Southwest Early Bird

I just went to the SWA web site.  It says "Early Bird Check-in can be purchased at prices ranging from $15-$25 one-way per passenger.

Hmm???  What the heck?  Has anyone paid more the $15 one way recently, and why?

I have and so has my sister, and they were all $25 each way. That was the fixed price for early bird on those flights, involving 4 different airports. I always buy early bird because I want a window seat in the front half of the plane.  I did just get 4 free drink coupons in the mail from Southwest, good for a year, so that will ease the pain a little...

"Early Bird" sorta means you don't have to check in at exactly 24 hours before your flight to get a good spot in line to get a seat.  It's better if you don't want the burden of having to stop what you're otherwise doing to check-in.  If you don't mind stopping regular activities, it's a fee. 

Tommy

I got their new credit card that costs $150 a year which they in turn give back to you in travel credits/points.

In addition there is one benefit that I dont understand yet regarding boarding.  This is the exact text from the website:

• A credit on your statement for up to four upgraded boardings purchased per year

So does this mean you get 4 early bird boardings/year?   

I think "upgraded boarding" means getting a low A number at check in or at the gate. If I remembe right, they charge something like $75 for the upgrade. You might want to contact customer service and ask them.

Don't do a earlybird check-in if you you have the upgraded boarding, you'd be double booking. With the upgraded boarding you do at the gate and you will be ahead of the earlybird people, it has a $40 value for each of the four they gave you.

So, Bob, was the higher EB cost due to the four different airports?  Was it intermediate stops/changing planes that increased the price for EB?  Would a non-stop flight city to city still cost 'only' $15 for EB?  Thanks.

Candy, the first time I had to pay $25 for EB involved a connecting flight, the first time I flew Southwest that wasn't a non-stop flight. I thought, maybe the price increase was because it involved two different planes in two different cities. It wasn't. My sister bought round trip non-stop tickets the week after I bought my ticket, and EB was $25 each way for her. 

Thanks, Bob.  That is unhappy news.  From $15 to $25 bites.

FWIW- I only fly Southwest and have only paid for the EB once, and found it was of no great value. I check in 24 hours before my flight and have never received a boarding number worse than B-15. I don't need to sit in the front of the airplane and have no problem waiting a few extra minutes to disembark. To each their own.