SW check in at exactly the 24 hr mark -- will we sit together?

[mom2mikel]

I've never had a problem before, but that was pre-EBCI. We are on the first flight out of Midway (Chicago) on Monday. It looks as if the flight is sold out. We are a family of 4, but we could easily split into 2. We could sit in single seats too -- hopefully they would be within rows of each other.

Should I be worried about finding seats together since we didn't purchase EBCI? This was a last minute, budget trip so I didn't want to spend the extra $40 for EBCI. Suddenly I'm starting to panic about that decision! I know I can add it now, but DH isn't too receptive to the idea.

Also we will all have a carry on bag needing overhead space -- think we'll be okay there as well? I said depending on our boarding number, we might just check bags instead.

Any thoughts?

 

[goofy4tink]

You should be fine. You won't get seats at the very front of the plane, but I'm sure you'll get seats together towards the rear of the plane, with plenty of overhead space. I would imagine that you will easily find two sets of two seats together as well. You may even get an entire row, with someone taking the aisle seat across the aisle from your row.
Just be sure to be online right at the 24 hr window. As long as you get something before the mid-B's you should be okay.

 

[pamjb]

I have only purchased EBCI once and that was when I absolutely would not have access to a computer 24 hours before my flight.
When i have checked in myself at 24 hours, I have gotten in the high A's, around A40-ish. Absolutely no problems finding seats together.
Put your fears to rest.

 

[mom2mikel]

THANKS! That makes me feel much better

 

[richmo]

Personally, I won't pay the $10 for the advanced boarding. We've done about 3 round trips (2 to MCO) since they've been doing that and have had no problems sitting together. I think we've gotten anywhere from about A40 to B10.

I don't know what the ages of your kids are, but if one is under 4, you could family board after the A group finishes. (If only one is under 4, they may only let the < 4 child board with 1 parent and the other would have to wait with the other parent in their normal spot...but that seems to be at the discretion of the gate agent).

Usually its a little trickier going home as the 24 hour mark hits right while you're riding Soarin' or something like that. But my experience has been that a lot of people are in the same situation, so the boarding pass jockeying isn't quite as intense. I have a smartphone, so I check in for the ride home that way, but I'm definitely not as precise about it.

Actually, at this point my kids are old enough to sit by themselves for a couple of hours. Once we hit 10000 feet, the DS or the iPod comes out and they're not to be heard from again.

 

[FINFAN]

I think you will be fine, I have taken that flight several times and do not get EBCI. Doubtful that you wil be up against nothing but famlies of 4 or more who want to sit together, there will be business folks... so even if you get A29 and your DH gets B5 whoever is on first can get at least 2 seats and most after you will be looking for the same thing, not looking to sit right on top of you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It looks as if the flight is sold out.

There is no way for you to know if the flight is sold out or not.

I just don't understand why people who obsess so much about seating don't fly with an airline which assigns seating rather than SWA. No criticism intended of the OP.

 

[DebbieB]

There is no way for you to know if the flight is sold out or not.

I just don't understand why people who obsess so much about seating don't fly with an airline which assigns seating rather than SWA. No criticism intended of the OP.

If it says "not available" for all fares, then it is soldout.

Coming out of Midway, keep in mind that people connect through there. So they get to check-in 24 hours before their first flight.

 

[tiggerplus5]

We are not experts in this but we just flew to Orlando from Hartford, Ct. on Southwest. I checked in at 24 hours and both times got A 45-49 range. Plenty of seats! As long as you can check in at the 24 hour mark. I checked in on my droid phone from the resort. I was really worried too because we had small children. There were no problems.

Security was a little stressful but we managed better on the way back. We started getting the hang of it.

 

[wonderbear2]

I don't think the $10 early reservation fee is worth it. As others have said, just be at your computer exactly at the 24 hour mark........and make sure you sync your computer clock to the actual time.......every second counts!