Boardfirst.com on Southwest Airlines

[mitsguy2001]

I will be on a Disney cruise in a few weeks, and have a flight booked on Southwest Airlines. Since I won't be sitting at a computer 24 hours before the flight, I can't do the usual online check in to get a Group A boarding pass. I want a Group A pass so that the friend I am cruising with and I can sit next to each other on the flight. I heard about a service called boardfirst.com where I can pay $5 to get a guaranteed Group A boarding pass so that she and I can sit next to each other. Has anyone ever used that service? Is it safe, reliable, and legal? I heard that Southwest banned another similar service, board-a.com. Any idea as to why board-a.com was banned but boardfirst.com was not banned? Has anyone used boardfirst.com in recent weeks? I want to know if I can safely use it, or if it is looking for trouble. Thanks.

 

[SueEllen]

They don't guarantee you will get an "a" boading pass, what they do guarantee is that if they don't get you the "a" pass you will be refunded the fee charged for their service.

I personally would not pay a fee for a company to check me in online in advance, but that is just me. I have had family members check me in online before when I did not have computer access.

Sue Ellen

 

[mitsguy2001]

I'm not worried about the $5. I do not know of anyone who will have access to a computer 24 hours before the flight, unfortunately. Has anyone used the site in the past few weeks? Is it safe, legal, and reliable? Thanks.

 

[Flagger]

I saw a couple of posts over on CruiseCritic in the last month or so of someone who always uses it with no problems. I don't remember if they always got an A or not. Heck you could use the ship's computers while at Castaway Cay, the time online might be equal to $5.

 

[Diamond_Girls]

I was thinking about paying the $.75 per minute on the ship to print out passes. I figure it may cost $5 but at least I will know that it's done... is that do-able?

 

[kcashner]

Yes, you can print your boarding passes from the computers on board.

Another thought--I haven't done this on the ship, but at WDW resorts the gal at Guest Services will print your boarding pass for you (no charge). Don't know if they'd do it for you on the ship or not.

 

[Verandah Man]

I don't know if this will help or not, but I did read on another thread here last week that if you have internet service on your cell phone you can check in by going to mobile.southwest.com I tried it on my cell phone the other day and it worked without any problem. Of course it all depends if you are in a calling service area at the time of your 24 hour window.

We have a 7am Sunday morning flight after our cruise in May, if I can't get on a computer on the ship after 7am on Saturday, then I'm going to check in using my cell phone, at least I know being back at Port Canaveral by 7am, I will have cell phone service.

 

[markey]

I would not worry about sitting together. We fly SW all the time solo and with our 2 grandkids. I do print out boarding passes when we depart, but never for the return. We have never had a problem getting seats together and the plane is usually full.

 

[mitsguy2001]

I was thinking about paying the $.75 per minute on the ship to print out passes. I figure it may cost $5 but at least I will know that it's done... is that do-able?

But since I don't know where I'll be exactly 24 hours before the flight, that makes it very difficult to get a Group A pass. And without a Group A pass there'd be almost no chance that my friend and I would be able to sit together.

 

[mitsguy2001]

Yes, you can print your boarding passes from the computers on board.

Another thought--I haven't done this on the ship, but at WDW resorts the gal at Guest Services will print your boarding pass for you (no charge). Don't know if they'd do it for you on the ship or not.

Are you saying that you can tell them when your flight is, and they'll check you in 24 hours in advance, for free? That sounds too good to be true.

 

[Flagger]

But since I don't know where I'll be exactly 24 hours before the flight, that makes it very difficult to get a Group A pass. And without a Group A pass there'd be almost no chance that my friend and I would be able to sit together.

If sitting together is so important and your friend is cruising with you, how do you know you won't be able to with a B or C pass?

If sitting together is so important to you, then you should make it your responsibility to be at a computer 24 hours before the flight. There are computers on board available for use. You probably should make sure your friend is at the computer as well otherwise how do you know your friend will have a group A pass as well?

 

[mitsguy2001]

If sitting together is so important and your friend is cruising with you, how do you know you won't be able to with a B or C pass?

Because I have been told that at MCO, you often can't sit together even with an A pass. So that means you obviously can't with a B or C pass.

If sitting together is so important to you, then you should make it your responsibility to be at a computer 24 hours before the flight. There are computers on board available for use. You probably should make sure your friend is at the computer as well otherwise how do you know your friend will have a group A pass as well?

But we don't know what events are going on 24 hours before the flight, since we don't get the navigator's until the day before. And if the weather is bad on Day 3, I heard we might be at CC on Day 4 instead, and there are no computers at CC.

Just out of curiosity, what do you see as the negative to using boardfirst.com? Is it illegal, unsafe, or unreliable? Just asking, since you seem strongly opposed to it.

 

[lbgraves]

No matter where the ship is you can be onboard at one of the computers. They do not shut down internet access when the ship is in port.

 

[Peggy Jean]

I have flown SWA MANY times and I always am able to sit with my travel party. A bit ago I took a group of kids, I believe we were 16 in all, some of us had "B" passes and some "C" passes, and this was before you could get them online and we all sat together. Perhaps because they were kids no one wanted to sit next to them I can't see how it would be a problem for you and your friend to sit together unless you or your friend are like he last ones to board on a full flight.

 

[Flagger]

Just out of curiosity, what do you see as the negative to using boardfirst.com? Is it illegal, unsafe, or unreliable? Just asking, since you seem strongly opposed to it.

You answered your own question.

Because I have been told that at MCO, you often can't sit together even with an A pass. So that means you obviously can't with a B or C pass.

But we don't know what events are going on 24 hours before the flight, since we don't get the navigator's until the day before. And if the weather is bad on Day 3, I heard we might be at CC on Day 4 instead, and there are no computers at CC.

It has been mentioned several times in this thread that there are computers on board the ship available 24/7. I have no problem with someone using boardfirst, but I am cheap and don't see the use in it. Also I have flown enough in my life that sitting together with someone is not a priority. I also know from experience that I can make a grown man sit in a middle seat by placing my daughter next to him and saying "Daddy will be just up here 20 rows away if you need anything".

 

[mitsguy2001]

No matter where the ship is you can be onboard at one of the computers. They do not shut down internet access when the ship is in port.

But I don't want to be wasting precious time on a cruise or at CC to be on the Internet. Especially since it will likely be raining for part of the day. Remember, this is just a 4 night cruise, and unlike some of you, I don't have the luxury of going on cruises all the time; this will be my first cruise, and I don't know if and when I'll have an opportunity to go on another one. So the $5 is a very small price to pay.

 

[mitsguy2001]

I have flown SWA MANY times and I always am able to sit with my travel party. A bit ago I took a group of kids, I believe we were 16 in all, some of us had "B" passes and some "C" passes, and this was before you could get them online and we all sat together. Perhaps because they were kids no one wanted to sit next to them I can't see how it would be a problem for you and your friend to sit together unless you or your friend are like he last ones to board on a full flight.

I assume that wasn't at MCO. I've heard that at MCO, there are so many pre-boards that even with an A pass you are not guaranteed seats together.

 

[mitsguy2001]

You answered your own question.

So, are you saying it is illegal, unsafe, or unreliable? If it's unsafe, I'm willing to take a risk, and can cancel the credit card after the cruise if needed. If unreliable, it is still better than the alterrnative. If illegal, then I don't want to take my chances.

It has been mentioned several times in this thread that there are computers on board the ship available 24/7.

But, as I said, I do not want to waste time on a cruise or at CC doing that; I'd rather spend the $5.

I have no problem with someone using boardfirst, but I am cheap and don't see the use in it.

Given the cost of the cruise and flight, the $5 cost is completely insignificant to me. And, the value of the wasted time to me is far more than the $5. I'd be willing to spend $100 for such a service. The $5 cost is not the issue. The issue is legality, safety, and reliability.

Also I have flown enough in my life that sitting together with someone is not a priority.

Well, unlike you, not all of us have the luxury of constantly traveling. Unlike some other people on this board, I do not have the opportunity to go on 12 cruises a year. To me, this is the trip of a lifetime. It is my first cruise, and the first time I'll be outside the US, and the first real vacation I have been on since 1998. So I just have different priorities than you. Don't assume all of us can go on 12 cruises a year just because you can.

 

[texasthree]

mitsguy2001- I am with you. Use the service, pay the $5 and dont worry about it. I can tell you that I always fly southwest and I have seen many many times the flight attendants offering someone a free alcoholic drink to move so that a mother/child could sit together. I also know that frankly a long flight with someone to talk to beats a long flight stuffed inbetween 2 strangers! Pay the money, book online, and forget about the large opinions on this one. I am shocked that one simple question about is the service okay or not okay has turned into some kind of flaming debate. Have a good trip and let this thread die.

 

[mitsguy2001]

mitsguy2001- I am with you. Use the service, pay the $5 and dont worry about it.

Thank you. Have you used it recently. I'm still curious as to why Southwest banned board-a.com, but have not (yet) banned boardfirst.com. Are you sure that it's still legal?

I also know that frankly a long flight with someone to talk to beats a long flight stuffed inbetween 2 strangers!

Exactly!! I'm glad someone understands.

Pay the money, book online, and forget about the large opinions on this one. I am shocked that one simple question about is the service okay or not okay has turned into some kind of flaming debate. Have a good trip and let this thread die.

Thank you. It's unfortunate that every time I ask a question, it turns into a flame war. It seems that this group is dominated by the type of people who are able to go on 12 cruises per year. People need to understand that the needs and priorities of someone, such as myself, who can only go on a vacation every several years or so, are different than the people who go on 12 cruises per year.