Comments on: The Good and Bad of Southwest’s EarlyBird Check-In http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:38:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-338631 CF Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:33:28 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-338631 Yes, Southwest provides automatic check in with an early number if you pay for this service. Yes, Southwest provides automatic check in with an early number if you pay for this service.

]]> By: Stussy63 http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-337795 Stussy63 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:36:14 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-337795 Quick question -- I am going on a cruise and flying back SW the evening I arrive back in port - so I will have no way to check in before I get to the airport. If I choose EB checkin -- would SW do the check in for me and then I just need to print my boarding passes when I get to the airport? If that is the case, then it's probably worth the $10 for me. Quick question — I am going on a cruise and flying back SW the evening I arrive back in port – so I will have no way to check in before I get to the airport. If I choose EB checkin — would SW do the check in for me and then I just need to print my boarding passes when I get to the airport? If that is the case, then it’s probably worth the $10 for me.

]]> By: Brad http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-330849 Brad Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:00:12 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-330849 Good lord, I can't believe how many people complain about the difference between A21 and A40. I mean, seriously. If you REALLY want that "special" seat, just fly business select. To be honest, I think the $10.00 for EB is probably not worth it, but they DO check you in AUTOMATICALLY which seems to have been forgotten in this conversation. I think the automatic check-in service is what you are paying the extra 10 clams for - not just the A-level seating (which ISN'T, nor is it claimed to be guaranteed!). Stop crying. Good lord, I can’t believe how many people complain about the difference between A21 and A40. I mean, seriously. If you REALLY want that “special” seat, just fly business select. To be honest, I think the $10.00 for EB is probably not worth it, but they DO check you in AUTOMATICALLY which seems to have been forgotten in this conversation. I think the automatic check-in service is what you are paying the extra 10 clams for – not just the A-level seating (which ISN’T, nor is it claimed to be guaranteed!). Stop crying.

]]> By: Chris http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-280095 Chris Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:47:51 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-280095 My wife and I fly out to Colorado every year the week after Labor Day, We purchase the tickets as soon as they come available on the southwest site. I purchased 2 roundtrip tickets on 3/20/2011 for flights going to Colorado 9/10 and returning 9/20 purchasing early bird at time of booking. A20-21 on the way out A42-43 on the way back, Southwest gave me the song and dance A+ and business class . when I get to the airport I asked the fellow passengers when they booked their flights , the girl infront of us upgraded to early bird the night before, A 17 had purchased his tickets just over a month ago. I don't know who they think they are kidding , but one blogger was correct in saying they should give you your # at time of booking. Love the airline, great employees but lousy booking policy. and it will affect my next reservations. My wife and I fly out to Colorado every year the week after Labor Day, We purchase the tickets as soon as they come available on the southwest site. I purchased 2 roundtrip tickets on 3/20/2011 for flights going to Colorado 9/10 and returning 9/20 purchasing early bird at time of booking. A20-21 on the way out A42-43 on the way back, Southwest gave me the song and dance A+ and business class . when I get to the airport I asked the fellow passengers when they booked their flights , the girl infront of us upgraded to early bird the night before, A 17 had purchased his tickets just over a month ago. I don’t know who they think they are kidding , but one blogger was correct in saying they should give you your # at time of booking. Love the airline, great employees but lousy booking policy. and it will affect my next reservations.

]]> By: R. W. White http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-276189 R. W. White Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:27:48 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-276189 We fly SW several times a year. Tried EB for coast-to-coast tickets purchased 90 days in advance. Purchased eb with both tickets. On way out, A24 or 25 on both legs. On way back A 55 and 56 on both legs. SW folks at gate had no credible explanation whatsoever. Only SW procedure I am disappointed in. We fly SW several times a year. Tried EB for coast-to-coast tickets purchased 90 days in advance. Purchased eb with both tickets. On way out, A24 or 25 on both legs. On way back A 55 and 56 on both legs. SW folks at gate had no credible explanation whatsoever. Only SW procedure I am disappointed in.

]]> By: Jim Ross http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-264751 Jim Ross Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:42:45 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-264751 I just did earlybird and got B37!!! that is terrible for 10 bucks I just did earlybird and got B37!!!

that is terrible for 10 bucks

]]> By: unserious travel » Is Early Bird Check-In Worth it? Southwest Airlines. http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-203247 unserious travel » Is Early Bird Check-In Worth it? Southwest Airlines. Tue, 31 May 2011 21:10:18 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-203247 [...] I have only flown to less busy routes on Southwest. I have read that if you fly on a flight with a lot of people purchasing this that it becomes less and less worthwhile. I could easily see this being the case especially since Southwest won’t say how many they will sell (!). [...] [...] I have only flown to less busy routes on Southwest. I have read that if you fly on a flight with a lot of people purchasing this that it becomes less and less worthwhile. I could easily see this being the case especially since Southwest won’t say how many they will sell (!). [...]

]]> By: Ric http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-186028 Ric Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:00:53 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-186028 I have been following this tread for a few months now, and I have learned alot. We signed up for EB-checkin...and today we got our Boading Pass. A25 and A26, on our connecting flight...A28 and A29. Now this is our first time to fly Southwest (WN)...But I think this is very good position...Let me know what you think... I have been following this tread for a few months now, and I have learned alot.
We signed up for EB-checkin…and today we got our Boading Pass. A25 and A26, on our connecting flight…A28 and A29.

Now this is our first time to fly Southwest (WN)…But I think this is very good position…Let me know what you think…

]]> By: Robert http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-173058 Robert Sun, 20 Mar 2011 03:32:36 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-173058 I still prefer SWAir to all the other US-based airlines. The early bird feature may help you secure a better seat if you buy far enough ahead of time, but not buying it doesn't diminish your overall trip very much even if your seat sucks. The other majors charge robber-baron prices to change a ticket (something that costs the airlines very little -- really nothing if done far ahead of the flight), and confiscatory bag check fees. Consequently, people try bring steamer trunks as carry on and just slows the entire already-slow boarding process. SW can flip a flight 2x faster than any other airline. One secret to that is no assigned seating. Another is encouraging checked baggage by not charging a fee. Smart, IMO.... I still prefer SWAir to all the other US-based airlines. The early bird feature may help you secure a better seat if you buy far enough ahead of time, but not buying it doesn’t diminish your overall trip very much even if your seat sucks.

The other majors charge robber-baron prices to change a ticket (something that costs the airlines very little — really nothing if done far ahead of the flight), and confiscatory bag check fees. Consequently, people try bring steamer trunks as carry on and just slows the entire already-slow boarding process.

SW can flip a flight 2x faster than any other airline. One secret to that is no assigned seating. Another is encouraging checked baggage by not charging a fee.

Smart, IMO….

]]> By: lesley http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/comment-page-2/#comment-165583 lesley Mon, 28 Feb 2011 01:02:20 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3512#comment-165583 I wonder if I confirm my flight now without EB will I still get bad seating if I get there early? I wonder if I confirm my flight now without EB will I still get bad seating if I get there early?

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