SW making changes to EBCI?

[sponica]

I couldn't keep up with all 3 pages, but I know that people don't like the open seating. I'd rather deal with that than the stupid gate crowders on the other lines. SW, everyone lines up orderly and politely and it's super calm. Even on the plane (which my mom used to jokingly call a bus with wings) you just dealt with it.

I fly on other lines, where everyone has assigned seats and nobody can line up nicely, everyone crowds the gate to get overhead space and I find that more claustrophobic.

 

[Smugpugmug]

If Southwest allowed families with children under 6 to preboard before the A group I would most likely swith to another airline at that point. We typically use Southwest to fly to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale and those flights are always packed with small children. We would never be able to sit together if they adopted that policy.

I didn't see anything like that proposed in the article you quoted but I agree for Orlando flights. You would have to be forced to buy Business Select at that point.

 

[reddog21]

I couldn't keep up with all 3 pages, but I know that people don't like the open seating. I'd rather deal with that than the stupid gate crowders on the other lines. SW, everyone lines up orderly and politely and it's super calm. Even on the plane (which my mom used to jokingly call a bus with wings) you just dealt with it.

I fly on other lines, where everyone has assigned seats and nobody can line up nicely, everyone crowds the gate to get overhead space and I find that more claustrophobic.

This has nothing to do with open seating but more to do with everyone bringing on a carryon because they don't want to pay to check a bag. SW does do a good job with grouping people in there respective boarding group to form a line.

Also keep in mind that SW generally operates smaller planes then most airlines so there will be less people waiting
in line.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This has nothing to do with open seating but more to do with everyone bringing on a carryon because they don't want to pay to check a bag. SW does do a good job with grouping people in there respective boarding group to form a line.

Also keep in mind that SW generally operates smaller planes then most airlines so there will be less people waiting
in line.

SWA planes have around 143-170-ish passengers per plane and they tend to be full nearly all the time. You don't like SWA, that's great, maybe just stop flying them even if they are the cheapest.

Gate crowding has always been a thing with other airlines. Gate crowding still occurred on our Athens to Heathrow flight (on a plane very much like SWA with 3X3) despite the fact that they checked carry ons for free (supposedly due to a full flight that wasn't full) and the people who had nothing in their hands still crowded, shoved people around, hovered over everyone and actually were the ones I saw popping up to be at the zone boarding signs before anyone else. The way that other airlines do it just sorta encourages this due to how they board.

 

[EACarlson]

This has nothing to do with open seating but more to do with everyone bringing on a carryon because they don't want to pay to check a bag. SW does do a good job with grouping people in there respective boarding group to form a line.

Also keep in mind that SW generally operates smaller planes then most airlines so there will be less people waiting
in line.

Agree with your first point, completely disagree with the second. SW operates an all 737 fleet with three different variations. The 737 is the most popular plane for US Domestic flying. The two larger versions the -800 and Max8 have an almost exact same number of seats as the next most common, the Airbus A321. I just flew an AA 737-800 from DCA to ORD on Thursday, I had to push through people to get to the desk when my group was called. Very rarely is this an issue on SW, but is an almost every flight occurrence on every mainline flight of the legacies.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I'm not getting how this is new. I've already had flights where I wasn't able to add ECBI. Now, I don't buy it in at the time I book, I just opt for the purchase after I've gotten my boarding position and I was worried about overhead bin space and wanted to move up but this seems about the same as that. I've never really understood the concern over who you sit by on a plane. This isn't people you are having to work with or live with, it's on a plane for an hour or two. Stick head phones on and sit. You'll be with the people you do live with when you land, LOL
I always say, I'm on vacation with my family, I live with my family, I love them and all but we can survive apart for a flight.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I couldn't keep up with all 3 pages, but I know that people don't like the open seating. I'd rather deal with that than the stupid gate crowders on the other lines. SW, everyone lines up orderly and politely and it's super calm. Even on the plane (which my mom used to jokingly call a bus with wings) you just dealt with it.

I fly on other lines, where everyone has assigned seats and nobody can line up nicely, everyone crowds the gate to get overhead space and I find that more claustrophobic.

I've always thought Southwests process worked well for that reason too. Assigned seats is a much more free for all when boarding. I like the line up in numerical order with SW. It's why I have never gotten the hate some have for it. Cattle call boarding is just rough sometimes. People are getting hateful about getting on that plane these days. Elbows fly

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I've already had flights where I wasn't able to add ECBI.

When have you ever experienced where you're more than 36 hours out, not an A-lister or purchased Business Select or more recently Anytime Fares and unable to purchase EBCI?

Upgraded Boarding yes that has been the case where you couldn't purchase it if there are no longer slots available

 

[reddog21]

SWA planes have around 143-170-ish passengers per plane and they tend to be full nearly all the time. You don't like SWA, that's great, maybe just stop flying them even if they are the cheapest.

I don't hate SW never said I did, I just don't like there boarding process. If there the cheapest then that's who I fly with.

 

[focusondisney]

I'm not getting how this is new. I've already had flights where I wasn't able to add ECBI. Now, I don't buy it in at the time I book, I just opt for the purchase after I've gotten my boarding position and I was worried about overhead bin space and wanted to move up but this seems about the same as that.

Early Bird Check In (EBCI) is never purchased after you have your boarding position. With EBCI you get “checked in” at 36 hours, so purchasing it after you already checked yourself is just can’t happen. Maybe you’re referring to Upgraded Boarding, which gets you an A 1 - 15 spot if available. EBCI & Upgraded Boarding are 2 different things. But Upgraded Boarding may not be available if all 15 spots were sold as Business Select, or if others purchased before you. There are obviously only 15 spots so availability will vary quite a bit.

 

[EACarlson]

I'm not getting how this is new. I've already had flights where I wasn't able to add ECBI. Now, I don't buy it in at the time I book, I just opt for the purchase after I've gotten my boarding position and I was worried about overhead bin space and wanted to move up but this seems about the same as that.

That's not EBCI, that is upgraded boarding and is limited to 15 minus the number of Business Select fares sold.

 

[reddog21]

Agree with your first point, completely disagree with the second. SW operates an all 737 fleet with three different variations. The 737 is the most popular plane for US Domestic flying. The two larger versions the -800 and Max8 have an almost exact same number of seats as the next most common, the Airbus A321. I just flew an AA 737-800 from DCA to ORD on Thursday, I had to push through people to get to the desk when my group was called. Very rarely is this an issue on SW, but is an almost every flight occurrence on every mainline flight of the legacies.

The 737-700 is the smallest plane that Boeing makes with a capacity of 143 and Southwest is the largest carrier of that plane by far(domestically). Southwest launched on the motto of small planes small cities so it would make sense they operate the smallest fleet in regards to passenger size. SW has there next shipment of planes to be larger than the 737-700 but I don't see them changing what they do by much. I don't think people take enough stock in the fact that the boarding experience on SW is better because in most not all cases the planes are smaller and quicker to board. It doesn't hurt that they don't charge for checked bags so more people tend to carry less on board.

I don't have brand loyalty so it's really the cost of the flight that determines who I fly with except I don't' fly those ultra low cost carriers(spirit).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't hate SW never said I did, I just don't like there boarding process. If there the cheapest then that's who I fly with.

Well you could have fooled me. Really, all your comments are about this or that against SWA. Plenty of people don't fly the cheapest because they don't find xyz to be to their liking. I mean I wouldn't fly Spirit even if they are the cheapest because I'm not into their airline (and according to my husband the seats are super uncomfortable). I know others like Spirit (or at least don't have an issue with them) and it's totally fine. But you seem to be under certain impressions about how SWA flying goes and enough people are telling you no it's actually...

I don't think people take enough stock in the fact that the boarding experience on SW is better because in most not all cases the planes are smaller and quicker to board.

Like this....our 500+ person flight on BA actually boarded relatively quick for that many passengers, by this I mean after we were past the gate agents and making our way on the physical plane. We were dreading how it would be but part of why it went well was because they had 3 jet bridges (2 for below, 1 for the top level). However their process was still just blobs of people and that was not fun. People were shoving, congregating in such a small space, children who were supposed to board first their parents struggling to get through the mass of people. Many people couldn't hear unless you were right there at the gate agent calling out zones. The boarding process was fine, the congregating and unpleasantness at the gate is something I've always experienced with other airlines. Stop trying to make it like SWA is just this piddly little airline

 

[EACarlson]

The 737-700 is the smallest plane that Boeing makes with a capacity of 143 and Southwest is the largest carrier of that plane by far(domestically). Southwest launched on the motto of small planes small cities so it would make sense they operate the smallest fleet in regards to passenger size. SW has there next shipment of planes to be larger than the 737-700 but I don't see them changing what they do by much. I don't think people take enough stock in the fact that the boarding experience on SW is better because in most not all cases the planes are smaller and quicker to board. It doesn't hurt that they don't charge for checked bags so more people tend to carry less on board.

I don't have brand loyalty so it's really the cost of the flight that determines who I fly with except I don't' fly those ultra low cost carriers(spirit).

Half of the planes in the SW fleet are 738 or Max8 planes, that percentage is continually going up as the -700s are replaced with Max8s. Compare apples and apples. It takes 40 minutes for AA or DL to load up a 738 with fewer seats than the SW version that takes 30. That's a 25% reduction in boarding time.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Half of the planes in the SW fleet are 738 or Max8 planes, that percentage is continually going up as the -700s are replaced with Max8s. Compare apples and apples. It takes 40 minutes for AA or DL to load up a 738 with fewer seats than the SW version that takes 30. That's a 25% reduction in boarding time.

The most recent corporate media report on SWA’s fleet is here.

419 737-700s with 143 passenger capacity.
207 737-800s with 175 passenger capacity.
167 737-Max8s with 175 passenger capacity.

More Max8s coming online and 700s being retired as time goes on.

 

[reddog21]

Well you could have fooled me. Really, all your comments are about this or that against SWA. Plenty of people don't fly the cheapest because they don't find xyz to be to their liking. I mean I wouldn't fly Spirit even if they are the cheapest because I'm not into their airline (and according to my husband the seats are super uncomfortable). I know others like Spirit (or at least don't have an issue with them) and it's totally fine. But you seem to be under certain impressions about how SWA flying goes and enough people are telling you no it's actually...

I have probably flown SW more than any other airline because near me there's 2 airports a small domestic only and a larger int'l I prefer the small airport and SW is the only direct flight out of there to Orlando. My wife refuses to take a flight that connects unless that's the only option.

If I came out like I don't like SW that wasn't my intention, I just despise the boarding process that's it. I find there's no need for it and if it's so much better than other airlines would adopt the same method.

If they add more people to the pre-boarding process it's going to be a joke(I read some non confirmed news SW was looking to increase pre-boarding to age 13 and under). Family boarding between groups A-B shouldn't even be a thing.
I get trying to keep the family together but almost everyone flying to Orlando has children.

Once your up in the air it's all the same, personally I feel backseat TV works better than there WIFI option on SW but that's not a deal breaker for me. If I was flying a cross country flight than maybe it would matter but most of our flights are under 3hrs so impact is minimal.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I have probably flown SW more than any other airline because near me there's 2 airports a small domestic only and a larger int'l I prefer the small airport and SW is the only direct flight out of there to Orlando. My wife refuses to take a flight that connects unless that's the only option.

If I came out like I don't like SW that wasn't my intention, I just despise the boarding process that's it. I find there's no need for it and if it's so much better than other airlines would adopt the same method.

If they add more people to the pre-boarding process it's going to be a joke(I read some non confirmed news SW was looking to increase pre-boarding to age 13 and under). Family boarding between groups A-B shouldn't even be a thing.
I get trying to keep the family together but almost everyone flying to Orlando has children.

Once your up in the air it's all the same, personally I feel backseat TV works better than there WIFI option on SW but that's not a deal breaker for me. If I was flying a cross country flight than maybe it would matter but most of our flights are under 3hrs so impact is minimal.

You read the information incorrect. Family Boarding was tested to increase from age 6 to age 13. Nothing about pre-boarding, pre-boarding doesn't have anything to do with age, it's about your seating needs. They have tested having families board first but sit only in the back half of the plane. Like I said SWA tests a lot of stuff. They can change whatever they want to but for now their motto has always been about being different. It's the go to advice on the main thread for SWA that if you absolutely need seats together (no matter if it's children or not) go ahead and book a different airline.

Here's what I'm reading for you---square peg round hole. Not every airline works for every person. Personally having spent $320 for two people just for one flight for exit rows seats I'm annoyed at having to spend money just for the pleasure of selecting my seat but you know sometimes that's how it is.

 

[han22735]

Here's a data point. Our flight tomorrow PVD-MCO...I purchased EBCI at release day. Just checked my boarding position and its B20-22 so that's pretty crappy to have paid $75 and been that high. There's no way 65 tickets were booked quicker than me within minutes of the released flight.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Which fare type did you purchase?

 

[han22735]

wanna get away so I get there's some that bought the other fares ahead of us. But we have neverrrrrrr had that bad of boarding groups. Even when not buying EBCI this has to be the highest. Luckily I have the premier card and upgraded our tickets to A9-11 for free.