Southwest charging USD15/ for early bird check in
 

For my trip from Orlando to DC which is around July 22, 2016, i received an e-mail from Southwest airline that

I can now do "Early Bird Check in" at price of USD15/- per passenger

Note : I already have 2 checked baggage's free

Why are they charging for check in? Do they always charge it

They are NOT charging for regular check in. "Early Bird" check in means you will be in the first group to board the plane. If you don't need that just do your free check in. It seems they have raised the price for early bird.

Early Bird is not mandatory. It is an automatic check in system that allows you to not have to be on the computer exactly 24 hours ahead of your flight to check in.

I fly southwest a lot, I rarely use Early Bird. I have only done it when I am flying SW after arriving in US after a flight from Europe, where I can't check in online 24 hours in advance.

Since most SW flights are fairly short, I don't mind it if I can't always sit next to my husband; and that has happened rarely. We usually get seats in boarding group B and we still find aisle and window seats together usually.

Short answer, you don't need to pay for this "extra" service.

I am guessing you don't fly SW often so be sure to read about how check in and boarding is done.

Yes, the price recently went up; and that is each way fee, not round trip.

https://www.southwest.com/html/trave...g-your-flight/


https://www.southwest.com/html/trave...rip/index.html

I use early bird maybe half the time -- mostly because I take a lot of early AM flights and it sometimes isn't convenient to get on-line to check in.

But just check in when you can (exactly 24 hours ahead if you want a good boarding group) - you'll get on the plane - don't worry :)

I do early bird mostly on the return leg. When I am home it is convenient to hit the check in button at exact 24 hours. On the road less so.

Thanks

I would save $45/ on family

Does Delta also offer early bird kind of check in, as that would be a longer flight

No, because it doesn't matter - you should have assigned seats on your Delta flight. The reason it matters on Southwest is that seating is first come-first served.

This is Southwest's boarding system:

There are no reserved seats.
Your boarding pass will have written on it a boarding #.
Group A, B, or C, and # 1 to 50 or so.

At the airport, they will advise you when to line up by group/# - you'll see the line up area - it's obvious

You will then board by group A, B, C in groups of 5
A1-5
A6-10, etc

I believe the order is something like this - may not be exact, but you get the general idea.

lowest A #s -
- those who pay higher fare / business class (same seats)
Group B, same thing - groups of 5
- early birds who pay $15 each

Then before group B, those that need extra time / assistance boarding. That used to mean any family with small children, but I don't know the current rules.

Then the B & C groups, #'s are assigned based on time of checkin.
If you check-in exactly 24hrs ahead of time you'll get a # in the low B's. If you wait until you get to the airport to checkin you'll get a high C, and be stuck in a middle seat (3-3 configuration)

If you are in the low B's, then chances are 100% you'll get 2 seats together, and <50% you'll get an entire row of 3.

If you are high B's, chances are still excellent you'll find 2 adjacent seats open, and near zero you'll get 3 together. You can ask a passenger to swap with you, but they can say no.

If you must have 3 seats together then you'll need to pay $45 to guarantee that.

...You will then board by group A, B, C in groups of 5.... Actually you board in groups of 30 A 1-30, A30-60 and then B 1-30.

....those who pay higher fare / business class (same seats)
Group B, same thing - groups of 5
- early birds who pay $15 each ......

Generally correct but the A group also includes the higher status frequently flyers. And we are always included in the A 30-60 group when we buy the early bird. I assume early bird is assigned when the purchase is made.

One little trick you can do if the flight includes a stop (not a change of places). Try to set near the exits rows with better leg room. When the plane makes the first stop and people exit sometimes those seats will become available sp you just move to them quickly.

Also- You can now get in the A1-A15 boarding group at the gate or ticket counter on the day of travel with Upgraded Boarding. When available, Upgraded Boarding allows you to secure an earlier boarding position in the A1-A15 boarding group for just $30 or $40 per flight depending your itinerary.
With all of the above, I call in at exactly T-24 and am lucky to get a mid B #.

For the OP. It probably isn't worth paying for Early Bird. You should be able to get 2 seats together near the rear of the plane and if need be, your 3rd close by, if you check in earliest time. You might even get 3 together.

We've only paid for Early Bird once, when Mr. Pickle had a fairly tight connection and he wanted to be able to get off the plane quickly. Otherwise we check in 24 hours ahead of time and get either the last half of the A group or the beginning/middle of B.

Lee Ann

Thanks all

It's been a good thread explaining the southwest seating arrangement in detail

I'll take a chance and save $45/. :-)

One last question, the Check in starts exactly 24 hrs before flight departure time ?

Thanks again

>>One last question, the Check in starts exactly 24 hrs before flight departure time ?<<

Yes.

That sounds new to me. I've always had luck with SW by printing the bording pass & getting in an early group.

It's been $15 for some time now, I think at least a year.

I always pay it if I am on a flight of 3 hrs or more, $15 is a cheap cost to me to get the kind of seat I want. I don't pay it if it is a short flight and I will be at a computer exactly at 24 hrs before. I always pay it for my return flight when I will be at a hotel or away from home and out doing things.

Some people care a lot about that $15, it surprises me, I've seen couples get stuck in bad seats or not being together and complain about it on 5-6 hr cross-country flights, too bad, don't be so cheap is my opinion. Or don't complain about getting a middle seat and sitting apart.

For really busy flights and days, you can actually get into the higher number B group even if checking in 24 hrs in advance. I've never gotten a C group that way, though, doubt if that's possible. Usually you can get an aisle or window seat if you have an A or B.

I set a calendar item on my phone to remind me to call 24 hours ahead of time. A couple of times I've not been able to do it (work meetings) and have paid $30 at the airport to be at the head of the line. Worth it to me on Friday afternoons, not to sit in the middle seat.

Got A3 AND a drink ticket this week, but it was a more expensive ticket coming home. Sweet!

Interesting, last time we flew Southwest we forgot to get our boarding passes early, and we weren't able to "move up" at the airport (DC to MSY)

>>That sounds new to me. <<

Are you talking about Early Bird? If so, not new at all they have been doing that for at least 5 or 6 years - maybe longer.

Or did you mean "Upgraded Boarding"? Yes, that is a new option.


On popular routes, calling at the 24 hour mark might only get you mid to high B Group.

The increase to $15 went into effect in March 2016.

Since the majority of SW flights are relatively short, and often involve 2 legs, you are really only talking about seats that may be less than great for a couple of hours. You get checked into your later flight at the same time, so you get boarding assignments ahead of others who have to wait until T-24. And if you are on a continuing flight, you can get up and change seats during layover after the flight attendants have gotten their through count.

Except for middle seats, and the last row, I can't think of any seats on SW that aren't ok. I don't have to sit next to my husband for a few hours...in fact, we usually prefer aisle seats, across from each other.