'm reading some of these posts about people who get the random security check and can't get their boarding pass until they get to the airport.
What if you pay for EB check in? Can you still get tagged with this? I would be really angry if after paying extra for early check in and then still be at the end of the line.
Does anyone know?
Thanks!

 

[crashbb]

I'm reading some of these posts about people who get the random security check and can't get their boarding pass until they get to the airport.
What if you pay for EB check in? Can you still get tagged with this? I would be really angry if after paying extra for early check in and then still be at the end of the line.
Does anyone know?
Thanks!

Since SW cannot control who gets tagged and since the TSA has no idea (and doesn't care) who purchased EBCI, then YES someone who purchased EBCI can get tagged.

Now, SW might (and should) have a system whereby you cannot print your boarding pass but your "spot" is still held for you. So, if the EBCI was going to give you A23, no one gets A23 and you get it when you check in at the airport.

 

[nanceliz]

I'm not sure if anyone will have experience with this before we leave. I have a tendency to think worse case senerio sometimes.
I would think SW would have already thought of this possibility and have a soln like what you mentioned.
I guess time will tell.

 

[Bobo912]

Since SW cannot control who gets tagged and since the TSA has no idea (and doesn't care) who purchased EBCI, then YES someone who purchased EBCI can get tagged.

Now, SW might (and should) have a system whereby you cannot print your boarding pass but your "spot" is still held for you. So, if the EBCI was going to give you A23, no one gets A23 and you get it when you check in at the airport.

I'm not sure what it means to be "tagged" but if it just means that you can't print your boarding pass before arriving at the airport then it shouldn't make any difference. With EBCI you are already checked in, so it doesn't matter whether you print your boarding pass at home or at the airport, you will still get the same number. If it means they pull you aside and search you, or something like that, then that would be a problem.

 

[crashbb]

I'm not sure what it means to be "tagged" but if it just means that you can't print your boarding pass before arriving at the airport then it shouldn't make any difference. With EBCI you are already checked in, so it doesn't matter whether you print your boarding pass at home or at the airport, you will still get the same number. If it means they pull you aside and search you, or something like that, then that would be a problem.

Under current system, if you cannot print your boarding pass (and have to get it printed at the airport), you get whatever number they are at at the time you get to the airport. If this is the case with EBCI people, they would lose any advantage that they should have received from paying $10.

Getting pulled aside and searched doesn't change your boarding pass number and shouldn't change your boarding order (unless you are cutting it close at the airport).

 

[Bobo912]

Under current system, if you cannot print your boarding pass (and have to get it printed at the airport), you get whatever number they are at at the time you get to the airport. If this is the case with EBCI people, they would lose any advantage that they should have received from paying $10.

Getting pulled aside and searched doesn't change your boarding pass number and shouldn't change your boarding order (unless you are cutting it close at the airport).

That's what I meant. They're searching you while everybody else is boarding.

It's not exactly true that you get whatever number they are at when you arrive at the airport if you don't "print" your boarding pass. If you have checked in at the SWA website, it doesn't matter whether you have printed your boarding pass or not. I always check in at the 24 hour mark and get my A boarding pass, but I rarely print it until I get to the airport. I've still got an A whether I print it or not. And since you're automatically checked in with ECBI, it should make no difference at all when you print it, because the number has already been assigned.

 

[nanceliz]

just to clarify what I meant by "tagged" yes I was referring to those that are randomly selected for extra security screening. Hopefully, if you have any early bird and get selected and end up with a late boarding pass, Southest would refund the $10.
I guess I should check with SW.

 

[crashbb]

That's what I meant. They're searching you while everybody else is boarding.

It's not exactly true that you get whatever number they are at when you arrive at the airport if you don't "print" your boarding pass. If you have checked in at the SWA website, it doesn't matter whether you have printed your boarding pass or not. I always check in at the 24 hour mark and get my A boarding pass, but I rarely print it until I get to the airport. I've still got an A whether I print it or not. And since you're automatically checked in with ECBI, it should make no difference at all when you print it, because the number has already been assigned.

I was referring to the people who were tagged SSSS. They cannot check-in when they try on their home computer. We are not talking about people who check-in but chose to print their boarding passes later. What I said is true in the context of the discussion.

If a few extra minutes at security means that everyone is boarding ahead of you, you've cut it way too close.

nanceliz - since SW had nothing to do with your (general you) being selected, I suspect that they will not feel the need to refund. I'm happy to be wrong though!

 

[Pooh's Pal]

If you have checked in at the SWA website, it doesn't matter whether you have printed your boarding pass or not. I always check in at the 24 hour mark and get my A boarding pass, but I rarely print it until I get to the airport. I've still got an A whether I print it or not.

I have a question, hoping someone can help. Where in the Orlando airport, SW area can you print off your boarding pass, without standing in line?
(example: checked in on-line...printer didn't work!) Now what do I do or where do I go once I get to the airport!?? Sky cap? or are there kiosks?
Thanks in advance

 

[Bobo912]

I have a question, hoping someone can help. Where in the Orlando airport, SW area can you print off your boarding pass, without standing in line?
(example: checked in on-line...printer didn't work!) Now what do I do or where do I go once I get to the airport!?? Sky cap? or are there kiosks?
Thanks in advance

I always have bags to check so I go either to the sky cap or the kiosks near the SWA ticketing counter. There are always lines at both places. I don't know if there is any other place to print your boarding pass at the airport. You can have your boarding pass printed at your hotel. Or if you going to WDW you can print it at any guest services location.

 

[4greatboys]

Checked in at T24 flying home from MCO to HOU and got A36.