SW making changes to EBCI?

[RedHead0186]

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

I'm guessing they'll honor it. It doesn't say they're getting rid of EBCI, just that it'll be limited on certain flights. So I'm guessing as of August 15 we may see EBCI not available for some flights. But if you already purchased it I hope they'll honor it (otherwise they're going to be doing a loooooooot of refunds, lol). But I guess we'll see in a few days...

 

[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.

If it’s so much better why is it the only airline in the world that boards this way? We’re in a copy cat world and if it brings in extra revenue then all airlines would do it. Like charging for luggage, it started with American airlines then caught on to just about every other airline.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If it’s so much better why is it the only airline in the world that boards this way? We’re in a copy cat world and if it brings in extra revenue then all airlines would do it. Like charging for luggage, it started with American airlines then caught on to just about every other airline.

Well it's also the only airline that I know of that has an open seating policy. SWA's whole thing is about being that outlier. The one that includes 2 checked bags for free, the one that doesn't have change fees, etc. So your question is a bit moot about "why are they only airline" as the answer will be "because that's how SWA likes it" (presently that is).

But boarding does tend to go pretty smooth IME. People like yourself who don't like SWA as you stated avoid it when ever possible. But it has been shown over time that SWA's process is indeed faster other than what I've seen mentioned where they board every window seat, then every middle seat, then every aisle seat. Frequent SWA passengers don't seem to mind the boarding process, it's the infrequent ones who are more used to other airlines that gripe the loudest. What Boarding position someone gets isn't the same as discussing efficiency in a boarding process or seating policy.

 

[EACarlson]

If it’s so much better why is it the only airline in the world that boards this way? We’re in a copy cat world and if it brings in extra revenue then all airlines would do it. Like charging for luggage, it started with American airlines then caught on to just about every other airline.

The practice isn't necessarily better, it's more efficient. There are many, many times in life that we choose the less efficient methods for various reasons. Saving a few minutes isn't going to be all that big a deal on a 5 hour transcon, it can make a difference on a 30 minute from Houston to San Antonio. Other European airlines used to board the same way, they changed over the last few years due to customer complaints. Now they operate like Spirit or Frontier. Traveling solo, I don't mind SW. Now that my kids have aged out of family boarding, I would probably prefer another carrier for family trips.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

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

Agreed.

 

[Smugpugmug]

The hunger games fight during the boarding process is why I only fly Southwest if the cost is significantly lower than other airlines. I get why people like Southwest's boarding process but it personally gives me so much stress.

 

[focusondisney]

I get why people like Southwest's boarding process but it personally gives me so much stress.

Me too! Unfortunately only SW & Jetblue fly nonstops from my city. SW usually has better prices, especially with checked luggage. So we usually fly SW but boarding really is stressful for me.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Me too! Unfortunately only SW & Jetblue fly nonstops from my city. SW usually has better prices, especially with checked luggage. So we usually fly SW but boarding really is stressful for me.

My options are Southwest and United for Orlando nonstops. Sometimes United is cheaper so I opt for them just to have a seat assignment. I understand it takes longer to board but I like knowing that I don't have to deal with seat savers and whatever else.

 

[georgina]

The hunger games fight during the boarding process is why I only fly Southwest if the cost is significantly lower than other airlines. I get why people like Southwest's boarding process but it personally gives me so much stress.

I haven’t seen it as a hunger games fight in many years, since they began to assign boarding numbers. I find it very orderly. Flying out of DCA to Milwaukee a few days ago there was a surprising amount (20-25?) of people who got on before the A group - guessing military but they were not in uniform. We had high Bs and even with family boarders ahead of us found 2 seats together easily.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I haven’t seen it as a hunger games fight in many years, since they began to assign boarding numbers. I find it very orderly. Flying out of DCA to Milwaukee a few days ago there was a surprising amount (20-25?) of people who got on before the A group - guessing military but they were not in uniform. We had high Bs and even with family boarders ahead of us found 2 seats together easily.

The main hunger games fights I've witnessed are where people saved seats on the plane. I've seen a few arguments that I'm glad didn't escalate further.

 

[Boopuff]

I think family boarding is a big issue at MCO and I know that affects where you end up. We usually get EB and we make sure to get it traveling to/from MCO. Other trips we don't bother. I have seen the family boarding line extend forever... and the FA telling families that "no, grandma/grandpa/aunts/uncles/ cousins can't board". I've also seen families with teens try to use family boarding (politely turned away) I think SW has to find a good balance between family boarding and EB maybe this new policy is the answer.

 

[jenjersnap]

The main hunger games fights I've witnessed are where people saved seats on the plane. I've seen a few arguments that I'm glad didn't escalate further.

I have flown SW 12 times this year and the seat saving has gotten dramatically worse recently. I’ve never actually witnessed anyone asserting their right to any open seat yet but I can easily see an argument or worse happening. Flying DEN-MDW in July we had A39 and 40 and row 21 was the first row with 2 seats together that weren’t “taken” when we asked. There were just a few preboarders on that flight too.

I would like to see SW stop allowing just one person on a reservation to purchase EBCI. Require everyone on that reservation to buy it or everyone to forgo it. I know some will just book separately, but it might help with this problem at least a little. With this change (of limiting EBCI), making people feel like they have to pay for one Anytime fare to save seats for the rest of their family might actually make the situation (and entitlement on their part) even worse?

Anyway, I am surprised they would limit their EBCI cash cow.

 

[Leigh L]

On a spring 2022 SW flight between DCA and MCO, there were at least 3 to 4 rows (both sides) reserved by 2 to 3 people who placed jackets, bags, and whatever else they had on them across some seats. DD and I were sitting directly behind them and they appeared to tell people who tried to sit in the other empty seats that they were taken.

They boarded right before my DD and I did (A positions with EBCI) but the rest of their extremely large party boarded during family boarding. (We counted 20-something people.) This was the worst case of seat-saving I've ever witnessed for pretty much anything, never mind in a plane.

Much prefer United (and when Jet Blue is reliable but doesn't seem to be the case lately), but prices are very high in comparison to SW for our dates, so we're going with SW this year.

 

[Lsdolphin]

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.

It’s so upsetting to see posts like yours when I am someone who has had to use the pre- boarding and feel horrible doing so…I also pay for the EBCI out of guilt In addition to tipping who ever has to push me in a wheel chair through security and to the gate which is usually either at the very end of concourse B or C at BWI airport. I use a cane and can walk short distances but slowly. I never take a bulkhead seat or sit in exit rows and although I can board early I always depart from plane last so as not to hold others up. I’m embarrassed at using the pre boarding but more uncomfortable waiting in the regular que and then hobbling down to the plane with other passengers piled up behind me. I’m not sure how many people who don’t need to would even want to pre board with everyone looking at them and knowing what they must be thinking.

 

[jo-jo]

I have flown SW 12 times this year and the seat saving has gotten dramatically worse recently. I’ve never actually witnessed anyone asserting their right to any open seat yet but I can easily see an argument or worse happening. Flying DEN-MDW in July we had A39 and 40 and row 21 was the first row with 2 seats together that weren’t “taken” when we asked. There were just a few preboarders on that flight too.

I would like to see SW stop allowing just one person on a reservation to purchase EBCI. Require everyone on that reservation to buy it or everyone to forgo it. I know some will just book separately, but it might help with this problem at least a little. With this change (of limiting EBCI), making people feel like they have to pay for one Anytime fare to save seats for the rest of their family might actually make the situation (and entitlement on their part) even worse?

Anyway, I am surprised they would limit their EBCI cash cow.

A few years ago, I saw a dad sitting in aisle and baby in car seat in window. Later mom came on, got middle.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

It’s so upsetting to see posts like yours when I am someone who has had to use the pre- boarding and feel horrible doing so…I also pay for the EBCI out of guilt In addition to tipping who ever has to push me in a wheel chair through security and to the gate which is usually either at the very end of concourse B or C at BWI airport. I use a cane and can walk short distances but slowly. I never take a bulkhead seat or sit in exit rows and although I can board early I always depart from plane last so as not to hold others up. I’m embarrassed at using the pre boarding but more uncomfortable waiting in the regular que and then hobbling down to the plane with other passengers piled up behind me. I’m not sure how many people who don’t need to would even want to pre board with everyone looking at them and knowing what they must be thinking.

Don't feel bad for preboarding. It's the reason it was created. To aid customers who have the need for extra time that would otherwise cause those boarding to become backed-up or impatient. Our family also utilizes preboarding. My DD22 has ASD, ID, and a severe peanut allergy. I preboard with my daughter so that we can find an empty row, stow our carry-ons, and I wipe down all of the trays, seats, etc. so that she has a safe zone for her allergy. My DD25 and DH purchase EBCI and board later whenever their group is called. By the time they reach us, I have finished wiping everything down, DD25 sits in the 3rd seat with DD22 and myself, and DH just finds an empty seat near us on the aisle or exit row since he is tall. I get lots of dirty looks and have even heard a few rude passengers loudly contesting to a few SW employees that DD and I are preboarding. Not every disability is visible and it's really none of the other passengers' business. The SW employees know why we are boarding early and the flight attendants often comment on how organized and thorough I am at cleaning. A few have even double checked with me to make sure I have daughter's meds with me because they can't guarantee other passengers won't be eating peanuts. (I carry 4 epipens and benedryl for emergencies) Any problems or snide remarks from other passengers are their problem and not yours. Let their attitude ruin their plane trip and not yours.

 

[Jimsig]

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.

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

@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.

SWA contends that by boarding this way they do on average get one more trip a day out of an aircraft then other airlines. Therefore they contend by making more money pre-aircraft per day they can help to keep costs down to the consumer in terms of things such as lower fares and not charging for luggage.

Some would argue that as much as people don't like the boarding process they dislike higher fares even more.

 

[FCDub]

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?

They don’t need to move to assigned seats. If you want an assigned seat, there are plenty of other airlines that offer that. I don’t go to an Italian restaurant and complain that they don’t serve tacos. Because I chose an Italian restaurant.

 

[Lewisc]

Excluding bin issues pax with assigned seats have no reason to get to the gate early and to board early. SW pax are motivated to do what it takes to board early.

SWA contends that by boarding this way they do on average get one more trip a day out of an aircraft then other airlines. Therefore they contend by making more money pre-aircraft per day they can help to keep costs down to the consumer in terms of things such as lower fares and not charging for luggage.

Some would argue that as much as people don't like the boarding process they dislike higher fares even more.

That was true years ago when most of their flights were short. Southwest started by offering flights within Texas. Faster boarding allowed an extra flight. Southwest originally avoided busy airports.

Frontier loads quickly. Bin bags cost more then checked bags. The doors are scheduled to close 15 minutes before scheduled departure. Advantage dissappears as the day goes on.
I

 

[MinnieMSue]

We fly southwest because every other airline from where I live other than spirit and frontier costs significantly more and is not direct. We purchase early bird. We don’t need to sit together but I am not going to sit in a middle seat with strangers if I can help it. We usually sit across the aisle from each other so two couples can sit beside us. We have gotten B boarding positions once and I admit to feeling salty about it. We almost always purchase as soon as flights drop to help with our position and typically are in A 20’s to 40’s. I actually hope they are trying to eliminate early bird purchasers from being in B group but have no idea if that is the case. I didn’t complain since I know they don’t guarantee a a good boarding position since it is literally just early check in but let’s be real, that is why everyone purchases it. I don’t have the time to memory to be on the computer at exactly 24 hr to do checkin either. I guess we will know soon what the real intention is with limiting purchases and to see if they really do. Once a family with teens was talking to us because they didn’t understand how SW works and had C boarding group. They heard them mention family boarding and said they were going to do that. I said you have to have little kids to do that. Well somehow they got permission to board family and proudly told us when they walked past us on the plane to their seats. I guess there are always inconsistencies with boarding procedures. Also lately I have noticed them telling family boarding they have to go to the back of the plane. No idea if they enforce it or not. My last couple of flights were practically empty in July.