Southwest Seating Basic Training

[mollybeasley]

I'm confused about seating on the plane. I haven't flown SW since they started the new policy. The site didn't explain much. We have a group of 5 and we don't want to sit apart in middle seats between strangers. I'm suddenly stressing about having to have yet one more "strategy" for this trip.

Can someone provide some basic training and tips for getting a better position? What are the different letters and numbers mentioned on other posts? (Some of the other posts went over my head because I don't know the basics.)

The rep told me that it all goes by check-in time but you can purchase an early boarding pass for $10. Is it worth it?

I have a special need but I don't know if it qualifies as a disability to get me on the plane early. (I have a bad leg that I need to stretch frequently. I'm usually OK if I'm in the right window seat with DH on my left. He doesn't mind if I kick him. ) But if I did get on the plane early, would I be allowed to save a seat for him? Or should I sit in the way back to play it safe.

Note - I'm starting a separate post about their policy for overweight people, so please don't comment about it here.

 

[Jestocost]

Did you go to the Southwest Boarding School page? Try there first and come back if you still have questions.

 

[goofy4tink]

It really is easy. If you pay the addtl $10 for EBCI, then SW will check you in 36 hrs before your flight departure. Then, when the 24 hr window comes, you can go online and print out the boarding pass. But, if you don't want to pay the addtl money for EBCI, you need to go online at 23 hrs. 58 mins before your flight departure (if your flight is at 8:10pm on Sat, then you need to be online, at 8pm on Friday, ready to check in). You will go to SW and the area for online checkin. Be ready for that window to open. When it does, you need to click on all the names in your group and then submit it. You will then be given a boarding letter and number for each boarding pass. You could get A16 or B45..depends on how many others get there before you, and how many people have paid for the EBCI.
Then, when you get to the gate, the gate agent will tell you when it is time to line up. You will line up according to your letter and number....the A group goes first, with medical preboards and minors traveling alone going before everyone else. Then A1-15 will go...these are the people that have booked fully refundable or business class. Then, A16 and on up go...one by one. Generally speaking, all 5 of you will either be one after the other or worst case scenario, there may be a few people between you.
You really shouldn't have any trouble getting seats together. Even the folks with mid to high B groupings can find seats together as long as there aren't a lot of people in the group. Your group of 5 may have to move further back but that's not a big deal.

 

[inkkognito]

Pay the extra $10. Well worth it to remove the stress.

 

[mollybeasley]

Did you go to the Southwest Boarding School page? Try there first and come back if you still have questions.

Yes I did. It didn't provide very much detail at all.

 

[mollybeasley]

It really is easy. If you pay the addtl $10 for EBCI, then SW will check you in 36 hrs before your flight departure. Then, when the 24 hr window comes, you can go online and print out the boarding pass. But, if you don't want to pay the addtl money for EBCI, you need to go online at 23 hrs. 58 mins before your flight departure (if your flight is at 8:10pm on Sat, then you need to be online, at 8pm on Friday, ready to check in). You will go to SW and the area for online checkin. Be ready for that window to open. When it does, you need to click on all the names in your group and then submit it. You will then be given a boarding letter and number for each boarding pass. You could get A16 or B45..depends on how many others get there before you, and how many people have paid for the EBCI.
Then, when you get to the gate, the gate agent will tell you when it is time to line up. You will line up according to your letter and number....the A group goes first, with medical preboards and minors traveling alone going before everyone else. Then A1-15 will go...these are the people that have booked fully refundable or business class. Then, A16 and on up go...one by one. Generally speaking, all 5 of you will either be one after the other or worst case scenario, there may be a few people between you.
You really shouldn't have any trouble getting seats together. Even the folks with mid to high B groupings can find seats together as long as there aren't a lot of people in the group. Your group of 5 may have to move further back but that's not a big deal.

Thanks this is very helpful.

On another thread, people were saying that the order of when someone purchased the EBCI should determine # but it didn't. So even if you purchased EBCI, does check-in time matter?

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks this is very helpful.

On another thread, people were saying that the order of when someone purchased the EBCI should determine # but it didn't. So even if you purchased EBCI, does check-in time matter?

If you pay the addtl $10 pp for EBCI, SW does the 'checking in' for you, but does it at 36 hrs before flight departure. If you don't pay that fee, you have to do the checking in yourself, at the 24 hr mark. We aren't all that sure how the EBCI folks get checked in, but they take up the first boarding spots...so those with EBCI get lower spots than those not doing EBCI. All those with EBCI get checked in 12 hrs before the earliest non-EBCI fliers do.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I paid the extra $10 on my last trip to Orlando. Figured it would help me check another thing off my to-do list. It didn't help because i still had to go back within the 24 hours to print boarding pass.

On my trip home from Orlando, I chose not to do the EBCI. Then I totally forgot about checking in 24 hours in advance. I remembered 5 hours later. I figured I would end up with a C if not a B group boarding pass. Nope! I got A15 which is the first boarding pass after business class. There wasn't anyone in business class so i was first. The five people behind me all paid the extra $10 for the EBCI and they were behind me.

Personally, I don't like being the first on the plane. I want to scope out where the little kids or babies are so I can avoid that area.

 

[bookwormde]

If you need to preboard to accomidate a disability, you just stop at the SW customer service desk in the concourse and get able sleave and listen closely for when they call for the pre board. Also at least 1 adult is allowed to accompany and individual with a disability. Only you can decide of your situation qualifies as a disability under the regulations and if you have a specific need which would be accomidated by preboarding.

bookwormde

 

[mollybeasley]

If you need to preboard to accomidate a disability, you just stop at the SW customer service desk in the concourse and get able sleave and listen closely for when they call for the pre board. Also at least 1 adult is allowed to accompany and individual with a disability. Only you can decide of your situation qualifies as a disability under the regulations and if you have a specific need which would be accomidated by preboarding.

bookwormde

That's good to know. thanks.