southwest questions

[Sue1016]

so i booked my airfare with southwest. normally do airtran (but this time there was no direct flights from philly to orlando with airtran so i did southwest) i know you get a boarding # and u pick ur own seats once on flight lower board letter, better seat choices.

by experience. see how disney automatically check's u in and gives u boarding pass (it's normally on ur door, the day u leave) 1. do they do that for southwest? 2. how have the boarding codes been? like A's and B's or later? like C and Ds? i need to know if i should try and check in myself via my cell phone, but how would i get my boarding pass after? i really need to get lower boarding zone, cuase my husband is a terribly fearful flyer and likes to sit window seat toaward front.

please help with ur experiences.

 

[goofy4tink]

When I'm traveling to WDW, on SW, I always buy EBCI. That allows SW to check me in at the 36 hr window, vs me checking myself in at the 24 hr window. It gets you checked in 12 hrs sooner than the passengers not buying EBCI!
There are three boarding groups...A, B and C. Anyone that needs extra time getting down the jetway and getting settled (elderly and medical needs folks) board first. Then, business people and those that paid full fare board in the A1-15 slots. Then come the 'regular' passengers. After the A group is boarded, SW allows those flying with children younger than 4 to board....doesn't matter what slots they go. Then come the B's, followed by the C's. If you get a slot that is in the mid to high B's or the C group, you may find getting two seats together, with one being a window hard to find. And you'll find basically nothing forward of the wing.
You can buy EBCI for just your return flight...I would really recommend doing this. Even though Disney prints out a 'boarding pass' and leaves it on your door, you still have to go to the RAC counter on your departure day (between 5am and 1pm, no less than 3 hrs before your flight departure) to get your real boarding passes. Of course, if you don't have bags to check, or you aren't using RAC, you can just return to the airport and print out your boarding pass there...because you buy EBCI, you still get that earlier boarding slot.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

In this case, I would buy EBCI.

In the future, you should consider flying an airline with assigned seating.

 

[dworldlovers]

We always fly Southwest! Free bags and direct flights are super perks for us. We do the 24 hr. check-in using the phone app and then print boarding passes using the self-serve kiosk at the airport. You really need to heed to the 24 hr. time though in order to get an 'A' boarding group-we get ready a few minutes before our check-in time and then click that button the second the clock tics. It may be a pain for some, but it only takes a few minutes and is worth it to us!!

 

[DreamingofCastles]

The last time I was at Disney, I checked myself in at the 24 hour mark via my cell phone. When Disney printed the boarding pass and placed it on my door, it was the same boarding number. But I agree with previous posters, if you want to be certain of window seat close to the front, do the EBCI.

 

[Steelersfan]

Definitely pay the extra $12 or so per ticket to do the earlybird check in fo that return flight.

It will automatically check you in. It is still cheaper than any other airline because bags are free and I've found Southwest to be cheaper in general.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Definitely pay the extra $12 or so per ticket to do the earlybird check in fo that return flight.

It will automatically check you in. It is still cheaper than any other airline because bags are free and I've found Southwest to be cheaper in general.

EBCI is $12.50.

JetBlue offers one free checked bag. Other airlines do as well for domestic flights, depending on your fare class, frequent flyer status, and if you have an airline branded credit card.

Southwest definitely does not always have the lowest priced tickets.