Southwest with kids - Early Bird Check In or Not?

[mmbrad02]

I'm typically a huge fan of flying Southwest. Last time we flew, we paid for Early bird check in for our family of three . My daughter was just a little over a year old and was flying as a lap baby (but she did end up with a seat) so it was only on two tickets.

Now we will have three tickets (I know, it's not a huge difference but every $.01 counts for this vacation!), as my daughter is now three. I was thinking that families with small children used to get to board for free between A and B. Is this still the case? Last time we ended up in the early B's, even with the early bird check in.

Thanks!

 

[Minnesota!]

On flights that are primarily families (like flights to Orlando), they don't always offer family boarding. AAMOF, I have only seen them do it on a handful of my SW flights.

I would not count on it being an option for you to board b/t A and B, honestly..

 

[LilyWDW]

There is always the possibility of family boarding being canceled if the gate agents believe that the group boarding at that time would be too large. It is rare-ish, but it can happen.

So, if you want the best chance to sit together, EBCI is your best bet.

 

[iluveeyore]

I just checked in for my flight to Orlando tomorrow at the 24-hour mark and got the end of the A group without paying for EBCI. All the flights I have taken in the past year on SWA have always had family boarding as well. If you want to save money, just make sure you check in at exactly the 24 hour mark, you should be fine.

 

[Belleandtinker]

In my opinion, don't chance it. On our way to WDW last year, we got in B or C on a late flight to Orlando. We thought are chances to get all of us together (family of 3) would be very slim so my DH paid to upgrade us to A. Not sure how, but we go into A and were so thankful.

Good luck

 

[Betty Rohrer]

unless you are on the first flight of morning where plane overnighted at your airport, people will already be on plane. they will get first choice of seats before medical boarding and there could be a number of people. we were part of a group of 30 plus staying an a plane making a stop before getting to Philly. I know a number of people boarding complained because the had A boarding and by end of A there were more than 60 people on plane

 

[LilyWDW]

I just checked in for my flight to Orlando tomorrow at the 24-hour mark and got the end of the A group without paying for EBCI. All the flights I have taken in the past year on SWA have always had family boarding as well. If you want to save money, just make sure you check in at exactly the 24 hour mark, you should be fine.

A lot of that depends on where you are flying from as well.

There are verified reports of family boarding being canceled. There are verified reports of checking in at 24 hours is getting high B's (and of EBCI going into the early and middle B's). As such, I believe in telling the OP about what COULD very well happen so they can make a fully educated decision on if they want to risk the worst case scenario happening.

 

[goofy4tink]

In my opinion, don't chance it. On our way to WDW last year, we got in B or C on a late flight to Orlando. We thought are chances to get all of us together (family of 3) would be very slim so my DH paid to upgrade us to A. Not sure how, but we go into A and were so thankful.

Good luck

The only way to 'upgrade' is to pay addtl to get into the A1-15 spots. These are held for business class fares, reward fliers, or those paying full fare. It is usually a cost of about $40 or so pp.

There is always a chance that family boarding will be suspended. Before that happens, the gate attendant will tell families that only immediate family made board together...no aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.

 

[ibob52]

IMO ... the EBCI fee for a round trip ($25.00)
equals the cost of one checked bag fee for a one way trip ... on most other airlines.

 

[iluveeyore]

Update - just flew SWA from Buffalo today (not sure where OP is from) - lots of families, and they still did family boarding between A and B.