For trip to WDW on Southwest do you buy EB?

Last time I bought it we wound up in late B group. I don't think I will buy it again considering how much it costs now.
 
No, I've never bought it. Last trip on the way there we got A56 and the way home we got B2, both times checking in right at 24 hours. With our A56 position we were in rows 3 and 4 and coming home still not far back maybe row 10. It was hard standing there with my B2 position and watching all the families board. I much preferred the A56 and boarding before them.
 
When I travel with my family, we always buy it. Even though my kids are older, we prefer to sit together.

Just last week I went down from CT to Orlando solo and chose not to get it. I checked in at exactly 24 hours for my flight down and got B7, and when I boarded I sat exactly where I always like to sit…near the front in an aisle seat.

For my flight home, I didn't notice or didn't hear my phone reminder so I forgot to check in until 6 minutes past the 24 hour mark. I got B51 for my boarding position so I was kind of nervous but when I boarded the plane, I sat exactly where I always like to sit…near the front in an aisle seat.

I know things could have gone differently, especially with that B51, but I think for a solo traveler, EBCI is not really necessary.
 


I purchase it for our return flight. On the way there I can ensure I'll be available at the 24 hour mark and sign in right then. On the way home we're often having too much fun to remember to check in.

This has worked well for us.
 
We always purchase it for any flight on SW. We typically like to fly out early (5:30am/6am or so) and I'm not always awake and functional at that hour the day before. We have always ended up in A group using EB.
 


Are you booking a flight likely to have continuing passengers (already on the plane) and connecting passengers (who check in 24 hours before their first flight)? Flights from BWI for example? EBCI makes sense. Do you meet the actual rules for family boarding? Two adults, children 6 or younger. Southwest, at least some GA, is starting to enforce the rules. Passengers hoping to take advantage of formerly flexible rules might also buy EBCI.
 
We have always bought EBCI even with family boarding. I especially like it on the way home when we are too busy to pay attention to the 24-hour mark before departure.
 
Are you booking a flight likely to have continuing passengers (already on the plane) and connecting passengers (who check in 24 hours before their first flight)? Flights from BWI for example? EBCI makes sense. Do you meet the actual rules for family boarding? Two adults, children 6 or younger. Southwest, at least some GA, is starting to enforce the rules. Passengers hoping to take advantage of formerly flexible rules might also buy EBCI.

You beat me by 5 minutes. If your home airport is a connecting airport for SW(Midway, BWI), I would buy it. If the flight is direct from a non-SW hub, you won't need it if you check in at T24. We've flown SW nearly 40 times without ever buying Early Bird, and have always sat together. Can't even recall an instance where it was even a close call of not being together.
 
Depends on a lot of factors. Is my flight at a bonkers time where T-24 I'll still be asleep? Then yes. I do buy it. In the pre smart-phone days i'd just buy it for the return leg.
 
We never buy it. I try and check-in at 24 hours before and we usually can find seats together, even if we have to go further back in the plane. We're pretty laid back travelers so we aren't in a rush to get off of the plane. The flight is so short even if we aren't sitting together we aren't on the plane that long. Saves us some money. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!
 
Yes. When traveling alone I don't want to be stuck in a middle seat. When traveling with my family I want the best chance possible to have an adult with each child. Two of my kids could probably sit in a middle row with strangers and not notice because their heads were stuck to their iPads. The third one gets way to nervous when flying and we need to be with her.
 
We always buy for the return trip. I can never remember to check in at exactly 24 hrs when I'm in the parks. We also sometimes get the upgraded boarding with our SW visa card if we need it for the flights down.
 
We only fly SWA and always buy EBCI (both ways) regardless of our destination. I like knowing I'll be checked in at 36 hours prior without having to worry about being on my computer or on my phone to check in right at the 24 hour mark.
 
Yes, because they often limit or eliminate family boarding on flights to/from MCO out of our hub if there are lots of families on the flight.

THIS! When my kids were little, I always bought it for both legs.

Now, I start out buying it only for returns, and as we get closer, I might do it for the way there, too, depending on what I have going on the day before we leave.

More often than not, family boarding has not been held on the MCO routes out of my airport... too many families with small kids.
 

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