first time flying sw - tell me what to do

[logan&tylersmama]

in two weeks my family and i are flying SW for the first time
walk me through what to do
its myself, DH, DS 7 and DS 4

thanks
jennifer

 

[logan&tylersmama]

can anyone help??/

 

[malibuconlee]

Go to the SW website exactly 24 hours before your flight and check your family in. That will help you get A boarding passes. Not sure how SW does it on flights to/from Orlando but to other cities they allow families with a child under 5 to board between the A and B groups.

When your group is called you will line up next to the tower that has your number on it. EX if your passes say A 40-A 43 you will line up next to the sign that says those numbers on it.

How are you WANTING to sit? One adult with two kids and the other adult across the aisle? One adult and one kid together? No matter where your number you'll have better luck heading to the back of the plane for finding seats together.

We just flew SW last weekend with our 13 month old. 2 of the 4 flights were full, the other two weren't so we were able to have a row to the three of us (lap baby).

Any other questions?

 

[logan&tylersmama]

thanks for the info - how is this going to work on the way home - i wont have internet access in disney to print out a boarding pass - do people have a problem showing up on return flight with out online registering?

 

[malibuconlee]

Do you have web access on a phone? If so you can check in that way. Or can you give a family member or friend your conf # and have them check you in?

I've also heard of some people going to guest services, but haven't done it myself.

 

[Mkrop]

thanks for the info - how is this going to work on the way home - i wont have internet access in disney to print out a boarding pass - do people have a problem showing up on return flight with out online registering?

SW just started a new service called Early Bird checkin. You pay $10 per person and then you dont need to be near a computer at the 24 hour mark. It assigns BPs based on when you purchased it and what kind of ticket it is Anytime, Wanna Get Away or Ding.

There are many threads, one here on the Family Board about it and one on the Transportation Board. This is new(came out on (9/3), many dont know about it yet but it is causing quite a tizzy.

You could almost guarantee yourself an A by just checking in at 24 hours but now this new service check you in automatically at 36 hours, so all those people now get higher BPs than you if you just wait until T24. I am not promoting giving SW any more $ but it would be a convience for the way home but it might be peace of mind overall.

Although there is Family Boarding for 4 and under with a parent, after the As, so if you cant get an A you cna line up in there with younger kids.

http://www.southwest.com/flight/early-bird-retrieve-reservation.html?int=HOMEWNEW01CHECKN090908


Unfortnately, SW changed up the rules for us who knew how to fly them, we will have to see how this new option plays out.

GL

 

[Mkrop]

Also once you are checked in(either at 36 or 24 hours), you can ask the hotel to print them when you get back there, go to Guest Services and ask them, or go to a kiosk when you get to the airport just to print them.

We were at a wedding in Tampa. DH had his laptop and my whole family filed into our room to use it to check in and then we all printed at the kiosk at the airport.

 

[a1tinkfans]

thanks for the info - how is this going to work on the way home - i wont have internet access in disney to print out a boarding pass - do people have a problem showing up on return flight with out online registering?

I would strongly suggest going to guest services wherever you happen to be at the 24 hour mark and checking in online. They are glad to do it at parks or ANY hotel concierge. Be sure to have photo ID as some ask in order to print out for you. Other option is to check in and print out at airport, but I always print. I did this at Epcot on our last trip. They actually have a computer area for guests and a printer and it was simple and quick. BY the way, families with under 4 year olds can board after the A's and Business and Pre boards that all go before the A's. I really would not do a sw flight without checking in at the 24 mark....
They are a great airline! I just earned another free flight
Have a great vacation and don't stress over it! Just bring your confirmation number with you on the day you need with your photo ID and it is painless!

 

[CLR4321]

First, 24 hours before your flight is scheduled to leave, go here: http://www.southwest.com/content/travel_center/retrieveCheckinDoc.html and do online check-in. When you get to the airport, check your bags as normal (don't forget the DME tags if you will be using DME!). From there you will go through security (do not attempt to bring any liquids through the check point...even unopened bottles of soda or water will be thrown away as well as cans of shaving cream - my boyfriend didn't believe me and had to throw his away last time we flew). Go to your gate and wait for boarding. Because you are a family with small children, you should be able to board when they board families with children. You pick your own seats when you get on the plane. You may want to pair kids with an adult in case you can't find seats all together. By checking in 24 hrs before your flight you will be issued the sooner boarding, as check in #'s that are issued are issued on a first check in, first board basis, with the exception of the business travelers and those who paid for the early bird offer ($10 to get to board before everyone else). You can gate check your stroller, and if you have any bags that you decide not to bring as a carry on, you can also ask to gate check these as well. Gate checking is free. If you have never done it, basically the gate agent will attach a tag to your stroller or bag and give you half of the tag. When you get off the plane the strollers and bags will be waiting for you when you get off the plane. It is really easy and fool proof. You will be fine! Southwest is awesome...I love them!

 

[Mkrop]

I suggest you all read the link to SW I posted above and then these two DIS threads, this EB checkin changes things as we all use to know it!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2273607


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2274201



There is quite a tizzy being discussed by SW flyers bc it changes the game as we know it. SW did not notify anyone flying that this option/policy went into effect, but it went into effect 9/3 and does effect your flight. Please read up on iT.

Although the OP might be ok, bc many people dont know about it yet but many on this board have added the EB option for the way home so they dont have to check in at T24 while at dinner or the parks etc. SO they all get checked in at T36 and get better BPs than those checking in at T24.

 

[PatsMom]

We are taking our first adults only trip in two weeks so my situation is a little different than the OP's. She will qualify for family boarding so if she skips Early Bird and just checks in at 24 hours she could fall back on family boarding. Although SW can (and has) restricted family boarding to the child and one adult which would leave the OP's older child and husband to line up. But even if they have B or low C's they should have a problem finding two seats together. Breaks up the family but each child has an adult.

What we have decided to do is take our chances with 24 hour check in for the flight down to Orlando. Because it is kind of a pain in you don't have web access on your phone to check in exactly at 24 hours, we are opting to pay the Early Bird fee for the return trip. Its no big deal if we don't sit together but DH does prefer it so I said I would pay. But if you don't want to pay, any guest services or hotel concierge will gladly check you in and print boarding passes. We've done it a number of times. We usually just don't think of it at the 24 hour mark!

We are also flying to Baltimore for a wedding in October. I have opted not to pay the early bird fee for any of those flights. Three of us are going so it would be an extra $60 on top of an already high fare on a holiday weekend. It is a one hour 20 minute flight so if we are all sitting separately in middle seats, we really don't care.

 

[logan&tylersmama]

thanks for all the great advice - i am sure it will work out fine
jennifer

 

[shoppgirl]

If you are opting for the checking in at 24 hr mark, I cannot emphasize how important it is that you get it in at EXACTLY 24 hours. We travelled from Buffalo with 2 DDs, 5 and 7, so we did not qualify for family boarding between A and B. I literally sat at my computer at 1:35 the day before, waiting for 1:40, the 24 hour mark. I pretyped everything in for the checkin so all I had to do was push enter when I got to 1:40. I am positive that when my computer clock said 1:40, I quickly pressed enter, and I STILL got B boarding passes (B9-11). I could not believe it!

I thought that we'd be OK, just go to the back of the plane and we could get 3 across, and DH could sit across the aisle. But by the time we boarded, it seemed like a lot of people had already filled the back! We somehow lucked out and found an empty row in row 10, with one empty seat behind our row in the exit aisle. Thankfully DH was able to sit by the exit door, and we had 3 good seats in front (although they do not recline, which is why I'm sure people left them alone). I was just glad I did not have to stress about this coming home as we flew another airline. I would hate to waste any precious Disney time trying to find a computer to check in! I would definitely pay the $10 for the advance option.

Still, it was a good flight, ahead of schedule, and everything worked out well. If I can find $59 flights again, I would fly SW in a heartbeat. However, for the same price, I would fly Jet Blue.

 

[figment3258]

Also because you have a child that is 4 or younger you will be able to board in between A and B if you do not get an A seat. I always travel southwest with two kids and never have a problem sitting in one row. I hope this helps!