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Southwest early bird check in $15

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by surf87, Mar 10, 2017.

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  1. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    Did Southwest raise its early bird check in from $10 to $15?
     
  2. zlanga

    zlanga High-Roller

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    Many moons ago
     
    USBC Nationals
  3. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    My guess is at least two years ago.
     
  4. starlight0229

    starlight0229 Low-Roller

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    In March of 2016 it increased from $12.50 to $15.00.
     
  5. Rush

    Rush MIA

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    I was dumb enough to pay for B 43 today!
     
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  6. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

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  7. Hogman

    Hogman VIP Whale

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    They don't make you buy it.:thumbsup:
     
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  8. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Yep.

    EVERYONE gets a seat no matter what.
    You can still move up your boarding a bit for free by checking in at the 24 hour mark.
     
  9. Ty

    Ty ?

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    Not something I want to deal with while on vacation.
     
  10. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    EB check in goes in the order received. You'll get more benefit if you reserve two months in advance than two weeks. You can also buy the empty business class boarding (positions 1-15) at the gate for market price, but as previously noted, all seats arrive at the destination at the same time.
     
  11. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Other than getting exit row or the "love seats", boarding too early can actually not be so good. Assume you are traveling as a couple. You realize that somebody else will be in your row no matter what. If you board early, you never know who that third person will be. If you board about mid way, you can PICK who you sit next too -hopefully someone smaller. Just the way it works.
     
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  12. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    Southwest planes generally have 143 seats and 46 middle seats, and most couples will take a lot of the middle seats. So if you are solo you don't want to board in the last thirty. Nobody gets the front six seats unless they pre-board, so forget legroom. If you are a couple you want to board in the first sixty to beat the family boarding, but you are better off thirty back or so to maybe spot that solo traveler that wants to lean on the window and sleep. If solo you're odds of an empty middle seat are about one in seventy, as a couple you are going to have company and better to choose.
     
  13. Jidery

    Jidery Low-Roller

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    I always check in 24 hours in advance and never had a problem getting A or early B groups every time.
     
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  14. mrstealth

    mrstealth VIP Whale

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    last flight I was on out of milwaukee, people were complaining because they purchased the "early bird" yet had a high b boarding assignment. The podium made an announcement over 90 people had paid for the early bird. Positions 1-15 where going for like $40 which seemed pretty cheap to me so I grabbed that instead.
     
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  15. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    Southwest should display at the time of purchasing the early bird check-in which position you'd get prior to making the purchase or least give an approximation, rather than surprising the person such as Rush's B-43 above. That's like getting a kick in the gonads (lol).


    And for short flight durations Southwest should lower the early bird check-in fee to maybe $5. I've never paid for early bird on my flights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. But at $5 I would consider purchasing early bird for my flights.
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2017
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  16. eaglejohn

    eaglejohn VIP Whale

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    800 series planes have 175 seats. 30 rows with 5 - 2 seat rows. 55 middle seats. We always board early due to wife handicap, but always pick aisle seats across from each other. Don't care who sits in middle seat, and have some extra elbow room when putting arm rest up. 800 series also are the non stops from Tampa to Vegas. 700 series don't
     
  17. Ty

    Ty ?

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    Our recent flight home was on an 800 series. The flight attendant said they are going to extend the boarding time to 45 minutes since there's more passengers to seat.
     
  18. Rush

    Rush MIA

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    Maybe you fly out of Podunk?
     
  19. IWannaBeInVegas

    IWannaBeInVegas VIP Whale

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    While I see your point I would disagree. EB is a service, the service of SW checking you in, they do not guarantee you will get a great number. I pay the same for a tire rotation weather I have 100 miles or 6000 miles in between since its the cost of the service.
     
  20. JoJoR

    JoJoR VIP Whale

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    They can't really do this as the fare type purchased is also factored in with when you purchased early bird. Someone who purchases an Anytime fare will most probably get priority over someone who buys an Wanna Get Away fare.
     
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