Southwest New Family Boarding (test)

[focusondisney]

I was in Orlando today and talked with some Gate Agents that I know and they told me that they only thing being tested is age. Family Boarding will still be after the "A" boarding group and before the "B"s. However the age limit will be somewhere between 8 and 11. The exact age will be determined by these tests. My guess is that 11 will become the new maximum age for Family Boarding because that is the maximum age that Southeest charges the Unaccompanied Minor fee.

That's ridiculous. What does the unaccompanied minor fee have to do with family boarding?? Even on airlines that have seat assignments, you're not guaranteed to sit next to your 11 year old.

11? That's a whole lot of family boarders.

Sure is. I'm pretty much a JetBlue devotee, but if we do travel on SW I always purchase EBCI for DH & myself . So far we've always had earlier As. If I ever get a B & get stuck behind almost everyone else because of this enhanced family boarding, I'll be done with SW for good.

 

[Disneylover99]

Sure is. I'm pretty much a JetBlue devotee, but if we do travel on SW I always purchase EBCI for DH & myself . So far we've always had earlier As. If I ever get a B & get stuck behind almost everyone else because of this enhanced family boarding, I'll be done with SW for good.

I won't be done with SW because the prices are just too good for me to pass up. If they do raise the age of family boarding, I imagine fewer families will purchase EBCI anyways, so hopefully this will benefit you and your husband. But I do agree. EBCI would probably be worthless after family boarding.

 

[CMNJ]

But does anyone want to sit next to a small child whose parents are rows away? Does that benefit anyone? And over the years more people are Paying. The. Fee. Which means EBCI isn't what it used to be. On the routes I most frequently fly, EBCI *used* to guarantee seating in the low to mid A's. Now I see EBCI spots in the mid B's. If we are all buying EBCI, it becomes meaningless. We're lining Southwest's pockets for a benefit that is constantly decreasing in value.

Agree I was shocked when we bought it last year and had B15 out of MCO-we were traveling with our 2 y/o and used family boarding instead as there were many families already lining up to board ahead of our EBCI
I feel like it is a ripoff for southwest to take the money if people are going to have such high boarding positions without warning people that their "early boarding" will be after 1/2 the plane has already boarded (all the people I saw in frot of us at family boarding had C positions)

 

[Dean1953]

Is their any advantage to paying the $12.50 when you buy the ticket? Are boarding passes prioritized by the date that they are purchased? I'll buy it for our family's flight to MCO this coming Thanksgiving but I am flying alone to Dallas Love airport in 10 days and flying back home on June 11, after flying from Asia the day before. I won't buy it for the outbound portion (I'll check in 24 hours in advance) but I will be flying over the pacific at the 24 hour mark on the way back. Is it worthwhile to buy it now or wait until the last minute?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Is their any advantage to paying the $12.50 when you buy the ticket? Are boarding passes prioritized by the date that they are purchased? I'll buy it for our family's flight to MCO this coming Thanksgiving but I am flying alone to Dallas Love airport in 10 days and flying back home on June 11, after flying from Asia the day before. I won't buy it for the outbound portion (I'll check in 24 hours in advance) but I will be flying over the pacific at the 24 hour mark on the way back. Is it worthwhile to buy it now or wait until the last minute?

Go to Southwest's website and read the information about how EBCI works. Your questions are answered there.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Is their any advantage to paying the $12.50 when you buy the ticket? Are boarding passes prioritized by the date that they are purchased? I'll buy it for our family's flight to MCO this coming Thanksgiving but I am flying alone to Dallas Love airport in 10 days and flying back home on June 11, after flying from Asia the day before. I won't buy it for the outbound portion (I'll check in 24 hours in advance) but I will be flying over the pacific at the 24 hour mark on the way back. Is it worthwhile to buy it now or wait until the last minute?

Yes, it's prioritized by date of purchase so buy now for your family. For your flight in June, if you want to sit in a certain place then yes buy EBCI now but if you don't care(as in, a middle seat would be ok) then save your money.

 

[charmed59]

I won't be done with SW because the prices are just too good for me to pass up. If they do raise the age of family boarding, I imagine fewer families will purchase EBCI anyways, so hopefully this will benefit you and your husband. But I do agree. EBCI would probably be worthless after family boarding.

This is where I'm just confused. American from my local airport to MCO is cheaper than SWA, and has more direct flights. It is true SWA used to always be cheaper than other airlines, but not anymore. If you are going for lowest fares make sure to check expedia or one of the other airline sites before just assuming your cheapest flight would be SWA.

 

[Disneylover99]

This is where I'm just confused. American from my local airport to MCO is cheaper than SWA, and has more direct flights. It is true SWA used to always be cheaper than other airlines, but not anymore. If you are going for lowest fares make sure to check expedia or one of the other airline sites before just assuming your cheapest flight would be SWA.

I live in Toronto and drive to Buffalo to fly. Other airlines that fly out of Buffalo cannot beat the $99 direct flights at awesome times that SW gives me. Throw in free bags and the ability to change my flight with no fee, or cancel and receive a credit, and SW becomes a no-brainer for me.

That's why I generally do not mind paying for EBCI.

 

[Gracie09]

Sitting next to my small child on an airplane instead of sticking him next to strangers sounds more like a responsibility than some special privilege I should have to pay extra for.

There are airlines that allow you to choose seats so you can sit next to your child. If that is a priority than that is what you should do (it's what I do). Yes no airline is 100% guarantee you keep your chosen seats due to equipment changes etc, but I think once I had a problem that I resolved the week before my flight.
Honestly if the age gets raised to 11 I won't fly sw anymore. They won't care because I fly them rarely anyway but it's just beyond ridiculous to charge for ebci and then half the plane boards before you

 

[goofy4tink]

But does anyone want to sit next to a small child whose parents are rows away? Does that benefit anyone? And over the years more people are Paying. The. Fee. Which means EBCI isn't what it used to be. On the routes I most frequently fly, EBCI *used* to guarantee seating in the low to mid A's. Now I see EBCI spots in the mid B's. If we are all buying EBCI, it becomes meaningless. We're lining Southwest's pockets for a benefit that is constantly decreasing in value.

EBCI gets you checked in at the 36 hr window vs the 24 hr window. It gives you a better boarding slot than those that didn't purchase it. Period. I never buy it for my flights unless it's a flight home from WDW/MCO. Then, I just don't want to bother with checking myself in at the 24 hr window.

People....stop with the child molester posts. There is no place here for them...they have no bearing. It's off track.

If SW goes with 11, or even 8, as the cut off age for family boarding, I won't even be looking at their fares anymore!!! I'm sorry but that's just too many people boarding prior to those that have purchased EBCI. It's bad enough as it is! SW is seldom cheaper than other airlines in my area anymore. I'm lucky that I have so man airports to choose from...others don't.

 

[StarDreamer]

Five- and six-year-olds can travel as Unaccompanied Minors. It's not unreasonable to expect passengers in that group to fly in different rows from a parent but on the same plane. Not necessarily the ideal solution, but not as devastating as sometimes made out to be.

Ovey 90% of molestations, attacks, etc., are perpetrated by someone known to the victim.

My kids were 4 and 6 on our flight home last year (their 2nd flight ever). We had a lot of turbulence, they weren't aloud to get up and had to use the bathroom so bad they were crying. I wouldn't want them sitting by themselves in that situation.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My kids were 4 and 6 on our flight home last year (their 2nd flight ever). We had a lot of turbulence, they weren't aloud to get up and had to use the bathroom so bad they were crying. I wouldn't want them sitting by themselves in that situation.

Which is fine. Pay for EBCI.

 

[StarDreamer]

Which is fine. Pay for EBCI.

I agree, my response was not to say we should have priority, it was in response to the fact that those ages would be fine by themselves.

 

[gwynne]

EBCI gets you checked in at the 36 hr window vs the 24 hr window. It gives you a better boarding slot than those that didn't purchase it. Period. I never buy it for my flights unless it's a flight home from WDW/MCO. Then, I just don't want to bother with checking myself in at the 24 hr window.

People....stop with the child molester posts. There is no place here for them...they have no bearing. It's off track.

If SW goes with 11, or even 8, as the cut off age for family boarding, I won't even be looking at their fares anymore!!! I'm sorry but that's just too many people boarding prior to those that have purchased EBCI. It's bad enough as it is! SW is seldom cheaper than other airlines in my area anymore. I'm lucky that I have so man airports to choose from...others don't.

I can't get over SW thinking that an 8 or 11 year old should be given priority family boarding. Family boarding was once just to help mommy and daddy with getting an infant or toddler and a diaper bag on the plane.
But good grief...rolling out the red carpet if a family has a 10 year old? You don't need to pay EBCI, just bring your 5th grader.
And sadly, I think the other thing this will do (if implemented) is "encourage" some adults to pre-board, even if honestly they have no need.
And I'm right there with you. If they implement this as a new policy (rather than a test) then I'm done with SW.

 

[LisaS]

Is their any advantage to paying the $12.50 when you buy the ticket? Are boarding passes prioritized by the date that they are purchased? I'll buy it for our family's flight to MCO this coming Thanksgiving but I am flying alone to Dallas Love airport in 10 days and flying back home on June 11, after flying from Asia the day before. I won't buy it for the outbound portion (I'll check in 24 hours in advance) but I will be flying over the pacific at the 24 hour mark on the way back. Is it worthwhile to buy it now or wait until the last minute?

See post #49 in this thread.

 

[ibob52]

SW is seldom cheaper than other airlines in my area anymore.

I agree ... and the days of SWA having the lowest airfare ... have been over for a few years.

Even when they have a *Sale* it does not include my home airport for other than the shorter flights.

 

[cbellasmomma]

So I have never flown SW. I purchased a flight and purchased what I believe you are referring to as EBCI (it was $12) because dd (9) and I are flying together. I understood that to mean we could pick our seats 24 hours ahead. Obviously that isn't true. So what category am I in? A or B? And if I am B does that mean that every person with someone 1 year younger than my dd on a flight TO DISNEY aka everyone will board before us? SO I spent $48 for nothing?

 

[MinnieMSue]

Wow! Bad move southwest. On Orlando flights that would put everyone in he plane on family boarding. I have always purchased EBCI and had A positions but if I got after family boarding I would be really angry. That would put you basically near the end of boarding. Who wants to pay for that?!?

 

[cbellasmomma]

Sitting next to my small child on an airplane instead of sticking him next to strangers sounds more like a responsibility than some special privilege I should have to pay extra for.

ABSOLUTELY! What if something goes wrong? A 5 year old is ok by him/herself???

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

ABSOLUTELY! What if something goes wrong? A 5 year old is ok by him/herself???

As already posted, Southwest allows 5 year olds to fly as unaccompanied minors, so yes, they can be by themselves.

Including 11 year olds in family boarding is ridiculous. I don't usually fly Southwest, so really don't care, but I'd be pretty annoyed if I paid for EBCI and a bunch of families with older kids who didn't pay boarded before me.