Would you get EBCI if you were me?

[clanmcculloch]

I have mild to mid Aspergers (per the psychologist ), and I do not think this is a valid reason for pre-boarding as a medical condition. Maybe the allergies, but I doubt your family would board or sit separately, anyway.

Fellow Aspie (self-diagnosed) who has food allergies and mom of an Aspie with food allergies here. I've been flying exclusively SWA. In all of our flights, we've only gotten the blue sleeve once and that was one time since EBCI where I figured I'd give T-24hr a try and then had computer problems. I'll always use EBCI going forward. I figure I'm the one responsible for ensuring that our needs are met. Our allergies are not contact allergies, only ingestion so I don't have to pre-board to clean our areas (if you need to clean the area then that absolutely is a reason to pre-board because that'll hold up the line). If I wasn't able to take steps to ensure that we sit together then yes I would pre-board because I do have to sit with her. But, I can do something about it so I don't understand why I would ask for an accomodation. An accomodation isn't needed. I can take care of our needs.

That being said, there are times where I've considered that maybe I do need to have the two of us preboard because she's developed OCD over the past couple of year (obsessive compulsive issues beyond just her autism; this is true OCD) and if she sees any evidence of anything she's allergic to on her seat or on the floor where her bag will go then she won't sit or if she sees it after she already sat then she has an anxiety attack so I've considered that having the time to be able to allow her to look over the seat without a line of people behind her might be in everybody's best interest. But, so far, I've been able to get her to look quickly before sitting or clean any mess quickly and work her through the anxiety quickly while the plane is boarding. I'm torn as to what point we should use the blue sleeve. GAs I know would allow it but it's more my own personal issue of not wanting to ask for accomodations when we can take care of her needs on her own (my own needs I can take care of without issue). I guess in a way it is also my issue as I develop anxiety over whether or not she'll have a meltdown and how quickly I can help her through it without disrupting others. For now, we pay for EBCI and make sure that her carryon has things that are calming for her since it's been working.

 

[dudspizza]

Big thumbs up to these posts.........

IMHO if "WE MUST SIT TOGETHER" is an overriding concern then it should be considered when buying tickets. Don't buy tickets on airlines that don't do assigned seating. Don't buy tickets on airlines that do assigned seating and then decide "we won't pay the seat fee" etc.... And once you have bought and paid for those seats WATCH them every few days and make sure the airline didn't change your plane etc....Consider this a cost of your trip just like the tickets to the park.

First, those who feel the responders are not compassionate, need to understand where they are. The Transportation board is straight up information. There generally isn't any fluff on here, so the answers tend to be curt in nature.

In addition, many of these questions have been asked previously. While it is great the OP asked the question, the answer to most all of these questions can be found in other established threads. However, the controversies are stemming from others who tacked onto the initial intent of the thread (should a family with a toddler get Early Bird Check-in). Starting a new thread titled (WN Pre-Boarding with Medical Issues) would have been better for others needing the same information.

Third, many of the posters who responded are well traveled frequent flyers. They have seen how people game the system, heard many of the same arguments multiple times before, and witnessed the results. Some may be very crass to simply make a statement. If it is off-putting or embarrassing, just ask yourself if you would rather be challenged here or at the gate with people giving you the "evil eye" ? These people know the rules, have lots of experience, and should be considered great resources. It isn't personal, and if they didn't want to help, they would not respond and simply let you walk into the pit uninformed.

 

[MHSweb79]

May I respectfully suggest that anyone considering purchasing EBCI actually get them for their entire party?

On my return flight from Orlando last November, we were a party of 3 with regular tickets, mid-B boarding passes. Well, so many people sent ONE of their party ahead with EBCI tickets, who then saved seats (some saving up an entire row- 6 across) that we ended up sitting in the very last row to get 3 seats together. The flight attendants did nothing about the blatant abuse (and this was extreme - I fly SW all the time and usually love it) which made it more annoying.

Our flight in February had no such issues. I do hope SW has addressed this problem -after all, they are losing money if only one person in a party of 6 is paying for the EBCI and all 6 are getting the benefit!

And yes, when my DH and I are flying child-free, we have moved our seats to accommodate a family. Now our DD is 21 so I'd expect her to volunteer to move as well.

 

[phillymummer]

May I respectfully suggest that anyone considering purchasing EBCI actually get them for their entire party?

On my return flight from Orlando last November, we were a party of 3 with regular tickets, mid-B boarding passes. Well, so many people sent ONE of their party ahead with EBCI tickets, who then saved seats (some saving up an entire row- 6 across) that we ended up sitting in the very last row to get 3 seats together. The flight attendants did nothing about the blatant abuse (and this was extreme - I fly SW all the time and usually love it) which made it more annoying.

Our flight in February had no such issues. I do hope SW has addressed this problem -after all, they are losing money if only one person in a party of 6 is paying for the EBCI and all 6 are getting the benefit!

And yes, when my DH and I are flying child-free, we have moved our seats to accommodate a family. Now our DD is 21 so I'd expect her to volunteer to move as well.

I would have gladly paid for EBCI for all three seats if it were available for our two comp tickets. But since they are not eligible, I paid for EBCI for my daughter's ticket and I plan on boarding with her pass and saving one or two seats. All of three of us don't need to sit together, but I want one of us sitting next to my daughter so she doesn't bother a stranger.

 

[TCups4Me]

Well, thanks to this thread and my mother's report of her experience on SW this weekend, I went ahead and bought EBCI for my entire family for both legs of our trip. Yes, I'm a control freak and always checking in at EXACTLY T-24 but I'm also very careful with my money so those 2 characteristics were at odds in this decision. BUT, things have changed in the flying world since we last made the trip to Orlando. Of course we want to sit together but I also like sitting up front - for lots of different reasons. T-24 check-in used to get me both of those but not anymore. So I forked over the $80 tonight and will sleep better for it.