SW making changes to EBCI?

[sam_gordon]

According to a "leaked" memo, SW is going to cut back on EBCI availability. It's on the internet, so it must be true...
https://viewfromthewing.com/scoop-s...onger-sell-early-bird-check-in-for-all-trips/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Interesting. VFTW is generally pretty good so I expect that’s legit.

 

[EACarlson]

I think it's in response to all the MCO flyers that buy EBCI and then end up with late B boarding slots. Even more so now that Anytime comes with EBCI.

 

[RedHead0186]

Sounds like they're trying to push people to purchase Anytime or Business Select fares, or pay the higher price for Upgraded Boarding. I'm not happy with the idea, though I'll wait to get my pitchfork out until I see how it affects me (are there flights I want to purchase where EBCI isn't offered).

 

[sponica]

Part of me gets it, there's nothing more annoying than buying EBCI and getting somewhere in the Bs

 

[Lewisc]

If everyone on the plane has EBCI then nobody in the plane really has EBCI

 

[reddog21]

This have more to do with people buying the cheap fares then adding in early bird to it. Wanna get away fares plus early bird are almost always way cheaper than then buying the tier that includes early bird. To close that loop hole you now have to buy the more expensive tier that includes it, really it's just a money grab.

This summer, pricing wanna get away plus early bird vs the tier that included it was almost $200 cheaper round trip. I was pricing a last minute flight

 

[puffkin]

I honestly just wish they would do away with it completely or just keep it in their upgraded fares. It just leads to extra angst as people get mad at paying for something they don't necessarily feel they are getting. I'd be irritated if I paid for it and got late B's!

In 40+ round trips to the Orlando area (with the vast majority on Southwest) I have NEVER paid for EBCI and just used family boarding until my kids were too old (still checking in at 24hours just in case they did not do family boarding). They are now 11 and 17 and we have never NOT gotten seats together (at least 2 and 2 together) except for the 1 time I completely forgot to check in at 24 hours and ended up with C's. I was still able to sit with my younger son (6 at the time as the Flight attendant saved us seats in the back) and my husband and older son were fine sitting independently. Just returned Wednesday and were A56-A59. (Flight down we were B17-20).

 

[reddog21]

I honestly just wish they would do away with it completely or just keep it in their upgraded fares. It just leads to extra angst as people get mad at paying for something they don't necessarily feel they are getting. I'd be irritated if I paid for it and got late B's!

In 40+ round trips to the Orlando area (with the vast majority on Southwest) I have NEVER paid for EBCI and just used family boarding until my kids were too old (still checking in at 24hours just in case they did not do family boarding). They are now 11 and 17 and we have never NOT gotten seats together (at least 2 and 2 together) except for the 1 time I completely forgot to check in at 24 hours and ended up with C's. I was still able to sit with my younger son (6 at the time as the Flight attendant saved us seats in the back) and my husband and older son were fine sitting independently. Just returned Wednesday and were A56-A59. (Flight down we were B17-20).

You've been lucky because I have been on enough SW flights where families get separated complain and expect other people to move seats. I don't take chances like that so I buy it every time and I'm never been outside the early B group.

They should just move to assigned seats and be done with this ridiculous boarding system. It's stressful for "some" and just not necessary. What does it really add?

 

[mrsstats79]

Part of the problem I also believe is the fake preboarders. Which now you will see even more of.

I also wish they would just go to assigned seating.

I will also be down grading my credit card - which pays you back for EB. No sense paying the extra fee for the card when the perks they offer are no longer available.

 

[bookgirl]

According to a "leaked" memo, SW is going to cut back on EBCI availability. It's on the internet, so it must be true...
https://viewfromthewing.com/scoop-s...onger-sell-early-bird-check-in-for-all-trips/

I always got EBCI, then I got old and I got cancer. Now I pre-board so I don't actually care about it anymore. I do have some status with SW, mostly because of the Rewards CC but that only gives you 2 free EBCI a year (because I'm on a lower reward tier) and you don't get to choose when you get those, it just kicks in the first time you buy EBCI. I could see that being a bigger perk if you got to save those 2 Free ones for an $80 vs $25 cost.

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

You've been lucky because I have been on enough SW flights where families get separated complain and expect other people to move seats. I don't take chances like that so I buy it every time and I'm never been outside the early B group.

They should just move to assigned seats and be done with this ridiculous boarding system. It's stressful for "some" and just not necessary. What does it really add?

It's more efficient ... but even this old mythbusters video concedes it's the least-liked.

 

[DLgal]

They shouldn't let people who purchase the cheapest fare buy EBCI, period.

 

[reddog21]

It's more efficient ... but even this old mythbusters video concedes it's the least-liked.

so what's more important, customer satisfaction or boarding a plane saving a whole 10 minutes?

I purposely avoid SW unless the cost saving is substantial

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

so what's more important, customer satisfaction or boarding a plane saving a whole 10 minutes?

I purposely avoid SW unless the cost saving is substantial

The boarding process really doesn't bother me that much and I haven't personally had an issue when I've flown SW.

You asked what the boarding process adds, I provided an answer. You are free to avoid them, but this is a SW-related thread. I find their customer service superior to most other US-based carriers and their planes often more comfortable (unless you're flying first or biz). Customer satisfaction is about more than the boarding process.

And as with all airlines, YMMW. I don't really care enough to get too off topic here and veer into an argument about the merits of SW or whatever. One of my best friends avoids them at all costs. I'll take them over UA or AA, depending on the flight, cost, etc. To each their own!

 

[pens4821]

I flew SW exclusively for many years. Ive always purchased ebci and was always in A. Then in 2019 we got B in Orlando. We all still got to sit together, but it was annoying that I paid for it and they let families board before us. I don’t mind if I’m not with my family, but we are all bigger people and it’s just more comfortable to be with each other and not making others cramped. This summer I decided to fly them on a flight home from Denver. I purchased ebci and we were at the very end of A (one of us was b1 but we all boarded with a).

I can see why they’d just do away with it. This last time has turned me away from flying southwest. It’s silly to pay extra to board early, and not guaranteed to board before others who didn’t pay for it. I’m sure people who paid for ebci were on mid to late b because we booked ours not long after release. I don’t know the answer, but they shouldn’t let families on until all ebci have boarded. But then you’re going to stop in the middle of a group and more people would buy it I guess.

We always liked the luggage being free, but we make due with carry ons (we don’t mind doing laundry on vacation). As much as a always liked SW I don’t see me going out of my way to fly them again. I’ll spend a little extra to know where I’m going to be sitting.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They shouldn't let people who purchase the cheapest fare buy EBCI, period.

Why not? Do you know how EBCI works? When you purchase at the lowest fare you are put in the lowest priority. In additional those who purchase WGA+ (which is a new fare category as of last year) with EBCI are put ahead of those who purchase WGA with EBCI.

Someone who purchased Anytime Fare was always no matter when they purchased it (well okay so long as it was at least 36 hours in advance) ahead of someone who purchased WGA with EBCI.

And not to point out the obvious but you would basically be wanting a policy where WGA+ is the only fare you could purchase EBCI because Anytime Fare have been getting it included since last year.

Based on your comments I'm not confident you fly enough with SWA to know how they operate

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I flew SW exclusively for many years. Ive always purchased ebci and was always in A. Then in 2019 we got B in Orlando. We all still got to sit together, but it was annoying that I paid for it and they let families board before us. I don’t mind if I’m not with my family, but we are all bigger people and it’s just more comfortable to be with each other and not making others cramped. This summer I decided to fly them on a flight home from Denver. I purchased ebci and we were at the very end of A (one of us was b1 but we all boarded with a).

I can see why they’d just do away with it. This last time has turned me away from flying southwest. It’s silly to pay extra to board early, and not guaranteed to board before others who didn’t pay for it. I’m sure people who paid for ebci were on mid to late b because we booked ours not long after release. I don’t know the answer, but they shouldn’t let families on until all ebci have boarded. But then you’re going to stop in the middle of a group and more people would buy it I guess.

We always liked the luggage being free, but we make due with carry ons (we don’t mind doing laundry on vacation). As much as a always liked SW I don’t see me going out of my way to fly them again. I’ll spend a little extra to know where I’m going to be sitting.

I think your point is more what I see SWA doing this for-the family boarding issues and why I think their plan isn't to start with flat out removing it but rather scaling back on which routes they sell it for.

Yes it's a monetizing strategy because Anytime Fare and Business Select cost more but on the other hand I think the more recent push from the government with respects to Family Boarding/seating together even though SWA was exempt from it may have them seeing issues depending on their routes as the number of people who get added to Family Boarding it reduces the benefits to EBCI.

Everyone needs to remember SWA already throttles the number of tickets in each types of fare they sell. They will also sell a certain number of tickets for a certain price before increasing that even within fare classes. I've never seen it mentioned if anyone knows just how many WGA fares SWA opts to sell for this flight or that flight or how many Anytime Fares they sell. There are only 15 tickets period for Business Select on any give flight. If you're on the main SWA thread and you've been on it long enough you'll see where WGA fares become unavailable and then become available again most often with the assumption SWA is selling those higher fares until they see the purchasing of tickets slow down enough to open back up WGA.

In some ways it could very well be SWA not wanting to erode the EBCI produce too much further for certain routes they see based on the passengers themselves.

 

[EACarlson]

You can't allow any of the 128 for the 737 or 160 for the 738 and Max passengers to buy EBCI that wants to and then allow family boarding. On some of these flights you'd be effectively moving family boarding back to C and I'm sure causing all kinds of issues.
@reddog21 10 minutes fewer boarding can add another run for the plane by the end of the day. That's a significant amount of revenue. The practice dates back to when SW was an intra Texas airline and carries on now more out of tradition.
The number of WGA or WGA+ fares is a sliding scale depending on what they think they can sell. If they thought they could sell 160 full fare anytime tickets, that's all they would sell. When they aren't sure, that's when you see the sky high release day fares and no WGA. Then they'll assess demand and open the lower fare buckets.

 

[Dznypal]

wonder what this will do if you already bought tickets and paid for EBCI
I just bought our tickets for wdw going in Jan

I am not a fan of family boarding--its not like the parents dont have a choice--you want to sit together you pay for either EBCI or an airline where you pay to pick your seats

I know this is not a popular response but it does push everyone back that paid for EBCI--either that or the airline has strictly enforce child under 6 with one parent--not the whole traveling party

either that or the last few rows are for family boarding