Has anyone used boardfirst.com on Southwest Airlines?

[mitsguy2001]

I know that there is a website called boardfirst.com that is supposed to guarantee a Group A pass on Southwest Airlines, so that I can sit next to the friend that I am travelling with. I will not be able to check in 24 hours in advance of the flight; I won't have easy access to a computer. Has anyone ever used that website? Is it safe, legal, and reliable? I know that other similar sites have been shut down, but this one still exists. Any idea why the others were shut down but this one still remains? Thank you.

 

[CarolA]

Probably because SW hasn't figured out a way to MAKE them shut down.

Now, they don't actually gurantee an A boarding pass, if they don't get it you don't pay.

Personally I think it's a big waste of money. If there are just two of you and you arrive fairly early you shouold be fine.

 

[mitsguy2001]

Probably because SW hasn't figured out a way to MAKE them shut down.

So then you are saying that it is legal for the time being, and that I can safely use it?

Now, they don't actually gurantee an A boarding pass, if they don't get it you don't pay.

But at least with that site I have a chance at getting an A pass. Without it I'll be stuck with a C pass. If the site fails to get me an A pass and refunds my money, do I at least get to keep the B pass it gets me, or do I lose that too?

Personally I think it's a big waste of money. If there are just two of you and you arrive fairly early you shouold be fine.

It's worth the $5 to me. And I heard that at MCO it is not possible to sit together with a B pass, and sometimes not even an A pass, so it's worth it to me as long as it is safe, legal, and reliable.

 

[tinkerbell60]

For your return flight on Southwest you can go to the Front Desk (at least onsite) and they will print your boarding pass for you - I think Southwest is now 24 hrs in advance. We flew them last summer, we couldn't do online check in till after midnight the day of travel - I just went down to the Desk at Midnight and they did it for me.

 

[mitsguy2001]

For your return flight on Southwest you can go to the Front Desk (at least onsite) and they will print your boarding pass for you - I think Southwest is now 24 hrs in advance. We flew them last summer, we couldn't do online check in till after midnight the day of travel - I just went down to the Desk at Midnight and they did it for me.

I'll be on a Disney cruise at the time. I don't think that they'll be able to check me in. Or, if you have experience with DCL checking people into Southwest flights 24 hours in advance, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Lewisc]

So then you are saying that it is legal for the time being, and that I can safely use it?

It violates SW revised terms of use. Other similar services have already shut down. I'm not sure how much advance notice you'll get if it's shut down. SW could either block whatever IP address they're using or make customers type a phrase, similar to ticketmaster, to prevent automated check ins.

I'd either find a friend to check you in or pay to use the internet cafe on the ship.

 

[pamjb]

But at least with that site I have a chance at getting an A pass. Without it I'll be stuck with a C pass. If the site fails to get me an A pass and refunds my money, do I at least get to keep the B pass it gets me, or do I lose that too?

.

I am not sure where you got the idea that you can't sit together from MCO with a B pass. My kids and I had B passes from MCO in early March. We sat together without a problem. We originally had A passes as my DH checkeed us in before our flight from home. But because our flight was cancelled, so were our boarding passes. I checked in when we got to the airport the next day and I got B passes.
Because of the number of children that fly from MCO, there is a chance that you could not sit together with an A, because families with children are preboards.
It seems that you are looking for validation to use this service. Will you be thrown in jail for using it...I strongly doubt it. Go ahead and use the service. The worse that could happen is that Southwest wouldn't honor your A from boardfirst.com and you could end up with a C. Is there a possibility you still sit together. There certainly is. Therre are too many variable factors (ie: when flight leaves, number of preboards) to make a definitive determination. If you want more information about the Southwest boarding procedures, check out this thread at Flyer talk. It give more information about preboarding, getting seats together without A passes and how to play the open boarding game.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422264

Have a great time on your trip

 

[mitsguy2001]

I am not sure where you got the idea that you can't sit together from MCO with a B pass.

I have been told that MCO has so many preboards that often even people with A passes can't sit together.

My kids and I had B passes from MCO in early March. We sat together without a problem. We originally had A passes as my DH checkeed us in before our flight from home. But because our flight was cancelled, so were our boarding passes. I checked in when we got to the airport the next day and I got B passes.

Why was that flight cancelled? There were no other flights available that day? Since it doesn't sound like weather was the issue, that makes me really worry, since if my flight is delayed more than a day like yours was, it means I'd not be able to go on the cruise.

Because of the number of children that fly from MCO, there is a chance that you could not sit together with an A, because families with children are preboards.
It seems that you are looking for validation to use this service. Will you be thrown in jail for using it...I strongly doubt it. Go ahead and use the service. The worse that could happen is that Southwest wouldn't honor your A from boardfirst.com and you could end up with a C. Is there a possibility you still sit together. There certainly is. Therre are too many variable factors (ie: when flight leaves, number of preboards) to make a definitive determination. If you want more information about the Southwest boarding procedures, check out this thread at Flyer talk. It give more information about preboarding, getting seats together without A passes and how to play the open boarding game.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422264

Have a great time on your trip

Thanks. I'll check that out.

 

[pamjb]

The flight was cancelled due to snow in Chicago. Since flight was coming from Chicago to Buffalo to Orlando and there was snow in Chicago I am not sure when you are cruising, but I would think that the threat of snow is over. But, I am not a meteorologist. There could be a billion reasons why your flight is cancelled. And one would need a crystal ball to see if your flight will be cancelled. We didn't find out until we got to the airport and sat for about an hour. It was the last flight of the night, so there was no taking the next flight.
I have flown enough to know that you don't take the last flight out if you absolutely, positively just get home. There were several people who were complaining that they had to be at work in the morning, blah, blah. Nothing could be done.
I used to fret over the little things that could happen to ruin a trip. Then I was on the ill-fated Disney cruise that didn't make it to Grand Cayman or Castaway Cay in Jan 2005. I saw guests yelling and screaming at Guest Services. Like that was going to make them try to dock the ship or use the tenders. Trust me, I saw the waves that were not allowing us to get to Grand Cayman. I wouldn't want to be in a little boat. Did I sit and complain? No. Did I demand money back? No. I sat and enjoyed the company of the friends that I made on the ship. And I rebooked another cruise for August 2006 on the same ship and same itinerary. Is it hurricane season? Sure it is. But I am on a Disney vacation.....
If you get on the plane and there are no seats together, offer somebody a drink to move.....they just might do it.
As for the preboards, yes there are alot. But I have flown 4 SW times from Orlando and I have never seen enought preboards to preclude sitting together. You may not be in the front of the plane, but you will be together. Actually there were a lot more in Philly when we left than from Orlando. But we all sat together despite the preboards.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you have a friend or relative at home who would be willing to check you in for the flight, give that person a copy of your itinerary with the record number on it, and they can check you in. You can then "reprint" the boarding pass at one of the airport kiosks, and the letter you originally were issued will stick.

Your friend can check you in from anywhere online, even using a web-enabled mobile phone. (If you have your own web-enabled wireless phone, you can do it yourself as soon as you get into range of shore, which would at least give you a few hours before the flight.) It doesn't have to be exactly 24 hrs. out, either. Usually any time the previous day will net an A, unless it is a really major travel day near a holiday.

Also, if your friend has an A pass and you don't, have that friend sit in the rear of the aircraft and save you a seat. Saving one seat in the back is no big deal, and he/she should get no trouble about doing it.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Well, apparently Southwest doesn't mind BoardFirst selling this service. Check out this article from the Arizona Republic last December:

BoardFirst.com founder flies high, wins praise of Southwest executive

Dec. 27, 2005 12:00 AM

As the year draws to a close, The Arizona Republic looks back at some of the biggest stories and catches you up with some well-known figures.

WHO: Kate Bell is the founder and president of BoardFirst.com, a Phoenix-based service for Southwest Airlines passengers.

IN THE NEWS: Bell received national publicity this fall for her service, which checks in Southwest customers online. Customers pay Bell $5 each way for an "A" boarding pass, which guarantees better seats. advertisement

HOW DID IT AFFECT HER: Business has been so brisk from the publicity that Bell had to hire workers and find an office. BoardFirst now has seven employees. The company is busy from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

WHAT'S UP NOW: When word about BoardFirst started getting around, some observers predicted that Southwest would quash it on legal grounds. That hasn't happened, in part, because Bell's husband is a lawyer and they researched all the angles before starting the company. Bell said Southwest founder Herb Kelleher was gracious when she introduced herself at an awards luncheon in his honor this month in Phoenix. "He was so nice. I was shocked. I thought he was going to kick me in the face."

HOPES FOR THE NEW YEAR: BoardFirst hopes to expand into the business travel market. It is developing programs in which frequent fliers can store a month's worth of flight information in advance and sign up for automatic boarding passes.

So maybe it'll work for you after all. It does add $5 per ticket onto the trip cost, but if you're willing to pay that, then go for it.

Good luck!

 

[Lewisc]

SW recently changed the terms and conditions of use. AFAIK Boardfirst is the only checkin site that's still operating, other sites shut down in response to a letter from SW lawyers.

Well, apparently Southwest doesn't mind BoardFirst selling this service.So maybe it'll work for you after all. It does add $5 per ticket onto the trip cost, but if you're willing to pay that, then go for it.

Good luck!

 

[JDietz40]

I'll be on a Disney cruise at the time. I don't think that they'll be able to check me in. Or, if you have experience with DCL checking people into Southwest flights 24 hours in advance, please let me know. Thanks.

There are computer terminals with internet access and a printer on the ship. There is a charge but you can certainly print your boarding passes there.


John

 

[mitsguy2001]

The flight was cancelled due to snow in Chicago. Since flight was coming from Chicago to Buffalo to Orlando and there was snow in Chicago I am not sure when you are cruising, but I would think that the threat of snow is over. But, I am not a meteorologist.

Yeah, there is no chance of snow during the time that I'm cruising. I don't think snow has ever been recorded that time of year.

There could be a billion reasons why your flight is cancelled. And one would need a crystal ball to see if your flight will be cancelled. We didn't find out until we got to the airport and sat for about an hour. It was the last flight of the night, so there was no taking the next flight.
I have flown enough to know that you don't take the last flight out if you absolutely, positively just get home. There were several people who were complaining that they had to be at work in the morning, blah, blah. Nothing could be done.

Hopefully I'd be at least able to get a later flight the same day, or even a very early flight the next day. Otherwise, I'd not make it to the cruise.

I used to fret over the little things that could happen to ruin a trip. Then I was on the ill-fated Disney cruise that didn't make it to Grand Cayman or Castaway Cay in Jan 2005. I saw guests yelling and screaming at Guest Services. Like that was going to make them try to dock the ship or use the tenders. Trust me, I saw the waves that were not allowing us to get to Grand Cayman. I wouldn't want to be in a little boat. Did I sit and complain? No. Did I demand money back? No. I sat and enjoyed the company of the friends that I made on the ship.

But I have also heard reports of beautiful weather, calm seas, no wind, and them still not docking at CC. In those cases, they whould have received some sort of compensation.

And I rebooked another cruise for August 2006 on the same ship and same itinerary. Is it hurricane season? Sure it is. But I am on a Disney vacation.....

Just out of curiosity, why did you book it in August?

If you get on the plane and there are no seats together, offer somebody a drink to move.....they just might do it.

I don't think I have the authority to offer someone a drink.

As for the preboards, yes there are alot. But I have flown 4 SW times from Orlando and I have never seen enought preboards to preclude sitting together. You may not be in the front of the plane, but you will be together. Actually there were a lot more in Philly when we left than from Orlando. But we all sat together despite the preboards.

Even with a C pass?

 

[mitsguy2001]

There are computer terminals with internet access and a printer on the ship. There is a charge but you can certainly print your boarding passes there.


John

Yes, but I'm not going to know where I'll be or what I'm doing 24 hours in advance, so I likely will not have access to a computer 24 hours in advance.

 

[WillCAD]

I have been told that MCO has so many preboards that often even people with A passes can't sit together.

That's a gross exaggeration.

Yes, there are more preboards at MCO than some other airports, because of the large number of families with little kids going to and from WDW, but just because there aer more people on the flight before you does not mean that anybody with a later boarding pass won't be able to sit together.

I have often gotten B boarding passes at MCO and had no trouble finding two seats together. Sometimes they were way in the back of the plane, but they were there.

You do not have to actually print your boarding pass in advance; you simply have to check in, which you can do from the internet cafe aboard the Disney cruise ships. All you need is your SWA confirmation number; once you check in, you will be given the chance to print your boarding passes. Just ignore it. When you get to MCO, you can print the actual boarding passes from the self-service terminals, either at bag check or a free-standing terminal (if you have no bags to check).

 

[zurgswife]

Like someone else mentioned have someone at home check you in during the 24hr period and you and just reprint boarding passes at the airport

 

[pamjb]

No, no compensation. There are no guarantees to enter any port.


I didn't want to take my kids out of school. They both play baseball, so summer is busy up until end of July. Left me few options.


I meant offer to buy them a drink. Not offer Southwest drink coupons to them.

I don't know what time your flight is. But you don't have to check in exactly 24 hours before your flight. You could access the internet cafe anytime before you leave. I am not sure what time the internet cafe closes before you enter port, but you could print them before you go to bed. That is what we did when we cruised last January. Of course, we didn't use those either, since our flight was cancelled (21" of snow in Pennsylvania). We ended up with B boarding passes that time when we checked in at the airport. And even then, we all sat together.

When is your flight? I would be more than happy to check you in online.

 

[iluvepcot]

Mitsguy: You sound like my teenager. No matter what I tell her she has a what if back to me.... Seriously, unlike my teenager, you do have good valid points. But remember air travel is like life, you can't always be prepared for all things and situations that may happen. If you are so worried, get Trip insurance, even if you don't have snow, you will at least have insurance in case of almost anything.

I always get A or B one time had C. Still no problem. SW now allows you to get bp from palm and blackberry. Having said all that, use the service, you have nothing to lose but maybe a few bucks.

 

[DMRick]

You're welcome to PM me with your confirmation number and name, when time gets closer, and I'll be happy to to this, and you don't even have to pay me! I did one for a complete stranger at I met at Epcot last trip. We talked in Epcot..she was going to be on her cruise, and was fretting about her A boarding pass, because she was leaving from Orlando, and wanted to be sure her family would be together on the way home. She gave me her info and I did it (at that time the night before) at 12:01 for her. She emailed me a thank you when she got home.