SW early bird checkin?

[stefplus3]

Is this worth paying for? $12.50 per person each way adds up to $125 for our trip...that's a nice dinner! As long as I can sit by my daughter (9) the rest of the family will be fine, lol.

 

[francie57]

If you just want to make sure you can sit with your daughter, just add it to your ticket and hers so you will be together and then just check everyone else in at the 24 hours mark. We do the early check-in both ways but I especially make sure I have it for the return so I don't have to worry about checking us in while on vacation. I would just do the tickets that you really want it for and not worry about the others is you said they would be okay.

 

[stefplus3]

good idea!! do they seat you together automatically if you pay for this service? Our boys (15 and 18) and my husband would all be fine if they ended up alone.

 

[robhawk]

Just pick the first 2 open seats that you like.

 

[stefplus3]

I think I'm confused to how it works, lol. I thought they were checking me in and picking seats. I get to pick them?

 

[TPBChick]

Southwest does not have assigned seats. You get a boarding number and then you just pick your seats when you get on the plane.

 

[Gracie09]

You should go to the southwest website and check out the boarding school. Also review the procedures about checking in.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think I'm confused to how it works, lol. I thought they were checking me in and picking seats. I get to pick them?

Okay.....short explanation.
With SW, you get a boarding slot....there sections. A1-15 is reserved for those paying full fare or business, or those on SW rewards program. A16-on up to the Bs is usually filled with those buying EBCI. Then between the A and the B grouping, those flying with young children (4 and under) get to board. Then the B group, followed by the C group. When you check in, online at the 24 hr mark, you will be given your boarding slot. When you buy EBCI, SW checks you in at the 36 hr mark. All this does is get you a lower boarding slot, which means a better choice of available seats.
So, when you get to the gate, and it's close to boarding time, you will be told to get up and stand in your boarding slot area...there will be poles with indicating slots of 5... 1-5, 6-10, etc. for each boarding group. Those in the A group board first and choose their seats. When they are onboard, the family groups get to board, followed by the B and C groups.
If you have purchased EBCI, you have a better chance of getting the seats together that you need. Will you get a lot of seats together? Probably not.
It is up to you to choose your seats once you are onboard the plane.

I seldom buy EBCI for a better boarding position. I do buy it for my flight home simply because I don't have to then worry about being online at the 24 hr window to checkin. SW does that for me and I can enjoy my last full day in the parks.

 

[avery619]

I don't do EBCI for flight to my destinations. I have not had a problem getting good boarding positions checking in from home at the 24 hour mark. Just lucky maybe. I always used to buy EBCI for flight home until my husband got an Iphone. Since then we downloaded the Southwest App (for free) and checked in at the 24 hour mark from his phone. All it requires is your confirmation number and the first name and last name of the person who booked the flight. It was so easy and saved us lots of $$$. I thought it would be stressful but it was not.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't do EBCI for flight to my destinations. I have not had a problem getting good boarding positions checking in from home at the 24 hour mark. Just lucky maybe. I always used to buy EBCI for flight home until my husband got an Iphone. Since then we downloaded the Southwest App (for free) and checked in at the 24 hour mark from his phone. All it requires is your confirmation number and the first name and last name of the person who booked the flight. It was so easy and saved us lots of $$$. I thought it would be stressful but it was not.

True. You can even go to Guest Services in the park and they will get you checked in.....just have to have your conf number. I just hate having to worry about where I am.

 

[kamcgrory]

Can unused travel funds be used to purcase EBCI?

 

[MouseyMin]

Can unused travel funds be used to purcase EBCI?

No, unfortunately.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

The only time I have paid for EBCI was when I was on a cruise and checking in at or near the 24 hour mark was not going to be easy. Unfortunately, it did not work for some reason and when I went to check later to see what positions we had we were B50's. Even with that the three of us were able to sit together, just farther back in the plane.

SW is definitely taking advantage of the fact that people feel they need the coveted "A" position in order to get a good seat when, in fact, the "B" postions still offer the opportunity to sit together. Personally I just check in at the 24 hour mark and lately have gotten the high A's or low B's and still I've gotten good seats. Of course I don't really care if I sit in the front of the plane, the faster I get off the longer I wait at baggage claim.

 

[goofy4tink]

The only time I have paid for EBCI was when I was on a cruise and checking in at or near the 24 hour mark was not going to be easy. Unfortunately, it did not work for some reason and when I went to check later to see what positions we had we were B50's. Even with that the three of us were able to sit together, just farther back in the plane.

SW is definitely taking advantage of the fact that people feel they need the coveted "A" position in order to get a good seat when, in fact, the "B" postions still offer the opportunity to sit together. Personally I just check in at the 24 hour mark and lately have gotten the high A's or low B's and still I've gotten good seats. Of course I don't really care if I sit in the front of the plane, the faster I get off the longer I wait at baggage claim.

What slot you get is dependent on where you are flying out of and to where. When flying to, or from, Orlando, it would be extremely unusual to get a high A slot without buying EBCI. And nearly impossible for a group of 3 to find seats together. I also tend to choose the rear of the plane if I have checked baggage...no hurry to get off the plane and I can sometimes get an empty seat next to me back there. But others may have different needs. If I'm flying with just carry on, I like to sit closer to the front, and EBCI allows me to do that.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

What slot you get is dependent on where you are flying out of and to where. When flying to, or from, Orlando, it would be extremely unusual to get a high A slot without buying EBCI. And nearly impossible for a group of 3 to find seats together. I also tend to choose the rear of the plane if I have checked baggage...no hurry to get off the plane and I can sometimes get an empty seat next to me back there. But others may have different needs. If I'm flying with just carry on, I like to sit closer to the front, and EBCI allows me to do that.

I agree that getting "A" passes is harder to a route like Orlando partly because of the perception that you need EBCI to get an "A" and that you screwed if you have a "B". Also because I originate in Chicago many people are connecting there that have the ability to check-in on the flight before I do. Still I manage to get the high A, low B passes regularly by checking in right at the 24 hour mark.

I disagree about not being able to get seats together if you are in the B group, especially to or from Orlando. The reason being that many families are flying this route and they all sit in groups as they board the plane leaving blocks of empty seats. If if you have a flight with a lot of single travelers, they are going to spread out around the plane and leave a lot of single seats open.

It all comes down you your personal perception of the value EBCI provides. Personally I'm not going to spend and additional $75.00 a trip to move up a few rows on the plane.

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree that getting "A" passes is harder to a route like Orlando partly because of the perception that you need EBCI to get an "A" and that you screwed if you have a "B". Also because I originate in Chicago many people are connecting there that have the ability to check-in on the flight before I do. Still I manage to get the high A, low B passes regularly by checking in right at the 24 hour mark.

I disagree about not being able to get seats together if you are in the B group, especially to or from Orlando. The reason being that many families are flying this route and they all sit in groups as they board the plane leaving blocks of empty seats. If if you have a flight with a lot of single travelers, they are going to spread out around the plane and leave a lot of single seats open.

It all comes down you your personal perception of the value EBCI provides. Personally I'm not going to spend and additional $75.00 a trip to move up a few rows on the plane.

Obviously everyone has different experiences, and perspectives. I know that I have sat and watched family groups of 4+ people board, in the B group, and struggle to find seating together. And if it's a larger family group? Even harder. Pairs of people? Much easier to find seats together. And a group of three might be okay.
Those with children 4 and under, usually board between the A and B groups...and that lessens the number of seats available for families to sit together (those with older children).

I know that the last few times I flew SW, from Mass to Orlando, (or the reverse), I bought EBCI and managed to stay within the A group. Once it was very high A though!!! I was flying solo so it wasn't an issue. I listened to those behind me, in the B group. Most of them had purchased EBCI as well. And man, they were not happy campers! One lady was complaining to the gate attendant that she had paid for EBCI and was not happy that she was in the middle of the B group!

People need to realize that EBCI is exactly that...you get checked in 12hrs earlier than those that didn't pay for EBCI. That's all you get. You may get a better slot than if you didn't pay for EBCI.
I don't buy it for my flight to Orlando..just the return. It's more like a convenience fee for me...I don't have to worry about being somewhere with a computer at the 24 hr mark. And that alone is worth the $12.50 to me.

 

[pooch]

Have never used EBCI, usually just 2 of us & we don't care where we sit. But our next trip will be 7 people (3 kids) all flying on points which means 7 different conf #s to check in individually! Think I'm gonna bite the bullet & book EBCI for everyone