Comments on: Is Southwest’s EarlyBird check-in worth $10? The answer is … http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ConsumerTraveler most-read stories of 2011 http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-40092 ConsumerTraveler most-read stories of 2011 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:01:52 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-40092 [...] 5 important connecting flight considerations 7. Gate-check your luggage and avoid baggage fees 7. Is Southwest’s EarlyBird check-in worth $10? The answer is … 8. World’s top 10 tallest Ferris wheels 9. Memo from an angry flight attendant 10. 10 Gut-buster [...] [...] 5 important connecting flight considerations 7. Gate-check your luggage and avoid baggage fees 7. Is Southwest’s EarlyBird check-in worth $10? The answer is … 8. World’s top 10 tallest Ferris wheels 9. Memo from an angry flight attendant 10. 10 Gut-buster [...]

]]> By: Kungfu08 http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-37141 Kungfu08 Sat, 09 Jul 2011 20:30:00 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-37141 My wife, son & I booked a direct flight to & fr Vegas on-line, when I printed the confirmation I notice that we could not print boarding passes until 24 hrs prior to flight time. My concern was that we would have a full flight, so I contacted SW airlines, at this point I realize the best route was take the Earlybird option so our seats would be assigned 36 hrs prior to flight at the 24 hrs prior they were there, A15, A16, A-17, all we did was go to the airport on the day of departure & turned our bags in & to the gate we went. Oh, we got the same block & seats coming home. Both flights were full, I was glad I paid the $10 each to include return. It was the best flight we have had, glad we flew SOUTHWEST! My wife, son & I booked a direct flight to & fr Vegas on-line, when I printed the confirmation I notice that we could not print boarding passes until 24 hrs prior to flight time. My concern was that we would have a full flight, so I contacted SW airlines, at this point I realize the best route was take the Earlybird option so our seats would be assigned 36 hrs prior to flight at the 24 hrs prior they were there, A15, A16, A-17, all we did was go to the airport on the day of departure & turned our bags in & to the gate we went. Oh, we got the same block & seats coming home. Both flights were full, I was glad I paid the $10 each to include return. It was the best flight we have had, glad we flew SOUTHWEST!

]]> By: Kungfu08 http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-37142 Kungfu08 Sat, 09 Jul 2011 20:30:00 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-37142 My wife, son & I booked a direct flight to & fr Vegas on-line, when I printed the confirmation I notice that we could not print boarding passes until 24 hrs prior to flight time. My concern was that we would have a full flight, so I contacted SW airlines, at this point I realize the best route was take the Earlybird option so our seats would be assigned 36 hrs prior to flight at the 24 hrs prior they were there, A15, A16, A-17, all we did was go to the airport on the day of departure & turned our bags in & to the gate we went. Oh, we got the same block & seats coming home. Both flights were full, I was glad I paid the $10 each to include return. It was the best flight we have had, glad we flew SOUTHWEST! My wife, son & I booked a direct flight to & fr Vegas on-line, when I printed the confirmation I notice that we could not print boarding passes until 24 hrs prior to flight time. My concern was that we would have a full flight, so I contacted SW airlines, at this point I realize the best route was take the Earlybird option so our seats would be assigned 36 hrs prior to flight at the 24 hrs prior they were there, A15, A16, A-17, all we did was go to the airport on the day of departure & turned our bags in & to the gate we went. Oh, we got the same block & seats coming home. Both flights were full, I was glad I paid the $10 each to include return. It was the best flight we have had, glad we flew SOUTHWEST!

]]> By: Jay http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-34593 Jay Sat, 02 Apr 2011 21:19:22 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-34593 4 of us just went on a cruise and booked the flight 3 month in advance with EB. On the way to LA we got A18,19, 20, 21, Then 2 weeks later on the way back home we got A59 and 60, ( maybe I am off but we were the last 2 of the A's) Our friends got B1 and B2 . They boarded a family between A and B . Sure makes you wonder if it is worth seems like everyone else is getting EB and soon we will be lucky to get a B pass with EB. 4 of us just went on a cruise and booked the flight 3 month in advance with EB.
On the way to LA we got A18,19, 20, 21, Then 2 weeks later on the way back home we got A59 and 60, ( maybe I am off but we were the last 2 of the A’s)
Our friends got B1 and B2 .
They boarded a family between A and B . Sure makes you wonder if it is worth seems like everyone else is getting EB and soon we will be lucky to get a B pass with EB.

]]> By: ConsumerTraveler top stories of 2010 http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-32180 ConsumerTraveler top stories of 2010 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:43:09 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-32180 [...] Is Southwest’s EarlyBird check-in worth $10? Christopher Elliott’s top post was his look at Southwest’s charge for early boarding. His conclusion: Yes. Sure, Southwest’s decision to begin charging for early boarding is taking it on a slippery slope toward a la carte fees, but what a ride it is, according to passengers like Jennifer Rigdon. [...] [...] Is Southwest’s EarlyBird check-in worth $10? Christopher Elliott’s top post was his look at Southwest’s charge for early boarding. His conclusion: Yes. Sure, Southwest’s decision to begin charging for early boarding is taking it on a slippery slope toward a la carte fees, but what a ride it is, according to passengers like Jennifer Rigdon. [...]

]]> By: Lisa Eyer http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-27057 Lisa Eyer Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:02:20 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-27057 I just checked in online myself on the second it passed the 24 hrs before flight and got A55-57, sucks, used to get A15-20 before Early bird started as I always check in on the second it flips over to 24 hrs before flight. I just bought the EB for our return next week and will see what the difference will be :-) I just checked in online myself on the second it passed the 24 hrs before flight and got A55-57, sucks, used to get A15-20 before Early bird started as I always check in on the second it flips over to 24 hrs before flight. I just bought the EB for our return next week and will see what the difference will be :-)

]]> By: Plet39 http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-15893 Plet39 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:15:35 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-15893 harold Weller: That 25-hour mark is the LATEST you can purchase Early Bird, and the later you purchase, the lower you are on the priority list. I signed up 2 weeks ago for a flight in December. harold Weller: That 25-hour mark is the LATEST you can purchase Early Bird, and the later you purchase, the lower you are on the priority list. I signed up 2 weeks ago for a flight in December.

]]> By: Plet39 http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-15892 Plet39 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:13:42 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-15892 warped: Early Bird does not "check in after the A group," but after "A listers" -- super-frequent fliers, like my boss, who have been getting automatic "A" boarding for some time now. With Early Bird, SW automatically sets your seat position 36 hours prior to your flight. You can print your boarding pass any time after the 24-hour mark. It doesn't matter when you actually print your boarding pass, your position (probably A group, but not guaranteed) has already been confirmed by SW 12 hours before you can go online and do it yourself. Problem is, there is currently no limit to the number of passengers who can pay for Early Bird; theoretically, the entire plane could be full-fare, A-listers, and Early Birds, meaning that you paid your $10 and still got a "C" boarding. The more Early Bird passengers on a flight, the greater the chance that those who wait to pounce at the 24-hour mark will end up with B or even C. I made sure I read through everything carefully before deciding to sign up for my next trip to D.C. warped: Early Bird does not “check in after the A group,” but after “A listers” — super-frequent fliers, like my boss, who have been getting automatic “A” boarding for some time now. With Early Bird, SW automatically sets your seat position 36 hours prior to your flight. You can print your boarding pass any time after the 24-hour mark. It doesn’t matter when you actually print your boarding pass, your position (probably A group, but not guaranteed) has already been confirmed by SW 12 hours before you can go online and do it yourself. Problem is, there is currently no limit to the number of passengers who can pay for Early Bird; theoretically, the entire plane could be full-fare, A-listers, and Early Birds, meaning that you paid your $10 and still got a “C” boarding. The more Early Bird passengers on a flight, the greater the chance that those who wait to pounce at the 24-hour mark will end up with B or even C. I made sure I read through everything carefully before deciding to sign up for my next trip to D.C.

]]> By: Nobody http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-15885 Nobody Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:37:25 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-15885 The good (?) news is that the fee is for all scheduled plane changes through to the final destination. You can encounter many stops and plance changes flying SWA. Get delayed on outbound flight and you're stuck back with the cattle on standby on the (available) later flights instead of walking up to the front of the line at the next gate. Here lies the LUV Marketeer The fastest in the Southwest RIP Nobody was faster The good (?) news is that the fee is for all scheduled plane changes through to the final destination. You can encounter many stops and plance changes flying SWA. Get delayed on outbound flight and you’re stuck back with the cattle on standby on the (available) later flights instead of walking up to the front of the line at the next gate.

Here lies the LUV Marketeer
The fastest in the Southwest
RIP
Nobody was faster

]]> By: Wolf http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-southwests-earlybird-check-in-worth-10-the-answer-is/comment-page-1/#comment-15790 Wolf Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:03:37 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=19280#comment-15790 I think that this $10 fee that allows early-bird check in is stupid. It disrupts the well understood check-in process, makes it more of a financial class-system, and attempts to raise another $10. If the airline is so short on cash, they could charge for checking in the 2nd bag. This is a very stupid and anti-democratic idea. I think that this $10 fee that allows early-bird check in is stupid. It disrupts the well understood check-in process, makes it more of a financial class-system, and attempts to raise another $10. If the airline is so short on cash, they could charge for checking in the 2nd bag.
This is a very stupid and anti-democratic idea.

]]>