Southwest earlybird checkin question

[Maybelle]

Wow...we have always flown SW, and have had great experiences, but changes since the last time we have flown with them now have me wishing I had looked at other options before I booked our flights!

One of the things I am confused about is the Earlybird Checkin. Is seems as if I don't add this option, then I should prepare for the possibility of not being able to sit together when we board, since it seems with this now available, we will automatically get in a later boarding group then we would have prior to this option.

So here's my question...the web site says that you can purchase the option for only one, or some, of the people on the reservation as long as it is an existing itinerary. So, could I purchase it for two of the four of us and could we theoretically save seats for the other two? Or for my dh flying down earlier than me, could I purchase it for him and have him save seats for the girls (both teenagers)?

Have any of you SW flyers done this? I can't find anything on the web site to not allow this, although I am sure it's probably not the intention...just wondering what you all have done in regard to this.

Also, if I choose this option, I am assuming I do not need to call at all, right? This would be really convienient, especially while at Disney. We just have to print the boarding passes, correct?

Another question...if I upgrade my ticket to business class, do I still need to call to check in at the 24 hour mark? I will have earlier boarding automatically, right, so calling at just the right time wouldn't matter as much, right?


Thanks!

 

[PolyAddict]

Sorry i don't have the answer but have always flown SW for work and they paid for the early bird check in. I am wondering if we don't pay the additional $48 that we will have a bad seat.

Does anyone know strategies to not paying it but still getting a decent seat?

 

[Maybelle]

Last time I flew SW, the only strategy was to be online and checkin exactly 24 hours before flight time. Last time we flew, we were off by about a minute or two and while we still got in boarding group B-something, we had to get seats way in the back for 3 of us to be together.

That's why I'm worried...I really don't want to pay the $12.50 each to do the earlybird checkin, but I also don't want to get all split up either.

This is all hurting my brain

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure saving seats is highly frowned upon.

 

[Rhody Red]

We fly Southwest. For our Trip last year, we didn't do the Earlybird Check-In and ended up in B-Group. We're 4, so we just split up in twos (Husband with our Son, Me with our Daughter) and sat in Rows across from eachother. We did the same for the Trip back home and it worked well.

However, we did see a Family that had to split up with their Toddler in a separate aisle from them. The Mother asked a few people if they'd be willing to move, but they wouldn't budge. She finally found someone who did and at the end of the flight, she slipped him a $20 and thanked him again.

For our Trip in September, we purchased the Earlybird so I didn't have to worry about being online the second that 24-hour Window hits. Our Spots are already saved, and I can print our Boarding Passes whenever I want once that time hits.

 

[Pikezh638]

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure saving seats is highly frowned upon.

It is. But they don't tell you that you can't do it.

When I flew back in May last year, I did it and had an A boarding number, and a person like 5 or 6 ahead of me saved 9 seats.....

For the last 9 people on.

The woman beside me quietly confronted a flight attendant about it, but she told her the only thing she could do was email/call SW Customer Service about it and complain.

 

[April7901]

The woman beside me quietly confronted a flight attendant about it, but she told her the only thing she could do was email/call SW Customer Service about it and complain.

Or, as I have done, plopped her butt in one of the "saved" seats.

Seating is first come, first serve. Either pay for EBCI for everyone or take your chances. Or risk people like me - who really don't give a rip - taking the "saved" seat.

Now, that said - I have more than willingly given up my seat so that parent/child could sit together.

 

[goofy4tink]

Basically? EBCI gives you easier access to the overhead bins. It allows you to board earlier than those that didn't purchase EBCI. Does it get you a 'better' seat? Depends. If you buy EBCI but the others in your group do not, can you save seats for them? Again, depends.
If you don't purchase EBCI, does that mean you'll get a 'bad' seat? Depends.
So....Better seat??? Well, you idea of a good seat and my idea of a good seat may be very different. If I buy EBCI and I want an exit row seat, but all those ahead of me got there first? Then, I'm not going to think I got a 'good' seat. On the other hand, you may think that a seat in the first 4 rows is a good seat.

Saving seats? I have seen it done. I've seen seats saved for 10+ people, I myself have saved two seats. Here's where I stand.....if you want to save seats in your immediate row of three? Have at it. I have no issue with that and I doubt anyone else will either. But, it frosts my patootie to see one person, in a group of 6+, paying for EBCI, then board and save seats in up to 4 rows!! That's just not fair. I think you should be able to save up to two seats in your row, so if you have 9 people in your group? You need to have 3 of those people buying EBCI.
Will the FAs do anything? Nope, not really. I have been on flights where, as the C group was boarding, the FA announced that this was a full flight and there were no empty seats. Those that had been trying to save those middle seats, so as to have more room, started scrambling in order to be next to those in their party. There were a lot of C people that ended up getting aisle seats in the front of that plane!! Imagine their surprise!!

And that 'bad' seat??? I can't think of any truly 'bad' seats on the plane. Now, if you don't buy EBCI, and you are traveling with a group of more than 3, you may find that you end up in the C group, and may have to split up. But I don't think that makes that a 'bad' seat.


Here's the thing.....many people book SW due to slightly lower fares and the ability to bring 2 free checked bags. It may be time for them to just bite the bullet and just add that addtl $12.50 to each ticket!!! It's frustrating to see so many people out there, worrying about getting seats together. If you don't want to risk that, you may want to fly on a different airline..or at least buy EBCI for every 3 people in your group.

 

[jayhawk74]

I was recently on a flight where 2 passengers preboarded with blue sleeves and tried to save 7 seats in the 1st 2 rows. When another blue sleeve preboarder asked the F/A if they could sit in the 1st row the F/A said yes because all SWA seats are 1st come 1st serve and saving seats are not allowed.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was recently on a flight where 2 passengers preboarded with blue sleeves and tried to save 7 seats in the 1st 2 rows. When another blue sleeve preboarder asked the F/A if they could sit in the 1st row the F/A said yes because all SWA seats are 1st come 1st serve and saving seats are [is] not allowed.

Not true. As I have posted many times, (whenever a thread appears here discussing WN and saving seats, which happens about once a week), WN has NO policy about saving seats. Period.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not true. As I have posted many times, (whenever a thread appears here discussing WN and saving seats, which happens about once a week), WN has NO policy about saving seats. Period.

But does WN use that "no policy" to not enforce saving (nor taking saved) seats?

So by the FA saying "it's not allowed", I don't think she's saying they'll take steps to prevent someone from saving, but that if someone sits in a "saved" seat, the FA won't force them to get up because the seat was "saved".

ETA: If you're getting disgruntled because the same questions/comments keep coming up, may I suggest you ignore the thread?

 

[brymolmom]

It is. But they don't tell you that you can't do it.

When I flew back in May last year, I did it and had an A boarding number, and a person like 5 or 6 ahead of me saved 9 seats.....

For the last 9 people on.

The woman beside me quietly confronted a flight attendant about it, but she told her the only thing she could do was email/call SW Customer Service about it and complain.

I have been on several SW flights where a TA will announce loudly 'NO SEAT SAVING' after the seats start filling up.

OP - If it's very important to you - then pay for EBCI for all of you (or at least 3 of you, I'm assuming you would be OK with one adult sitting separately). Chances are if you check in right at 24 hour mark - you'll be fine with at least 2 and 2 seating. And since you have teens - likely it wouldn't be the end of the world if you're across the aisle from each other.

But if it will ruin your trip - purchase EBCI.

 

[momtwoboys]

I purchased our april flights way back in the fall and applied the EBCI to our return flights but not our outgoing flights...now I am wondering if I should have done it for the outgoing flights too. Anyone know if this close to the flight (APril 12th) it would put us way back anyway? Last time we flew SW this wasn't an option and I'm wondering if most people add it on these days. BTW we are flying out of BDL (Hartford) thanks!

 

[funforfive]

OP - If it's very important to you - then pay for EBCI for all of you (or at least 3 of you, I'm assuming you would be OK with one adult sitting separately). Chances are if you check in right at 24 hour mark - you'll be fine with at least 2 and 2 seating. And since you have teens - likely it wouldn't be the end of the world if you're across the aisle from each other. .

This
We only purchase EBCI when we won't be near a computer or might be busy in the parks at the time of our 24hr mark. We have 3 kids and usually get B positions and can sit together No problem

 

[LSchrow]

Not true. As I have posted many times, (whenever a thread appears here discussing WN and saving seats, which happens about once a week), WN has NO policy about saving seats. Period.

sorry, but we've also had FAs announce that seats may not be saved.

we especially enjoy when the FAs scope out seat savers, and loudly direct boarding passengers to those seats.
btw, we have been seperated a few times when our kids were 8yo & up....we would try for 1 adult & 1 child together, but when not possible, just sit where we could.

i wouldn't ask someone to give up their seat unless a child could not possibly survive the length of a flight with parental help and/or supervision - in those cases, medical preboarding, family boarding and/or EBCI are options that definately should be utilized.

 

[jayhawk74]

Not true. As I have posted many times, (whenever a thread appears here discussing WN and saving seats, which happens about once a week), WN has NO policy about saving seats. Period.

Wrong!!! As an 18 year SWA employee I can tell you that the policy is all seats are open seats and that you can take any seat that doesn't have a body already in it. That means SWA doesn't allow you to save seats. Because some F/As would rather not confront passengers about saving seats doesn't mean that SWA has a policy allowing you to save seats!

 

[goofy4tink]

A few thoughts. Does SW (can we please agree to use SW vs WN..which no one seems to understand) have an official seat saving policy? No, nothing that I can find on their website. In fact they will say that you may take any unoccupied seat when boarding. Occupied is not a seat with a jacket on it!
BUT...if it is going to be a fairly full flight? FAs will make that announcement telling passengers that there will be no empty seats on this flight.
Now...does that impact someone that is boarding with C28 but has a spouse saving a seat, already on board? No, because someone will be in that seat.
My issue is with those that save more than 2 seats...save a seat, or two, in your immediate row of 3. Don't be saving seats in other rows. That is just tacky. And don't try to save that middle seat so that you have a bit more arm room!!! Why put someone in the position of asking you to move your sweater from that seat? They aren't asking for that seat because they love sitting in the middle...they're asking because there is no place else!!!

 

[Sandi]

The OP's children are teenagers. If they are typical teens, they will enjoy not sitting with their parents. My DD has preferred getting an aisle seat over sitting with either parent since she was in middle school. Maybe mom wants the family together for her reasons, and that's fine. But, it might not be a big deal to dad and the girls.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[WDW_Diane]

Just flew SW for our trip to WDW. Even though I decided to purchase Early Boarding for our flights, I didn't do it when I bought the tickets, but about a month before our vacation. Because of that, many people purchased ahead of us. We were in the A boarding group, but barely. Next time I will go ahead and purchase EB when I get those tickets. It is a must if flying SW to at least get return flight EB as you will likely be in the parks at that 24 hour preflight time.

 

[TXMemaw]

I purchased our april flights way back in the fall and applied the EBCI to our return flights but not our outgoing flights...now I am wondering if I should have done it for the outgoing flights too. Anyone know if this close to the flight (APril 12th) it would put us way back anyway? Last time we flew SW this wasn't an option and I'm wondering if most people add it on these days. BTW we are flying out of BDL (Hartford) thanks!

It seems to me that more and more people are paying for EBCI and having numbers in the B boarding group is becoming more common with EBCI. That being said, I would check to see if your flight is a continuation (other passengers already on board from another city) or if it originates at your airport. If it is originating at your airport and you can be online right at the 24 hour mark, there may not be a big difference in the number you are assigned at this point. If it is a continuation, being even a few numbers higher can mean the difference between getting all your seats together or not, depending on the number of through passengers already on the flight. I was on a flight last year to Orlando that had 50 through passengers when we stopped in San Antonio. That's like the entire A boarding group (since those first 15 spots in the A group are rarely completely filled) already being on the plane!