Yet another SW and EBCI boarding question...

[Pirate Dad]

Sorry in advance but I couldn't find the answer to my exact questions so I was hoping some Disboard faithful may help... without getting too annoyed!

Last year I paid for EBCI for myself and my family. On departure morning I found my boarding passes hanging on my door (A's). This year I'd rather not pay for the EBCI (and spend the $50 on something in the parks instead). So my questions are as follows:

1) Will resort check-in (staying at POR) check me in online and leave my BP's hanging on my door again? (I'm assuming I'd have to prearrange this with them?)

2) If the naswer to 1) is "yes", do they do this pretty close to the 24-hour mark? If not I'll try to get to guest services and do it myself.


** Thanks in advance; and this is not a question about the merits of EBCI.

 

[Lewisc]

This service isn't promoted and isn't guaranteed. I've read, but not confirmed, that when RAC gets BPs for Southwest the process is automated and generally gets the BPs slightly before the 24 window opens up.

 

[Jestocost]

I agree with Lewisc. While there have been some reports that IF you use DME on the way in to WDW that RAC is SUPPOSED TO check you in at around T24 and some posters have indicated that it has happened for them. However, there's nothing official on that and I have seen nothing that would give me enough confidence to rely on that happening. You're better off to use EBCI or to arrange to get yourself checked in at the 24-hour mark, IMO.

 

[goofy4tink]

No, it will not be automatic. We have used SW to fly home multiple times....both using EBCI as well as not. We have yet to have anything left for us. We have always had to go down to RAC and get ourselves checked in. Yes, when using EBCI, our boarding passes were automatically 'done' by SW, but RAC just printed them out and handed them to us when we got there to check our bags. BPs have never been left at our room.

If you choose not to do EBCI, I would recommend heading to Guest Services in a park at that 24 hr window and get yourselves checked in. Or, the front desk at your resort.

 

[Sugardimples]

The last time we were there (Feb 2011) I forgot to check in at the 24 hour mark. As we are just 2 adults traveling, I didn't fret too much and thought I'd just do it in the morning. When the ME envelope showed up, we had been checked in and our boarding passes printed.

 

[Jestocost]

The last time we were there (Feb 2011) I forgot to check in at the 24 hour mark. As we are just 2 adults traveling, I didn't fret too much and thought I'd just do it in the morning. When the ME envelope showed up, we had been checked in and out boarding passes printed.

As noted earlier, there are a number of reports from DISers who have had this happen and it certainly was a benefit in your situation. However, this is not an advertised service and it doesn't appear to happen all of the time, so my recommendation remains that you use EBCI or arrange to check yourselves in at T24.

 

[Rpsemont]

The other option is to ask someone at home (or anywhere for that matter) to check you in. If you know someone who is able to be at a computer at the 24 hours mark, all you have to do is maybe call and remind them.

Then you can have the front desk print the passes whenever. If WDW is also checking you in, it's no matter. You can't "check in" twice. Whoever gets the boarding numbers first, eveyone that follow will just get reprints of those numbers.

Since I am anal about checking in at 24 hours (Not 23 hours 59 minutes) I always make sure either me or someone I know is trying to click through at 24 hours 1 minute and continues until the passes are done.