Southwest Early Bird Etiquette

[Brian Noble]

is it poor form to pay for one person to have the Early Bird check in and have that person save seats?

Yes. If two people have different boarding positions, I'm fairly sure that Miss Manners would suggest that the person with the "better" boarding pass move back to the other member of their party, rather than the other way around.

It's unfortunate that SW does not extend A-list courtesies to all passengers on one PNR, as most legacy carriers do with their elite passengers. When I fly DL with my family, we all get to use the Sky Priority benefits. The one exception: they are not eligible for TSA Pre-Check, as far as I know. And, they are last on the upgrade list as well, behind even the Silvers, so they never get them.

 

[gwynne]

As the spouse of an A-list traveller who is given preferred boarding, I would be upset if he were not allowed to save a seat for me when we are travelling together. I currently fly free on a companion pass and purchase EBCI but I am still anywhere from a few to 30 people behind him in line.

Dh and I travel together, too. We use EBCI and just board together at the highest boarding pass number. Very easy, and no fuss.

 

[navywifetill2002]

As the spouse of an A-list traveller who is given preferred boarding, I would be upset if he were not allowed to save a seat for me when we are travelling together. I currently fly free on a companion pass and purchase EBCI but I am still anywhere from a few to 30 people behind him in line.

I also am the spouse of an A list passanger and when we used the companion pass the first time I was surprised my boarding number wasn't automaticly with him since I can't fly without him. We were told at check in "No problem, he'll just get on first and save your seat for you."

Also because DD3 travels with us and uses points for her ticket it's yet another confirmation number. We can't all get boarding passes with consecutive numbers even if we try. By the time we enter each persons info and wait for it to process we're always seporated for boarding.

As long as DH buys his tickets far enough out (48 hours I think) his boarding number starts right behind the Business select without him checking in till he gets to the airport. He's been as far back as A30's which means there are a lot of A-Listers on that flight, then the people that paid EBCI get the numbers behind the A-List (and they're being told they CAN save seats).

 

[seashoreCM]

In favor of seat saving: ----- Fewer instances of sitting next to someone you really don't want to sit next to and who really does not want to sit next to you.

 

[Splashboat]

I have not flown SW yet. If you are a parent traveling alone with 2 small children, is there a chance you can get separated from your children?

 

[Jestocost]

I have not flown SW yet. If you are a parent traveling alone with 2 small children, is there a chance you can get separated from your children?

As long as you do whatever you can to ensure the lowest boarding numbers possible (use EBCI or check in right at 24 hours), almost certainly not. If one of your kids is four or younger, the worst-case scenario on most flights would be that you board during family boarding between the A and B groups. If you are on the same reservation, you should get consecutive boarding numbers (although sometimes there will be a gap of a number or two for unknown reasons) and be able to board together. If you are on different reservations, the gap can sometimes be larger. Boarding wise, you always can line up together in the position of the highest number you have.

If for some reason you get very high boarding numbers (late B or anywhere in C), you may board together but be unable to find three seats together. I that case, you probably could find two together and another one close and you may be able to negotiate with someone to get a seating arrangment more to your liking.

 

[tjmw2727]

As the spouse of an A-list traveller who is given preferred boarding, I would be upset if he were not allowed to save a seat for me when we are travelling together. I currently fly free on a companion pass and purchase EBCI but I am still anywhere from a few to 30 people behind him in line.

Good point and since A listers are generally given numbers even EBCI can't get fwiw I see no problem with this. I think a better way would be for the a lister to book the reservation and have the entire party qualify for the A list positions rather than separating them and encouraging seat saving.

There are always special circumstances, sometimes even with EBCI we have been separated by a few numbers and we just board with the highest position and take our chances.

How about the woman yesterday with the blue sleeve who hung back and waited until a few A's had boarded, rushed up and boarded with her blue sleeve. Then proceeded to snag an exit row seat and save one for her husband who boarded late A's. I know for a fact that blue sleeves are not allowed in the exit rows as the FA's block them unti the A passengers start to board. Since she waited there was no way for the FA to know she used a blue sleeve to board.

 

[Splashboat]

Thanks Jestocost

 

[Tink-aholic]

OP here: thanks again for all of the feedback. You all convinced me. I just paid for ECBI for all three of us.

 

[gwynne]

OP here: thanks again for all of the feedback. You all convinced me. I just paid for ECBI for all three of us.

Totally agree it's worth it. We are always glad we purchased ECBI, too.

 

[Hannathy]

I have not flown SW yet. If you are a parent traveling alone with 2 small children, is there a chance you can get separated from your children?

There is always a chance no matter what airline you fly!

(2ish and under they will really, really try, and pressure someone if needed to move so you can be with the toddler.)

 

[Svhadden]

I haven't read through all the replies, but just wanted to add my $.02.

We've never paid for EBCI, and have never had a problem getting seats.

What I wanted to say is that I've had TWO SWA representatives tell me, over the phone, that I can pay for one EBCI and then save seats. With no prompting from me, at that. On two separate occasions, I was on the phone with SWA, and was given this advice.

Again, we've never had a need to do EBCI, so I can't give personal experience, just wanted to throw that out there. Unless SWA's policy has changed, I don't think they have a problem with seat saving .

 

[ilovemk76]

Well, who knows. I've tried to find a policy one way or another and there just isn't one. The only policy is that you can take any open seat once you board. They don't really define what an "open" seat is, however.

I would argue that unless there's a person in it, it's "open," but practically speaking few people are going to initiate a confrontation over a seat that somebody has a coat or bag in unless there are a ton of seats being saved or very few seats left. As a result, seat saving usually works. I've even seen one medical preboard passenger and a companion save the entire front two rows on both sides for their party boarding later and nobody said or did a thing about it.

In the end, how the individual FAs choose to handle it is how it gets handled. I've seen some crack down on any seat saving and others let things like the example I mentioned earlier go unchallenged.

I would consider it bad form to have one passenger use EBCI and save seats, FWIW.

I fly SW often, as in every week for over a year, and on each flight they announce that there is NO seat saving. It is open seating and you can have any seat that there is not a person sitting in it.

Buy EBCI for each person.

 

[Minnesota!]

I am surprised, reading this, how many think the front is a preferred spot. I have never seen it as such - when flying with an airline that we can choose our seats, we always pick as far back as possible. I like that we get our food/drink first, are close to the bathrooms, etc. I understand that you will be first off in the front, but it never adds more than 3 - 5 minutes for those of us in the back. Is that the only reason people prefer it? Or what am I missing?

Anyway, we have only flown on SW two times - both we just grabbed the first available row. Cannot really recall where on the plane it was. We got ECBI each time...I think our numbers were in the high teens, low 20's? Hoping for similar in August...not holding my breath, though. Worst case, I sit with one kid and DH sits with the other...wherever we can find seats. I do think ECBI is worth it for those that travel with another person.

 

[jdb in AZ]

The only time DH and I used EBCI was returning from a cruise and didn't have the 'Net readily available to check us in, without paying an arm and a leg for a very slow connection.

If I were asked to change seats in order for a young family to sit together, I wouldn't hesitate -- much simpler than trying to entertain the young kids myself.

 

[gwynne]

The only time DH and I used EBCI was returning from a cruise and didn't have the 'Net readily available to check us in, without paying an arm and a leg for a very slow connection.

If I were asked to change seats in order for a young family to sit together, I wouldn't hesitate -- much simpler than trying to entertain the young kids myself.

There's usually no need. My experience--the flight attendants start looking for seat savers...."Is that your hat/purse/bag/coat?? Please move it."

 

[Brian Noble]

In favor of seat saving: ----- Fewer instances of sitting next to someone you really don't want to sit next to and who really does not want to sit next to you.

Here's another way to accomplish that: board together.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It will be interesting to see if SWA takes a stance on this or not.

They won't. They have no official policy on saving seats. In fact, I just saw an episode of On the Fly where a WN gate agent told a passenger to board and save a seat for someone else. Additionally, do you think WN flight attendants want to be the seat police?

I don't care if people save seats in the same row in which they are sitting. Do you really want to break up a family or group of friends and get "hate stares" the whole flight?

(I have not flown WN in several years - I prefer other airlines.)

 

[aubriee]

I am surprised, reading this, how many think the front is a preferred spot. I have never seen it as such - when flying with an airline that we can choose our seats, we always pick as far back as possible. I like that we get our food/drink first, are close to the bathrooms, etc. I understand that you will be first off in the front, but it never adds more than 3 - 5 minutes for those of us in the back. Is that the only reason people prefer it? Or what am I missing?

I hate to fly, plus have claustrophobic issues. I can not sit in the back of the plane. Just looking up that long skinny tube gives me problems. I also can't do middle seats and don't particularly care to be penned in by a window seat. Consequently I fly airlines where I can choose seats and always purchase aisle seats as close to the front as possible. Once seated, I put my earphones in my ears, close my eyes and try my best to slow my breathing and go to sleep, taking them out only for takeoff and putting them back in as soon as the announcement is made that we may do so. I don't mind paying more to guarantee the seat I need (and in fact paid an extra $100.00 to get a 'Big Front Seat' when I flew Spirit last month and will be doing the same thing when I fly them in Sept). Even as a solo flyer, if I had to fly Southwest, I'd pay for EBCI to guarantee me the best chance to get the seat I need and then I'd grab the first aisle seat I came to. If someone one was trying to save it with a coat, I'd ask nicely for them to move it and if they didn't would get the FA involved. There is no way I would go on to the back of the plane looking for another aisle seat. I just can't sit back there and get panicky just thinking about it.

 

[Minnesota!]

I hate to fly, plus have claustrophobic issues. I can not sit in the back of the plane. Just looking up that long skinny tube gives me problems. I also can't do middle seats and don't particularly care to be penned in by a window seat. Consequently I fly airlines where I can choose seats and always purchase aisle seats as close to the front as possible. Once seated, I put my earphones in my ears, close my eyes and try my best to slow my breathing and go to sleep, taking them out only for takeoff and putting them back in as soon as the announcement is made that we may do so. I don't mind paying more to guarantee the seat I need (and in fact paid an extra $100.00 to get a 'Big Front Seat' when I flew Spirit last month and will be doing the same thing when I fly them in Sept). Even as a solo flyer, if I had to fly Southwest, I'd pay for EBCI to guarantee me the best chance to get the seat I need and then I'd grab the first aisle seat I came to. If someone one was trying to save it with a coat, I'd ask nicely for them to move it and if they didn't would get the FA involved. There is no way I would go on to the back of the plane looking for another aisle seat. I just can't sit back there and get panicky just thinking about it.

Ahh! I didn't even think of anxiety! I have major anxiety in cars - very claustrophobic, I have to be positioned a certain way (feet flat on the floor, facing 100% forward, and I have to be holding on to something...etc). I understand anxiety! I totally understand NEEDING a certain seat in those circumstances! I am kind of the opposite on planes - I like to be in the back so I can survey everything that is going on - making sure all is ok. Same reason I hate sitting with my back to a door/enterance...I need to be in total control and know exactly what is going on all around me!