Airline check-in at resort and/or checking in online the night before ????

[AnninIowa]

We used the check-in for our flight home at AKL our last trip. However, this trip I would like to take my laptop so we can choose our seats online the night before (like to get the exit seats for my dad, whose legs ache when not able to stretch). However, I am confused! If I check-in online the night before (assuming that picking the seats WOULD be checking in), would I still be able to get my boarding passes at the lobby desk as well as have ME take our bags? Would checking in online require a printer for me to get passes? Or is it a system where I can just log in and pick seats, then get my passes at the counter???

I hope this makes sense to someone reading this, LOL! I've always had a TA handle all my flights before, this is the first time I've booked airline on my own and I want everything to go smoothly!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) There are only a few airlines that allow exit-row in advance, so call airline.
. . . most Elite Fliers have the privilege (ie. NWA, United, Continental)
. . . some airlines you can select exit-row when buying tickets (ie. Allegiant)
. . . others require you to pick them at the airport on day of flight
2) There are some carriers with DME that don't allow advance check-in.
. . . if you do not let DME check-in, then they cannot do luggage for you!
. . . there is a requirement with some that DME does luggage and boarding pass

NOTE: Most airlines allow their Elite fliers privileges others can't get. For non-Elite fliers, it is best to call your airline in advance to answer these questions.

 

[Booyakasha]

PP is right. Most major airloines allow you to choose your seats when you book. Exit row, bulkhead, economy plus etc are reserved for those with elite status. It is also a potential issue that if you ask the airline to give your dad the exit row becasue of his legs they may feel your dad is not capable of handling the duties that an exit seat requires. Bulk head would probably give you a better shot. Although IMO if you don't have status or a letter from a Doctor it will be a long shot.

What airline are you flying? According to your tag you are coming in from Iowa so the flight will not be that long as I assume you are connecting probably through ORD.

B.

 

[AnninIowa]

We are flying Northwest, and I already have the info to be able to pick seats 24 hours before our flight leaves for Orlando. Also, Northwest is one of the airlines you can check in at the resorts. My dad is in great health and can sit in the regular seats....but I am willing to pay a little more for the exit row to make him (and me!) extra comfortable. So, I am the flight TO Orlando covered, I'm just concerned about the flight home and being able to use ME AND pick seats the night before.

 

[AnninIowa]

Oh, and to answer your question - our connecting flight is in Minneapolis (only puddle-jumper planes fly out of Waterloo!), so the flight to Orlando is almost 4 hours.

 

[AnninIowa]

Oh, I just double checked my info from Northwest and it says I can choose our seats 90 days before the flight....for some reason I thought it had to be the night before! Well, that answers my question!! I can pick my seats but still use ME. Thanks to those who did reply!

 

[jcb]

If you don't get an exit row seat, you might look at seatguru.com. It will tell you if there are "better" seats on most commercial aircraft.

Also, we used resort check in last December. One of us didn't have a seat assignment until after we left for WDW. That seemed to give the resort checkin computer fits (either that or it was very slow). I was able to use my handheld to make the seat assignment standing at the resort check-in counter and they were then able to check us both in.