Southwest Early Bird Checkin

[DoctorK]

...so they saved the first 6 rows? Aren't there about 24 more rows available behind those first six? Most airlines use the first 6 rows for first class anyway... I guess I don't understand the fuss.

 

[bellebookworm9]

...so they saved the first 6 rows? Aren't there about 24 more rows available behind those first six? Most airlines use the first 6 rows for first class anyway... I guess I don't understand the fuss.

Okay PPs, correct me if I'm wrong here. Southwest doesn't have first class, so all rows are open to anybody who wants them. However, these four elderly people saved 24 seats in the front for their party(ies). (Were they all together?) I was under the impression that a)Saving seats was not appropriate and definitely not okay for that many people and b)large groups give others the courtesy of seating themselves in the back of the plane.
When I traveled with a group from my school a few years ago we had about 50 people in our group on my flight. Because of this we were allowed to board first, but we all filled in the seats from the back forward, so as not to bother others. Also, others could enter the plane, which it sounds as if these people were not allowing their flightmates to do.

 

[keishashadow]

...so they saved the first 6 rows? Aren't there about 24 more rows available behind those first six? Most airlines use the first 6 rows for first class anyway... I guess I don't understand the fuss.

yes, 1st 6 rows saved

no 1st class for SWA, there is business class

fuss represents ire resulting from paying for EB for my entire party, when it appears those boarding earlier (whether blue sleeve, business or those with higher EB #) can freely save any number of seats they desire for those who didn't pay for EB. I also won't exclude questioning in theory those EBers who pay for 1 slot and decided to save as many seats as they can muster. SW could easily set a specific policy as to maximum# of seats that could be saved (a row per person seems more than reasonable to maintain their legacy of open seating?)

Im all for preboards (and will state that I do have a HC parking tag, although since im able to manage the aisle for short distance back on plane without incident; I always made sure to check in T24 and bought the EB once it was introduced). I probably will early-board myself next SW trip and think there may be many more out there who wind up doing so who normally wouldn't under old system.

I don't balk at paying airline 'nuisance fees' (luggage charges, seat assignments, etc.); imo the EB program was rolled out in vague terms at best. A crapshoot as to whether it's of any value depending on behaviour of fellow passengers. Im rather surprised that a serious incident hasn't arisen regarding savees and those trying to grab a seat via supposed open boarding process...only a matter of time before it turns ugly.

Okay PPs, correct me if I'm wrong here. Southwest doesn't have first class, so all rows are open to anybody who wants them. However, these four elderly people saved 24 seats in the front for their party(ies). (Were they all together?) I was under the impression that a)Saving seats was not appropriate and definitely not okay for that many people and b)large groups give others the courtesy of seating themselves in the back of the plane.
When I traveled with a group from my school a few years ago we had about 50 people in our group on my flight. Because of this we were allowed to board first, but we all filled in the seats from the back forward, so as not to bother others. Also, others could enter the plane, which it sounds as if these people were not allowing their flightmates to do.

Four guests ( 2 elderly & their accompanying support companions, in their 30's) saved 6 rows = 36 seats.

Go back to my post to read SW's position on saving seats...my interpretation is it's okay to save as many seats as you desire as long as it doesn't impede boarding

 

[Anal Annie]

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.

I totally agree. These people, old or not old had some big you know whats and apparently nobody challenged them.

 

[DISNEYNY]

I can't believe anyone would have the nerve to save 36 seats. That is just crazy & very rude!!!

 

[Anal Annie]

...so they saved the first 6 rows? Aren't there about 24 more rows available behind those first six? Most airlines use the first 6 rows for first class anyway... I guess I don't understand the fuss.

So that wouldn't have irked you not one bit to have legitimately paid for EBCI for your entire party, receive a high boarding number for your payment and extra effort, then be forced to go further back in the plane by 4 people who were rudely cheating the system by saving the first 36 seats???????

 

[fbb]

I'm trying to envision how I could use four people to block twelve units of three seats each. At first blush I don't see how I could do it effectively. Going to have my morning coffee before I take a crack at it.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm trying to envision how I could use four people to block twelve units of three seats each. At first blush I don't see how I could do it effectively. Going to have my morning coffee before I take a crack at it.

coming from a football background, let me diagram the play for you, too bad i can't figure out how to use the arrows & x's & o's here, to quote myself:

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'.



1st row (bulkhead) was empty of bodies, had coats & personal items strewn about though; rendering it occupied

2nd row had an arm over it coming from 3rd row

3rd row had a body standing, arms outstreched fore & aft to row pre and proceeding it by person #1

4th row had an arm over it from 3rd row

5th row (see 3rd row) implemented byperson #2

6th row (see 4th row);

Entire process repeated on opposite side of plane persons #3 & #4; quite the game plan.

disclaimer - don't kill the messenger. i take no responsibility for, suggest or condone the above practice; although the FAs aboard the flight and customer service saw no problem with the implementation. Personally, im hoping more people do try this stunt and, as most loopholes tend to close after abuse, it will be a moot point and SW will be forced to do the right thing in setting some sort of written policy for FAs to follow & guests to quote to avoid this happening.

 

[agnes!]

...
fuss represents ire resulting from paying for EB for my entire party, when it appears those boarding earlier (whether blue sleeve, business or those with higher EB #) can freely save any number of seats they desire for those who didn't pay for EB. I also won't exclude questioning in theory those EBers who pay for 1 slot and decided to save as many seats as they can muster. SW could easily set a specific policy as to maximum# of seats that could be saved (a row per person seems more than reasonable to maintain their legacy of open seating?)

Im all for preboards (and will state that I do have a HC parking tag, although since im able to manage the aisle for short distance back on plane without incident; I always made sure to check in T24 and bought the EB once it was introduced). I probably will early-board myself next SW trip and think there may be many more out there who wind up doing so who normally wouldn't under old system.

I don't balk at paying airline 'nuisance fees' (luggage charges, seat assignments, etc.); imo the EB program was rolled out in vague terms at best. A crapshoot as to whether it's of any value depending on behaviour of fellow passengers. Im rather surprised that a serious incident hasn't arisen regarding savees and those trying to grab a seat via supposed open boarding process...only a matter of time before it turns ugly.

Four guests ( 2 elderly & their accompanying support companions, in their 30's) saved 6 rows = 36 seats.

Go back to my post to read SW's position on saving seats...my interpretation is it's okay to save as many seats as you desire as long as it doesn't impede boarding

There is a perceived value in getting the EBCI and not having to check in exactly at t-24, the perceived value being that my party can then get an earlier boarding pass than otherwise and then have its choice of seats and being able to sit together.

I personally don't mind someone saving one or maybe even two seats for other family-members who got later boarding passes, but the sheer scale of this particular party's entitlement-mentatility simply astounds me. And I agree with you keishashadow, it's only a matter of time until there are some truly nasty incidents.

agnes!

 

[Tam1067]

Leaving tomorrow, 12/18 from Midway to MCO at 1:35.

Bought EBCI about a month ago though tickets were purchased in June. Just checked and got A17, A18, A19, A20, A21.

 

[carmie3377]

We didn't use EBCI on our return flight from MCO and got A41-43 for the first leg and A47-49 for our second leg. However, after arriving late from our first flight, we arrived at our gate for the second leg when they were about 1/3 of the way boarding with B. They let us squeeze in since it was a connecting flight issue and we ended up on row 18 to get 3 seats together.

On our flights to MCO, I noticed a couple of people saving seats. One party with 3 kids/4 adults tried to pre-board and then found out that SWA doesn't do the pre-boarding anymore. Then, the mother ended up right in front of me with her A boarding pass but the rest of her family was in the Bs. She saved seats for all of them. No one said anything.

Anyway, to/from MCO had a total of 6 flights (2 connecting for the kids and I and 2 non-stop for DH) and ALL flights were 100% booked (actually at least one was oversold as they had to ask someone to get off). Without purchasing EBCI, I was still able to obtain A boarding groups for all of us.

 

[DoctorK]

So that wouldn't have irked you not one bit to have legitimately paid for EBCI for your entire party, receive a high boarding number for your payment and extra effort, then be forced to go further back in the plane by 4 people who were rudely cheating the system by saving the first 36 seats???????

I would have been irked, yes, but if you purchase the EBCI you should know how it works (and how it doesn't). It's a total crapshoot.

- You can purchase EBCI and still get A40.

- You can purchase EBCI and get A15, but upon boarding find out that half the plane is full of people connecting through.

- There is no "rule" against saving seats on Southwest.

- There should be no expectation of common courtesy when travelling. Cynical? Yes, but realistic. Honestly, how many times, even on Disney transportation, have you seen teens or able-bodied young adults look the other way while older people, mothers with infants, etc. are standing in the aisle.

All of that together and I believe you get an experience the OP got. The question then is, thinking of all of the potential problems with all of the above, is sitting in the 7th row, or even the 20th row, really worth getting into a physical confrontation? And yes, forcing yourself into a seat saved by someone else is physically inserting yourself into their space, and is confrontational.

I would be most concerned with being able to sit together with my family. If I paid for EBCI and was unable to do so, that would be a different situation, but that's far from what the OP describes.

I empathize with the OP, but frankly, lots of (maybe most) people are jerks and the stunt the 4 blue-sleevers pulled affirms that.

 

[keishashadow]

I would have been irked, yes, but if you purchase the EBCI you should know how it works (and how it doesn't). It's a total crapshoot.
.

if SWA would be less vague in their communications, the public would know how EBCI works; without having to resort to 2nd hand accounts as illustrated by this thread. You lay it out just fine, however; i don't think SWA will adopt your description anytime soon Many casual traveler's don't spend the amount of time to ferret out the 'real deal' & why should they have to anyway? Instead of the pig-in-a-poke approach currently used to sell it on the SWA site, why not just be honest about it?

- There is no "rule" against saving seats on Southwest.

.

Again, the rule, or lack thereof, was only discovered by myself, despite digging thru the website; by emailing customer service. Even then, they are vague as to seat saving when causing boarding issues.

- There should be no expectation of common courtesy when travelling. Cynical? Yes, but realistic. Honestly, how many times, even on Disney transportation, have you seen teens or able-bodied young adults look the other way while older people, mothers with infants, etc. are standing in the aisle.

All of that together and I believe you get an experience the OP got. The question then is, thinking of all of the potential problems with all of the above, is sitting in the 7th row, or even the 20th row, really worth getting into a physical confrontation? And yes, forcing yourself into a seat saved by someone else is physically inserting yourself into their space, and is confrontational.
.

I haven't given up on courtesy, which i won't deem 'common' in general, (must be that pesky pixie dust in my eyes). I've found over the course of my life that most people respond in kind to the manner in which they are treated and i'm certainly not going to resort to an ill-mannered person's level.

confrontational is one of those subjective terms open to interpretation, especially aboard an plane where it's not out of the realm of possibility to get tossed if you rub the FAs the wrong way. Forcing fellow passengers (who have paid extra $ to gain a supposed advantage as to seating) to defer to a seat saver is likely to produce confrontation from one less inclined than myself; sooner vs later.

 

[Jestocost]

Seat saving to the extent described is ridiculous and SWA should never allow such an abuse of their system. Fortunately, I assume such extremes are rare and I have never seen anything like that on my SWA flights. Generally, seat saving only is a minor annoyance.

Back on topic, we had our first EBCI experience for our flight tomorrow morning from STL to MCO. I paid the extra for our return flight as soon as the service was announced because we'll be on a Disney cruise and at Castaway Cay when our 24-hour mark arrives, but I hadn't booked EBCI for the outbound trip. As I thought back on previous holiday trips on SWA, however, I remembered huge lines at check in and at security. This prompted me to sign up for EBCI to avoid getting high boarding numbers, which turned out to be not an issue, apparently. I signed up for EBCI just a week or two ago and still managed to score A17-A20 for our party of four, so I guess St. Louis at least hasn't yet embraced EBCI.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We just used this and what a waste of money!1 I really didnt even want it and I think I got it accidently but with all my medical issues I just didnt want to deal with trying to fix it. We got at the airport and I had to get a wheelchair, we were late because of severe bad weather. The boarding agent let other people and wheelchairs on in front of us even though we had like A17 and A18, we ended up in the last row in the plane.

Coming back we had like A18 and A19 too and since I had the wheelchair we did preboard anyway.

I am not planning on going to disney until next dec. but by then I hope I figure out how not to push the wrong button on the computer

So even though I had the early bird and the wheelchair they didnt take us in front of any other wheelchair pre boards, not that I was ecpecting that, but it just shows they dont even look at the pass if you are not in the reg. A line etc,

 

[agnes!]

We're traveling tomorrow morning and on the 29th(BWI-MCO), got EBCI both ways a couple of weeks after it was announced. Just picked up our boarding passes for tomorrow, my DH (A-List) got A19, DD & I got A25 & A26. There are still Business Selects and Travel Anytime fares available on the way down so we'll probably be near the front of the queue, also all three fare-classes are available on the 29th so the plane might not be overcrowded/sold-out (yay!).

agnes!

 

[crashbb]

We just used this and what a waste of money!1 I really didnt even want it and I think I got it accidently but with all my medical issues I just didnt want to deal with trying to fix it. We got at the airport and I had to get a wheelchair, we were late because of severe bad weather. The boarding agent let other people and wheelchairs on in front of us even though we had like A17 and A18, we ended up in the last row in the plane.

Coming back we had like A18 and A19 too and since I had the wheelchair we did preboard anyway.

I am not planning on going to disney until next dec. but by then I hope I figure out how not to push the wrong button on the computer

So even though I had the early bird and the wheelchair they didnt take us in front of any other wheelchair pre boards, not that I was ecpecting that, but it just shows they dont even look at the pass if you are not in the reg. A line etc,

I would never had thought that boarding number (A/B/C-whatever) would be considered in pre-boarding (or family boarding). The point of pre-boarding is that you are boarding out of order. I figure it is "first-come, first-served", so I see nothing weird in the fact that other people were let on ahead of you (assuming that they were also pre-boarders).

There must have been a massive number of pre-boarders on your flight out though - if only the last row on the plane was available (the entire plane must have pre-boarded).

 

[dss22]

Just checked in for our flight tomorrow (ISP-MCO), no EBCI, at exactly 24 hours before....and got B8-B11!! I've never had a B before. I hope we will be able to sit together. I'm pretty sure it's a full flight, but still....

We did buy EBCI for the way home as we will be on a Disney Cruise and didn't want to have to think about it. I hope it works out better.

 

[pooh4evr]

We used EBCI when we traveled last week- our #s were A-18-22, and A28-32 (way home) it was nice not to have to worry about checking in and stuff- our flight there did not originate with us so there were some people already on board when we boarded- it iwas OK it wasn't half the plane or anything but if it had been and we would not have had the chance to sit together after paying the EB then i might have been upset. On the way home there were a fair #of people in wheelchairs- which is fine- we had a great gate agent- sh only let the wheelchair person and 1 member of their party board together- one lady had 5 other adults with her who wanted to board too (they all had C passes) they tried to hold seats but it was a full plane and wre not able to. there was also a family with 3 kids anda bunch of adults who thought they should get to board ahead of everyuone too (had C passes) but they had to go with the family boarding in between A and B- they did not get to sit together.- - there was 1 lady who got upset because the plane was full, a man needed the seat between she and her partner, she ot very mad and rude when she was told it was the last seat- they made him crawl over them to get to the window seat. I'll probabyl use EBCI again just for the convenience of it.

 

[chipper10]

Seat saving to the extent described is ridiculous and SWA should never allow such an abuse of their system. Fortunately, I assume such extremes are rare and I have never seen anything like that on my SWA flights. Generally, seat saving only is a minor annoyance.

Back on topic, we had our first EBCI experience for our flight tomorrow morning from STL to MCO. I paid the extra for our return flight as soon as the service was announced because we'll be on a Disney cruise and at Castaway Cay when our 24-hour mark arrives, but I hadn't booked EBCI for the outbound trip. As I thought back on previous holiday trips on SWA, however, I remembered huge lines at check in and at security. This prompted me to sign up for EBCI to avoid getting high boarding numbers, which turned out to be not an issue, apparently. I signed up for EBCI just a week or two ago and still managed to score A17-A20 for our party of four, so I guess St. Louis at least hasn't yet embraced EBCI.

I hope you are right. We fly out of STL on New Year's Eve and I didn't want to pay for EBCI on the flight to Orlando. I did get it for the return flight home though. We'll see how it goes, I guess.....