This may frustrate some of the users, but I blame SWA for taking my extra $200 and putting me in this situation. I got on with A15, Sat a couple rows from back of the plane and spread carry on bags across aisle. Kids boarded in between A and B during family boarding and joined me at back where bags were in window and aisle. Two passengers asked if the middle seat was taken and I said yes. Wife boarded with C31 and joined us. TBH, the two passengers were simply asking and weren’t mad, they took the middle seats behind. I was able to move my kids carryon bags under their seat and let one of the passengers use the overhead compartment. I appreciate the advice folks, my takeaway for Spring Break is to buy tickets when the window opens so you’re EBCI is earlier in the queue.
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I understand that sentiment. For those that didn’t believe me I’ve attached a snapshot of my daughter’s BP. I’m still of the opinion that EBCI should have a warning when over 90% of the flight already has Alist or EB. This flight literally had 100% EBCI which makes the program a scam.
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03-17-2023
09:05 PM
03-17-2023
09:05 PM
yes, under the details it has our name, early bird and checked in. The agent confirmed EB was processed, and told me that it’s processed in the order that it’s purchased. So I was just one of the last to purchase it. It’s spring break and Texas is a big spoke, so likely everyone purchased it.
she was also surprised by the C 32 spot and suggested I go to southwest.com. I thought that meant this board until someone told me I could email the helpdesk. I’ve done both now.
I plan to talk to the agent and offer my A15 spot in exchange for family boarding after A. We’ll see. Otherwise try to save kids 2 seats.
good suggestion, thanks
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It’s all good, they have every right to express their opinion too. I had just never heard of a C 33 earlybird check-in and wanted to warn others.
I got a solid strategy suggestion out of the posting so I’m good.
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03-17-2023
05:48 PM
03-17-2023
05:48 PM
My expectation was to not be the last four people on the plane, yes. I’m not positive what the equipment will be, but apparently if it’s a 737 we will be.
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03-17-2023
05:35 PM
03-17-2023
05:35 PM
Correct, the agent Brook was also surprised by my early bird boarding number and worked with another agent Crystal to double check that EB was actually taken into account. Unfortunately it was processed; I just purchased it later than others.
i’m just going to try to get on with my A15 position and take my two kids with me 🤷♂️
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03-17-2023
05:22 PM
03-17-2023
05:22 PM
yup, that’s what the agent said. The EB program did its job and that’s why they wouldn’t refund the extra fees.
I just did not expect to be in the last C boarding group with an extra $80 charge.
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03-17-2023
05:18 PM
03-17-2023
05:18 PM
Bought tickets in September and didn’t buy earlybird until late February. Flight home is tomorrow.
it is what it is apparently, but they would not refund the early bird fees since the system still did its job giving us the last boarding group based on purchase order.
it would be helpful if they told you how many earlybird purchasers and A listers have already purchased before offering it to you. If it told me I would likely be in the C boarding group I would not have bought early bird. It’s just compounded with minor children too old for family boarding.
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03-17-2023
04:59 PM
03-17-2023
04:59 PM
Thanks, this is where they told me to post it but I may have picked the wrong spot.
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03-17-2023
04:57 PM
03-17-2023
04:57 PM
We’ll see, the flight is tomorrow and we’re in the last boarding group with “early bird”.
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03-17-2023
04:44 PM
03-17-2023
04:44 PM
I paid $160 for my family of four to have early bird and we were assigned boarding groups C 29 through C 32 because according to the agent, we purchased early bird later than others. Apparently the system knew I was 149th in line when early bird boarding was offered and still took my $160. I’m traveling tomorrow with two minor children that are 12 years old and 14 years old that are going to have to navigate the back of the plane by themselves with a carry-on bag and hope for the best with a middle seat rows apart. At check-in we were offered A1-A15 for an extra $40; I purchased the seat and then business class was full so my family still can’t sit together. So for $200 in extra hidden family fees my family still can’t sit together on Southwest Airlines and the thing that frustrates me the most is the system knew we were going to be this far back when it offered “earlybird” for C29 thru C33 as a $160 scam.
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