One thing they don't tell you--if your flight is cancelled and you are put on another flight--which is not that infrequent these days--you're bumped to the end of boarding line. Paid for an "Anytime" flight, which comes with Earlybird, and was bumped from A group on my booked flight to C-12 on my rebooked flight. Just be aware there's no guarantee and no refunds, apparently.
iv flown southwest a bit and luckily we've always been able to sit together and not a center seat,however we got crappy spots a few times and I will say setting an alarm and hitting check in the moment the clock strikes 24 hours we are most of the time set to the back of row b or even c which is half way down the list. so for the rare SW flight from ny to Vegas we pay for early boarding(rare we get a long flight though normally its going to fl and we dont care as much for such a short flight.
For myself, I've found it isn't worth it. For my girlfriend...she gets mad when I buy it, but is always happy she had it. I do the same on JetBlue....even more space/speed seats.
We only buy Early Bird when we need to be near the front of the plane when disembarking. This happens when we fly internationally, as being near the front of the customs line can save you an hour of waiting, which can be brutal when you have just landed in Turks and Caicos and want to get to the beach already!
so when do I pick my seats with the early bird ? I purchased 4 plane tickets with early bird because I want all of us to be on the same row and I don't want no middle seat
It happened to me & my wife 7 years ago. Los Angeles to Tulsa via stop in Vegas. The plane was partially full in Vegas, going to Tulsa. We could not sit together. When we fly together, I buy an early bird. I board ahead of my wife & save a seat. We book separate tickets when we fly together so we only buy round trip early bird. If you don't, you will have to buy two early bird check-in for both of us. We need one of us to save a seat. This is our Clark Howard way saving a little money when flying together on SWA.😅😊
@@wurtzgood yup, I've done it before....I'll ask them to move their coat or purse if i want the seat and if they don't, I'll sit on it, they've all moved it....never has their " wife" shown up....airports are full of men carrying shoulder bags " man purses" ..don't assume it belongs to a woman.
One thing they don't tell you--if your flight is cancelled and you are put on another flight--which is not that infrequent these days--you're bumped to the end of boarding line. Paid for an "Anytime" flight, which comes with Earlybird, and was bumped from A group on my booked flight to C-12 on my rebooked flight. Just be aware there's no guarantee and no refunds, apparently.
iv flown southwest a bit and luckily we've always been able to sit together and not a center seat,however we got crappy spots a few times and I will say setting an alarm and hitting check in the moment the clock strikes 24 hours we are most of the time set to the back of row b or even c which is half way down the list. so for the rare SW flight from ny to Vegas we pay for early boarding(rare we get a long flight though normally its going to fl and we dont care as much for such a short flight.
the only reason i dont fly swa. hate boarding process. so glad they are changing it.
Same, the only people upset about them changing the boarding process are the ones abusing it
I always pay for an early bird but I got a B boarding tx today.... 70 people later I was pissed
For myself, I've found it isn't worth it. For my girlfriend...she gets mad when I buy it, but is always happy she had it. I do the same on JetBlue....even more space/speed seats.
I flew recently all I have to say is I checked in as soon as I could and got A and B group heck I slept in once got mid B.
Marital Harmony FTW (for the win).
We only buy Early Bird when we need to be near the front of the plane when disembarking. This happens when we fly internationally, as being near the front of the customs line can save you an hour of waiting, which can be brutal when you have just landed in Turks and Caicos and want to get to the beach already!
When I leave from Indianapolis and I’m from Illinois, time change won’t let me check in 24 hrs in advance. So I don’t, shouldn’t pay for it
I didn't pay for it on our departure flight, but I did when we were going to be at sea 24 hours before our flight home.
so when do I pick my seats with the early bird ? I purchased 4 plane tickets with early bird because I want all of us to be on the same row and I don't want no middle seat
you dont as you found out no assigned seats. it just checks you in automatically and earlier
Some of their credit cards get you 4 upgraded boardings. And really, she just needs to use 1 for the 2 of them because you can save a seat.
Saving seats? Not on my watch. First come-first sit.
@@YouJudyTube LOL.... Sure.
You definitely can’t save a seat. Unless ur trying to save a middle, 90% of ppl will tell you kick rocks
It happened to me & my wife 7 years ago. Los Angeles to Tulsa via stop in Vegas. The plane was partially full in Vegas, going to Tulsa. We could not sit together. When we fly together, I buy an early bird. I board ahead of my wife & save a seat. We book separate tickets when we fly together so we only buy round trip early bird. If you don't, you will have to buy two early bird check-in for both of us. We need one of us to save a seat. This is our Clark Howard way saving a little money when flying together on SWA.😅😊
Everyone hates sest savers, and there is nothing you can do if someone sits in the seat you " saved"
Great tip! 💚
@@kurtrussell5228 it's not against the rules... And do the other passengets really care that you're saving a center seat...no
@@gregb5876 and it's not against the rules for someone to sit in a saved seat.
@@wurtzgood yup, I've done it before....I'll ask them to move their coat or purse if i want the seat and if they don't, I'll sit on it, they've all moved it....never has their " wife" shown up....airports are full of men carrying shoulder bags " man purses" ..don't assume it belongs to a woman.
I only use it because Southwest will give you two free early bird check ins a year if you use their credit card.
How much does it cost
$25
@@CarmenGarcia-bu3sobe specific…$25 each way.
15-25 dollars each way depends on flight normally its around 20 for me
Nope, plain and simple, you get a high B group anyway
This will all be irrelevant in a few months now that they’re going to numbered seating. Thank God.
No, not worth it