Southwest New Family Boarding (test)

[popriv]

Just realized I will be traveling with my granddaughter for the first time. 4yr.
Ive always gotten EBCI. Never paid attention to the family boarding.. If I didn't have EBCI,
I would expect my daughter to load early with GD.. But if I saw whole family's loading
, I would cut in front of the first family whose child was obvious over 6

 

[Lewisc]

Interesting idea, but no way this will happen. EBCI is a real money maker for Southwest; no way they'll cut off that cash flow.

Southwest only promises early check in and a BP sequence number lower then is issued to passengers who check in at T24. Not an issue, as long as EBCI passengers can still get seats together, in the back of the plane. SW will have a PR nightmare if EBCI passengers wind up with middle seats. I agree it's a money maker. I suspect the "solution" is an increase in price, reducing the number of passengers who pay.

At some point an mainstream airline may decide passengers who book the lowest fare bucket will get their seat assignments at the gate. Passengers booking the cheapest fare should assume getting middle seats.

 

[goofy4tink]

Interesting idea, but no way this will happen. EBCI is a real money maker for Southwest; no way they'll cut off that cash flow.

Yup.....they like the money. And it would seem that enough people don't care for it that they have stopped flying SW. And that is going to be the only thing that brings about any change!!

I think the EBCI fee should be automatically added to parties travelling with children under a certain age and just get rid of family boarding all together.

So, those of us with older children are penalized? Those with young children get EBCI free while those of us with older kids pay for it? Then again...if a child gets it free, then I assume there is going to have to be proof of age...not a bad thing.

Just realized I will be traveling with my granddaughter for the first time. 4yr.
Ive always gotten EBCI. Never paid attention to the family boarding.. If I didn't have EBCI,
I would expect my daughter to load early with GD.. But if I saw whole family's loading
, I would cut in front of the first family whose child was obvious over 6

This could cost you a lot of aggravation! No gate attendant is going to stand there, idly watching, as a passenger makes themselves the 'age police' and cuts in a line. Not a good idea. Not to mention...my child looked like she was six when she was much younger due to her height.

Perhaps if SW upped the cost of EBCI, fewer would buy it. Perhaps if SW charged a fee for family boarding, fewer would try to get in with the entire family. Perhaps if SW actively stepped in in cases of seat saving, people would stop doing it. I could understand putting up with a lot of these petty annoyances when SW was offering really reasonable fares. But, they really are no longer the cheapest airline. I have no huge issue with their boarding process...but it is frustrating to do what is proper/expected while you stand and watch others bend the 'rules' (such as they are) to fit their needs. With more and more people buying EBCI, we are going to see more and more instances of frustration while boarding as well as claiming seats.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Perhaps if SW upped the cost of EBCI, fewer would buy it.

That seems like the obvious answer to me: raise the price of EBCI. Perhaps SW would consider even raising it on certain routes or flights.

 

[seashoreCM]

At some point an mainstream airline may decide passengers who book the lowest fare bucket will get their seat assignments at the gate. Passengers booking the cheapest fare should assume getting middle seats.

I think Delta already has this, a "special" price for a seat minus some of the privileges such as any advance seat selection.

As far as raising the price of Early Boarding Check In to cut down on the number of people who select it, Southwest could do that even if the primary reason is just making more money. There would have to be some thought and perhaps some trial and error to see that the end result is not less revenue.

 

[nalajms]

So, those of us with older children are penalized? Those with young children get EBCI free while those of us with older kids pay for it?

I saw this done several times so I guess it's common. Dad escorts 2 tweens to the gate to board with pre-boards as "unaccompanied minors". Kids board, save middle seat for dad, who boards in the C group.

 

[supersnoop]

I saw this done several times so I guess it's common. Dad escorts 2 tweens to the gate to board with pre-boards as "unaccompanied minors". Kids board, save middle seat for dad, who boards in the C group.

I'm not sure what you've seen. Southwest charges $50 per child per direction for unaccompanied minors.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Just realized I will be traveling with my granddaughter for the first time. 4yr.
Ive always gotten EBCI. Never paid attention to the family boarding.. If I didn't have EBCI,
I would expect my daughter to load early with GD.. But if I saw whole family's [sic] loading
, I would cut in front of the first family whose child was obvious over 6

I don't think so, unless you want to cause a scene at the gate! I've seen people waiting to board on Southwest; they are always checking everyone else's boarding numbers. No way you will be allowed to cut in line because you think someone's child looks too old.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I saw this done several times so I guess it's common. Dad escorts 2 tweens to the gate to board with pre-boards as "unaccompanied minors". Kids board, save middle seat for dad, who boards in the C group.

I agree, this didn't happen. Not only do you have to pay for unaccompanied minors, there's a lot of paperwork involved. The gate agents and flight attendants know what kids are unaccompanied.

 

[nalajms]

I'm not sure what you've seen. Southwest charges $50 per child per direction for unaccompanied minors.

Perhaps they are older but still under 18? The last time we were coming back from MCO, it was a brother & sister. The older one looked maybe 14, but neither had the lanyards around their necks with paper stuffed into it. The two kids were part of the preboard, no walking issues that I can tell. We sat right behind them and saw the Dad board with the C group.

I guess it's not as commonly done then! Just in our neck of the woods

 

[Disneylover99]

So, those of us with older children are penalized? Those with young children get EBCI free while those of us with older kids pay for it? Then again...if a child gets it free, then I assume there is going to have to be proof of age...not a bad thing.

How would they be penalized? Why would the younger children get EBCI free? That's not what I suggested at all.

 

[JanaDee]

So, those of us with older children are penalized? Those with young children get EBCI free while those of us with older kids pay for it? Then again...if a child gets it free, then I assume there is going to have to be proof of age...not a bad thing.

That isn't what she said at all. Re-read her post.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Perhaps they are older but still under 18? The last time we were coming back from MCO, it was a brother & sister. The older one looked maybe 14, but neither had the lanyards around their necks with paper stuffed into it. The two kids were part of the preboard, no walking issues that I can tell. We sat right behind them and saw the Dad board with the C group.

I guess it's not as commonly done then! Just in our neck of the woods

Just because they were able to walk on their own doesn't mean that they didn't have other issues that would qualify them as medical preboards. There is no way that they boarded as unaccompanied minors without the paperwork or paying the fee.

 

[seashoreCM]

deleted ..................................

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I really do wish SWA would enforce their policies so it isn't left to the masses. I don't think that will happen though because their main focus is getting people on the plane as quickly as possible without any guest issues.

One time my husband and I were coming back from Tampa after my SIL's funeral. I wasn't thinking and checked in less than 24 hours and got a high C boarding pass. We waited in line and went to the back of the plane where we saw a number of open seats. One guy was in the back saving 3 ROWS on BOTH sides of the plane for the last group behind me. When we sat down he rudely told us to move. When I refused he got worse. I asked the FA who was right there to intervene and he stated it wasn't against SWA policy to save seats! Really?! 3 Rows? Both sides?

Not a big deal for DH and I to sit apart at all, but after an emotional trip it would have been nice not to have been separated. When I got home I fired off an email to SWA and they confirmed what the FA said.

If that is the case, why wouldn't one person purchase EBCI and save away? I was disillusioned after that since I usually purchase EBCI for all members of the family - too stressful to deal with all the BS.

 

[goofy4tink]

I saw this done several times so I guess it's common. Dad escorts 2 tweens to the gate to board with pre-boards as "unaccompanied minors". Kids board, save middle seat for dad, who boards in the C group.

I have a feeling you were seeing something else happening. Not to mention that I have no issue whatsoever if someone wants to save just one seat in a row, especially a middle seat.

How would they be penalized? Why would the younger children get EBCI free? That's not what I suggested at all.

That isn't what she said at all. Re-read her post.

I'm so sorry!!!! Evidently my reading skills aren't what they should be. I apologize for misreading. Based on what you 'really' said, I would have to agree with you.

Just because they were able to walk on their own doesn't mean that they didn't have other issues that would qualify them as medical preboards. There is no way that they boarded as unaccompanied minors without the paperwork or paying the fee.

Took the words right out of my 'fingers'!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

(snip) One guy was in the back saving 3 ROWS on BOTH sides of the plane (snip) why wouldn't one person purchase EBCI and save away? .

It depends.

If it had been 4 or more of you then that one guy would probably not have been successful saving all those rows. Meanwhile if just one of you purchased EBCI, saving away for the other might be difficult against just one other couple.

And for the two teens saving one seat between them for Dad, it would not be to anyone else's advantage to insist on taking that seat considering that the two teens might continue to occupy aisle and window.

 

[nkereina]

That seems like the obvious answer to me: raise the price of EBCI. Perhaps SW would consider even raising it on certain routes or flights.

I'd agree that an EBCI price increase is in the near future. When the concept was first introduced, it was $10 per person each way. When the popularity was realized, Southwest upped the priced to $12.50 per person each way. I could see an even $15 for EBCI coming soon. But I'd probably still pay it.

 

[Disneylover99]

Has anybody heard what the results of this test were?

 

[n2mm]

I'll be watching this. I'm booked on SW this August. We are taking our 3 granddaughters. This is the first flight for one of them. They are 10, 10, 8. This is their first time away from mom and dad on a big trip. I'm nervous a little that won't be able to sit with them. I did buy EB for all of us. If there are changes it would be nice to know ahead of time. We are flying bwi to mco