Cyanna

Has anyone used this new service/product?

In theory, it queues you up automatically 36 hrs. before lift-off (er, take off) and you get a number in line that lets you jump ahead of everyone except those who paid more for their ticket and/or bought the Early Bird option before you did. I'm wondering how well it works, whether you do better with this arrangement than with the old 23 hrs. 59 min. 58 seconds ahead on-line check in? I admit, I'm suspicious.

And do you have to do anything other than look to see where you ended up in the line and print out the boarding pass?

Cyanna

Nobody?

janisj

I haven't used it yet. Never any need. But I do have a flight in early Dec where it simply won't be convenient to check in ahead of time so I did opt for the Early Bird.

We'll see how it works.

janisj

"<i>And do you have to do anything other than look to see where you ended up in the line . . . . </i>"

Oh - the way I understand it from WN's website is you won't know your position until you print the boarding pass -- which in my case won't be until I get to the airport

Cyanna

Can you print the boarding pass (do you think, or know) as early as just after the 36 hr. mark?

Still hoping to find out if this really helped someone or just adds $10 to your fare without genuinely helping you get toward the front of the line. My theory: Business Select and all the Anytime Fare people are still going to be the first-in-line-ers.

Cyanna

"and all Anytime Fare people..." who have also purchased the Early Bird option -

I figure, if they care enough about seating to purchase the more expensive fare, they'll cough up the extra $10., too.

janisj

"<i>Can you print the boarding pass (do you think, or know) as early as just after the 36 hr. mark?</i>"

I don't think you can print a boarding pass until 23 hr 59 minutes . . . .

But, the WN website has a lot of info including FAQ's about Early Bird.

lexi3192

Just used Southwest's early bird check-in. You can still only access your boarding pass/print it out 24 hours before. 36 hours before they automatically assign you a number, but you still cannot access it until 24 hours before. When I checked in 24 hours before, I saw I was assigned Group A number 18, so I would say the $10 was worth it.

dfr4848

I used it twice earlier this month, once because I had a tighter connection than usual and wanted to get whatever advantage I could. Agree with lexi - can only print bp within 24 hr.

I fly WN fairly often and lately checking in at 23 hr and 59 min has given me an A-mid 30s number. With the early checkin I got numbers below 20. For me it was worth it due to the circumstances, but not sure I'd use it on a regular basis.

Cyanna

The last time I checked in at 23:59:20 before departure, I got A-17.

Hmmmmmm.

janisj

"<i>The last time I checked in at 23:59:20 before departure, I got A-17.</i>"

Which doesn't mean much in the scheme of things. Some flights have a higher % of business travelers who pay the higher fares and get priority boarding numbers. Some flights are predominately leisure travelers on the cheapest fares so fewer priority boarders.

On some flights you can check in 10 hours ahead and get a low-ish A number, some you will be in the high A's at 23:59 and mid B's by 23 hours. So you really can't assume anything re boarding numbers . . . .

Cyanna

What I'm wondering about is the positions before, say A-17. The time I got that, I was actually fourth in line after one person who was A-16 and two at the head of the line -- which suggests that they'd set aside places A-1 through, say, A-15 for the Business Select or "A-list" travelers but only actually sold 2 of those seats.

With "Early Bird," I'm guessing some of those first 15 seats and maybe many in the next group may actually include a bunch of early birds who paid the "Anytime" fare who would not, under other circumstances, have bothered to log on at 23:59:10 to grab a higher number.

So I, as a "internet special" fare-payer, may actually do worse than I did under the old system without the Early Bird Option, when I could log on at 23:59:10 to get my place. I fly on Thursday, will let you know.

Dayenu

6 of us flew in October, when I checked us from home exactly 24 hrs in advance, we got like A55-60. Flying back, we forgot to check in, did it may 6 hour before the flight, got end of group B. Yes, we felt people are paying for checking in early.

Janis, yes, you can know your number before you print the boarding pass even if you don't print it, open it without clicking the print button!

janisj

Dayenu: "<i>you can know your number before you print the boarding pass even if you don't print it, open it without clicking the print button</i>"

Yep, I know. But that assumes one has access to a computer. If I could be near a computer @ 24 hours, I'd do it then instead of paying for Early Bird and then know my boarding #.

For this return flight in Dec I won't be anywhere near a computer - that's why I paid for EB and won't know my # until I get to the airport.

Cyanna

Um - for some of us the additional issue is whether you know your position BETWEEN the 36 -hr. Early Bird auto-check-in and the 24-hr. everyone-else check-in.

janisj

Not sure how could you - since Business select passengers get first dibs. As I understand the website, you are assigned a position - but not a precise number at 36 hours. Then at/after 24 hours you can print your boarding pass and get the #.

If 7 Business Select booked tickets after 36 hours, you be bumped down the list so how could you know the exact number before?

Cyanna

You're right, janisj.

And of course, no info at 35:55 before flight re: position. Would still be nice to know how far down the list I am, irrespective of Business Select group.

janisj

The WN website is pretty good at explaining it -- but not everything is clear so I'm interested to see how it works on my Dec flight.

I'm flying down to LA on Dec 1 and back on Dec 3 - bought the tix 2 days ago $51 "wanna get away" (the lowest/non refundable fare class) each way.

Well - today they sprung the $25 - $50 - $100 sale for flights from Dec 2. Sure enough, my flight on the 3rd went down to $25. I went into the site and re-booked at the lower fare. Ended up w/ a $31 credit (because fees are lower on a $25 fare) and my Early Bird transferred over like clockwork. I don't get the $$ but get a full credit on a future flight.

Just another reason I love, <B><red>LOVE</B></red> WN!

Cyanna

Results (kind of anti-climax): A-18. About where I've usually been pre-Early Bird when I checked in at 23:59:20. BUT without it now, who knows where I'd have ended up this morning.

So that confirms my suspicion that it actually amounts to both a $10 surcharge not to be thrown to the back of the line and a further disincentive for those paying the "Wanna Getaway" fares who used to be quick on the online-check-in trigger. Bottom line, if everyone paying less than the Business Select fare ante's up the $10, your place in line depends first on whether you pay Anytime or Getaway fares but THEN on when you bought the ticket.

So SW enters the ranks of the nickel-and-diming airlines, but through a back door, and potentially making on-line check-in meaningless.

Nonetheless I like WN, too, though I don't think the website was entirely clear about Early Bird, otherwise I wouldn't have had the questions I do - and I'm normally a scrupulous reader of fine print and instruction manuals.

amwosu

I used the early bird feature a couple of weeks ago and got about the same placement I normally do when I check in 24 hrs in advance.

I gave it a try because I was flying on a route used by businessmen and on a traditionally busy day of the week AND with a husband recovering from a broken leg. I probably won't use the service when I travel on flights used mostly by the vacation crowd on Tues, Wed, or Sat.