SW question

[makwis]

My husband and 4 kids (15, 11, 8, 4) and my brother are flying down from Milwaukee on May 3rd. I didnt buy EBCI at the time I booked my flights a month ago. Now I'm worried that my kids won't be able to sit by at least one of us. I'm under no expectations that we will all sit together. My kids have never flown before and are nervous about it. My question is if I buy EBCI now will it even make a difference? I regret not doing it at first especially now I've read some threads about kids sitting with strangers. Kicking myself....

 

[Jestocost]

My husband and 4 kids (15, 11, 8, 4) and my brother are flying down from Milwaukee on May 3rd. I didnt buy EBCI at the time I booked my flights a month ago. Now I'm worried that my kids won't be able to sit by at least one of us. I'm under no expectations that we will all sit together. My kids have never flown before and are nervous about it. My question is if I buy EBCI now will it even make a difference? I regret not doing it at first especially now I've read some threads about kids sitting with strangers. Kicking myself....

If you buy EBCI now you will be checked in 12 hours ahead of when you otherwise would have been checked in and 12 hours before anyone else boarding at your airport who didn't purchase EBCI. Realistically, that could mean that you get the same seats you would have without EBCI or that you get a decent bump up in the order.

There are a lot of variables that could come into play--is your flight starting at MKE or did it originate somewhere else and stop there, are there a lot of connecting passengers in MKE, etc.--and make a difference in the availability of seats. If this is the first flight out early in the morning and isn't coming in from somewhere else, for example, you'll almost certainly be in good shape without EBCI.

Without EBCI you'll definitely want to check in at EXACTLY 24 hours before your departure to get the lowest possible numbers. Chances are you should be able to find at least a few blocks of two around the plane; especially in the back. If you do wind up with B-group passes you also can have your four year old board with you or your DH during family boarding after the A group.

 

[makwis]

Is there a way to know if my flight is coming from somewhere first?

 

[Minnesota!]

What time are you flying out at? Typically, super early flights will not have come from elsewhere. You can look up flight numbers on Flightaware.com and on the SW site.

 

[focusondisney]

FYI, you will be eligible for family boarding with the 4 year old if you don't get A boarding positions. It happens between A & B boarding. I wouldn't expect the whole family to be allowed on, but it should be fine to take the 8 year old with a parent & the 4 year old. The others might need to sit alone, but at least the younger 2 should be with a parent.

There have been rare reports of suspended family boarding, but that is unusual.

 

[makwis]

Thank you to everyone for their help. Our flight leaves at 945am. I must be a complete idiot but can you only check your flight a couple days before on flightaware.com? I do's but EBCI Tia morning for our flight home so now I'm only sweating for our first flight.

 

[DopeyDame]

Doing ECBI now will still mean that you get to check in before the vast majority of the plane. It would eliminate your stress and basically guarantee that you will all be able to sit together with at least someone else from your party, and most likely that you'll all be able to sit together. I'm not sure why the fact that you didn't do it when you first bought the tickets means that you don't want to do it now.

On a flight to Orlando there are typically tons of families that board between A and B. So while a B is usually just fine on Southwest, on Orlando flights it can mean you might have some problems. So if you absolutely must have the 11 and 15 year old sitting next to someone they know, I'd go ahead and get the ECBI.

 

[maxiesmom]

Why did you not buy EBCI for your first flight? Wouldn't that be better than worrying about it?

 

[BabiesDaddy]

I'd book it for yourself, the 4 & 8 year old. Let everyone else fend for themselves. Its your best chance at starting off the trip in good spirits.

 

[Shanti]

My husband and 4 kids (15, 11, 8, 4) and my brother are flying down from Milwaukee on May 3rd. I didnt buy EBCI at the time I booked my flights a month ago. Now I'm worried that my kids won't be able to sit by at least one of us. I'm under no expectations that we will all sit together. My kids have never flown before and are nervous about it. My question is if I buy EBCI now will it even make a difference? I regret not doing it at first especially now I've read some threads about kids sitting with strangers. Kicking myself....

Yes, it will help. Get EBCI.