southwest early bird checkin

[buzz2400]

Leaving tomorrow morning so I need some input before 6 p.m. today. Just checked in 24 hours before flight and got A44. I checked in exactly 24 hours prior. Coming back, my son has his phone where I can check in so there is no problem there but I was wondering, do a lot of people do the early bird check in on their return flights out of orlando because they don't have time to check in regularly. I am debating whether to do it. And also if I do only one so that one of us can get an "A" and then check in on phone and obviously get a later boarding pass, can I "hold" a seat for my son or will that create a big stink. We usually pick a window and middle seat. I like to sit with him because I take a valium and it does cause me to be very drowsy and I need him to keep an eye on me.

Any thoughts.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I wouldn't waste my money paying for EBCI coming home from Orlando. If you check in at 24 hours, you should be good. If you do pay for EBCI and get an A pass and your son gets a B, you shouldn't have any problem taking a window seat and saving a middle seat for him. Middle seats are the least desirable.

 

[prncess674]

Your son is old enough to have a smart phone, and should be old enough / independent enough to sit alone on a plane IF by chance there were absolutely no two seats together when you board. If you check in online at 24 hour mark you should be fine in finding two seats together somewhere on the plane.

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I always get EBCI. We have Iphones and Ipads, but when I am at Disney I do not want to have to keep up with my 24 hour checkin time. It has worked great for us and we were glad we had it heading home on Sunday 5/8/11--the flight was packed to New Orleans. So the 40 bucks we spend gives us piece of mind. The last few people to board the plane that Sunday did not seem happy.

 

[buzz2400]

Your son is old enough to have a smart phone, and should be old enough / independent enough to sit alone on a plane IF by chance there were absolutely no two seats together when you board. If you check in online at 24 hour mark you should be fine in finding two seats together somewhere on the plane.

I know he is old enough to sit by himself. If you read what I wrote I NEED HIM TO SIT NEXT TO ME BECAUSE I AM ON MEDICATION THAT MAKES ME VERY, VERY DROWSY.

 

[prncess674]

I know he is old enough to sit by himself. If you read what I wrote I NEED HIM TO SIT NEXT TO ME BECAUSE I AM ON MEDICATION THAT MAKES ME VERY, VERY DROWSY.

Well if a valium sends you that far into lala land, then by all means pay the $20. Also if a single valium makes you incoherently drowsy that you need a chaperone while taking it you REALLY need to see your doctor and have him adjust your dosage. It should not make you a sitting zombie.

There is no saving seats on SWA. If I board before your DS and want your "saved" seat this isn't 2nd grade where you can say "saved" and stick your tounge out. If you want the privilege of boarding and having your pick of seat(s) then you need to pay for your entire party who will be occupying said seats.

Edited to add: Since this drugs knocks you out to the point where you would need a chaperone, is your DS capable of carrying you of the plane since you seem to be concerned that you won't be lucid enough to wake up in the event of an emergency?

 

[lyonking3]

The $10 is worth it to get Early bird. But then again, if the whole plane buys early bird, someone will be in the "C"s

 

[Dacky619]

Leaving tomorrow morning so I need some input before 6 p.m. today. Just checked in 24 hours before flight and got A44. I checked in exactly 24 hours prior. Coming back, my son has his phone where I can check in so there is no problem there but I was wondering, do a lot of people do the early bird check in on their return flights out of orlando because they don't have time to check in regularly. I am debating whether to do it. And also if I do only one so that one of us can get an "A" and then check in on phone and obviously get a later boarding pass, can I "hold" a seat for my son or will that create a big stink. We usually pick a window and middle seat. I like to sit with him because I take a valium and it does cause me to be very drowsy and I need him to keep an eye on me.

Any thoughts.

It has already been mentioned that there is no seat saving on SW, but you might be able to get away with it toward the back of the plane. I flew MCO to BWI yesterday morning and there was a slight issue with someone trying to hold a seat towards the front of the plane and all the attendant said was that is is open seating, any seat that is not being occupied is available. I think you'd be ok checking in at the 24 hour mark, but if you buy EBCI, don't try to cheat the system, buy it for both of you.

 

[disnutt]

Well if a valium sends you that far into lala land, then by all means pay the $20. Also if a single valium makes you incoherently drowsy that you need a chaperone while taking it you REALLY need to see your doctor and have him adjust your dosage. It should not make you a sitting zombie.

There is no saving seats on SWA. If I board before your DS and want your "saved" seat this isn't 2nd grade where you can say "saved" and stick your tounge out. If you want the privilege of boarding and having your pick of seat(s) then you need to pay for your entire party who will be occupying said seats.

Edited to add: Since this drugs knocks you out to the point where you would need a chaperone, is your DS capable of carrying you of the plane since you seem to be concerned that you won't be lucid enough to wake up in the event of an emergency?

Sounds like the old Holiday Inn commercial- "I'm not a doctor but I play one on Disboards."

I would recommend buying EBCI so you don't have to worry about cheking in 24hrs early. Yes, it is possible to do it but for the $10/ticket why not indulge so you're not checking your watch on the last day there?

 

[prncess674]

Sounds like the old Holiday Inn commercial- "I'm not a doctor but I play one on Disboards."

I would recommend buying EBCI so you don't have to worry about cheking in 24hrs early. Yes, it is possible to do it but for the $10/ticket why not indulge so you're not checking your watch on the last day there?

The OP has freely admitted that she needs supervsion (from a teenager ) while taking this medication. That is NOT normal. Frankly if she doesn't have all her mental faculties while taking this medication she probably should get a note from her doctor stating she needs special accomodations stating that she can not be separated from her medical companion so that he can care for her in am emergency and therefore needs medical preboarding.

 

[LisaS]

Just an FYI, purchasing EBCI does not guarantee you an "A" boarding pass. If a lot of other passengers purchase EBCI and do so before you do, you could get a "B" boarding pass. It will still be a lower boarding number than those who do not purchase EBCI and just check in 24 hours prior.

Based on discussions here, my impression is that many people here purchase it for the return trip only so that they don't have to think about checking in on their last day at WDW. We purchase it both ways, again just because that gives us one less thing to remember to do.

If you purchase EBCI just for yourself and sit in the window seat, it's possible a couple will want to take the middle and aisle seat in your row, especially if you are near the front of the plane. So if you plan to try to save a seat, head for the back of the plane to improve your chances of keeping that seat open for your son since the plane tends to fill from front to back.

If it's really important for you to have your son next to you, pay the additional $10 to get EBCI for your son as well. Compared to what we all typically spend on a WDW vacation, it's cheap and will give you peace of mind.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay guys...can we stop with the snarkiness here??? Man....I doubt the OP really needs diagnosing by other DIS boarders. I am one who feels that medicating to be able to fly isn't a good idea. If there were to be an emergency, you wouldn't be able to function properly. But, that isn't at issue here. None of my business.

I tend to buy EBCI when flying home from Orlando. I usually have been able to get A group when heading to MCO and don't mind being online at that 24 hr mark. But, when I'm at WDW, the last thing I want to do is start thinking about when that 24 hr mark is. So, it's worth it to me to spend that $10.

So...can you get it just for yourself and then save a seat? Most likely. FA's on SW don't worry too much about a passenger saving just one seat...especially a middel seat. Yes, the official word is 'no saving of seats' but it really isn't enforced unless the flight is full and there is a lot of seat saving going on.
But, really??? To save that addtl $10, you are going to make your teen board alone?? I would just buy EBCI for both of you and be done with it.

 

[crashbb]

My answer made no sense.

 

[famsen]

OP: If getting EBCI makes you have a more peaceful, less-stressful flight, I say go for it. I am a terrified flier. I have been given meds by my doctors for my flights. Sometimes I have been so worked up that even when I took the maximum dosage my doctor recommended, I could not sleep. I have almost always purchased EBCI because it makes for one less thing I have to worry about.
And if you need the assistance of your son, daughter, brother, sister or pet rock to make you feel better or keep an eye on you while on the flight, I see nothing wrong with it.
It's great that you have a wonderful, caring son that will watch out for you.

Don't listen to the "prescription police" here. Relax and enjoy your trip.

 

[chuckml]

How do you purchase EB check in for just your return flight? Do you have to buy 2 one way tickets instead of a round trip? I was trying to do this but I couldn't find anywhere on the website to just get it for the return trip. Every time I added it, the website added it for both the departing and return flights.
Sorry if its a dumb question, this will be our first time flying SW.

 

[Wendy5055]

OP - You should purchase the early boarding for $10. This is my first time doing it, but I think it will be nice to have that perk.

Now...please understand that other posters do NOT know your personal position/situation...nor do they know the actual AGE of your son! I find it a bit off putting to see comments aimed to criticize you personally.

Please do not take the comments to heart...I think some people find it easy to criticize when they are not looking into a persons eyes.

Purchase the early boarding if you are able and set your mind(s) at ease.

 

[Danibelle]

Well if a valium sends you that far into lala land, then by all means pay the $20. Also if a single valium makes you incoherently drowsy that you need a chaperone while taking it you REALLY need to see your doctor and have him adjust your dosage. It should not make you a sitting zombie.

There is no saving seats on SWA. If I board before your DS and want your "saved" seat this isn't 2nd grade where you can say "saved" and stick your tounge out. If you want the privilege of boarding and having your pick of seat(s) then you need to pay for your entire party who will be occupying said seats.

Edited to add: Since this drugs knocks you out to the point where you would need a chaperone, is your DS capable of carrying you of the plane since you seem to be concerned that you won't be lucid enough to wake up in the event of an emergency?

I agree with above. Please do yourself a favor and shell out the $20.

 

[ilovemk76]

Just pay the $20 and be sure you will sit with your son.

When on vacation I do not want to have to pay attention to the clock to make sure I get my boarding pass at 24 hours.

As other said there is not seat saving.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There is no saving seats on SWA.

Actually, SWA doesn't have an official policy about saving seats.

 

[brymolmom]

Actually, SWA doesn't have an official policy about saving seats.

Maybe not, but their policy does state that you board and select seats based on your boarding pass #. So it stands to reason that if boarding pass B40 wants that exact seat that you have your purse on....then he gets it, even if you would prefer that person C40 would get it instead. It is a first come, first served setup - so that person gets to select ANY seat unfilled by a person when he/she enters the plane.

I have been on at least 3 flights where the flight attendants have announced during boarding 'REMEMBER, NO SAVING SEATS.'

We went ahead and bought 2 (out of 4 of us) of us EBCI for our return flight in August. I would prefer that at least 3 of us get together, but I don't think it will be a problem if I take an aisle and dd takes the window - I am guessing that middle seat will remain available until ds boards. And if not, that would be OK too.