Checking in Online at Southwest . . .

[icarus]

Our flight is at 8:20 on Southwest on the day we are leaving for our trip. Does this mean that at at exactly 8:20, 24 hrs. prior I can "Check in On-line", or is there some give and take with the time frame?

Thank you.

 

[Detailor]

Yes, that's what that means. You cannot check in online until exactly 24 hours before your check in time. Of course, you can check in any time after that until 60 minutes before your flight time.

Dick Taylor

 

[lustergirl]

Our flight is at 8:20 on Southwest on the day we are leaving for our trip. Does this mean that at at exactly 8:20, 24 hrs. prior I can "Check in On-line", or is there some give and take with the time frame?

Thank you.

If you do check in online you get A group boarding passes, meaning you will get the seats up front- they are the best. Good Luck!!

 

[kelleigh1]

If you do check in online you get A group boarding passes, meaning you will get the seats up front- they are the best. Good Luck!!

You don't always get Group A. You just have a better chance of getting Group A than if you checked in at the airport. The longer you wait to check in, the less chance of getting an A but checking in online doesn't guarantee an A.

 

[oliviansmom17]

This may seem like a stupid question, but what about on the way back? Do I need to find a computer at Disney to check-in from?

 

[klwdisney]

Yes. We are using Southwest for the first time this trip and I"ve been told that Yes we need to check in for the trip home too. You can check in at the front desk of your hotel or at guest services at the parks.

 

[oliviansmom17]

I thought Disney didn't participate Southwest check-in at their resorts. Am I confused??? My brain is not functioning well. We're leaving Weds. and it's the last-minute "push"...

 

[klwdisney]

That's different. Southwest doesn't participate in Magic Express transportation. When you need to check in for your Southwest flight, you go to the Front Desk, not the Magic Express Check In/Baggage Claim desk.

 

[tjmw2727]

I thought Disney didn't participate Southwest check-in at their resorts. Am I confused??? My brain is not functioning well. We're leaving Weds. and it's the last-minute "push"...

Your right Southwest isn't a participating airline so you can't use the resort check in desk (RAC). This is a service just like curbside provided for the participating arlines.

However, you can check in online from any computer so the front desk or guest relations at the resort or even guest relations at the parks will do it for you. Since all you need is computer access you can have a friend or family member do it from home or use a web enabled phone.

We have done it from GR at POFQ, AKL and in Epcot GR

TJ

 

[icarus]

Thanks for the responses.

A few more things:

Does getting the "A" pass have any bearing on when to be at the gate?
I'm assuming that if we are there prior to boarding, regardless of being there a half hour or more or less (I'm talking about actually being at the gate and already passing through security), the boarding sequence has a set time starting with the "A" group.

Also, does the "A" pass force you to sit up front or can we sit towards the middle or rear of the plane?

 

[oliviansmom17]

Wow! You're like lightnin'! Thanks for the info.- I never would have known...
We've always used Delta in the past and checked in/received our boarding passes outside in front of the Poly. This is our first time using Southwest, as well, so it's a whole new experience. But the deal was too good to pass up....

 

[KatieLovesMickey]

Hi, icarus!
We've flown on Southwest a few times. We always get to the gate about 90 minutes before the actual flight time and plop down on the floor in the 'A' line with a pizza! We get some odd looks, but most people say they wish they would have thought of it...
The flights usually start boarding about 30 minutes ahead of departure time, so we're only sitting for about an hour. We've always been first in line.
The 'A' pass means that you board first (after the pre-boarders who have little kids) and you choose any available seats on the plane. I like to go right for the exit row and enjoy the legroom when I'm traveling without my kids! You do not have to sit up front.
Hope this helps. Happy planning!
Katie

 

[icarus]

Hi, icarus!
We've flown on Southwest a few times. We always get to the gate about 90 minutes before the actual flight time and plop down on the floor in the 'A' line with a pizza! . . .

Our flight out leaves at 8:20am, so we will be sitting there with breakfast./



Thanks for the info, Katie!

That's different. Southwest doesn't participate in Magic Express transportation. When you need to check in for your Southwest flight, you go to the Front Desk, not the Magic Express Check In/Baggage Claim desk.

I'm assuming you're talking about the trip home, because it was my understanding that the Magical express works on the trip to Disney regardless of airline, but we have to deal with our bags going back to the airport from the resort - take them to the magical express bus, take them off and travel through the airport, etc.?

Please let me know if this is NOT the case, as all that I have read says otherwise, including the magical express tags that I have in my possession with Disney knowing that we are flying Southwest.

Also when you say "Front Desk" are you referring to the at the airport on the trip out of Orlando?

I thought I had it all figured out, but I'm a bit confused now.


Thanks, again

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I'm assuming you're talking about the trip home, because it was my understanding that the Magical express works on the trip to Disney regardless of airline, but we have to deal with our bags going back to the airport from the resort - take them to the magical express bus, take them off and travel through the airport, etc.?

Please let me know if this is NOT the case, as all that I have read says otherwise, including the magical express tags that I have in my possession with Disney knowing that we are flying Southwest.

Also when you say "Front Desk" are you referring to the at the airport on the trip out of Orlando?

I thought I had it all figured out, but I'm a bit confused now.


Thanks, again

You have that right, you can participate in Magical Express no matter what airline you fly, and in the case of SW, yes you have to handle your own bags.

The PP was referring to the front desk of the resort, not the airport.

 

[Detailor]

The CMs at the check-in desk or the concierge desk will log on and check-in for you and print out your boarding passes. All you need to provide them with is the information from your flight confirmation form (confirmation number and name). I print a copy of that when the airline sends me the confirmation via email and bring it with me, then the folks at Disney just take that form and type in the information. Those CMs are always so helpful.

Dick Taylor

 

[Jestocost]

I'm still not sure all confusion has been resolved, so here goes:

1) Any passenger on any domestic flight on any airline (including SWA) who is staying at a Disney resort can use all DME services inbound to MCO, including the luggage handling service.

2) Any passenger on any airline who has stayed at a Disney resort can use the DME passenger transport service back to MCO.

3) Any passenger on any participating airline with a domestic flight who has stayed at a Disney resort can use the RAC to check bags at their resort and get boarding passes. SWA and some other airlines do not participate in the RAC program, however, so if you want to use DME and are on one of those airlines, you will need to take your bags on the bus with you and check them at the airport. Also, you do not need to use the DME passenger transport service to use RAC.

4) The front desk at your resort or guest relations at the parks will check in online and print your boarding passes for you if you would like. If you have reserved seats, this generally is not necessary. For SWA, however, checking in advance is a good idea so that you can get an A boarding pass (or even a B). On SWA, you also can check in from any Web-enabled cell phone or other device at mobile.southwest.com.

 

[drgreene1096]

Thanks jestocost for the layman explanation.

d.

 

[azgal81]

Also if you don't have access to a computer you can send your confirmations to www.iboarda.com it's a free service that checks you in 24 hours before so you don't have to worry about doing it yourself. I have used it many many times as recently as last week with no problems. Great service!

 

[klwdisney]

I've heard of that service... but to be honest it makes me a little nervous to trust it. How do you REALLY know it's checked you in? I don't want to take the chance of getting to the airport and it never checked me in and Im in the C boarding group.

 

[slruud]

I've heard of that service... but to be honest it makes me a little nervous to trust it. How do you REALLY know it's checked you in? I don't want to take the chance of getting to the airport and it never checked me in and Im in the C boarding group.

I sent iBoardA.com my confirmation info a few days ago for my trip to PDX tomorrow, and they checked me in on the minute, with BP #'s 1 and 2. I wasn't really concerned with the flight to PDX, but more the flight back where I won't be near a computer 24 hours before. It will make my life a lot easier for my WDW trip in January...by the way, January is a terrible time to go, so don't go if you don't have to...as I won't have to stop having fun in the middle of the day to find Guest Services or a computer somewhere to check in.

It may not be for everyone, but it works for me.