Basic Southwest questions...

[preschoolmom]

Hi!

I just booked our flights for our May trip... I haven't flown in a long time - 5 years?

So, How does it work these days? Do I check in online 24 hours before the flight? What happens when I get to the airport? Do I need to wait in the long line to get boarding passes, or will the internet check in suffice?

When do they check our ID? At the gate?

How does this work in reverse when we're leaving Disney World? We won't have a computer to check in 24 hours in advance.

We're traveling from Midway to Orlando and staying at Pop Century.

Thanks for any tips for me!

 

[helenk]

Hi!

I just booked our flights for our May trip... I haven't flown in a long time - 5 years?

So, How does it work these days? Do I check in online 24 hours before the flight? What happens when I get to the airport? Do I need to wait in the long line to get boarding passes, or will the internet check in suffice?

When do they check our ID? At the gate?

How does this work in reverse when we're leaving Disney World? We won't have a computer to check in 24 hours in advance.

We're traveling from Midway to Orlando and staying at Pop Century.

Thanks for any tips for me!

You check in at the 24 hour mark, or use the Early Bird check in, this is where you pay $10 for SW to check you in at the 36 hour mark rather than the 24 hour mark.
You can print your boarding pass at home, but you still have to check in if you are checking luggage. If you taking only carry on then you just need to go through the security lines. If your airport has curbside check in, that is generally faster than going inside to check in.
The will check your IDs when you check your luggage and then again when you go through security
Returning from Disney if you do not use the Early Bird check in, you can check in at the 24 hour mark at your hotel or at any guest services in the parks. I think that the POP was running the test for RAC for Southwest, if so you can use that to transport your bags to the airport. The you would just need your boarding pass and go directly to the security lanes

 

[Thumper_Man]

Hi!

I just booked our flights for our May trip... I haven't flown in a long time - 5 years?

So, How does it work these days? Do I check in online 24 hours before the flight? What happens when I get to the airport? Do I need to wait in the long line to get boarding passes, or will the internet check in suffice?

When do they check our ID? At the gate?

How does this work in reverse when we're leaving Disney World? We won't have a computer to check in 24 hours in advance.

We're traveling from Midway to Orlando and staying at Pop Century.

Thanks for any tips for me!

If you did not purchase the Early Bird check in option, then you can check in 24 hours before your flight. So for example: if your flight leaves at 8:00 am, you can check in starting at 8:00 am the day before.

You can print your boarding pass online when you check in, and this will be sufficient enough to go straight to the security check point. At this point they will check your id.

Coming back, I would purchase the Early Bird check in. You can add it to your existing confirmation. This way you are checked in and all you need to do is print your boarding pass at one of the self serve kiosks.

 

[preschoolmom]

Thanks, Disers! I really appreciate the info!