SW Early Birds-what numbers have you been getting lately?

[chabs]

We leave on Thursday and I was thinking about adding the early bird check-in (my friends checked in yesterday without early bird right at 24 hours and got A46). Just debating on whether or not I should bother.

 

[Tara]

We leave on Thursday and I was thinking about adding the early bird check-in (my friends checked in yesterday without early bird right at 24 hours and got A46). Just debating on whether or not I should bother.

It varies pretty widely depending on when you are traveling and from what city you are flying. Out of Albany, I've never gotten higher than A18 or A19 IIRC. Out of Orlando, I've never gotten higher than A25 I think. In January a friend of mine flew to Las Vegas (From Hartford? I just realized I'm not sure if she flew from her home airport or not, but I think she did.) and with EBCI she got B1.

I would add it, but for me, it's mostly about convenience. During the summer, I sleep late - until 8am most mornings - and so there's nothing about getting up at 7am just to check in that makes me happy, especially since I have to get up much earlier the next morning to actually fly.

 

[Huff]

For those leaving Orlando and checked in right at 24 hours without EBCI what boarding did you get? We have 3 in our party so would want one row of seats for us. I have a smartphone and can easily check in while in the parks right at 24 hours.

I assume any A pass would easily get us a row but what about B? I just hate to pay the $30 if its really not needed and checking in right at 24 hours is not a problem for us.

 

[chabs]

It varies pretty widely depending on when you are traveling and from what city you are flying. Out of Albany, I've never gotten higher than A18 or A19 IIRC. Out of Orlando, I've never gotten higher than A25 I think. In January a friend of mine flew to Las Vegas (From Hartford? I just realized I'm not sure if she flew from her home airport or not, but I think she did.) and with EBCI she got B1.

I would add it, but for me, it's mostly about convenience. During the summer, I sleep late - until 8am most mornings - and so there's nothing about getting up at 7am just to check in that makes me happy, especially since I have to get up much earlier the next morning to actually fly.

We are flying out of Albany too. My friends that left yesterday checked in right at 24 hours and got A46-48. I thought that was a pretty high number for Albany too.

 

[ccgirl]

For those leaving Orlando and checked in right at 24 hours without EBCI what boarding did you get? We have 3 in our party so would want one row of seats for us. I have a smartphone and can easily check in while in the parks right at 24 hours.

I assume any A pass would easily get us a row but what about B? I just hate to pay the $30 if its really not needed and checking in right at 24 hours is not a problem for us.

Flying out of ORlando, just my DH and myself during F&W and we got a B. Surprisingly, we still got the exit row. There were plenty of entirely open rows at that point.

 

[Tara]

We are flying out of Albany too. My friends that left yesterday checked in right at 24 hours and got A46-48. I thought that was a pretty high number for Albany too.

You're a day ahead of me - we leave Friday morning.

 

[Tara]

For those leaving Orlando and checked in right at 24 hours without EBCI what boarding did you get? We have 3 in our party so would want one row of seats for us. I have a smartphone and can easily check in while in the parks right at 24 hours.

I assume any A pass would easily get us a row but what about B? I just hate to pay the $30 if its really not needed and checking in right at 24 hours is not a problem for us.

I can't speak to what numbers people are getting because I use EBCI. However, be aware that some flights out of Orlando actually originate elsewhere (like Ft Lauderdale). If that is the case, there will already be people on the plane in seats when MCO passengers begin boarding.

Flying out of ORlando, just my DH and myself during F&W and we got a B. Surprisingly, we still got the exit row. There were plenty of entirely open rows at that point.

I find that exit row in and out of Orlando is pretty easy to get because there are so many people with children who can't sit in the rows by law.

In fact, in March I flew to MCO alone and had A16 or A17. There were only 3-4 people ahead of me in the Business Select section of the line. I sat in an aisle exit row seat and someone was already in the window seat. No one sat in the middle seat, and it was the only 1 empty seat on the entire plane.

 

[hoffmann2828]

Sorry to hijack, but this is similar to what we're doing. We are going end of September (23-30). We are also taking the very first flight out, which leaves at 7:20 am (hoping that will deter some, lol).

We are 3 people, me, DH, and DD4.

I *think* we still qualify to board early-er with our daughter, but I could be wrong. If we can board before the "b" boarding group, do you think we would be stupid to buy EBCI?

Also, when you check in online, and you get A40, do they actually put you in line and you get on 40th, etc. or does the # even matter?

Thanks in advance!
Jenny

 

[staxia]

Sorry to hijack, but this is similar to what we're doing. We are going end of September (23-30). We are also taking the very first flight out, which leaves at 7:20 am (hoping that will deter some, lol).

We are 3 people, me, DH, and DD4.

I *think* we still qualify to board early-er with our daughter, but I could be wrong. If we can board before the "b" boarding group, do you think we would be stupid to buy EBCI?

Also, when you check in online, and you get A40, do they actually put you in line and you get on 40th, etc. or does the # even matter?

Thanks in advance!
Jenny

If I'm not mistaken, if you have children, and don't have an A boarding card (from EB or just your regular check in) then you get to board in between.

I think it all depends on you... How well you all travel, how much say you like to have in your seating, what you think you'll need for your DD4...

Someone with kids may answer this better than my (happily) single self!

 

[The Mayor]

My experience latley with SW is that EB Check in becoming more and more popular. I think the earlier you sign up for it the lower number you get. Many people are using it now to waylay their fears about not having assigned seats. I've used it for Boston to St. Louis and Denver and MHT to Orlando but added it right when I bought the ticket. Each time I got between A4 and A10. I'm flying Boston to Philly tomorrow and have A16 and I'm on the popular commuter flight times. In October I'm flying SW to Orlando and already have EB for both my flights.

I think if you want seats together then EB is the best option for that to happen.

 

[nikkistevej]

I was going to do early bird- but forgot. I'm glad I didn't I just did my early check in- and got A43 and A44- which I thought was pretty good for BWI.

 

[3happydancers]

We are flying out of Islip, LI, tomorrow at 7 AM for Orlando. We did not do EBCI, but checked in at 24 hr mark and received A45-48 (we have 4 in our group).

Coming home however, we did decide to purchase EBCI, mainly for convenience. I was always the one to stop whatever activity we were presently engaged in to go stand on line to check in. (We do not have cell phone access). I did not want to do that this year, hence the EBCI purchase.

In past years however, checking in at the 24 hr mark while at Disney has always resulted in A seats. Now, since EBCI is becoming more popular, I don't know what the outcome would be if one checked in at the 24 Hr. mark. I have read that even if you receive B seating, you are still able to sit with your group/family

 

[DoctorK]

With 137 seats on a plane, that's 45 separate 3-seat sections (there are some 2-seat sections which throw off the math). Assuming every single passenger ahead of you isn't traveling alone, even if you are mid-B's you should still be able to sit together with no problem. You just may end up at the back of the plane.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

We leave on Thursday and I was thinking about adding the early bird check-in (my friends checked in yesterday without early bird right at 24 hours and got A46). Just debating on whether or not I should bother.

Hi,

In March going from Chicago to Tampa we got 18A and 19A, on the way back we got 20A and 21A. I made sure that we checked in exactly 24 hours ahead of time. I know it's an additional $60 (3 tickets), but with a 2.5 year old and a 8 month old (lap baby) we need to make sure we get a row to ourselves.

 

[ccgirl]

Sorry to hijack, but this is similar to what we're doing. We are going end of September (23-30). We are also taking the very first flight out, which leaves at 7:20 am (hoping that will deter some, lol).

We are 3 people, me, DH, and DD4.

I *think* we still qualify to board early-er with our daughter, but I could be wrong. If we can board before the "b" boarding group, do you think we would be stupid to buy EBCI?

Also, when you check in online, and you get A40, do they actually put you in line and you get on 40th, etc. or does the # even matter?

Thanks in advance!
Jenny

Because the flight to Orlando is usually filled with familes they do decrease the family boarding age to under 2 at times and sometimes suspend family boarding all together. Else, if they leave it as they normally do children ages 4 and younger are eligible for family board (between A and B). Still check in online as you may get an A boarding pass if you check in 24 hours in advance. You do line up according to your number. There will be signs that say A40-A46(just an example) and everyone with those numbers line up there. A1-A15 (I believe) are reserved for Business travellers and are not always filled. On Southwest's website, if you go to travel tools then Southwest Policies you can actually watch a quick tutorial of how to board. I have never been split up from my family even with a C boarding pass.


Have fun.

 

[chabs]

You're a day ahead of me - we leave Friday morning.

I'm going to check in today exactly at 24 hours-I'll let you know what numbers we got. I already bought the EBCI for the way back to Albany because I figured I didn't want to have to worry about it when we were away.

 

[1tufgt]

I'm going to check in today exactly at 24 hours-I'll let you know what numbers we got. I already bought the EBCI for the way back to Albany because I figured I didn't want to have to worry about it when we were away.

When's your 24 hour mark so I know to check back.

 

[Tara]

I'm going to check in today exactly at 24 hours-I'll let you know what numbers we got. I already bought the EBCI for the way back to Albany because I figured I didn't want to have to worry about it when we were away.

Funny, I was just checking here to see if you posted your numbers.

And I just remembered I haven't made my park & fly reservation!

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

We're on the A-list and for tomorrows flight out of ABQ, we got A 24 and 25.

 

[tjmw2727]

EBCI phi to orlando A25, 26, 27 !