EarlyBird Check-in: A Convenient Way to Travel...
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Seattle, WA (ex Tokyo, JP)
Programs: A3*G, DL Platinum
Posts: 864
EarlyBird Check-in: A Convenient Way to Travel...
... so says the Southwest Blog. $10 one-way will now automatically grab you a boarding number at T-24, after Business Select and A-list.
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/ea...ent-way-travel
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/ea...ent-way-travel
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
This is "pay-for-A". It's not a seat selection fee as you're still not guaranteed a particular seat. Rather, it's an optional convenience charge to remove the OLCI hassle. Customers are basically purchasing a feature of A-List status ("We'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure - that's 12 hours before general boarding positions become available."). I wonder if A-List status itself, or perhaps an EarlyBird subscription, will be available for purchase soon.
I can't say I'm personally thrilled about this, but WN knows this is something Customers want. In hindsight, I'm surprised it took this long for them to offer this.
I can't say I'm personally thrilled about this, but WN knows this is something Customers want. In hindsight, I'm surprised it took this long for them to offer this.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Lake Ronkonkoma, NY (ISP)
Programs: WN RR (Informed Kettle)
Posts: 151
The way enforcement of these things tend to go, what happens the first time a single person in a family/group buys this, then
My wife already jokingly said for me to buy it just for me when we go on our cruise (making T-24 difficult), then when I get on just to save a seat. She knows I wouldn't do that, hence the joke. How many people WOULD though...?
- takes the rest with them OR
- saves seats while the rest board in B or C?
My wife already jokingly said for me to buy it just for me when we go on our cruise (making T-24 difficult), then when I get on just to save a seat. She knows I wouldn't do that, hence the joke. How many people WOULD though...?
Last edited by HtomSirveaux; Sep 2, 2009 at 6:09 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
This is something WN should advertise heavily at MCO and to folks traveling to MCO. I remember having no shortage of difficulty trying to OLCI while riding Pirates of the Caribbean last year. EarlyBird would have come in handy then.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Great question. WN will now have three groups of Customers who have paid for earlier boarding either directly (Business Select/EarlyBird) or indirectly (A-List). This makes boarding position enforcement even more important.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: ELP
Programs: SWA RR
Posts: 438
EarlyBird is non-refundable - http://www.southwest.com/flight/earl...irdCheckInFAQs
BTW, the word "fee" does not appear anywhere on the EarlyBird Check-in pages.
BTW, the word "fee" does not appear anywhere on the EarlyBird Check-in pages.
#12
In Memoriam - Company Representative - Southwest Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest spokesperson
Posts: 1,201
#13
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Thanks, SWABrian! This is a question better suited for a number of other threads, but I wonder if A-List ordering is also that simple.
#14
In Memoriam - Company Representative - Southwest Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest spokesperson
Posts: 1,201
I still haven't been inducted into the royal and ancient order of the A-List, so I am like Bob Seegar: "how it works I sat and wondered. Started humming a song from 1962, ain't it funny how the A-List moves."
#15
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,254
This is "pay-for-A". It's not a seat selection fee as you're still not guaranteed a particular seat. Rather, it's an optional convenience charge to remove the OLCI hassle. Customers are basically purchasing a feature of A-List status ("We'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure - that's 12 hours before general boarding positions become available."). I wonder if A-List status itself, or perhaps an EarlyBird subscription, will be available for purchase soon.
I can't say I'm personally thrilled about this, but WN knows this is something Customers want. In hindsight, I'm surprised it took this long for them to offer this.
I can't say I'm personally thrilled about this, but WN knows this is something Customers want. In hindsight, I'm surprised it took this long for them to offer this.
I understand why WN is doing this but it is no different then some of the junk fees other airlines are charging.
I see problems. A family of 6 decides to pay one fee and have 1 passenger try and hold 6 seats.
I think WN should also go the other direction and only offer BPs 12 hours before the flight for passengers in the lower fare buckets (or maybe just DING).