Airport Process - help!

[Lilacq]

Hi everyone!
I haven't flown since I was a little girl, and things are obviously waaaay differnet now. I am now taking DH and DSs to WDW and, once we find the airport (PVD) and park, I have absolutely NO idea what to do or what happens next. I am going with SWA and am planning to rent a car at MCO (I'm going to make that ressie next week). Can someone walk me through what happens at the airports? HELP?

 

[goofy4tink]

Are you going to be checking in online before you fly? You can do this up to 24 hrs. before your flight. Then, you will have your boarding passes in hand (you print them at home, if you have a printer handy). If you haven't printed them, you go to the desk and they'll take care of you. Then, head to the security lines...can be long depending on timing. You'll have to take off coats, usually shoes, and put them all through on the conveyor belt. I like to put all my electronics in one zip-loc bag in my carry-on bag. that way, I can just pull it out, and put it by itself, which the security people seem to appreciate. Anything you are taking on plane will go on the conveyor belt in a bin. Then, you and your family, will walk through the little archway thingie which scans you. then, you go to the end of that conveyor belt, take your stuff out of the bins and head for the appropriate gate.
Now, once you get to your gate, you will be looking for the appropriate line...A,B, or C. Or the preboarding line depending on the ages of your ds's. Your boarding pass will have the line listed on it. Hopefully, you have checked in on-line early and been able to get an A assignment. This means you will board right after the preboards do. If your kids are younger than 5, you may be able to preboard yourselves.
It's all very easy. PVD is easy to find...even I can do it!!! It has it's own exit. There is a covered parking garage right next to the terminal area. It's a small and user friendly airport.
Any other questions, just ask!!!

 

[tacomaranch]

Don't forget to have your ID with your boarding pass ready as you go into security screening. If you pick up your boarding pass at the ticket counter they ask for ID there also. If you have your passes already, then at security is the only place to show ID.

Don't forget to have money to pay for parking when you get back. We just put it on our credit card.

If traveling with children, let one adult go thru the security, then the children, then the last adult. We had serious problems in Orlando! Our son ran off and my husband went to go thru and he beep. Security let our son run and had my husband go back. It was awful!

april

 

[Lilacq]

Wow, this is so helpful, thank you SO much!
Another question - what do I do with the luggage? Where do I go to check it in? And yet another - Who gets what pass when?

 

[momof2disprincesses]

You should have your checked luggage separate from your carry-on luggage. When you go to check-in at the SWA counter, they will take your checked luggage one piece at a time. Make sure you know SWA's weight limits and how many bags each passenger is allowed to check (usually you get 2 checked pieces and 1 small, like a purse & 1 other carry-on, like a small suitcase or backpack) and usually checked luggage cannot weigh more than 50 pounds (weigh it at home on your bathroom scale when you're done packing).

After you check your bags, you take your carry-on luggage with you through to security and on the plane, etc. If you have any prescriptions meds MAKE sure they are in your carry-on luggage and we always pack a change of clothes for each of us in carry-on luggage as well JUST in case of the unlikely event your luggage gets lost or delayed.

Have you ever watched the show on A&E called "Airline"? It is a show put out by Southwest Airlines and it is different stories of travelers. Even though I've never flown SWA myself, I've learned a lot about their policies and how to avoid problems when flying just by watching this show. PLUS, it's really entertaining