SOUTHWEST QUESTIONS

[SandyinMonterey]

We've never flown Southwest before but seriously considering it especially if I get one of those great deals that many seem to get. Southwest does not operate out of our small, local airport. Only United and USAir so if we were to go on Southwest we'd have to depart out of San Francisco or San Jose. Each requiring a drive and probably a stay at a local hotel so Southwest would have to be significantly cheaper when factoring in those costs. For those in the know: I'm guessing to get the best deals you pick the wanna get away fare and not the business select or anytime? That you have to on line as soon as your booking window opens to get tickets? Our daughter is only 10 and we prefer to all sit together. How does the early bird check in work? Does southwest check us in? Concerned about this because we generally don't remember on line check in and not sure if we have any internet access while traveling.

 

[wddub2015]

We fly Southwest and get the early seating option for a little extra when buying our tickets. I've got a 4 and 3 year old and we want to be sure to have seats with everyone together. When it is time to board you'll be in the first group to get on the plane. They give you a number on your ticket and when they announce the early seating you find your number on posts in the boarding area, then they let everyone board in numerical order. It's worked out really well for us. Southwest can check you, if you'd like. I'm not sure about the wanna get away fare, though.

 

[charmed59]

I'm not sure where you are coming from, but Southwest also flies out of Oakland and Sacramento. And yes, for best deals pick the wanna get away fares.

 

[DebbieB]

We fly Southwest and get the early seating option for a little extra when buying our tickets. I've got a 4 and 3 year old and we want to be sure to have seats with everyone together. When it is time to board you'll be in the first group to get on the plane. They give you a number on your ticket and when they announce the early seating you find your number on posts in the boarding area, then they let everyone board in numerical order. It's worked out really well for us. Southwest can check you, if you'd like. I'm not sure about the wanna get away fare, though.

Early Bird check-in does not guarantee an A boarding pass.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You might want to check out Southwest's website. Many of your questions about fare differences, EBCI, seating, etc. are answered there.

I can't imagine that Southwest would be significantly cheaper than United or US Airways if you factor in the added driving cost and a hotel stay, unless you live near such a small airport that the few airlines flying there can charge what they please. What is your local airport (now I'm curious)?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We fly Southwest and get the early seating option for a little extra when buying our tickets. I've got a 4 and 3 year old and we want to be sure to have seats with everyone together. When it is time to board you'll be in the first group to get on the plane. They give you a number on your ticket and when they announce the early seating you find your number on posts in the boarding area, then they let everyone board in numerical order. It's worked out really well for us. Southwest can check you, if you'd like. I'm not sure about the wanna get away fare, though.

EBCI is not early boarding and you can get a B boarding pass rather than an A, which would put you in the fourth boarding group (after pre-boards, A Group and family boarding).

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Our local airport is the Monterey Peninsula Airport. It's very close but has its downsize. United connection would be SFO or LAX. We NEVER fly from Monterey to SFO because flights are always delayed and very, very often canceled. USAIR has dramatically decreased their amount of flights. I'm surprised they haven't pulled out of the Monterey Airport yet. So....I don't understand the benefits of doing EBCI if you're not one of the first to board and there is no guarantee of a boarding pass. We're going on our first Disney cruise and don't think we'll be able to do on line check in or boarding passes. It's something I will have to ask if possible.

 

[wddub2015]

EBCI is not early boarding and you can get a B boarding pass rather than an A, which would put you in the fourth boarding group (after pre-boards, A Group and family boarding).

Whoops! Sorry, didn't realize the difference.

 

[bumbershoot]

So....I don't understand the benefits of doing EBCI if you're not one of the first to board and there is no guarantee of a boarding pass.

You will get *a* boarding pass; you just might not get an A-group boarding pass. If there are enough people buying EarlyBird, it can take up all the A passes. After A comes little kid boarding (something I think is odd because my son went bonkers if we were on the plane early and then didn't take off quickly, so for me, the less time on the plane the better with a little one!), then comes B and C. So if there are "x" A boarding passes available and you're x+1 to check in, you'll get a B pass.

Since you just mention one daughter, I'm assuming you're a family of 2 or 3. We are a family of 3, and DS and I travel often just the two of us. I have never bought EarlyBird. I checkin at 24 hours, we board the plane and head for the back. We have not had a problem with getting seats together. Of course, to me, traveling as a two-some with an older kid (or adult), I think it's heaven to sit across the aisle from each other. That way you can actually look at each other easily while talking. Even one in front of the other would be terrific, IMO. But we fly a lot.

(the only time we've ever had an issue finding seats was on a legacy airline with "assigned" seating, and we were assigned 10 rows apart! with the help of very sweet people (and I was sweet and smiley as well) we got within one row of each other, and he was doted on by two grandmotherly women and declared that he always wanted to sit "away" from me in the future. (DH lets him play videogames the entire flight, so he loves sitting next to DH LOL))

 

[Spunky946]

Early bird check in automatically checks you in at 36 hours instead of you doing it yourself at 24 hours. You can then print your boarding pass anytime from 24 hours on. You should get and a position or a low b position. We have had high b position when we did not buy the early bird and we have all sat together in the back of the plane.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Our local airport is the Monterey Peninsula Airport. It's very close but has its downsize. United connection would be SFO or LAX. We NEVER fly from Monterey to SFO because flights are always delayed and very, very often canceled. USAIR has dramatically decreased their amount of flights. I'm surprised they haven't pulled out of the Monterey Airport yet. So....I don't understand the benefits of doing EBCI if you're not one of the first to board and there is no guarantee of a boarding pass. We're going on our first Disney cruise and don't think we'll be able to do on line check in or boarding passes. It's something I will have to ask if possible.

I like the Monterey airport because it's so tiny!

I would definitely try and connect through LAX rather than SFO because SFO has so many weather delays.

You have to decide for yourself if paying for EBCI is worth it. If you won't be able you check in yourself on the way home, you should consider paying for EBCI for that leg.