Southwest - Do I need to pay for early check in?

tjmw2727 · Sep 24, 2017

kristenrice said:
I just want to mention this, to give a different perspective...

I had a flight with a connection and I bought the ticket with EBCI within a few days of when the flights were released. There was a delay on the first leg of the connection and when I made it to the gate for the second flight, boarding had already begun and I got on the plane way past my A-group boarding number. So just because a parent/child board the plane late and they ask for folks to move so that a parent can sit by their child, it should not automatically be assumed that they did not buy EBCI.

Except when you just spent 45 minutes with that parent/child/family in the boarding area - in which case I do have to wonder why they didn't even board with family boarding never mind purchase EBCI. Happens more often that you would think unfortunately.

JeanfromBNA · Sep 24, 2017

Music City Mama said:
Not exactly, I never said anything about switching with people who paid for EBCI. I'm sure most of the people on the flight won't have paid for it.

No, you're right -- but I don't really care where we sit. Basically, I don't care if we have the least desirable seats on the whole plane (all the way in the back or wherever the least desirable seats may be) as long as it's two together (would actually prefer window and middle, not aisle). Also, part of my reasoning was is that we have many flights from my city to MCO every day (even several direct flights), so I don't really think the flight down would be at capacity where I'd have this problem to get just two seats together if checking in right on the 24 hour mark, but you never know.

Just thinking it through since I see so many other people comment on these types of threads that they don't find it worth it and never have trouble with finding two seats together if they check in right at 24 hours. I hate to throw away money if not necessary, but if most people said I shouldn't take the chance, I have no problem spending the extra money. So, that's what I'm looking for -- feedback based on experience.

All of the Nashville to Orlando flights that I've been on in the past several years have been full or nearly so. If I were you, I'd buy EBCI for two. If you really want to save the money, then check in at T24, and when you get on the plane, head straight to the back.

chloelovesdisney · Sep 25, 2017

Family boarding is up to what age for a child?

Mackenzie Click-Mickelson · Sep 25, 2017

chloelovesdisney said:
Family boarding is up to what age for a child?

DebbieB · Sep 25, 2017

chloelovesdisney said:
Family boarding is up to what age for a child?

Supposed to be 6 but looking at some of the families in line, people push it. One time I was sitting at the gate at PIT and the family sitting behind me were talking about the fact that they had C boarding passes. The mom said I should have got online earlier. The family boarders were getting on, the Dad jumps up and says we're a family, let's go. The mom said it's 6 or under. He said let's go. I swear the kids were 8 and 10 and nothing was said.

suemom2kay · Sep 26, 2017

Bottom line. If one really doesn't care if they're separated, don't buy EBCI. If one is going to ask people to move for them, then stop being cheap and buy the EBCI. People delaying the boarding of SW flights by whining about being separated really irritates me and I wish the flight attendants wouldn't enable this behavior by asking volunteers to move.

eyeblaura · Sep 26, 2017

Music City Mama said:
Also, part of my reasoning was is that we have many flights from my city to MCO every day (even several direct flights), so I don't really think the flight down would be at capacity where I'd have this problem to get just two seats together if checking in right on the 24 hour mark, but you never know.

I wouldn't count on it not being full. I fly quite a bit and often with multiple flights out to a particular city and more often then not they are completely full or may only have one or two seats open. The airlines will do all they can to put a butt in every seat.

That being said I rarely purchase EBCI but have noticed that more and more people seem to. Even checking in right at the 24 hour mark I often get a mid to late B boarding pass. Now a late B boarding passs is still going to get you seats together but they will definitely be in the back of the aircraft and if you HAVE to sit together I would consider it.

stinkpickle · Sep 26, 2017

I always buy EBCI.

Rich M · Sep 26, 2017

I bought EBCI for the first time for my upcoming trip since we found out that they won't let all of us board with our GS. We figured two of us will do early and the rest will board with the baby. I didn't realize that A group boards before families though so that will be nice for us lol

DopeyDame · Sep 27, 2017

The key question is how upset will you be if you are all in single seats and separated. Odds are really good that if you check in at 24 hours, you'll be able to at least find two seats next to each other. But there are a million factors that might change that. If you'd *prefer* to have a parent sit next to a kid, but you'll all be fine if it doesn't work out, you can probably skip ECBI.

But if you absolutely, positively must have a parent sitting next to each child, buy ECBI.

And in the totally unsolicited opinion arena: I would (and have) moved seats to accommodate small kids and their parents, honeymooning couples, etc. For pre-teens and teens, though, I might not be so inclined, so I wouldn't count on the sympathy of strangers for kids that old.
I also expect that a flight attendant would be much more inclined to get involved for a 5 year old and a parent rather than an 11 year old.

sam_gordon · Sep 27, 2017

Rich M said:
I bought EBCI for the first time for my upcoming trip since we found out that they won't let all of us board with our GS. We figured two of us will do early and the rest will board with the baby. I didn't realize that A group boards before families though so that will be nice for us lol

EBCI is NOT a guarantee of A boarding group.

Mackenzie Click-Mickelson · Sep 27, 2017

Rich M said:
I bought EBCI for the first time for my upcoming trip since we found out that they won't let all of us board with our GS. We figured two of us will do early and the rest will board with the baby. I didn't realize that A group boards before families though so that will be nice for us lol

@sam_gordon is correct. You'll probably find that you may get As and others around you get As BUT SWA tells you that EBCI does not guarantee you an A boarding postion.

Rich M · Sep 28, 2017

Should I be concerned that my flight is no longer on the website and now they are only offering 2 flights out of SF on the day I am suppose to leave?

Fangorn · Sep 28, 2017

You have a confirmation number for a flight that doesn't show on the website? If so, call them. Something very, very odd is going on.

Steve

SirDuff · Sep 28, 2017

Fangorn said:
You have a confirmation number for a flight that doesn't show on the website? If so, call them. Something very, very odd is going on.

Steve

Would a sold out flight show up? I know it would on other airlines (but grayed out in all fare boxes), just not sure about SW.

Fangorn · Sep 28, 2017

SirDuff said:
Would a sold out flight show up? I know it would on other airlines (but grayed out in all fare boxes), just not sure about SW.

Yes, a sold out flight still shows up, but it's marked as "sold out". If your flight isn't there at all, something weird is happening. Likely just a glitch, but call.

If you try going to the site and looking up your reservation, does that give you any indication of a problem? But call.

Steve

pens4821 · Sep 28, 2017

We didn't get it a few years ago (just started taking trips that require flights after about 10 years), checked in at 24 hours, and got B. We had no problems sitting together. Even leaving Orlando.

Since then, I've just paid for it. Even if I was traveling without a child, I think I'd do it. I just like knowing that (most likely) I'll be able to sit with my family. For us, we find it's still much cheaper to fly SW and pay for EBCI than using one of the other major carriers. Although I wouldn't want to fly Frontier, Spirit, Allegient and those would probably be a little cheaper.

SirDuff · Sep 28, 2017

Fangorn said:
Yes, a sold out flight still shows up, but it's marked as "sold out". If your flight isn't there at all, something weird is happening. Likely just a glitch, but call.

If you try going to the site and looking up your reservation, does that give you any indication of a problem? But call.

Steve

I'm not the one with the missing flight

, but your suggestion is sound.

I assumed that it would still show up, but wasn't totally sure so was offering it as a possible reason

Allison · Sep 28, 2017

sam_gordon said:
EBCI is NOT a guarantee of A boarding group.

As evidenced by the B20 and B40 boarding numbers I had recently while purchasing EBCI months ago.

UPDATE: I booked this flight prior to Southwest's system change. When the system changed, my confirmation number changed as it was a duplicate number that another person had. Looking through my emails, I purchased EBCI, the number changed, and then I changed the flight. Somehow, in all of this my EBCI dropped off.

Rich M · Sep 28, 2017

Allison said:
As evidenced by the B20 and B40 boarding numbers I had recently while purchasing EBCI months ago.

Wow. Did you still get a good seat with those numbers? Did you buy the EB at different times?

Southwest - Do I need to pay for early check in?

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