Flying Song from Boston - ??'s

[Hopefully]

Hello All, Has anyone flown Song from the new Terminal A in Boston? We have an early (7:40 AM) flight on a Sunday morninbg in October. I am trying to plan for transportation from home to the airport and I am wondering how early we need to leave home and arrive at the airport. Will 1 1/2 hours ahead be enought? How is the Terminal organized? How about Security? Are lines normally long?
Is it true that I can print Song boarding passes from home? If yes, can they be printed 24 hours in advance or just after midnight like SWA?
I have read that the new Terminal is nice, but I am wondering about the logistics.
Thanks in Advance

 

[OKW Lover]

I've flown out of the new Terminal A several times and its as good an experience as you can get in today's security concious world. Yes, I know, ...Faint praise.

The new terminal has an advantage in that there are plenty of security lines and operationally, they seem to staff them properly for the expected level of passengers.

Since you are flying early on a Sunday morning, I would say that getting to the airport an hour before your flight is plenty. Delta (and Song) allow you to print your boarding passes 24 hours before the flight. If you don't have bags to check this will allow you to go directly to the security line and then to your gate.

Have a great trip!

 

[Aneille]

I flew out of Terminal A on Song in May. It too was an early morning flight, it may have been the 7:40, if it wasn't it was the next one out.

The security wasn't bad. The security pt is right near the Song check-in. I don't remember any other one.

What I do remember is its a long walk from the check-in & sercurity to the gate. There is also an escalator/elevator along the way. Its probably about a 7 minute walk, don't quote me on that but it felt like forever. Also I was leaving out of the last gate so it was even a bit further.

The terminal was nice though, places to eat etc.

As far as time I think we left about 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours for the whole thing. We did plenty of waiting at the gate, and I think our plane was a bit late comming in.

I would think 1 1/2 hours would be fine. The lines were average length and we didn't need to wait to get through security.

I don't know about print-out of the tickets since I don't usually do that. I usually go to the person at the desk because I have an infant traveling without a seat and I like to check on the availability of seats when I arrive.

Edited: I meant to say my May trip. I also flew Song in September but it wasn't out of terminal A.

 

[beattyfamily]

Yes, I'm pretty sure you can print out your boarding pass at home 24 hours beforehand or you can just do curbside check in which is what I always do.

Getting there an hour before should be plenty of time.

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks for the quick replies!!! I will take advantage of printing our boarding passes in advance. We will however, have bags to check. Is curbside quicker than at the counter?
I usually use Logan Express when I travel for work, but it looks like driving and parking at Logan Parkn'Go is going to be cheaper, and maybe more convenient. Anyone ever use them? How long should I add to our plan for the shuttle from the offsite parking? I hate to be late, especially for a flight to see the Mouse!
Thanks again!

 

[cranbiz]

Park N Go is on Eastern Ave in Chelsea. There is construction on Eastern Ave now but it's not bad from the Chelsea St. Bridge to the Park N Go lot. If you are coming from Rt 16, thats another story. The Park N Go lot is about 7-10 minutes (providing that the bridge is not up) for the terminals and there are frequent shuttles.

 

[Snoozan]

Not sure if Song has the self-check kiosks for luggage in Boston as they do in Hartford, but that's definitely the way to go if they do. You go to the kiosk, pull up your ressie on the computer(which also prints boarding passes) and your luggage tags are printed and are put on the bags by the Song rep. You then put your luggage into a blocked off area for the screening process and away you go! No standing in long curbside or inside lines. If there are lines at the kiosks, they do go much quicker.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can't print out boarding passes for Song at home if you are checking luggage. But, they self serve kiosks are wonderful. Just go to one, swipe either your FF card or a credit card (for ID purposes), it will ask you various questons and then print out your BP. You then go to the CS rep right there, your tags get printed up (as you are walking over), they stick 'em on your luggage, you show them your ID and off you go. Took us about 7 minutes in June.

As far as Terminal A goes...we loved it. Very bright and upbeat. But, there is a lot of walking. You have to walk a ways, go down a long escalator, then walk a long ways again (under the ground evidently) then back up another long escalator. Good thing is that this is after you check your bags and go through security, which was very fast. Lots of food options also.

We have used the Economy Lots before. It added about 20 minutes to our time...between the actual driving there, which can be a bit convoluted, and the shuttle back to Terminal A (when we used it we were in the 'old' terminal, so I can't speak to the 'actual' time added for Terminal A). I would use it again. But not in the winter...don't want to chance having to shovel out my car after a trip to Florida, while a Nor'easter visited Boston!!!

Overall, we love flying Song and especially out of Terminal A. Very easy and pleasant.

 

[BostonTink85]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread, we're flying Song out of Logan in August. Also a morning (7:40 I think) flight so these tips are great and the Kiosks sound really easy. Does anyone know for sure if they have them at Logan, and if they do why wouldn't everyone do it this way?? Is there any disadvantages?

 

[Aneille]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread, we're flying Song out of Logan in August. Also a morning (7:40 I think) flight so these tips are great and the Kiosks sound really easy. Does anyone know for sure if they have them at Logan, and if they do why wouldn't everyone do it this way?? Is there any disadvantages?

There are definetly self check in Kiosks at Logan for Song. I used to use them for other airlines and it was often faster but when I flew Song in May the self check in kiosks was pretty busy and there was no line for the desk.

So I find sometimes its easier to use the desk than deal with the crowd around the computers and all the luggage there.

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm a BIG fan of curbside check in and that is what I always do. They take my luggage and give me my boarding passes and there's never a long line and I'm always done within 5 to 10 minutes tops. I have no need for the kiosks or going inside to the counter.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread, we're flying Song out of Logan in August. Also a morning (7:40 I think) flight so these tips are great and the Kiosks sound really easy. Does anyone know for sure if they have them at Logan, and if they do why wouldn't everyone do it this way?? Is there any disadvantages?

We started using the kiosks in the old terminal. The ones in Terminal A are even easier. I think there are a lot of people that still don't have the hang of it yet. And I think that 'older' travelers are very timid about using a 'computer' to check-in at an airline. We did see a lot of people at the kiosks scratching their heads, so to speak. So, if you decide to use one....swipe either your CC or FF card. That will identify you. The screen will ask where you are flying to and at what time. It will then show you each one of the passengers on your reservation. You need to check them off so that the computer knows who is checking in. Then it will print out the boarding passes. You then go to the appropriate baggage check-in slot...they are numbered to go along with the kiosks (kiosk 23 goes with check-in 23). You hand over your luggage, the rep tags them with the tags that printed on her printer when you checked in at the kiosk. You show your ID and off to security, which is right next to the luggage check-in area. It is really so easy and almost foolproof. But I guess it can be disconcerting for those who don't travel a lot. I know it made me a little nervous the first time I had to use them. But, I just started buying my tickets on-line 2 yrs ago!!!

 

[plutosmyfav]

This is a great info thread! I'm flying SONG out of Boston in January.

I have yet another question, though. One of my party will be returning earlier than myself and I paid for his ticket with my cc. Will he be able to check in at a kiosk when returning or will he have to go to the line? (None of us are checking baggage)

Or, is it possible to print out boarding passes from a Disney Resort? Would they let you use there computer to do that?

THanks!