For trip to WDW on Southwest do you buy EB?

Llama mama

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 6, 2019
Curious if you purchase EB when flying to WDW on Southwest. Since family boarding is between A and B. Do a lot of families buy it?
 
We always buy it. We even bought it when the kids were young and qualified for family boarding.
 
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I did not on my last trip, I was solo, checked in at T24 and was fine. But totally forgot to check in for my return flight until way after. I ended up paying for an upgraded boarding position at the gate. $40 and I got A1. I will the next time I fly SW to WDW.
 


Yes. And I try to book the day flights come out. I usually get pretty low in the A group. Worth every penny.
 


We do not, but we family board (family of 4, two kids ages 2 and 5) and don’t mind sitting in the very last row of the plane, or sitting 2 and 2 or 3 and 1. We are flexible and don’t have any goals other than one adult with one child. I also check in right at the 24 hour mark, and have gotten A50’s once or twice. We are a hub city for SW so there are flights to Orlando every hour or two at most.

We also get to the airport early and if it looks like there are a lot of families, we line up for family boarding (old school SW style!) so we are near the front of the families.

If you can swing it, book a pre-7 AM flight. We travel to Tampa a lot, and we almost always book the 6:25 or 6:40 flight, and we’re usually one of the only families in the family line.
 
No. We got stuck on Spaceship Earth, and I missed my check-in time. Ended up in the C group. We’re a family of 5. We were still able to find 2 seats in the middle and a whole row in the back. Worked out fine. We make sure to bring bags that fit under the seat.
 
I purchased for my family of 5, including my 3 year old GD. Although my GD and her parents could have boarded with family boarding, I wanted a better shot at all 5 of us boarding and sitting together. If for some reason we get a “B” boarding I’ll send them along in family and me and DD will try to sit close to them.
 
I buy it every time. We'd rather be settled, together, and near the front. I don't want to bother with doing online check in at exactly 24 hours in advance. Who has time to schedule that? Early Bird Check In is a small priced perk that makes my vacation better.
 
We stopped buying it a long time ago. Haven't noticed a bit of difference in when we board to be honest. We just make sure to check in at the 24 hour mark. Saves us a LOT of money.
 
We stopped buying it a long time ago. Haven't noticed a bit of difference in when we board to be honest. We just make sure to check in at the 24 hour mark. Saves us a LOT of money.
Makes sense for you. We are busy people though, both before a trip and while on it. We almost always are unable to honor that 24 hour situation.
 
Never bought it..never needed. Just check in 24 hours ahead and you'll be at worst a very low b. No issues sitting together or anything.
SW is the only airline we use. Always works out fine.
You do understand there are cases where checking in at T-24 haven't worked our, and cases where getting even a mid-B means nothing but solo middle seats? It may always work out fine for you, but that doesn't mean it will work out fine for everyone.
 
Whatever works! If you want to buy the EB then great, if you don't then great. Different airports have different types of flyers. Flying from SJU I got positions A24/25/26 at 24 hours. From DEN it was B27/28/29. I set my alarm for check-in (and I am super excited anyway so usually don't need an alarm!) and done :)

Last week I was so glad I set my alarm - had to c/i for a flight from FLL while on the Conch Train in Key West! Was wondering why my phone was vibrating, thought it was the train ;)
 
DW and I always buy EB. We prefer to sit near the front of the plane and have luggage space at our seats. We typically have the flexibility to find low cost days to travel which helps with the cost of EB. For us EB takes a bit of stress out of the travel experience. Especially on flights in and out of Orlando which always seem to be full.
 
I am flying on them next month and only bought it for the return trip. I didn't want to worry about forgetting to check in a 24 hours (we'll be in the Magic Kingdom). We have a 2 year old and a 7 year old so we can partially family board but I have heard that's not always an offered option at MCO.

I also bought it for my return flight when I came to the east coast from San Diego. I wanted an aisle seat
 

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