SW early bird vs non - results

[Anal Annie]

Getting lower then an A16 BP and not being a BS customer was some glitch then, as before the EBCI whenever I wasnt a-16 I would see who got it, we'd joke about it and almost always I found out they were an A-lister and that's how they got the a16



Yea, now way you can find out. All you can do is see how much the flight costs from BWI to MCO, if the 'cheap' prices are way up there it's getting close to full, if wanna get away pricing is gone and anytime prices are way up there it's even closer IMO. Flying out of BWI I think I'd have to get the EBCI unless you can be sure you are on the first flight out of BWI that AM and no other flights were connecting.

My $167 price WAS the cheapest fare!! Booked it right at 9:00 am (or was it 8:00 am) on the day they released the schedules. The Wanna Get Away fares are gone & the next cheapet is now $274 one-way! I think I'll rest better knowing I added the EBCI thing today. If I'd only have done it when I first booked I'd have been better off. Oh well. Live & learn. Hope to go back to Air Tran again for our summer trip...

 

[Piglets Mommy]

My $167 price WAS the cheapest fare!! Booked it right at 9:00 am (or was it 8:00 am) on the day they released the schedules. The Wanna Get Away fares are gone & the next cheapet is now $274 one-way! I think I'll rest better knowing I added the EBCI thing today. If I'd only have done it when I first booked I'd have been better off. Oh well. Live & learn. Hope to go back to Air Tran again for our summer trip...

Yeah...I booked on SW before the EBCI thing came out. I considered Air Tran....It was $10 less, but you have to pay for bags, and they has the select a seat fee. Now, that select a seat is a moot point. At least there, you pre-select a SEAT.

 

[joeathome167]

Was very worried because we are flying with 3 young kids, but check in at 24 hours and got A34-38 flying PVD-MCO.

23 hours and 49 minutes to takeoff.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I just got B 25-28 right at 24 hours for PHL to MCO for tomorrow.

 

[keishashadow]

Getting lower then an A16 BP and not being a BS customer was some glitch then, as before the EBCI whenever I wasnt a-16 I would see who got it, we'd joke about it and almost always I found out they were an A-lister and that's how they got the a16

when i checked my EB today, found out we were assigned A-16 thru A-18, don't think we've ever got that good of an assignment T-24

we're not A-list or BS (although i have been told im full of it before)

whatever, im happy...BTW, i purchased our EB approx 3 months prior

 

[puffkin]

We did not do EBCI....I refuse to pay any of those type of fees As long as one adult can sit with DS3, I could care less where on the plane or if the rest of us are seperated. Actually I would be blissfully happy to sit by myself for once and just be able to relax and read my book

BWI to MCO tonight at 6:25...we got B20, B22, B24, B26 and B28. Checked in right at 24 hours. First time out of BWI and I didn't realize so many flights connect there. We usually do Philly and I don't think there are a lot of connecting flights out of PHL. I thought it was weird that we got ever other seat....I never have had that happen on SW before. I wonder if another family checked in at the exact same time and got slotted in between us.

 

[dburg30]

when i checked my EB today, found out we were assigned A-16 thru A-18, don't think we've ever got that good of an assignment T-24

we're not A-list or BS (although i have been told im full of it before)

whatever, im happy...BTW, i purchased our EB approx 3 months prior

That just means there were no A-listers and it seems no one else had gotten EBCI before you did

We did not do EBCI....I refuse to pay any of those type of fees As long as one adult can sit with DS3, I could care less where on the plane or if the rest of us are seperated. Actually I would be blissfully happy to sit by myself for once and just be able to relax and read my book

BWI to MCO tonight at 6:25...we got B20, B22, B24, B26 and B28. Checked in right at 24 hours. First time out of BWI and I didn't realize so many flights connect there. We usually do Philly and I don't think there are a lot of connecting flights out of PHL. I thought it was weird that we got ever other seat....I never have had that happen on SW before. I wonder if another family checked in at the exact same time and got slotted in between us.

Yea, I have seen people with non sequential numbers, and that is kinda wierd . And yes, BWI is a very popular connection area for SW But you found that out Have fun on your trip, like you said, so long as there is a seat, that's all that matters.

 

[pjm-guy]

I just got B 25-28 right at 24 hours for PHL to MCO for tomorrow.

For which flight? We're flying at 8:25am, bought the flights when the booking window opened in June (or July) but only bought the EBCI about 2 weeks ago. Got A17-23 for our group of 7!!!!

 

[Anjelica]

We did the EBCI for our flight(s) from LAX to STL this past Saturday (Thanksgiving weekend). We had a plane change in Las Vegas. Our boarding passes for the leg from LAX to Las Vegas was A16, A17, A18 and A19. Our boarding passes for the leg from Las Vegas to STL (which WAS a full flight) were A19, A20, A21 and A22.

It was good for us to purchase the EBCI for our trip back home as we weren't going to be convienently located next to a pc to do a check in at T-24.

 

[LWatson]

we did the 24hr check in on our way to and from MCO in Nov and had As every time even w/ full flights (and one overbooked flight). The highest we had was A32.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

For which flight? We're flying at 8:25am, bought the flights when the booking window opened in June (or July) but only bought the EBCI about 2 weeks ago. Got A17-23 for our group of 7!!!!

We're on the 7:30 I'm happy to just not be C!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My $167 price WAS the cheapest fare!! Booked it right at 9:00 am (or was it 8:00 am) on the day they released the schedules. The Wanna Get Away fares are gone & the next cheapet is now $274 one-way! I think I'll rest better knowing I added the EBCI thing today. If I'd only have done it when I first booked I'd have been better off. Oh well. Live & learn. Hope to go back to Air Tran again for our summer trip...

Look on the bright side...
At least SW won't keep changing your flight times or convert your nonstop flight to a connecting one. Also no fees for luggage.
You're still saving even after paying for EBCI.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We bit the bullet and paid for ECBI flying nonstop Philly to MCO on Oct. 30.
Bought it when they 1st announced the new option. So that was probably just after Labor Day weekend.

We got A16-18. Will def use it for return flights while on vacation so we don't have to worry about t-24 and checking in on our cell phones.

 

[Anal Annie]

Look on the bright side...
At least SW won't keep changing your flight times or convert your nonstop flight to a connecting one. Also no fees for luggage.
You're still saving even after paying for EBCI.

I guess that's supposed to be a slap at Air Tran? I happen to prefer them as I can get an actual assigned SEAT number and with only 4 flights I can get a free upgrade to Business Class AND they participate in RAC which is a fantastic perk if we do check bags. I am relieved we got them for our return flight (for only $59). I must add that now that they charge for checked bags they have taught me the fine art of packing primarily in carry-ons. I have seriously cut out my over-packing. Air Tran is not all bad.

 

[dburg30]

RDU to CMH via BWI tomorrow (hopefully, who knows what the weather will bring) with EBCI a28-30 to BWI and a22-24 BWI to CMH, only did it a couple of days ago so I didnt have to worry about checking in tonight as we werent around a computer. I'm sure those would've probably been close to what I would have gotten at t-24 since I was at the lowest fare category and also only added it a couple of days ago. Was VERY nice not worrying about it.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I guess that's supposed to be a slap at Air Tran? I happen to prefer them as I can get an actual assigned SEAT number and with only 4 flights I can get a free upgrade to Business Class AND they participate in RAC which is a fantastic perk if we do check bags. I am relieved we got them for our return flight (for only $59). I must add that now that they charge for checked bags they have taught me the fine art of packing primarily in carry-ons. I have seriously cut out my over-packing. Air Tran is not all bad.

I'm not saying they are. We fly them too and they're esp convenient for onboard check in with DCL. You must admit, though, they are notorious for changing their schedule. (Not so w/ SWA.) On our last cruise though we had a perfectly timed (noon), non stop return flight which was cancelled and the next non stop we could get on was at 7:30 pm. Because of this I'm leary to book with them again unless I feel I can be very flexible with flight times. For us about 80% of their flights connect in ATL. Kinda silly for a 2 hr flight.

I can pack carry on only for WDW but still can't for DCL.

My point is that there are pros and cons of both airlines. If you're feeling 'stuck' just try to focus on the pros.

 

[NJ Goofy]

We used SW a few weeks ago. I probably will not book a flight without EBCI in the future. From PHL to MCO no EBCI B31-B34 (tough time getting 4 seats together) and from MCO to PHL with EBCI A17-20 (we were about the 6th people on the plane.

BTW for the flight down, I did check-in at exactly th 24 hr. mark.

So if SW is going to keep this program, then you have to think of it as part of the fare.

 

[Microcell]

Good info to put together! Thanks!

 

[bavaria]

We used SW a few weeks ago. I probably will not book a flight without EBCI in the future. From PHL to MCO no EBCI B31-B34 (tough time getting 4 seats together) and from MCO to PHL with EBCI A17-20 (we were about the 6th people on the plane.

BTW for the flight down, I did check-in at exactly th 24 hr. mark.

So if SW is going to keep this program, then you have to think of it as part of the fare.

Interesting! Can you please continue to post that on EBCI threads, or may we copy that information? Some of us felt that the longer EBCI was in existence, and once the holiday season started in America, that results such as yours might appear.

 

[dgkjh]

We fly out of Buffalo on Monday morning at 7:20. I was online this morning to check in and was able to get B12-15. First time flying SW so this seems the best I could get this way. We are 2 adults, 2 kids. If I remember, I will try to post back when we return on how it all went.