Do we really want Southwest to be a Participating Airline?

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Before you say YES!!!! hear me out.

(Mind you, this is assuming the current seating structure, since it will be awhile before they even attempt to test assigned seating)

Currently, you check in online 24hrs prior, to get an A boarding pass.

With Resort Airline Check-In, you can only check in 12 hours prior to flight. Good chance all the A's are gone at that point.

So now you're thinking check in online at 24, and then check bags at 12, right? Unfortunetly, once you check in online, you cannot use the RAC desk to check luggage. You must do that at the airport.

 

[tmt martins]

Yes but I hope people will take the ease of no luggage to the A's .

That way even If I don't hear my Cell alarm go off I will still get my A's.

I have no problem with the way it is now .

But thanks for pointing that out I'm sure they would have just told me OH you have already checked in so you can't do it here.

 

[Lewisc]

Are they starting to test SW? I don't doubt what you're saying, I don't remember ever reading bad information in any of your posts. SW is different, if you try to checkin, after you already have a BP, the system will let you do it and will just re-print your BP with the letter R next to your sequence number. You can checkin twice online, checkin at a kiosh, with a skycap or at the counter. I don't see any reason why the RAC desk would be different.

Good chance all the A's are gone at that point.

So now you're thinking check in online at 24, and then check bags at 12, right? Unfortunetly, once you check in online, you cannot use the RAC desk to check luggage. You must do that at the airport.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I'm surprised that it won't be possible to check in online 24 hours ahead of time to get an A boarding pass, and then to check luggage at Remote Airline Check-in (RAC)* during the RAC luggage check-in period — just as it's today possible to check in online 24 hours ahead of time and then to check luggage at the airport.

Is there an explanation for why RAC can't accept Southwest luggage if a guest has used Southwest's online check-in?

* when Southwest finally becomes a RAC-participating carrier

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

They haven't started testing. I'm just speculating based upon what I've seen on here about them thinking about adding SWA later on.

I don't know the technical details about how things will work, but I do know as of now, with the current airlines, if you check in online, you cannot check your bags with them -- only at the airport directly. Remember, they're a third party, not the airline directly. So that's why I'm hypothesizing that SWA will be similar.

 

[grimley1968]

If there's any way at all that SWA would use being a participant with DME to increase fares to and from MCO, I guess I'd prefer them not to participate. DME sounds nice, but I'd just as soon stick with the lower SWA fares, if it's a choice of one or the other, over the convenience of the free buses to the resorts.

If it's not a choice between higher prices and being able to participate in DME, I guess I'd have no problems with it. I don't care that much about getting "A" boarding passes.

 

[mom2alix]

I would love for SWA to participate! We got A boarding passes, but since we preboard due to needing to install DS's car seat, it was really a non-issue. We are seriously considering using Delta instead of SW if the fares aren't too different simply because of ME.