Southwest Early Bird is it worth it??

[mreid1974]

Wondering if anyone has paid the extra money for the Southwest early bird.. We are flying in May and i think the flight is just about booked Its me and my fiance and her son.. Her sons first time flying so i definatly want to make sure the 3 of us are together.. If i dont take the early bird will i end up in the C group even if i check in right at the 24 hour mark.. And feedback about the early bird would be great.

 

[Jestocost]

There's no single answer to that question, IMO, as there are several factors that can affect what boarding numbers you get at the 24-hour mark. Using EBCI frequently is as much a matter of convenience (you don't have to juggle your schedule to be at a computer 24 hourse in advance of your flight) and peace of mind as it is actually securing lower boarding numbers.

From and to St. Louis at peak holiday travel times this past year, for example, we used EBCI and had boarding numbers starting within one or two places of the lowest possible numbers. As a result, I imagine that we easily would have had A boarding passes had we checked in at 24 hours and saved the $10 per ticket. I chose to do EBCI for the return because we would be on the Disney cruise at Castaway Cay and it's a big pain to get back to the ship to check in yourself. For the trip down, we were flying on Dec. 23 and I just didn't want to risk things. So, I think we would have been fine checking in at 24 hours both ways, but for peace of mind (going to MCO) and convenience (leaving MCO) I chose to use EBCI.

If you are starting your trip at an airport where SWA does a lot of connections--particularly MDW or BWI--EBCI may be more important to getting lower boarding numbers than at most other airports. That's because in addition to the people starting at your airport who have used EBCI anyone who started their travel on an earlier flight and is connecting to your flight will have had a head start on lower boarding numbers as they will be checked in for both their original flight and their connecting flight 24 hours in advance of their first flight. Even so, there have been only one or two reports of people who used EBCI for flights originating at MDW that have received even B boarding passes. I am not aware of anyone who has checked in at the 24-hour mark that received C boarding passes, so I don't think that's a real concern.

 

[puffkin]

I personally wouldn't pay for it. If you are able to check in right at 24 hours you should have no problems getting at least 2 seats together, and probably will get all 3.

I flew out of BWI (heavy connecting airport) in December with 5 people on full flights. They actually had to take people off the flights because there weren't enough seats. Anyway, we didn't do EBCI and we got boarding passes in the mid-B's. We were able to preboard with my DS (3 years old) but my mom boarded at our regular spot and there were plenty of rows open towards the back of the plane so we wouldn't have had any problems. I checked in right at the 24 hour mark and was glad I saved the $100

 

[mrp4352]

I like to use early bird if I'm not sure I'm going to be available exactly at 24 hours - or if I'm travelling during a particularly busy time (ex. a week from Saturday where SWA has no seats available for purchase on any flights between my cities all day). It was great on the cruise last year - no worries, just show up at the airport and print out boarding passes A16-18.

Depending on the child's age, you may be eligible for family boarding between the A and B groups (I'm sorry, I don't know what that age is - 4, I think?).

 

[Bobo912]

I think it's 100% worth it for your return trip. I used it last Oct when we were at WDW and Dec when on a DCL cruise and it was great not to have to stop whatever fun thing we were doing to check in.

 

[chabs]

It was 100% worth it for us. We flew over February break and the flights were packed. We got A16-20 and A22-26 for our flights there and back. We were especially glad not to have to worry about checking in while we were out in the parks. I would say if you're worried at all about your seats, spend the extra money.

 

[prncess674]

I read that your soon to be step son is 11 years old. I personally wouldn't waste $60. You will almost certainly get two seats together if you check in T-24. I think you aren't giving an 11 yr old enough credit. I would apply the money towards something fun in Disney.

You don't have to be at the compute to check in. Just have your confirmation number and go to mobile.southwest.com to check in. This will give you your boarding number, you will then just print the boarding card at the airport.

 

[Pumbaa_]

for us, yes it is worth it. Love not having to be hunched over my phone or pc trying to hit enter at exactly 24 hour mark. Well worth the money for us (just the 2 of us)

As my DH says, we spend more than that on worse things during vacation

 

[SDSorority]

I'm trying to figure out what to do with this, too. I was actually going to post almost the same question before I saw yours!!

I think what we're going to do is NOT buy EBCI for our flight there because I KNOW that I or someone in my family (sis or FIL) can check in at the 24hr. mark. For our return flight, though, I'm probably going to go ahead and pay the $10 per ticket. I am not sure what our internet situation is going to be this trip, and rather than risk it and be stressed out and miss a day at the parks or miss rope drop (you know...) I'd much rather that be done already.

 

[prncess674]

I'm trying to figure out what to do with this, too. I was actually going to post almost the same question before I saw yours!!

I think what we're going to do is NOT buy EBCI for our flight there because I KNOW that I or someone in my family (sis or FIL) can check in at the 24hr. mark. For our return flight, though, I'm probably going to go ahead and pay the $10 per ticket. I am not sure what our internet situation is going to be this trip, and rather than risk it and be stressed out and miss a day at the parks or miss rope drop (you know...) I'd much rather that be done already.

Weigh the options. Do you have young children? How long is your flight? Is there someone back home who can check you in? Do you have a web enabled phone.

I didn't check us in till several hours after our flight time in February on a flight that I knew originated in Houston and we all found seats together and I even watched for late arrivers if there was any mass confusion of late boarding C's on a completely full flight. We had B-40something! We all got there and there was no mass pandamonium as others may lead you to believe. As long as you check in close to T-24 you will be FINE!