When it comes to a unique boarding and check-in system, Southwest Airlines is the best because, unlike many other carriers that assign specific seats, Southwest uses an open seating model. This is the model where boarding order matters more than the seat numbers.
Southwest Early Bird Check-in is one of the most popular add-ons for frequent travellers and families, and this optional service saves a lot of time and improves the chances of your getting a better boarding position, which also helps in offering the passengers a smoother and more comfortable travel experience.
In this article, we’ll explain the Early Bird Check In, discuss its fees, and also we help you to decide if it's worth purchasing for your next trip.
It's the way of automating that Southwest Airlines gives to their passengers, which is an optional add-on service that automates the passengers Check In process and attempts to secure a better boarding position. As we know by convention Southwest passengers must Check In online with in 24 hours before scheduled departure just to get a good spot in the boarding order which is typically comes with an A, B, or C group designation but with Early Bird the game changes a lot now Southwest will automatically check passengers in up to 36 hours before departure and giving them a head start over the passengers who Check In manually at the 24 Hour Mark.
Their idea is very simple, which is that the sooner you're checked in. The better your boarding position will be, the better your chances of snagging your preferred seat and overhead bin space, and this can be especially helpful when travelling with family, or when you need a specific seating preference that really matters to you. But it is also important to note that the Early Bird does not guarantee any specific boarding position. For now, let's sayA1 or A15 because those top premium positions are only reserved for the Business Select fare customers or passengers who purchase Upgraded Boarding.
In this, we will guide you step by step to look at the Early Bird Check-In Process.
This will be, but yeah! Before you can use the automates Add On Early Bird Check In. You need a valid Southwest ticket (any fare type) before using early bird, and although some premium fare classes (like Anytime or Business Select) might already include early check-in, ut early bird itself is an optional add-on for most ticket types.
You can even add Early Bird when you are booking your flight online at Southwest.com through the Southwest mobile app or after booking via the Manage Reservations page, but the key is that you have to purchase it at least 36 hours before departure, and once inside that 36 Hour window, Early Bird may no longer be available for that flight.
In this process, once added, the Southest will automatically check you in around 36 hours before the takeoff and give you a stronger chance of entering an earlier boarding group than those who are checking in at T-24.
It is very important that around that time, your boarding position will be assigned, but you will still need to retrieve your boarding pass between 24 Hours and departure (either via app or online boarding pass), and the spot you receive will reflect your early check-in advantage.
As we know, Southwest uses open seating, so once onboard, you can choose any available seat. But remember, A group flyers get the priority boarding and then followed by B and C groups.
This is one of the most important things you need to know, and the answer is that the cost of Southwest Early Bird Check-In varies by route, demand, season, and flight segment length.
Here we give you what you need to understand about pricing:
We want you to remember this, that each flight segment, whether it doesn't matter its outbound or return, requires its own purchase if you want Early Bird benefits for both legs.
Our final thought on Early Bird buying is that it totally depends on your travel priorities. For example If you value a better boarding position, need overhead bin space, or want to avoid the rush of checking in exactly 24 Hours before departure, then Early Bird can be a helpful convenience, and in fact, frequent flyers or those who are travelling with families often find it worthwhile.
But if you’re flying solo and don’t mind where you sit, then we prefer to check in manually right at the 24-hour mark because you might skip this service and save your money, and remember the free standard check-in still gives every passenger a chance to board on time.
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