Buzz
For regular Southwest Airlines passengers, the EarlyBird Check-In program is a familiar service. By paying a small additional fee, travelers can secure priority boarding. Southwest has now increased this fee by approximately 20 percent.
The cost has gone up from $12.50 to $15, charged per passenger per trip. This means a round-trip purchase of EarlyBird Check-In will add an extra $30 to the ticket price. A Southwest spokesperson shared this with Consumerist:
We periodically review our service pricing to stay aligned with market trends and operational needs, while ensuring the quality of our services. Starting March 14th, the cost of EarlyBird Check-In will rise from $12.50 to $15.00 each way per passenger to meet these goals.
The program assigns boarding positions 36 hours ahead of flight time, though it doesn't guarantee first boarding. A-list members still have priority over EarlyBird passengers.
Southwest Airlines stands out from other carriers by not assigning seats. While many other airlines charge for selecting seats, it’s likely that they’ll soon follow Southwest’s lead and increase similar fees to stay competitive.
For more information, check out the full article on Consumerist.
Photo by ERIC SALARD.
