[BaylorBear]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by StarbuckSammy

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

Ditto

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

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Originally Posted by Schaumburger

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!

[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.