Southwest - Early Bird Check-in????

[Jewel99]

Does anyone have any experience with the Southwest Early Bird Check-in that you have to pay a $10 surcharge for?

I'm a little concerned about our flight home as I have no idea if it will be possible for us to check in 24 hours prior to departure as we'll be in Half Moon Cay that day, and I worry we won't get seats together for the flight home, so paying a small surcharge to get priority boarding might be a good idea for us.

Just wanted to see if anyone here had ever used it or looked into this service.

[6rugrats]

Here are 56 posts on this subject:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1052722

[Beth_55]

Jewel, is it possible to have someone check in for you at home ? They just need your confirmation number and name. Just make sure it is 24 hrs from your departure time. You do not have to have a printed pass. You can do that at the airport. We always check bags anyways and they do it there.

I am flying Southwest on Sunday and will find out Saturday what my boarding pass is. I did not pay the extra money. Flying to Vegas.

[frugaltravel]

If it were me, I would never pay the extra $10 unless I knew I would not be near a computer 24 hours in advance - like the return flight after a cruise. It might be money well spent rather than relying on someone else to check you in (you know how that goes - they get distracted, forget, whatever).

[FlyerTalker]

Originally Posted by frugaltravel

If it were me, I would never pay the extra $10 unless I knew I would not be near a computer 24 hours in advance - like the return flight after a cruise. It might be money well spent rather than relying on someone else to check you in (you know how that goes - they get distracted, forget, whatever).

Whether or not you (or a surrogate) get to a computer at the 24 hour mark -- you will still be behind everyone who ponied up the sawbuck for the Early Bird. To the best of my reading, those with "business" tickets are at the top of the line, then those with the EB extras, then everyone else by check-in time.

So, assuming 5 business and 50 EB's, you're already looking at being halfway down the boarding list before you even start to work your fingers in the 24 hour lottery.

[6rugrats]

Originally Posted by FlyerTalker

Whether or not you (or a surrogate) get to a computer at the 24 hour mark -- you will still be behind everyone who ponied up the sawbuck for the Early Bird. To the best of my reading, those with "business" tickets are at the top of the line, then those with the EB extras, then everyone else by check-in time.

So, assuming 5 business and 50 EB's, you're already looking at being halfway down the boarding list before you even start to work your fingers in the 24 hour lottery.

And you will also be behind all the Rapid Rewards A List members; those who fly 32 or more one way flights within a 12 month period will get reserved boarding privileges for an entire year. No way to know how many will be on a specific flight.

[alphakitty]

Also, in the Early Bird FAQ's it says:

Customers who have purchased Anytime Fares will receive priority over other fare types during the initial boarding position assignment.

http://www.southwest.com/flight/earl...ml#ebQuestion5

That said, to me......it's worth the $20 (2 people) to not have to think about checking in for the return flight home from a cruise.

[steve20832]

I just flew Southwest last week. I did not pay the extra $10 and ended up with A-32 and A-38. I did check in with my Blackberry exactly 24 hours in advance. There were only about 20 people in front of me in line at boarding time so really the numbers were A-20's

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by FlyerTalker

Whether or not you (or a surrogate) get to a computer at the 24 hour mark -- you will still be behind everyone who ponied up the sawbuck for the Early Bird. To the best of my reading, those with "business" tickets are at the top of the line, then those with the EB extras, then everyone else by check-in time.

So, assuming 5 business and 50 EB's, you're already looking at being halfway down the boarding list before you even start to work your fingers in the 24 hour lottery.

Even if true, assuming at least 20 rows in the plane, that is 80 aisle or window seats. So 5 business, 50 EB's = 55. Even if someone is 25th in the 24-hour lottery, they get either a window or an aisle.

From the lone experience posted above, nowhere near 50 EB'ers, which would be +-35% of the plane. And we know the planes are not all 100% full all the time. So fewer EB's (perhaps the same or similar percentage of total passengers?), but higher chance for window or aisle when the plane is not full.

I think those who like Southwest will definitely put up with their boarding rules. Kind of equivalent to those who are so attached to their frequent flyer program that they will fly one alliance/airline over another, even if it costs more. Happens all the time. But it seems like some people on this forum usually only talk about how much more people are paying on Southwest vs. a legacy carrier because they wait for Southwest's bookings to open up (and that myth has already been debunked by numerous examples).

That's why there isn't just vanilla ice cream

[6rugrats]

Originally Posted by frugaltravel

But it seems like some people on this forum usually only talk about how much more people are paying on Southwest vs. a legacy carrier because they wait for Southwest's bookings to open up (and that myth has already been debunked by numerous examples).

I would be interested in seeing some of the examples you reference above that are not just anecdotal, but empirical that "debunk the myth". I recall only one example posted yesterday, that showed the opposite; it was less expensive to book DL than WN.

It was Post Number 11 in this thread by Twickenham:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1057919

[steve20832]

Originally Posted by 6rugrats

I would be interested in seeing some of the examples you reference above that are not just anecdotal, but empirical that "debunk the myth". I recall only one example posted yesterday, that showed the opposite; it was less expensive to book DL than WN.

It was Post Number 11 in this thread by Twickenham:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1057919

The difference is $1.40. Keep in mind Delta charges $15 for checked luggage and Southwest is free. So if you are checking luggage (99.9% of people do when they go on a cruise) Southwest would be less expensive. Not to mention, Delta is almost always worse than Southwest of DOT online performance each month.

Southwest was 4th best at 80.8% ontime and Delta was 13th at 75.5%
It may not sound like much but it is a big difference.
Comair which came in last at 63% is part of Delta.
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/repor...200909ATCR.PDF (page 5)

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by 6rugrats

I would be interested in seeing some of the examples you reference above that are not just anecdotal, but empirical that "debunk the myth". I recall only one example posted yesterday, that showed the opposite; it was less expensive to book DL than WN.

It was Post Number 11 in this thread by Twickenham:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1057919

Short memory . Still on the first page:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1052062

And there were others. For a lot more, you can visit Flyer Talk. Just proves my point - naysayers will be naysayers no matter what, right Steve?

Hey, I don't fly Southwest hardly ever - they just don't fly where I am flying from/to. But they have many advantages and I am willing to give credit where credit is due. Most "regular" expert posters here can't live without their upgrades, lounge access, frequent flyer bonuses, etc. But unfortunately that is not how most of us on cruise critic fly.

Even if initial fare is the same, as was said, $15-$20/person each way for the first checked bag, $25-$30/person each way for the second checked bag with legacy airlines. Then no fee for changes (except for any fare increase since time of booking, which all other airlines also have) or price reductions with Southwest vs. other airlines.

And guess which airline has had an operating profit for who knows how many years?

[6rugrats]

Originally Posted by frugaltravel

Short memory . Still on the first page:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1052062

I'm sorry, but the thread you linked to does not have the information I requested. It's just a poster reporting what they paid for a fare. They do not have any comparisons of fares for the same travel dates and city pairs from any other carriers from the date those carriers would allow you to book a ticket, usually about 329 days out.

I don't care what airline anyone chooses to fly or who makes a profit. This is meaningless to me, but some hard data of flight prices would be interesting. If people want to pay more for a certain airline or think they are getting a bargain when they sometimes aren't, that's fine too.

[sjcruiser]

Since SW does not charge for bags, I'll gladly pony up $10.00 for early boarding. I usually set an alarm on my cellphone to notify me of the 24 timeline for check-in.

[kenish]

And guess which airline has had an operating profit for who knows how many years?

The winning streak unfortunately ended for WN a few quarters ago. Their profitablity was thanks to fuel hedges. Not begrudging them, hedges are one legit way to make a profit. Their latest hedges are actually eroding the bottom line. I think rising costs, a expansion out of their "core competency", and undercutting by competitors is starting to hurt. One airline analyst praised WN for innovative "fees that aren't fees" such as EB. He speculated WN will start more ordinary fees if their bottom line continues to deteriorate.

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by kenish

One airline analyst praised WN for innovative "fees that aren't fees" such as EB.

I'm not quite sure why this analyst thinks that the early boarding fee is a "fee that isn't a fee". Some other low-fare airlines have been charging for this for some time (EZY springs to mind), and it's always regarded as just another fee.

Maybe the analyst was given a good lunch along with the marketing spin.

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by kenish

The winning streak unfortunately ended for WN a few quarters ago. Their profitablity was thanks to fuel hedges. Not begrudging them, hedges are one legit way to make a profit. Their latest hedges are actually eroding the bottom line. I think rising costs, a expansion out of their "core competency", and undercutting by competitors is starting to hurt. One airline analyst praised WN for innovative "fees that aren't fees" such as EB. He speculated WN will start more ordinary fees if their bottom line continues to deteriorate.

Please read my post more carefully. I said "operating profit" and that has been consistent and hasn't ended. Fuel hedges are not part of operating profit. As I said, naysayers will be naysayers. 'nuff said.

[FlyerTalker]

Originally Posted by frugaltravel

Please read my post more carefully. I said "operating profit" and that has been consistent and hasn't ended. Fuel hedges are not part of operating profit. As I said, naysayers will be naysayers. 'nuff said.

I would say that "operating profit" includes the items necessary for...gasp, operations of the company. Given that fuel is an operating cost (and I dare anyone to say that it isn't), then whether the price is hedged or not is moot. It still is an operational cost that goes into figuring the operational profit, whatever the number is.

Let's say Uncle Guido wants to sell you a tanker ship of Jet A. He tells you it "fell off a dock". You snatch up the great deal and, as a result, your fuel cost (and thus your operational cost) drops. Thus, your operational profit goes up. Same concept...if you save on the cost through hedging, it goes straight through to operational profit (or loss). Or if you get a good deal on an aircraft lease. Or whatever.

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by FlyerTalker

I would say that "operating profit" includes the items necessary for...gasp, operations of the company. Given that fuel is an operating cost (and I dare anyone to say that it isn't), then whether the price is hedged or not is moot. It still is an operational cost that goes into figuring the operational profit, whatever the number is.

Let's say Uncle Guido wants to sell you a tanker ship of Jet A. He tells you it "fell off a dock". You snatch up the great deal and, as a result, your fuel cost (and thus your operational cost) drops. Thus, your operational profit goes up. Same concept...if you save on the cost through hedging, it goes straight through to operational profit (or loss). Or if you get a good deal on an aircraft lease. Or whatever.

You can say whatever you want to say. That doesn't make it true. Obviously you are not an accountant. My statement is based on "generally accepted accounting principles" (GAAP) that the airlines themselves are legally required to use. Fuel hedges are non-operating income and expenses that are a separate area on their profit and loss statements. Southwest has had an operating profit for years. Fuel is an operating cost. Fuel hedge gains and losses are not.

And even by your example, compare the past decade of "bottom line" income or loss by airlines and tell me who has the greatest profit or least loss. I know you would shudder at having to say that airline's name

Again, naysayers will be naysayers. My point has been proven more than once on this thread

[GottaLuvCruising]

We were Southwest frequent flyers (about once a month) for 5 - 6 years. We always used to get A boarding passes and be those annoying people who would camp out at the front of the line as soon as the previous flight left. Then Southwest added the boarding numbers and we were compulsive about the frenzied T-24 check-in, often snagging the A1 & A2 spots. Then Southwest added the business select option and we almost always got A16 &A17 (often with nobody in the first 15 slots). Now EB...

Then a family emergency forced us to book another airline that offered the option of seat assignments. It was so cool! We selected two seats and at boarding time, we sat down in them. Wow! I remember the olden days when we always selected our seats at the time of purchase and began to wonder why in the world have we put up with the Southwest boarding? Oh, I remember...low fares. What low fares? Now Southwest fares aren't any better (or at least not much better) than other airlines that allow us to select our seats.

As of January, we started making other choices. Maybe we just don't have the patience for all this boarding foolishness anymore. We have since booked 9 flights on AirTran and JetBlue. We generaly travel with just a carry-on anyway so the luggage isn't a concern.

Tomorrow we fly Southwest on the last of our Rapid Rewards Award tickets. I gladly paid $40 for EB for both of us round-trip. Where I used to get A1 & A2 just for paying attention, I now am charged extra for A24 & A25. It beats the heck out of getting a C boarding pass and being stuck in a middle seat.

Some folks don't mind a middle seat and that's really OK. I won't fight you for it.