Early Bird is 100% a SCAM

[sirmacalot]

There is absolutely NO way you can know that.   You'll just blindly believe anything Southwest tells you.   No confirmation 36hrs before flight when you're supposedly checked-in via Early Bird.   No emails.  And when you want to check your position, it's conveniently unavailable.  So how can i know what my boarding position is?  "You can check your boarding position 24hrs prior to flight by clicking 'Check In'".   That doesn't seem the least bit suspicious to you?

Let's say you ordered something online.  And you paid extra so it would arrive early.  But there's no confirmation.  No email.  "We delievered it on time, trust us.  Don't worry, it's definitely in your mailbox.  Just don't check for like, another 12 hours.   But it's definitely in there."

[dfwskier]

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@sirmacalot wrote:

There is absolutely NO way you can know that.    

Actually, there is. The next time two of you travel together, have one of you buy EB and the other not and check in manually.. Then compare boarding positions..

Let us know the results of that event.

[dfwskier]

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@Adam752 wrote:

  I wouldn’t say it’s a scam. It’s more of an over promise and under deliver situation. 

The only promises that Southwest makes are:

1) You don't need to worry about checking in

2) You will get a better boarding position than if you check yourself in

How is that an over promise under deliver?

[rich1954]

Looks like you wasted your money since you were eligible for family boarding. Expensive lesson learned.

[TheMiddleSeat]

@rich1954 Family boarding is only available for kids 6 years old or younger. OP did not provide the age of their kids.

--TheMiddleSeat

[rich1954]

Claims he could have boarded between A and B. 

[floridaguy]

There are more than a few complaints here about the Early Bird Check In.  The general advice that is given here is correct.  All that is done is that you are automatically checked in, not guaranteed a better boarding position.

Personally, I have never used EBCI since I put a reminder on my phone 26 hours ahead of time to remind me.  Then, I have two hours to wait until I can check in.  I have occasionally forgot to check in and depending upon the flight, I still got a B20is spot.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a scam.  It is a service to automatically check you in.  However, it does not upgrade your boarding position.

Southwest is making extra money off passengers' anxiety of boarding the plane, that part is clear.  Everyone wants to be first on the plane to have a better choice of seats and have adequate overhead bin space.  My advice is to check your bags, check in through the normal process and keep your money in your pocket.

[SWAscams]

However, assuming automatic check-in at 36 hours, it would be impossible for someone with no preference (i.e. EB, biz, or A list, etc.) to receive a boarding before the EB. I am not expecting "better boarding position". I am expecting them to provide what they say they will which is earlier check-in than travelers with no preference. That is NOT the case, hence the reason it IS a SCAM.

[TheMiddleSeat]

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@SWAscams wrote:

However, assuming automatic check-in at 36 hours, it would be impossible for someone with no preference (i.e. EB, biz, or A list, etc.) to receive a boarding before the EB. 

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Not impossible and really not that uncommon. A-List traveler checks-in, gets A boarding position assigned, cancels reservation, that position is now available for the next passenger who is manually checking in. This happens rather frequently when an A-List passenger has a companion who nowadays receives sequential boarding with the A-List flyer. They've added the companion to the flight just in case their companion decides to fly, 24 hours prior to departure they decide to cancel the companion's sequential boarding position. That boarding position becomes available to the next person manually checking in.

--TheMiddleSeat

[StAugustine]

I contacted Southwest once many years ago (using the link at the bottom of the page) and suggested that Early Bird Check in be re-named Early Bird Boarding Position Assignment. That would eliminate some of the confusion. The customer is getting a boarding position assigned at T-36, but still must check in at T-24. Send an e-mail to the customer at T-36 saying something like "you've been assigned your boarding position. Remember that you must still check in 24 hours before your flight to get your boarding pass and see your boarding position."

That being said, I have definitely noticed that EBCI boarding positions are moving further and further back in line.