Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[safetymom]

I syncronized my clock to have the correct time before calling SW. Apparently it is their computers time that isn't correct. I did find waiting several minutes got me the boarding pass.

 

[Lewisc]

And I'm noting that it's so far not a problem not to spend the extra money for early boarding. In fact, it seems like it's just throwing money away!

Classic good news/bad news. Southwest is looking to EB as a source of revenue. I agree with your point, based on posts on FT and DIS the number of passengers paying for EB isn't very high. That means paying for EB might be "throwing money away" but might also mean Southwest will be looking for other sources of revenue. I don't think charging for a second checked bag will generate much money.

I syncronized my clock to have the correct time before calling SW. Apparently it is their computers time that isn't correct. I did find waiting several minutes got me the boarding pass.

This comes up on FT. Yoou need to sync your clock to "SW time" which isn't the same as "correct" time or atomic time.

 

[rie'smom]

Good advice! Thanks for sharing.

And I'm noting that it's so far not a problem not to spend the extra money for early boarding. In fact, it seems like it's just throwing money away!

I agree it's a waste during a slow travel time. However, for us it's great because my daughter has invited 3 friends on the trip and I've invited her nanny and her nanny's 8 year old son. We're flying the Friday before Thanksgiving and will all be able to next to each other. 5 of us are flying back on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Both flights are sold out.

I have a question. Nanny Nat, her son, and one of the girls are flying back the day before Thanksgiving. That flight is full and did not offer EBCI. Can Natalie bring proof that her son is autistic in order for the 3 of them to sit together?
Thank-you!

 

[miprender]

Well I bit the bullet and paid for EBCI on the way home. We are flying home on April 24th and even though SW said our family would board before the B boarding passes, I didn't want to take a chance (assuming that we still get A boarding passes).

Hopefully I purchased it before alot of other people did.

 

[Dizholic]

Just printed my boarding passes for my 1:40 flight tomorrow from Buf to MCO. I paid for the EBCI back on the first day it was available, and received A-21 and A-22 BP's.

 

[pinkerbell]

We flew home on 10 10 a sunday - I didnt do EBCI and got A 35-38. I was happy with those numbers. even happier when at the airport there were NO A1- through maybe 20 or so. This puzzeled me and as DH and I talked about it the passenger behind me said she had seen that on a few flights lately (she flies often) Is southwest trying to fake peole out into thinking their numbers are not as good without EBCI??? I just didnt get it - when u get to the airport, it will be clear when no-one is in the que? can someone share the real reason for this with me?
thanks
pink

 

[DisneyDadNY]

We flew home on 10 10 a sunday - I didnt do EBCI and got A 35-38. I was happy with those numbers. even happier when at the airport there were NO A1- through maybe 20 or so. This puzzeled me and as DH and I talked about it the passenger behind me said she had seen that on a few flights lately (she flies often) Is southwest trying to fake peole out into thinking their numbers are not as good without EBCI??? I just didnt get it - when u get to the airport, it will be clear when no-one is in the que? can someone share the real reason for this with me?
thanks
pink

A1 through A16 (I think it is 16) are reserved for passengers buying Business Select fares. Probably a couple other ways to get them also. If nobody buys those tickets on a particular flight nobody will line up in those spots. this makes A16 or A17 or so the first available boarding position for everyone else.

 

[jaydoe]

I am a little upset. I still think something went wrong!!! I purchased the earlybird thing for my flight tomorrow. I bought it about 2 weeks after the earlybird thing started. I got "B" 35, 36, 37???????!!!! Do you think this sounds right?? I wondered if I did something wrong cause most of you have said you are getting "A" boarding passes?????

 

[Avonlady1001]

I am a little upset. I still think something went wrong!!! I purchased the earlybird thing for my flight tomorrow. I bought it about 2 weeks after the earlybird thing started. I got "B" 35, 36, 37???????!!!! Do you think this sounds right?? I wondered if I did something wrong cause most of you have said you are getting "A" boarding passes?????

Do you have the receipt from when you purchased the EBCI? Call SW & make sure they did it...it could be that there were just that many people who purchased it for your flights...If that's the case...imagine what you would've gotten had you NOT purchased EBCI.

It doesn't sound right given the reports everyone is giving & the fact that you purchased it so soon after it was introduced. My experience on my flight last week was that many people still didn't know about EBCI.

Of course, there's always the possibility that SW messed up...doesn't hurt to call & ask to make sure you were given EBCI. If you weren't & you have proof that you paid...demand either a refund or some sort of priority boarding.

 

[bavaria]

There are several reports of people purchasing EBCI and receiving mid B passes. Remember, there is a priority order to EBCI and connecting flights also play a role.

It is entirely possible to have that number, and it does demonstrate that those who choose to wait until the 24 hour mark may well be even more disappointed by their sequence number.

 

[twinklebug]

I am a little upset. I still think something went wrong!!! I purchased the earlybird thing for my flight tomorrow. I bought it about 2 weeks after the earlybird thing started. I got "B" 35, 36, 37???????!!!! Do you think this sounds right?? I wondered if I did something wrong cause most of you have said you are getting "A" boarding passes?????

That does sound odd. Over on FlyerTalk several people have noticed that they got higher humbers than people in front of them who checked in by hand at T minus 24 hours. There's a couple reps on that forum who've told them to write to customer relations just to get their $10/seat back. SW has yet to respond to these folk. Not getting that warm & fuzzy feeling here.

With EBCI, you'll get bumped back if there are folk transferring, presumably also with EBCI - but this sounds like a TON of folk, and I'm not sure if you're at an airport that is known as a SW transfer location. However, say if there's a college band taking the same flight as you and they're transferring on, then they'll all get boarding numbers higher than yours. Doubtful this is the case, but possible. I'd check with the folks in front and behind you just to see who did what for check-in.

 

[pinkerbell]

A1 through A16 (I think it is 16) are reserved for passengers buying Business Select fares. Probably a couple other ways to get them also. If nobody buys those tickets on a particular flight nobody will line up in those spots. this makes A16 or A17 or so the first available boarding position for everyone else.

Thanks!

 

[Firedog]

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

I just checked in today at the 24-hour mark for our flights from PIT to TPA, and got A60, & B1 thru B4.

I'm flying back to PIT from MCO on a Saturday, having someone back home check us in at 24 hours, but am now second guessing not getting the EBCI for that flight (there's five of us).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vivianne]

I understand it's all about $...but..Early Bird checkin is not favorable for us. I always managed to check us in and got A-15 thru 20. However, today I got A-60, B-1 (without Early Bird). Yes, I can deal with that. I'm just wondering what's next.

 

[bellemeeko1]

Just printed my boarding passes for my 1:40 flight tomorrow from Buf to MCO. I paid for the EBCI back on the first day it was available, and received A-21 and A-22 BP's.

Just wanted to say HELLO from a fellow "buffalonian"...let us know how EBCI worked for you and if you noticed people saving seats, some say that some people are buying one EBCI and then saving seats for the rest of their party!.....I got it for our up and coming trip end of next month......

 

[krissyh]

Just wanted to say HELLO from a fellow "buffalonian"...let us know how EBCI worked for you and if you noticed people saving seats, some say that some people are buying one EBCI and then saving seats for the rest of their party!.....I got it for our up and coming trip end of next month......

Fellow WNYer here. I purchased EBCI a few days ago for BUF to MCO over MLK weekend.
Please let us know how it worked.

Some questions I have and things I've noticed:
1. Hearing more than I'd like about this "saving seats" nonsense.
Seems to me that SW should make everyone in a party purchase
EBCI or no one is allowed to get it. Or at least give the flight
attendants some power to stop it.
Hopefully the people that have witnessed this have notified
SW customer service.
2. It also seems like there should be a limited number of
EBCI seats available on any given flight.
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.
4. Can't wait to see how this works flying out of MCO on busy
holiday weekends.

Hope it works out well for all that spent the money! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I prefer to fly airlines that allow me to select my seat and where I'll be on a plane with at least one side that only has two seats per row. The deal I found on SW, however, was just too good to pass up (even with the EBCI).

 

[bavaria]

SW has reported on other sites that they have no policy against saving seats, and will not interfere in such a situation.

 

[mrsstats]

SW has reported on other sites that they have no policy against saving seats, and will not interfere in such a situation.

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.

 

[bavaria]

Sounds like a plan for confrontation on the plane. I think they would want to avoid that.

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.

 

[rie'smom]

SW has reported on other sites that they have no policy against saving seats, and will not interfere in such a situation.

They'll have to institute some type of policy or there will be major arguments from other EBCI customers.

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.

I hope not because this is when we're flying. I'll give y'all a heads up on how it goes.