Southwest Airlines - Early Bird Check In

[Schaumburger]

Next month I'm flying on Southwest from Midway Airport in Chicago to Hobby Airport in Houston on business. It's my first time flying on Southwest, and I'm paying $10 extra each way for Early Bird check in. I'm hoping to get to board in group A so that I can get an aisle seat. For those of you who have flown on Southwest and paid extra for Early Bird check in, was it worth it? I'm used to flying on American, United and Continental and choosing my seat when I buy my ticket, so Southwest's boarding policy is not my preference.

[philnpat]

With Southwest you can print your boarding pass 24 hours prior to departure from your home computer. If no printer is available, it can be done using your confirmation number and then printed at the kiosks at the airport. I go online and wait until it's exactly 24 hours prior and always get placed in the early "B" seatings thus saving the $20.

[Tom Hannon]

If you print your boarding pass early, as PHILNPAT said, you will usually end with B seats. We use the early bird checkin because we travel with a cat and wish to get our choice of seats and one closer to the front of the plane. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, 24 hours before flight time, then the $10 eatra is worth it. S
outhwest, IMHO is the best airline I have ever flown. Have a happy flight.

[philnpat]

Southwest is the best airline around! Just returned from TV with my daughter-in-law and grandkids. Non-stop from Albany, NY...caught a special for $80 each way. Can't beat it!

[tainsley]

Hello! We always fly Southwest. As stated previously, we wait 24 hours before our flight and print out boarding passes. We usually get the A Line but I guess it depends on where you fly out of. We fly out of Norfolk which is a smaller airport. We have never had a bad experience with Southwest.

[Avista]

Last time I flew Southwest, I paid the $10. Was it worth it? I really don't know . I got my choice of seats, but we all got there at the sometime.

[Mudder]

We always fly Southwest, always check in online exactly 24 hours ahead, always in the A group, no problem. They usually keep the first 15 or so A numbers for the people who spend the extra bucks. I have been number 24 or so alot and there's maybe 3 or 4 people ahead of me ! We had been flying out of Tampa, now Orlando, never a problem. Love Southwest ! We've had some very talented flight attendants who have sung the standard instructions and many do a nice song or two upon landing. My motto is "if Southwest doesn't go there, I'm not going" !

[nkrifats]

Mostly I fly Southwest. I do the earlybird checkin for the extra 10 each way. Earlybird will get you in the A group. Works good for me and I will continue to use it. I am not always at a point I can check in 24 hours early.

[Tom Hannon]

Southwest is the best airline around! Just returned from TV with my daughter-in-law and grandkids. Non-stop from Albany, NY...caught a special for $80 each way. Can't beat it!

WE caught a flight to Orlando from Islip, Long Island for $72. Great price. Problem was....our cat cost $75 and he didn't get and drinks or crackers.

[Larry Wilson]

We always use early bird check in. Get numbers like A12, A9, A18 etc. Love it.
Only problem is they line you up as soon as the plane comes in and then you load.
So don't be in the bar or the bathroom or your a A won't mean much.:)

[tainsley]

WE caught a flight to Orlando from Islip, Long Island for $72. Great price. Problem was....our cat cost $75 and he didn't get and drinks or crackers.

Must have been cat-astrophic for him! (couldn't resist) :laugh:

[buzzy]

With more and more people spending the $10 for earlybird checkin, one time we found ourselves near the end of the A's. At the gate, we were advised to sign up right after booking the flight, instead of closer to the departure day.

[nkrifats]

With more and more people spending the $10 for earlybird checkin, one time we found ourselves near the end of the A's. At the gate, we were advised to sign up right after booking the flight, instead of closer to the departure day.
Nice to know.

[laryb]

With more and more people spending the $10 for earlybird checkin, one time we found ourselves near the end of the A's. At the gate, we were advised to sign up right after booking the flight, instead of closer to the departure day.
We have used it since it became available, and find it works well. The only glitch was last week, when we had it and still got A50 + A51 on the return flight, even though we purchased it when we reserved our flight. We had A19 + A20 on the outbound. There were a load of kids on the return, so it was probably something they booked well in advance of us. We are usually in the high teens or low twenties. Before they offered the Early Bird, I'd have to get on the computer and start checking in at exactly 24 hrs., and there would be times I'd forget (don't we all have those senior moments?), and end up in B or C, but with Early Bird, your pass is assigned 36 hrs. in advance, so if you do forget, no big deal, you won't lose your spot.

[Schaumburger]

Thanks to all for the advice. I'm hoping that the Early Bird Checkin will get me an aisle seat somewhere on both flights. Glad for all of you who enjoy Southwest. Unfortunately for me, Southwest flies out of Midway Airport which is 36 miles from my house and office (and 1 hour plus driving time in good traffic). O'Hare Airport is 14 miles/25 mins. drive from my home and office. Unfortunately my Houston-based employer doesn't have a good grasp of the geography of the Chicago area. I guess I will just have to cope. Now I'm done venting for the day...

[BaylorBear]

Next month I'm flying on Southwest from Midway Airport in Chicago to Hobby Airport in Houston on business. It's my first time flying on Southwest, and I'm paying $10 extra each way for Early Bird check in. I'm hoping to get to board in group A so that I can get an aisle seat. For those of you who have flown on Southwest and paid extra for Early Bird check in, was it worth it? I'm used to flying on American, United and Continental and choosing my seat when I buy my ticket, so Southwest's boarding policy is not my preference.

We fly from Austin, TX to Orlando on SW. We always pay the extra $10 and it works just fine for us.

[Walt.]

I've flown on Southwest 6 times in the past 2 years. I've always just walked up to the kiosk and gotten a boarding pass. Though I'm usually there 2-3 hours before the flight, I get the end of the Bs. The last 3 times I was one of the last 3 people to board. HOWEVER... each time I walked on and gotten a seat in the first or second row on the aisle. If you have no carry-on luggage that needs overhead space this is probably the way to go. Most ignore the front spots looking for luggage space further down.

[glwcww]

Have always gotten "A" tickets by logging in 24 hrs ahead....there are always so many who don't bother to check in ahead and they're the ones in the back of the plane and in the middle seat. I have other uses for my $10! We love flying Southwest.

[bachfan]

We Fly Southwest all the time and and if you pay the $10 you most likely will be a A boarding group, only once did we not get an A, but we waited until the last minute to pay the extra, and they said that had we paid it at the time of booking we would have had a better place in line. We have never had an issue with Southwest...They give you a Letter and number in line and when they call the A group you line up in number order so you don't have to line up until they actually call your letter. The system works very well.

[StarbuckSammy]

Yes on the Early Bird....worth the $10.

[Russ_Boston]

Yes on the Early Bird....worth the $10.

Ditto

(Unless I'm flying alone then I could care where or when i sit)

[Schaumburger]

Have always gotten "A" tickets by logging in 24 hrs ahead....there are always so many who don't bother to check in ahead and they're the ones in the back of the plane and in the middle seat. I have other uses for my $10! We love flying Southwest.

I actually don't mind sitting in the back of the plane as long as I get an aisle seat. For $10 if I can get an aisle seat it's $10 well spent in my book. Just my humble opinion.

[Cgirmo]

I fly SW out of St. Louis because it is the only reasonbly priced direct flight to Orlando. Logging in 24 in advance I, like the others get the last of A or B, which is great because those flights are the daycare flights in summer months with all the families headed to DW. When I come down in 3 weeks, however, I am taking Airtran, little sister to SW. Airtran currently assigns seats before the flight but who knows after Southwest is in complete control there. Have a great flight and enjoy their special Southwest environment.

[tainsley]

Has anyone ever flown Allegiant Airlines to Sanford/Orlando Airport? AirTran just left Newport News/Williamsburg Airport and Allegiant moved in. Tix look pretty cheap.

[Mikitv]

I used it last Sept to go to Vegas and was well worth the money.

[teachnmo]

It cost $59 to check in your bag. My plane was delayed both times due to people trying to stuff their luggage in the overhead racks. You don't get a free drink or snack. Other than that trip was okay.

[Schaumburger]

I fly SW out of St. Louis because it is the only reasonbly priced direct flight to Orlando. Logging in 24 in advance I, like the others get the last of A or B, which is great because those flights are the daycare flights in summer months with all the families headed to DW. When I come down in 3 weeks, however, I am taking Airtran, little sister to SW. Airtran currently assigns seats before the flight but who knows after Southwest is in complete control there. Have a great flight and enjoy their special Southwest environment.

I had to LOL about the daycare flights to Orlando in the summer months. I flew to TV in July and that was the case. A little girl about 2 yrs. old in the row behind me would murderously shriek periodically during the flight. Maybe her ears were bothering her with the change in pressure. I'm flying back to TV on Oct. 7...may be no kids on that flight??? Don't get me wrong, I love kids but this little girl had a very good set of lungs :)

[nkrifats]

I had to LOL about the daycare flights to Orlando in the summer months. I flew to TV in July and that was the case. A little girl about 2 yrs. old in the row behind me would murderously shriek periodically during the flight. Maybe her ears were bothering her with the change in pressure. I'm flying back to TV on Oct. 7...may be no kids on that flight??? Don't get me wrong, I love kids but this little girl had a very good set of lungs :)

I have not found a SW flight yet into Orlando that was not somewhat of a Day Care Flight. Some more than others. A lot depends on where I was leaving from. Providence/Boston always seem to be day care flights.

[tainsley]

Day care flights! Must be that darn place called Disney World that attracts these kids! The last few times we drove to Florida...12 hours...hate it! I would rather fly in plane full of kids any day and get there in l.5 hours. I would also dress up like the Mouse and provide the entertainment! :laugh:

[Avista]

A solution is to fly out of Tampa. It is a nicer less congested airport. No tolls unless you take the veterans Expressway. It is a much easier drive. The only time we fly out of Orlando is if we need to take the shuttle.

[nkrifats]

A solution is to fly out of Tampa. It is a nicer less congested airport. No tolls unless you take the veterans Expressway. It is a much easier drive. The only time we fly out of Orlando is if we need to take the shuttle.

I agree

[carm310]

We always pay the extra $10 for early bird and have been in A boarding each time. We like Tampa as well. It is an easy airport to go through, security has never taken us very long, takes less time to pick-up a car than Orlando....the sooner we are on the road to TV the better!

[handyman]

WE caught a flight to Orlando from Islip, Long Island for $72. Great price. Problem was....our cat cost $75 and he didn't get and drinks or crackers.

Did he get a window seat? ;-)

[cologal]

The downside to the 10.00 fee is if you cancel the flight no refund. Also the first time I did the early check in I went to the to the black of the plane to use the bathroom and even though I marked the seat it was taken. So don't do that. You also have a option to board with A blue card if you need extra time down the jetway.

[784caroline]

Flew this weekend to Providence Ri from MCO on SW. For Friday a 2:45flight we checked in on line exactly 24 hours before time and got boarding passes B-2 and 3. WE got aisle/center seats mid plane.

For the reuturn monday (Labor day) 5:35 flight checked in 18 hours before flight and got board passes B 34,35. WE got window/center mid plane..aisle seats were still available in the rear.

Both flight were pretty much filled ..just a few empty seats. If you had a C boarding pass, very few 2 seats were left together

Overall both were very good flights with the returning landing 30 miniues ahead of schedule.

[bobbcatt]

I do not think you would not have had a problem....the only time I pay the $10 is when I do not have computer access to do the check in. I just make sure that I am at the computer exactly 24 hours before flight time.....and I have always gotten an A pass. Safe travelling.

[Schaumburger]

The downside to the 10.00 fee is if you cancel the flight no refund. Also the first time I did the early check in I went to the to the black of the plane to use the bathroom and even though I marked the seat it was taken. So don't do that. You also have a option to board with A blue card if you need extra time down the jetway.

I'm flying on Southwest to attend a meeting for my job, so I doubt the meeting will be cancelled (I couldn't get that lucky :) ). Thanks for the heads up about using the bathroom and losing your seat -- that's dirty pool in my book. Shame on that person for taking your seat.

[glwcww]

What's the time difference for the drive to Orlando Airport vs Tampa airport? Just wondering....

[StarbuckSammy]

I think Tampa is about 15-20 minutes longer but it is a nicer ride...straight shot.

[784caroline]

Plus NO tolls to Tampa