Do you buy Southwest early boarding?

A couple of times I forgot to check-in at the precise 24 hour mark and checked-in maybe 2 or 3 hours into the 24 hour window and maybe got B-27 or B-41, but I've never gotten a letter C. I guess I've been lucky. I make it a point to sit at the front of the plane but avoid the middle seat. If only middle seats are available in the front I try to find a window or aisle towards the back. It's always amusing to watch newbies coming on the plane and claiming a front seat but not having any overhead bins to store their bags so they store their bags further back in the plane and sitting in the front. When arriving at McCarren though I always want to get off as fast as I can (lol).

I never have. Checking 24-hours prior has always provided me with a high A to high B number. A high B will still get you a decent seat.

We haven't yet. That said, flights are more full every trip Chicago to Vegas. It USED to be that prompt attention at the 24 hour mark would get you an A. Not any more. We have gotten very high Bs and on one occasion even gotten C6. Even with those numbers, we have managed to get aisle seats across from each other every time, albeit toward the rear of the plane. LOL, I won't pay the increasing fee until I get stuck in a middle seat for the 3.5 hour ride.

I check bags and golf clubs on my Vegas trips, so I don't care if I sit in the back of the plane. An alarm reminder and the southwest App make it easy to check in 24 hours in advance and I have always gotten boarding passes that allow my party to sit together. I have no need to pay the extra fees!

We used to alternate one of us getting early bird and then saving a seat. My husband likes the aisle and I don't mind the middle. I know--not supposed to do that.

As we have gotten older, we now both get the early boarding, We are automatically checked in 36 hours before the flight, which is nice especially if we have a very early flight. I believe that the earlier you reserve your ticket, the better your assignment. We have gotten A16-30 many times. On the last trip we got A 55 and 56.

The worst case scenario is when there are tons of pre-boards or if the flight originates from another city. Then the first 6-8 rows tend to fill up quickly or the aisle seats are taken. The last two flights we were in rows 10 and 11.

Joy

My last flight to Vegas via Southwest I saw eight people try to pre-board with only one child. The Person taking tickets said only three people could pre- board, two adults with the one child. The other five had to wait their turn - another reason I only fly Southwest. They don't put up with that kind of crap.

No. We do check in at the 24 hour mark and generally get in the low Bs. We like to head to the back as that gives us a better chance of having a row to ourselves unless the plane is full. The best way to get to LV from LA is out of Long Beach on JetBlue. It is cheaper and a much better experience. I love that little airport.

I agree about JetBlue at LGB. It's a short walk to the gate. Also upon deplaning at Long Beach, JetBlue opens the plane's back door in addition to the front door to deplane. On my trip next week I'm flying Southwest ($41) from LAX to LAS then returning home on JetBlue ($34) from LAS to LGB. JetBlue charges $20 for bag fee but it's still a good fare.

Are most of you posters loyal only to Southwest? I can't remember the last time I flew with them. I like them enough but Alaska Airlines beats their prices every single time I've looked in the past 7 trips even despite paying to check a bag. But, now I have their credit card so I get to check one bag per person for free. That covers the annual fee in just one trip. But, if I were flying SWA to Vegas I wouldn't bother to pay for early boarding. Maybe on a longer flight but Vegas is only about 2 hours from where I live.

I'm not loyal to Southwest. I'll fly which ever is cheapest. I'd take Spirit if their fares plus the additional fees are lower than Southwest but usually (not always) Southwest is the cheapest IMHO. For thanksgiving week from Los Angeles to Hawaii the average fares (ie, Hawaiian Air, American Air, Alaska, Delta, etc) were all about $1000 roundtrip (Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busiest and most expensive times to fly). I found that Allegiant which flies from Las Vegas to Hawaii was $179 going to Hawaii and $326 returning to Las Vegas. Even with the extra charges on Allegiant and having to fly from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back on Southwest, in order to get to Hawaii, Allegiant was the cheapest way for me to get to Hawaii for thanksgiving week. Plus I'll get to go to Las Vegas, win-win for me.