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

[LidoDeck]

We flew MHT to MCO last week; with EBCI we got A23 & A24.

 

[chabs]

Ok-we did not use EBCI and got B1, B3, B5 and B6-how odd is that? We're all on the same reservation and I checked us in all at once, so I'm not exactly sure how that happened. I checked in right at the 24 hour mark (3:30pm).

 

[Tara]

Ok-we did not use EBCI and got B1, B3, B5 and B6-how odd is that? We're all on the same reservation and I checked us in all at once, so I'm not exactly sure how that happened. I checked in right at the 24 hour mark (3:30pm).

We've had gaps like that in our numbers before. Hope you have a great trip! Where are you staying? We're at BCV - wave if you see us, ALB neighbor!

(this is us )

 

[chabs]

We've had gaps like that in our numbers before. Hope you have a great trip! Where are you staying? We're at BCV - wave if you see us, ALB neighbor!

(this is us )

We'll be at the WL. I'll keep my eyes open! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Sherrkel]

I purchased our tix last week for our trip in February; I did not purchase EBCI.

I'm more concerned about the return trip from MCO; I think I should add EBCI for that since we won't be able to check in at exactly the 24 hour mark (we have dining reservations at the 24 hour mark before our departure).

Does this seem like the plan most people would recommend- to purchase them for the return flight from MCO ?

Thanks; I'm new to flying SW.

 

[1tufgt]

I purchased our tix last week for our trip in February; I did not purchase EBCI.

I'm more concerned about the return trip from MCO; I think I should add EBCI for that since we won't be able to check in at exactly the 24 hour mark (we have dining reservations at the 24 hour mark before our departure).

Does this seem like the plan most people would recommend- to purchase them for the return flight from MCO ?

Thanks; I'm new to flying SW.

It seems like the going rate is to buy it out of MCO to make things easier on your vacation and not have to worry about checking in at the 24hr mark.

 

[Tara]

I got A31-A32-A33 -the worst numbers I've ever gotten with EBCI out of ALB. Still just fine by me.

I'm convinced now that the process for EBCI is that all passengers with it are tallied and the system sets aside enough numbers for them. When they actually sign on and claim their boarding passes, the computer assigns their numbers. I say this because my DH is on a separate itinerary from DS and me. I bought his on 5/19 and added EBCI that day. I bought mine and DS's on 6/16 and added EBCI that day. DS and i got 31-32 and DH got 33, despite his ticket and EBCI being purchased first.

 

[beccasmom]

I bought our tickets back in March. Our EBCI from PHL-MCO last Saturday were A16 through A19, which was terrific. We actually ended up sitting in rows 6-7.

For tomorrow's flight home it is A37-40. Still okay by me.....the seats, not the going-home part!

 

[katallo]

I'm curious. If your flight originated in another city are your chances of getting an A boarding pass limited? I'm assuming the folks who remain on the plane would have the A passes? Maybe I haven't thought it through

 

[TXMemaw]

I'm curious. If your flight originated in another city are your chances of getting an A boarding pass limited? I'm assuming the folks who remain on the plane would have the A passes? Maybe I haven't thought it through

The people already on the plane don't have a boarding pass, only those actually getting on the plane do. However, you do need to realize that if your flight is a continuation, there may be quite a few people already on the plane even if you are the first one on. I was on a flight to Orlando last year that stopped in San Antonio. 60 of us stayed on the plane so by the time the A boarding group had loaded, there were already at least 100 people on the plane when they started family boarding. I fly SW a lot and this incident was the exception rather than the rule but it can happen. The flight attendants are usually very good about getting people to move around so that parents can sit with their children but there's no guarantee that your whole family will end up together in a case like this.

EBCI seems to be more popular all the time so if sitting together is important to you, I'd pay the money. We usually only pay for it on the way back so that we don't have to worry about being online at the 24 hour mark, but then again it's usually just DH and myself so if we end up separated, it's not that big of an issue, as it would be for a family.

 

[DoctorK]

One other observation is that if your flight originates in, say, Baltimore, and you check in at T-24 (or EBCI checks you in automatically at T-24), you will have checked in several hours after passengers whose flights originated in other cities and are connecting onto your plane in Baltimore. Because of this, your EBCI could be quite high, but should still theoretically be better than non-EBCI people who do T-24 checkin manually.

 

[Tara]

One other observation is that if your flight originates in, say, Baltimore, and you check in at T-24 (or EBCI checks you in automatically at T-24), you will have checked in several hours after passengers whose flights originated in other cities and are connecting onto your plane in Baltimore. Because of this, your EBCI could be quite high, but should still theoretically be better than non-EBCI people who do T-24 checkin manually.

My flight originates in ALB so that's definitely not the case here.

 

[Tess'smom]

WBCI PHL to MCO - A 18.

 

[NHDisneyMom]

We leave tomorrow out of MHT and I just got B2,B3,B4 and B5. As long as we can be two and two, I'm fine with that. Checked in at exactly 24hours. I can't stand the idea of paying extra for them to check me in. Just seems like another way to get more money out of me. We have two young children but over the age of 4. I can't believe someone wouldn't switch seats so at least we could be two together. If they are not so nice, I sit my son next to them and tell him to have at it. I bet they switch pretty quickly. Just kidding BTW - would never put my kids next to strangers by themselves. It will just have to work out.

 

[DoctorK]

We did not do EBCI, just T-24 online checkin, BUF-MCO, got A43,44,45.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

We leave tomorrow out of MHT and I just got B2,B3,B4 and B5. As long as we can be two and two, I'm fine with that. Checked in at exactly 24hours. I can't stand the idea of paying extra for them to check me in. Just seems like another way to get more money out of me. We have two young children but over the age of 4. I can't believe someone wouldn't switch seats so at least we could be two together. If they are not so nice, I sit my son next to them and tell him to have at it. I bet they switch pretty quickly. Just kidding BTW - would never put my kids next to strangers by themselves. It will just have to work out.

People who paid extra for EBCI might not be very willing to switch, after all they DID PAY for the privilege of boarding early for a better chance of seats they wanted, you were unwilling to pay but hope they won't mind wasting heir money.
When people pay for seats they really shouldn't have to move because others were to "cheap" to do so. ANYONE who needs to have a specific seating arraignment should include the fee to do so in their price comparisons.

 

[NHDisneyMom]

Hope they don't either or we might all have a miserable 3 hour flight to Orlando. Especially me leaning over them to deal with the demands of my little one sitting next to them. I guess that's just life.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Our party of 5 flew from KC to Orlando and back in early August. We paid for EBCI each way. We got A 18-22 on the way down and A 17-21 on the way back. It was MORE than worth it. We were in the first 10 people on the plane each time. We beelined for the exit row - the two in front and three in back on the right. DS 6'7" appreciated the window seat where he could stretch his legs out straight in front of him, and DS and his girlfriend loved the two seat row.

It worked out excellent for us, and I doubt I would fly SW without EBCI. It just makes it too perfect!

 

[Vijoge]

I can't stand the idea of paying extra for them to check me in. Just seems like another way to get more money out of me. We have two young children but over the age of 4. I can't believe someone wouldn't switch seats so at least we could be two together. If they are not so nice, I sit my son next to them and tell him to have at it. I bet they switch pretty quickly.

I can understand not wanting to pay for EBCI but please, if you choose not to, don't even consider asking anyone to give up their seat for you.

 

[Elmo007]

When I fly out of ISP I almost never do EBCI as that is an orgination airport and I usually leave midweek. The exception is whn I bring the kids. i dont belive there is a real risk that we would be seperated but I dont need the stress and I dont need to inconvenence everyone else.

However when returning home (usually MCO or LAS or BWI) i buy the EBCI due to crowd levels being higher than in ISP. In addition, when I am on vacation, i dont want to think about when T-24 is.

IMHO, the big downside to EBCI is when you cancel a flight. Unlike the fare which is put in your funds, any EBCI payment is lost.