[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" !

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by Tom Hannon

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)

[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.

Originally Posted by 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.

Nice to know.

[laryb]

Originally Posted by 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.

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...