Southwest

[kdorn75]

Hi

I am planning my first trip to Disney World, I will use Southwest Airlines for the return flight. This will be my first time with Southwest, so I am not familiar with their boarding procedures.

I bought an add-on (early bird check-in) since I want to make sure that we can select the seats early even if it is not a guarantee.

According to Southwest website, "We'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure"

Questions
- Is this mean they will assign me a seat 36 hours before check in? Can I select the seat before arrive at the airport? Or I don't have to do anything apart from print out boarding pass?

I have husband and kid and want to make sure that we can sit together. Please share your experiences with Southwest Early Bird Check-In and explain to me how it work, thank you.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay, normally you would check in, online, 24 hrs before your flight. You would then be given a boarding group (A, B, or C), and then a number within that group....something like A16 (this being the lowest you would get) or B2, or C29. Each passenger gets their own 'slot'. You print this out and bring it with you. When you get to the gate, you will see posts that are lettered, A, B, and C. There will be numbers in groups of 5 within these lettered posts...1-5, 6-10, and so on. You take your spot according to your boarding pass. You got B13, then you wait until all the A's board, and the B group lines up and you go to the B13 spot. Then you board the plane in that order.
Those with children under the age of 4 get to board inbetween the A and B groups regardless of their group...nice if they got a B or a C grouping. But they can board with the A's if that's their 'slot'.
Seating is first come, first served...so it's advantageous to get a lower numbered slot, especially in the A group.

So...you bought EBCI. Good idea. It's nice to not have to worry about checking in when you're off having fun at WDW!! So, at the 36 hr mark (36 hrs before your flight), SW will check you in...you do nothing. You can then go to the RAC counter (if applicable) and get your boarding pass printed out on your departure day. EBCI allows you to get checked in before all those who do the 24 hr window checkin, which gives you a better 'slot' for boarding. With more and more people buying EBCI, we are seeing those who checkin at the 24 hr mark getting boarding passes in the B group now.

But you do need to realize that you don't get to actually choose your seats before you board the plane. BUT...you shouldn't have any trouble finding 3 seats together. Even those in the B group find seats together. It's only those in the C group that tend to have any issue finding groups of three seats together.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[robhawk]

We have done EBCI on two trips. We were able to sit in the 2nd row everytime. All 3 of us. In our Febuary trio we have 6 of us. We should be able to sit 6 across even if it is back a few rows. Definately worth the money.

Rob

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Is this mean they will assign me a seat 36 hours before check in? Can I select the seat before arrive at the airport?

You really should go to the SWA website and review their seating policy. They do not assign seats.