Southwest Airlines users--do you pay for early checkin?

[ame]

I am usually someone who sets an alarm to check in RIGHT on time for our flight to get the best spot in line possible, it's kind of become a game now. But we've been in the B group a lot more frequently lately than ever before...I am wondering if people are just paying to check in early for an early spot in line...

Do you pay for early check in?

 

[tammy77]

Yep, we do. When we fly it's 4 of us and it's a pain if we don't get in sooner. It's not too much more and is one less thing for us to stress about.

 

[VRBeauty]

Not usually. I figure 2/3 of the seats on the plane are either window or aisle seats, so an early "B" slot still keeps me out of the dreaded middle seat!

 

[yssie]

Not for myself, but I will for DH - he's tall and has bad knees so lack of legroom is a legitimate issue.

We mostly drive though. I love roadtrips and it's so much cheaper than flying, and so much less hassle...

 

[Haven]

First, I LOVE Southwest Airlines. Just had to say it.

I never pay for early check-in. I prefer to be in the mid-Bs, because that way I can see who's sitting near me, as well. Flight comfort isn't just about your seat, it's also about the person in the seat next to you. At least in my experience.

 

[ame]

I am a horrid flier, so really anyone who is within a 9 seat radius of me that isn't DH is going to suffer...but he is also tall so I do try to get us on early to get him in either the aisle (Ill be a middle in that case) or a bulkhead/emergency row if possible. They do have more legroom than most though so if he has the aisle he's usually ok. I might talk to DH about early check in in the future...

 

[AprilBaby]

Yep! Hubby always wants first choice!

 

[Skippy123]

I don't; I do check in right on the dot!

 

[jstarfireb]

I don't, but I'm also super-cheap, always go with the cheapest non-refundable flight option, never pay for extra legroom, and always fly carry-on only because I refuse to pay bag fees (not applicable with Southwest, but it informs the situation). I think Business Select gets A1-15 on most flights, and I got A30s the past few times that I've checked in. I did check in about 30 min after the check-in became available, and they weren't full flights, but that shows it's possible to get an A number.

Like Haven mentioned, there's a definite tradeoff between having a non-middle seat (as well as plenty of overhead bag space) and not knowing who will be sitting next to you, so it's not terrible to have a lower number.

 

[Haven]

Even in the mid- to low-Bs we always end up getting aisle seats. DH and I like to sit in to aisle seats in the same row so neither one of us gets stuck in the middle. I'm tall but leg room isn't an issue for me on Southwest. Certain United flights leave me with my knees rubbed raw from clanging against the seat in front of me, however, and I'm only 5'10".

 

[jstarfireb]

Even in the mid- to low-Bs we always end up getting aisle seats. DH and I like to sit in to aisle seats in the same row so neither one of us gets stuck in the middle. I'm tall but leg room isn't an issue for me on Southwest. Certain United flights leave me with my knees rubbed raw from clanging against the seat in front of me, however, and I'm only 5'10".

Totally with you. I'm 5'8" but have a tendency to sit my butt really far forward on the seat and kinda slouch into it (it's somehow more comfortable that way for me, and it gets me slightly more horizontal for sleeping), so legroom can be a problem. Southwest and JetBlue have amazing legroom in the whole plane. The bigger airlines don't have anywhere near as much legroom.

 

[lulu66]

always do. my most frequent flight is lax to Nashville & it is always completely booked. I like being in the front 1/2 of the plane on the aisle, so I just opt for early check-in.

 

[amc80]

Even in the mid- to low-Bs we always end up getting aisle seats. DH and I like to sit in to aisle seats in the same row so neither one of us gets stuck in the middle. I'm tall but leg room isn't an issue for me on Southwest. Certain United flights leave me with my knees rubbed raw from clanging against the seat in front of me, however, and I'm only 5'10".

On united we pay for economy plus. DH is 6'7" so he really doesn't fit in a normal seat.

 

[qtiekiki]

I would if I am flying with my kids. Otherwise, I don't really care.

 

[ame]

Even in the mid- to low-Bs we always end up getting aisle seats. DH and I like to sit in to aisle seats in the same row so neither one of us gets stuck in the middle. I'm tall but leg room isn't an issue for me on Southwest. Certain United flights leave me with my knees rubbed raw from clanging against the seat in front of me, however, and I'm only 5'10".

We USUALLY sit side by side so our flubber is not rubbing on other people if we can avoid it. lol but I might make a suggestion that we do this today. I was hoping the flight wouldn't be sold out at least one way but I am pretty sure it's gonna be a sardine can both ways.

 

[stargurl78]

Nope, we've never paid for early check in, we are too cheap. Usually we're in the B group and we've still been able to sit together.

 

[Haven]

Even in the mid- to low-Bs we always end up getting aisle seats. DH and I like to sit in to aisle seats in the same row so neither one of us gets stuck in the middle. I'm tall but leg room isn't an issue for me on Southwest. Certain United flights leave me with my knees rubbed raw from clanging against the seat in front of me, however, and I'm only 5'10".

On united we pay for economy plus. DH is 6'7" so he really doesn't fit in a normal seat.

Your poor DH, he must be so uncomfortable on flights. I'm not even long-legged for my height, and I'm uncomfortable, and your hubby is so much taller!

 

[Haven]

Even in the mid- to low-Bs we always end up getting aisle seats. DH and I like to sit in to aisle seats in the same row so neither one of us gets stuck in the middle. I'm tall but leg room isn't an issue for me on Southwest. Certain United flights leave me with my knees rubbed raw from clanging against the seat in front of me, however, and I'm only 5'10".

We USUALLY sit side by side so our flubber is not rubbing on other people if we can avoid it. lol but I might make a suggestion that we do this today. I was hoping the flight wouldn't be sold out at least one way but I am pretty sure it's gonna be a sardine can both ways.

You're too funny!

I love the across-the-aisle seating, it's the only way we fly if we can set it up that way. I highly recommend it. I do this with my mom and sisters, too--if there are four of us flying together we just take adjacent aisle seats in two consecutive rows. I like to get up and walk around during flights, and so does DH, so it's so nice that we're both in the aisle. And it's definitely more comfortable than a middle seat!

The only person I don't do this with is my good friend who is a terrible flier. (Flyer?) She really should be sedated before getting on a plane. When I recommended we sit across the aisle from each other she started crying, so I suck it up with her and take the middle seat next to her.

 

[ame]

Ok I am not THAT bad, I just get sick and have control issues. When we go to Hawaii next year, Im going to do Xanax again like I did for our Honeymoon. The little'uns will think Im nuts (mom, what's wrong with aunt mamie?) when we all meet up in Phoenix with the rest of the family, but Ill be a lot less insane and obnoxious (and hopefully not nauseated) if Im drugged.

At least our flights to and from for his family are like 90 minutes, so I am only a terror for an hour and a half. But we're like...chubby and our sweaty flubber isn't fair to others! We fly SW the most bec then there's no assigned seating where three fat people are in a row.

 

[FrekeChild]

No, but that's a huge bonus for the kiddo. We get family seating after the A group. My dad does no matter what, but he's 6'3 with really long legs, so for him it's necessary.

 

[pinkjewel]

Yes-we always do. We usually are flying for free using miles, so the minimal cost for early check in doesn't amount to much expense for the flight.