Once again, Southwest Airlines is introducing a new product to make traveling a little easier for our Customers. Many of you have told us how important it is to get an early boarding position so you can find that coveted seat without having to watch the clock for your 24-hour window to check in. Today, I am excited to introduce EarlyBird Check-in - one more way Southwest is providing convenience during your travel experience. For just $10 (one-way), EarlyBird Check-in Customers will automatically obtain a reserved boarding position before general check-in begins. You no longer have to worry about checking in for your flight as we will do the work for you to help you get a better boarding position, which of course leads to improved seat selection and earlier access to overhead bin space.
This project is one of many that we have been working on to bring you more options. The process has been fast and furious, but with the help of several Southwest Teams, we were able to bring this new product to life in just a matter of months. It started with just an idea on the whiteboard, but quickly went from an idea to a creative concept online that is now EarlyBird Check-in. The fun part was coming up with the name for the product. Check out just a few that didn’t make the final cut, and let us know what you might have called the new product.
- Shotgun
- Leapfrog Check-in
- Jet Ahead
- Gimme a Lift
- First Dibs
- Jump Seat
Of course, we continue to offer Customers our premium Business Select product, which guarantees that you will be one of the first Passengers onboard your flight—with a drink; extra Rapid Rewards credit; and FlyBy Security Lane access (at select airports) as added benefits! EarlyBird Check-in Customers will begin boarding the plane after our Business Select and Rapid Rewards A-List Customers. For more information about EarlyBird Check-in, visit our web site: http://www.southwest.com/flight/early-bird-retrieve-reservation.html
Comments
I'll tell you what - I've been a loyal Southwest passenger and almost A-list flyer for the past 10 years (averaging 10-12 flights per year, just below the A-List cutoff). But if I check in 24 hours before a flight and get a boarding pass that forces me into a middle seat, that will be the last time I fly Southwest.
The present plan of assigning passes in numerical order based on a hard and fast deadline works fine. Everyone has an equal chance to get a good boarding position. I understand the need to offer business and frequent travelers preferred boarding. But letting anyone and everyone "jump to the front of the line" won't accomplish anything at all, other than pushing everyone else to the rear. That's a big step away from the level playing field that has made Southwest successful to date.
If you have to raise the fares, raise the fares. But don't start nickle and diming us.
I bet "jkociemb" and his wife can find a window and a middle seat together near the back of any Southwest flight without paying for EBCI. At worst they might have to ask politely if anyone at a window would mind switching to an aisle "for my wife who really needs a window seat." Most people are happy to help accommodate you UNLESS YOU SHOUT AT THEM!!!!! :). It works on blogs, too.
jkociemb,
"Are the boarding passes going to be granted on a first come first serve basis conditional on who pays the $10 first????"
No. People who buy Anytime fare are positioned before those who bought WGA or DING, regardless of when the fare was purchased or the EBCI fee was paid.
"Will one be able to find out before paying your funds whether all the "A" boarding passes are spoken for?"
Nope. You pay the fee blind, and could wind up with absolutely anything from A16-C17, with no way to recover that fee if you're not happy with what you just paid for.
Anon of 9/8 @ 10:12,
Check out some of the recent threads on flyertalk.com for some actual real non-guessing experiences:
"Normal" online-checkins
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/southwest-rapid-rewards/759743-post-your-...
"Heading to LAS at T-24 -- A47 and A50"
"MDW-OAK-RNO 9/5/09, leave at 10:00AM. Checked in at T-23:56 and got B13 & B14 for the first leg, A45/46 for second leg."
"For 9/09/09 flight: BWI - TPA (866) A-40 and A-43 @ T-24h and T-24h+10s"
"Checking in my wife on companion pass tickets, HOU - OAK - 3 hours late B-17, OAK - HOU - 2 hours late B-1"
Early Bird check-ins:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/southwest-rapid-rewards/991379-post-your-...
"9/4/09, Flight 258, SLC-PHX-SNA, EB A-53"
"09/08/09, 3345 sna-oak, eb b02, 624 oak-slc, eb a28"
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/southwest-rapid-rewards/991886-earlybird-...
"I purchased a ticket for travel and paid for early bird check-in on 9/2 in the evening. For some reason when the check-in occurred, I received B-17"
I grant you that I have selectively pulled out the worst of the bunch. But the fact that *any* of these have happened, just days after EBCI was announced, speaks volumes to how terribly bad an idea this thing is.
I just read about this new "product" in a newspaper (gasp!) and it drove me straight to my computer to comment. I frequently fly your airline for BOTH business and family travel, enough to have enjoyed a Companion Pass for my 7-year old son (I pay for my 5 year old of course!). I have often bragged to others about your airline, but this put me on the other side of the line for now. I was so disappointed when you shoved family boarding behind A boarders, but remained silent because we discovered that we could still find seats together as a family despite being back of the bus every time. I read one comment from another mother about being separated from her 7-year old. Do you people have any idea what it is like to travel with children? Would any of you expect your 5 year-old child to have to sit in another row with strangers? I don't get this one at all. I work in marketing myself and this totally flies in the face of you current campaign. You have lost my trust and travel due to this. Please change your minds today! I will volunteer my free services to participate in these meetings to help you get it right!
I would like this option when I am traveling with other people and can't be at a computer at T-24, and $10 seems fair. That said, you have a great "no fees" brand image (even if that isn't strictly speaking true), and this optional fee breaks that image. If I were you I'd drop it. Gut feel always wins out over rational logic, especially in marketing. Sorry.
AND once again, a really bad idea!!!!
Everyone will pay the damn fee with NO GUARANTEE of anything. It will just make it worse. One will get no credit for arriving early, and no credit for confirming ON-TIME.
Do we get our money back if you give us a "C" boarding pass???
My wife will only fly if she can get a window seat. She needs to hide and make herself small on an airplane. Will she get a full refund if she cannot get one??? Look at the inconvenience of going to the airport and getting the bad news. One will not be able to plan a trip at all with her condition on YOUR AIRLINE.
I just signed up for your credit card and have been awarded a free flight. I'm even doing your Boston flight to go to my daughter's wedding. I guess we will have to change that since you cannot guarantee that window seat. At least we knew how to get those "A boarding passes" ahead of time. Before that, we just arrived VERY EARLY. Really, why don't you just go to reserved seating????????? Give us a chance.
We had worked out a system whereby we always checked in exactly 24 hours in advance. Now you will be forcing her to the other airlines where she can get a confirmed window seat.
I really love all your other policies including the 1 year credit for reservation cancellations - a BIGGIE - compared to the other airlines. THIS ONE IS REALLY BAD!!!!!!!
Are the boarding passes going to be granted on a first come first serve basis conditional on who pays the $10 first???? Will one be able to find out before paying your funds whether all the "A" boarding passes are spoken for?
Come on guys! Revolt. Tell SWA where to go! AND, SWA, I don't need any of your canned comments on this blog about how great this idea is!!!!!!
I'm A-listed, so a lot of downside of this new program won't affect me directly, but by charging people an additional $10, Southwest is essentially highlighting three "rules" that it doesn't currently enforce:
1. on-board lugguge limits--many, many people bring on more than a carry-on and a personal item
2. cutting in line when boarding--since I'm A-listed, I see people all the time board after the Business Select who have A passes in the 40-50s or even B-C passes. Rarely, will the gate attendant deny them boarding.
3. saving seats--just this weekend on a oversold flight from SFO to Vegas, I saw a woman save two rows of seats for her family.
Before this new program, the only people paying to board before others were the Business Select people, and I think they do now receive what they are paying for. But when others start paying for the EarlyBird boarding, the fact that Southwest does not enforce these rules is going to cause conflict between passingers.
I'm curious who has flown since this new service was announced and were adversly affected by it? Real hard facts, not speculation on "what if's". Anyone?
SW stil has no hidden fees and to infer that this rivals the fees other carriers have put in place for things that used to be free (and still are on SWA), is not comparing apples to apples.
This is a new service, if you choose to use this service there is a fee. It is totally optional. Let SWA have a chance to evaluate it. I AM POSITIVE, they will tweak it if necessary and even limit the number of Early Birds available if too many are purchasing it if need be.
Give it a chance, try it if you like, or check in online at 24 hours before your flight and see where your boarding pass is. I'm confident that families who check in online 24 hours before their flight will get a boarding number that allows them to sit together. However, if you don't check in at the 24 hour mark, your chances will go down. I personally enjoy the time alone to read a book. ;)
Parents with children under 5 still board right after the A's. That's still in place. And btw, if a mom with a young child needs a seat together - the FA's are always accommodating. A flight will never go out with a very young child separated from their parent. Our fellow SWA passengers always come through and help accommodate this type of issue if a parent arrives late/last for check-in.
Open minds, give it time - SWA has their customers best interest at heart and that will never change.
Mrritty
I assume I am the "Bryan" to whom you are referring (I spell it with an I) , and I realize that I had incomplete information (the Q&A answer was added after my initial responses). I appologized for the error. See Friday 9/4 at 14:18
Brian