Boarding passes for Southwest

[Hockeychic]

I am reading horror stories about boarding with South West. My question is how soon can I get assigned a boarding pass??? This would be out of Buffalo??? Do they assign seats at that time or do you have to "run" to the first avail seat???

THis is the first time my kids have flown and I want to make sure they each have a parent to sit with, unfortunatley they aren't under 5 so we don't get any special boarding times.


Thanks

[GAIL HAYDEN]

you can get a boarding pass after 12:00 am on the day of departure online or you can go to the airport up to four hours before you flight and get a boarding pass at the counter, the gate or the curbside area (if you are checking luggage, if not, be fair to others and use one of the other methods mentioned)
There is no assigned seating, and all the details of how they board are on the SWA site.
YOu don't run to the seats, you do, board in a slow fashion.

[Hockeychic]

Unfortunatley we are staying overnight in a hotel before we leave so can not print off the boarding passes I have asked at the front desk and they don't have access for us to print them there.

I phones SW and they said that you can only get a boarding pass 30 min prior to boarding????

I ment RUN in a funny way I didn't think we had to run down the hall to a seat but just basically a first come first serve basis.

Anyone go out of Buffalo airport have any other ideas, what about rapid check in??? Does that work??? We will have luggage so how do we do the curbside thing??

Soory for the stupid questions but I don't want the kids sitting on there own, my own fault I didn't read the boarding proceedure before I booked my flights.

Thanks

[plutolovr]

We just used SW earlier this month from Phila. We did the online thing the morning we left....but you can use curbside even if you're checking luggage. The skycaps will check you in and take your luggage. Here in Phila they did have kiosks to check in and print boarding passes.
How old are your children? If you have at least one very young one, (I think under 5) you can preboard.
On the way home from we were not able to print boarding passes, we got to the airport about 1 1/2 before flight and received B boarding.

How it works is that you get boarding passes with either an A B or C on it.
There are areas at the gates that separate you based on these letters. The first to board are preboards, then A, then B and so on. It's not that bad. You can sit on line, sip some coffee, read the paper.

Good luck.

plutolovr:sunny:

[Hockeychic]

I just got off the phone with SouthWest and they told me because we are all reserved under 1 number we can't print boarding passes, rookie mistake:(

With you having a B pass did you get to sit with your family??? I am not so worried about all of us being together it is a short flight but that my kids each can sit with 1 parent. They aren't young enough to preboard but it is their first time on a plane and I want to be nearby.

Thanks

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Hockeychic
I just got off the phone with SouthWest and they told me because we are all reserved under 1 number we can't print boarding passes, rookie mistake:(

With you having a B pass did you get to sit with your family??? I am not so worried about all of us being together it is a short flight but that my kids each can sit with 1 parent. They aren't young enough to preboard but it is their first time on a plane and I want to be nearby.

Thanks

For one thing, you were totally misinformed about the boarding pass issue. Please read here:

Southwest Airlines Checkin and Boarding Procedure
Southwest Airlines' Customers will need valid state or federal government-issued picture identification to travel (passport, driver's license, state-issued identification card, or military identification are acceptable).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Checkin Procedure
Customers may check in for their flight and receive their boarding pass and Rapid Rewards credit at the Skycap Podium (in select locations), Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk (where available).

Customers may check luggage and receive boarding passes at the Skycap Counter (in select locations) or Ticket Counter up to four hours prior to scheduled departure.
To determine the best time to check in for your flight, please refer to the Airport Arrival chart. The Departure Gate opens for checkin and boading pass distribution one hour prior to departure.
At 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure you can get a boarding pass only at the Departure Gate.
Customers checking in less than 10 minutes before scheduled departure may lose their confirmed reservation and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation.
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

Trust me, most people will see that you are seated with your children. :) An A or B pass pretty much insures this. Even with a C pass the FA's will try to get pax to move (they bribe them with free drinks. :) )

Sky Caps: Drive up to the skycap, unload your luggage, show them your id's and they will take care of the rest. Well worth the tip. I tip, btw, about 1.50 to 2.00 per bag.
They can separate the confirmation so that you will each have one, just call back and ask. This of course, is pointless IF you don't have a printer to use.

[lawgs]

we fly out of buffalo all the time using southwest

as far as the 4 hours prior, it will not work at buffalo if the flight is the first one out in the moring since it leaves about 8 am and the SW counters do not open much before 6am or so,

you should be fine if you are staying overnight at a Hotel near the airport, just try to get there by 6 am ...getting A passes should not be difficult if you do that ( have not seen many with internet printed boarding passes on the flights we have taken recentlym there might be more if it catches on though )

they have both skycap and counter check in for baggage at buffalo, but it is just as easy to use "counter" check in since there are not usually LONG lines in buffalo ( you can save the tip for Orlando skycap check in on your return )

even with B passes you should be able to get seats all together ( unless of course you happen to be on a flight where pre boards are in great abundance )

just plant one of your "kids" in the B chute as soon as you get to the proper gate if you can, so you are first in line when they start to take B's if you happen to get B passes

[Hermosa11]

Gail, I have seen your responses/tips/advice for a few months now and appreciate your knowledge VERY much.
I went to the SW website to read as carefully as I could before I asked my question:

from SW website: To proceed through Security Checkpoint, you will need your government-issued photo ID* and either a Boarding Pass or Security Document. Boarding Passes are available at the Skycap, Ticket Counter, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk.

Is this correct from what I read: I can bring my I.D.'s of the three of us to the SkyCab area. Hand them my copy of the Airline confirmation that was printed out from my computer (Confirmation number). And our I.D.'s (No photo ID required for 17yr son). Just tip them $6 for 3 bags and they hand me back my ID's and confirmation paperwork. I then proceed to the gate area for the particular gate for our flight.??
When I go with Skycab, I am not in need of standing in light at the ticket counter. Correct?
This sound sooo basic, but I have not flown in just too many dang years.
Thanks! sooooooooo much.:wave: :wave: :wave:

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Hermosa11
Gail, I have seen your responses/tips/advice for a few months now and appreciate your knowledge VERY much.
I went to the SW website to read as carefully as I could before I asked my question:



Is this correct from what I read: I can bring my I.D.'s of the three of us to the SkyCab area. Hand them my copy of the Airline confirmation that was printed out from my computer (Confirmation number). And our I.D.'s (No photo ID required for 17yr son). Just tip them $6 for 3 bags and they hand me back my ID's and confirmation paperwork. I then proceed to the gate area for the particular gate for our flight.??
When I go with Skycab, I am not in need of standing in light at the ticket counter. Correct?
This sound sooo basic, but I have not flown in just too many dang years.
Thanks! sooooooooo much.:wave: :wave: :wave:

Yep, you got it!!! Once the skycap is done with you, you are "free to proceed to the gate area". :) You really don't need to even hand him your "eticket" SWA has you by name.
You will not believe how easy it is. :)

[lawgs]

Hermosa11

exactly that simple

smilawgs ( anyone )

[dizneyfan]

Hockeychic:

We flew out of Nashville, and the situation may be different out of Buffalo. I suggest you get there at least two hours ahead of time. My family arrived at the two hour mark, encountered long lines at both skycap and ticket counter. Once we got our " B" boarding passes, we had to then get into a line that had already formed at the gate. Once on the plane, we got 3 seats together. My husband sat further up by himself, however, he probably could have sat across the aisle. The situation was the same on our return trip from Orlando...long lines at skycap and ticket counter. We were early enough to be the first ones in the "B" line, though.

Of course, you can just have your hubby or children take turns in the line. If you get at the front of the B line, you shouldn't have any trouble getting seats together (at least 3 together and 2 together). Of course if you get "A" passes, you should have no problem.

Good luck and have a great trip!

--dizneyfan

[bg4]

If you cannot print the boarding pass from computer- and I still am not sure if I will be able to do this for my trip to Orlando in August. One reservation, four tickets. Oh Well.

But, if like me, you can't print them you can still (from home at least) print a confirmation page or pages.

You get to airport two hrs early and run to Southwest check-in kiosk. At that hour you are almost certain to get an A or B boarding pass. We do not check in any bags preferring to carry on one or two bags each. Advantages to this are: 1) less clothes, 2) walk right off plane and right to transportation. 3)If you can print boarding passes at home you can arrive right before take-off and walk right on.

Unfortunately at our home airport - Islip MacArthur the kiosk is inside the secure area which adds some time. This is dumb southwest.

At Orlando the procedure is the same. Return car then take elevator to third floor and run to kiosk to get boarding pass and you get the rest. except at MCO kiosk is outside secure area - obviously- its at the end of the ticket counters between A & B.

Hope this helps.

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by bg4
Unfortunately at our home airport - Islip MacArthur the kiosk is inside the secure area which adds some time. This is dumb southwest.



There is an express check-in line, I think with the self service kiosk, just to the right of the maned checkin counters. This is for people who have an e- ticket and don't have luggage to check. There is a partition separating the SW checkin area from the other airlines. The express check in is just to the left of the partition.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by bg4
If you cannot print the boarding pass from computer- and I still am not sure if I will be able to do this for my trip to Orlando in August. One reservation, four tickets. Oh Well.

But, if like me, you can't print them you can still (from home at least) print a confirmation page or pages.

You get to airport two hrs early and run to Southwest check-in kiosk. At that hour you are almost certain to get an A or B boarding pass. We do not check in any bags preferring to carry on one or two bags each. Advantages to this are: 1) less clothes, 2) walk right off plane and right to transportation. 3)If you can print boarding passes at home you can arrive right before take-off and walk right on.

Unfortunately at our home airport - Islip MacArthur the kiosk is inside the secure area which adds some time. This is dumb southwest.

At Orlando the procedure is the same. Return car then take elevator to third floor and run to kiosk to get boarding pass and you get the rest. except at MCO kiosk is outside secure area - obviously- its at the end of the ticket counters between A & B.

Hope this helps.

No, not dumb at all.
And you had better be there at least 10 mins. before your flight or they can, and have been known to, deny you boarding.

Customers checking in less than 10 minutes before scheduled departure may lose their confirmed reservation and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation.

I like the skycaps, makes it very easy. They take the bags, issue the boarding passes and ta da, you are done.
The bags arrive within 5 mins. of arriving at baggage claim, less if you make pit stops.
I don't run anywhere, every.
We drop the bags and me at the skycap, Dee shows his id, takes the car back, and I wait a few minutes he meets me outside and we shop, eat etc. without being laden with bags. Also, while going through security, I am happy that I am not holding up other people, because I don't have bags (other than my tote bag) to scan. Makes it go much faster, for me, and many many others.

Frankly, I don't know why you just don't call SWA and have the reservations separated.
You also do not need a confirmation page, just your photo id. It is, however, wise to carry one if the car rental place, if you are using one, wants to see proof of a round trip ticket.

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Originally posted by Hermosa11
And our I.D.'s (No photo ID required for 17yr son).

You may not NEED photo ID for a 17 yr old, but it would be wise to have it. My 14 yr old sister has been asked for ID (her school ID was fine, but she was happy she brought it with)

[DMRick]

Heck, you don't even have to put a kid in line (although really, if your whole family is flying, shouldn't the whole family be in line?)..at Orlando last week, they just lined up their luggage and then sat down to read, eat, etc. When I went up to get in line, I lined up behind a long line of luggage...no people, just luggage. Gave new meaning to standing in line. I'm prob alone in thinking that the line should contain people...otherwise they will really be encouraging carry-on's..if just to save yoru place in line. And boy, did people have a lot of carry-on's.

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by DMRick
Heck, you don't even have to put a kid in line (although really, if your whole family is flying, shouldn't the whole family be in line?)..at Orlando last week, they just lined up their luggage and then sat down to read, eat, etc. When I went up to get in line, I lined up behind a long line of luggage...no people, just luggage. Gave new meaning to standing in line. I'm prob alone in thinking that the line should contain people...otherwise they will really be encouraging carry-on's..if just to save yoru place in line. And boy, did people have a lot of carry-on's.

People were lucky, unattended luggage is supposed to be confiscated. You were kind, if I cared ("C" letter) I would have gone ahead of the luggage but behind the first real person.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Lewisc
People were lucky, unattended luggage is supposed to be confiscated. You were kind, if I cared ("C" letter) I would have gone ahead of the luggage but behind the first real person.

Me too, to me it is luggage, not a line spacer. If I were feeling a bit pesky, I would have called security and had it either removed or claimed by the owner. No way do I stand behind luggage.

[bg4]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN

Frankly, I don't know why you just don't call SWA and have the reservations separated.


Thanks for the great idea. Because this printing of boarding passes at SW is new I did not think of it.

Just did this and it took all of five minutes. I know have four confirmation numbers and can print the A boarding passes.

Where on I-drive can I find an internet cafe to print em on may back? I know Eckerd at Florida Mall has an internet kiosk.

I am staying at Hard Rock Hotel so disney area is too far away.

Thanks again Gail for suggestion.

[Lewisc]

PBH and HRH have business centers. I'm not sure if either is 24/7 but you might call the hotel directly and ask.

[DavidOH]

Last April I was in the same position. I had one ressie with 4 travelers. I called SWA and had them separate the ressies so I have 4 numbers. At midnight I tried to get boarding passes. The only one I was able to get was for the original ressie number. I spoke to th person at the counter the next afternoon and was told that I did nothing wrong and that the sysyem was not set up to handle the new ressie numbers for on-line boarding passes.

They might have changed this since they also said they were upgrading their system.

David

[crazywig]

just a hint to those flying sw out of pvd - get there early. even with curbside checkin we had to WAIT while our luggage was put through the big scanner they have in the terminal. (i have no idea why, on the return mco just lets you leave them and be on your merry way).

both times this has happened to us the wait was quite long even though the amount of people was not excessive. (once we almost missed our flight and we had gotten there 2hrs early)

[DMRick]

You were kind, if I cared ("C" letter) I would have gone ahead of the luggage but behind the first real person.

I was not kind..I told the "luggage" people that was ridiculous, and (they could all "see" their luggage, so SW wouldn't have done anything) that luggage can't hold a place. and several said they always do it that way, and I wasn't to get in place before their luggage. I really wasn't about to get into a fist fight over this LOL. I actually may call SW and ask about this.

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by DMRick
I was not kind..I told the "luggage" people that was ridiculous, and (they could all "see" their luggage, so SW wouldn't have done anything) that luggage can't hold a place. and several said they always do it that way, and I wasn't to get in place before their luggage. I really wasn't about to get into a fist fight over this LOL. I actually may call SW and ask about this.

The security rule is your luggage has to be within reach NOT JUST within view. I had a security person explain that to me when I was moving luggage through a checkin line. In the time it took to move the extra piece 4 feet a security person asked whose bag it was, I said it was within view and was told that wasn't good enough.

I don't think I would have done this but you could have picked up a phone and called security, told them there was abandoned luggage at the gate and you're concerned some of the people may have left the area.

[DMRick]

I called SW today, and she said that because the people were close to their luggage, it wouldnt' have been a security issue..but it is not what SW has in mind for lines. She said we shouldn't see that happening again..at least in Orlando, and if we do, to please go to the desk. She says she would consider it as part of a safety issue (besides being against what SW means when they say to line up). Suitcases are easy to trip over, if someone isn't looking down, because they don't expect them where people are putting them. She said the gal on the floor with her shoes off, her drink and book and her blanket and pillow should also have not been allowed to be there..again, because someone might not realize she was there.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by bg4
Thanks for the great idea. Because this printing of boarding passes at SW is new I did not think of it.

Just did this and it took all of five minutes. I know have four confirmation numbers and can print the A boarding passes.

Where on I-drive can I find an internet cafe to print em on may back? I know Eckerd at Florida Mall has an internet kiosk.

I am staying at Hard Rock Hotel so disney area is too far away.

Thanks again Gail for suggestion.

Bob,
you are more than welcome. BTW, and not to burst your bubble, you might not get all A passes. They disburse all the passes equally between curbside, counter, online and gate.
It could happen you would get B's but someone checking in at curbside could have an A.

The business center at the Dolphin is open 24/7. You can do the return there, it does not cost a ton of money.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DavidOH
Last April I was in the same position. I had one ressie with 4 travelers. I called SWA and had them separate the ressies so I have 4 numbers. At midnight I tried to get boarding passes. The only one I was able to get was for the original ressie number. I spoke to th person at the counter the next afternoon and was told that I did nothing wrong and that the sysyem was not set up to handle the new ressie numbers for on-line boarding passes.

They might have changed this since they also said they were upgrading their system.

David

That is one of the most hairbrained explainations I have ever heard. How do they handle separate online reservations?
I am sure you were told this, but, it makes no sense what so ever. Especially given many people here have had no problem separating their reservations and getting online passes.