Would you?

[jsweeks@cogeco.ca]

Would you pay for a early check in $10.00 each direction, each person for South West airlines? We are a group of 5 with a 12 year old and 9 year old. Have you flown South West? This will be a first time not picking our seats before our flight and I am very nervous that we will not be together. What are your thoughts?

 

[Ted in Halifax]

If this is $10 in total (each way .. total of $20), covering 5 people. Yes I would.

If this was 5 X $10 X 2 ways .... no way. $100 would be better in my wallet.

 

[encinc]

I suppose it depends on how much it would bother you to not be sitting together. I've learned that flights are short and it's not the end of the world if we're not sitting exactly where we want to be sitting. My kids are much younger than yours, and we ended up sitting apart on a Delta flight last year (flights changed so many times and we got separated in the changes). My seven year old was two rows up and across the aisle from me. DH and our five-year-old were together about 10 rows behind us. We managed, and it didn't affect our vacation.

If you check in at exactly 24 hours before your flight, you'll probably get B zone boarding passes, which should allow you to sit together (or at least in groups of 3 and 2). You might be closer to the back of the plane, but I haven't heard of people having trouble getting 2-3 seats together unless they're among the last to board.

That said, if the stress of not knowing your boarding zone is going to be high, that's what EBCI is for. Pay the money and rest assured.

 

[Alderbrook]

We are paying for early check-in & there's 5 of us too. We're only flying with SW one way so it's only $50 but for us it was worth it.

 

[amw]

Last year, I went online EXACTLY 24 hours to the flight, and still ended up well in "B" section. I think a lot of people are either pre-paying or joining thier "business" class which assigns seats.

We still managed to get 4 seats close enough -- all I wanted was 3 together for me and the 2 DDs, and the DH to not be too far away.

I don't think it's a problem since you could probably split 2 and 3 ... but if you're a type-A personality like myself .... well let's just say I'm planning to book Jet Blue this year to avoid the whole process!

 

[Alderbrook]

My cousin flew SW in February with 5 people (4 adults & 1 child) & did not pay for EBCI & they all had seats together, there & back.

 

[Tinkermom76]

we are planning on flying southwest in Dec and I will take my chances on the way to Orlando but doing EBCI for the way home so I don't have to worry about checking in 24 hours before while I am at Disney