Is Southwest Airlines’ Early Bird Check In Worth It?

Southwest Airlines famously doesn’t offer assigned seats. Is it worth the money to get to the front of the line when you’re traveling with someone?

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[LauraAnne]

One thing they don't tell you--if your flight is cancelled and you are put on another flight--which is not that infrequent these days--you're bumped to the end of boarding line. Paid for an "Anytime" flight, which comes with Earlybird, and was bumped from A group on my booked flight to C-12 on my rebooked flight. Just be aware there's no guarantee and no refunds, apparently.

[borntoroam]

the only reason i dont fly swa. hate boarding process. so glad they are changing it.

[godfatherthv]

I always pay for EB. If you get in C group, your carry on my need to go behind you 10 rows and now your stuck waiting for everyone to get off to get your carry on. Thats a pain in the butt!

[gracepark]

I always check in exactly 24 hrs ahead and always got C boarding!
So I now always buy early bird. And always get A boarding!

[tray]

I always pay for an early bird but I got a B boarding tx today.... 70 people later I was pissed

[margaretatter]

I flew Southwest last month. It was great.

[aaronlimitless]

iv flown southwest a bit and luckily we've always been able to sit together and not a center seat, however we got crappy spots a few times and I will say setting an alarm and hitting check in the moment the clock strikes 24 hours we are most of the time set to the back of row b or even c which is half way down the list. so for the rare SW flight from ny to Vegas we pay for early boarding(rare we get a long flight though normally its going to fl and we dont care as much for such a short flight.

[CoryValpo]

We only buy Early Bird when we need to be near the front of the plane when disembarking. This happens when we fly internationally, as being near the front of the customs line can save you an hour of waiting, which can be brutal when you have just landed in Turks and Caicos and want to get to the beach already!

[greyfox]

I flew recently all I have to say is I checked in as soon as I could and got A and B group heck I slept in once got mid B.

[nofaves]

I didn't pay for it on our departure flight, but I did when we were going to be at sea 24 hours before our flight home.

[itsnotme]

For myself, I've found it isn't worth it. For my girlfriend...she gets mad when I buy it, but is always happy she had it. I do the same on JetBlue....even more space/speed seats.

[milesharlan]

It happened to me & my wife 7 years ago. Los Angeles to Tulsa via stop in Vegas. The plane was partially full in Vegas, going to Tulsa. We could not sit together. When we fly together, I buy an early bird. I board ahead of my wife & save a seat. We book separate tickets when we fly together so we only buy round trip early bird. If you don't, you will have to buy two early bird check-in for both of us. We need one of us to save a seat. This is our Clark Howard way saving a little money when flying together on SWA.😅😊

[terrimathis]

When I leave from Indianapolis and I’m from Illinois, time change won’t let me check in 24 hrs in advance. So I don’t, shouldn’t pay for it

[Happinessisachoice]

They are assigning seats soon. Thank God.

[gregb]

Some of their credit cards get you 4 upgraded boardings. And really, she just needs to use 1 for the 2 of them because you can save a seat.

[TerryLuttrell-su]

I qualify for free boarding.Because I am disabled so not really a concern.What position i'm at.

[ygbodybuilder]

so when do I pick my seats with the early bird ? I purchased 4 plane tickets with early bird because I want all of us to be on the same row and I don't want no middle seat

[aoutsky]

I only use it because Southwest will give you two free early bird check ins a year if you use their credit card.

[SiegfriedEmme]

stupid answer. If you are flying international definitely buy early bird. I even recommend upgraded boarding. But since I have multiple SW cards, it is all reimbursed anyways. If you are flying with checked luggage, then don't waste your money. just check in 24 hours prior.

[steaksandwiches]

This will all be irrelevant in a few months now that they’re going to numbered seating. Thank God.