How does Southwest Airlines boarding work?

[ready123go]

We are flying SW for the first time this year. I signed up for the "Early Bird Check-In." I don't understand their boarding process. Could someone give me a quick synopsis?

 

[seashoreCM]

Roughly you board in order of check in. You choose any seat that is empty. At check in you are given a boarding number A1 through A60 then B1 through B60 then C1 through whatever fills up the seats.

If you signed up for early bird check in you are automatically checked in before those who check in manually starting at 24 hours before flight time. This improves your chances of getting one of the A boarding spots. If you are not using a computer with a printer when you check in manually, you can have your boarding pass printed out at the aiport and your boarding spot was already assigned at the time of automatic (early bird) check in or manual (over the phone, etc.) check in earlier.

At the airport you line up in order of the numbe (1-60) r, the A group first, then the B group, etc.

Some idiosyncrasies: The spots A1 through A15 are assigned separately to certain passengers who paid a little more for their tickets (Business select). If no one was in that category then the first boarding spot would be A16. Some parents with small children are allowed to board out of turn between A60 and B1 if their boarding spots would come after that. SOme passengers with special needs board before anyone in the A group.

 

[gmeh1]

We are flying SW for the first time this year. I signed up for the "Early Bird Check-In." I don't understand their boarding process. Could someone give me a quick synopsis?

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/airport-experience/boarding-school/

 

[ready123go]

Thanks for the replies.

How do DH & I make certain we sit together? It's not the end of the world if we don''t, but we would prefer to.

I read in another recent post about someone saving a seat for their spouse?

Delta, Air Tran and Spirit work differently, so I really have no clue here...

 

[goofy4tink]

You and your dh should have no trouble finding seats together. I fly SW often and have never had any trouble being seated with my traveling companions.
You have purchased EBCI....that will let SW check you in at the 36 hr mark vs you checking yourselves in at the 24 hr mark. I assume that you paid for EBCI for both yourself and your dh. So, when you get to the 24 hr point before departure, you can print out your boarding passes.
As noted already, A1-15 are kept aside for business passengers or other full fare guests. Your boarding slot will be anywhere from A16 on up. Most likely in the mid-high A area. When you get to your airport and the appropriate gate, you will see poles with numbers on them....1-5, 6-10, 11-15, and so on in increments of 5. The first group will be the A group. When they are boarded the gate attendent will change the A to a B and that group will do the same thing the A group did.
You will find your 'slot' and stand there and wait to board. When you get on the plane, you choose the seats you want from the available seats.
Not a problem at all.

It's only the high C group that has any issue finding two seats together. A's and B's are usually just fine.

 

[ready123go]

goofy4tink~

That fills in the missing blanks! Thanks!

 

[Minnesota!]

How does this work for flights coming back from WDW (where I will not have internet access to check in 24 hours in advance)?

There are 8 of us - 4 adults, 4 kids. Theoretically, we would like 1 adult with 1 child, at least.

SW has a decent price on a flight coming back right now...but I am terrified to do it because I hate hate hate the boarding process.

 

[tjmw2727]

How does this work for flights coming back from WDW (where I will not have internet access to check in 24 hours in advance)?

There are 8 of us - 4 adults, 4 kids. Theoretically, we would like 1 adult with 1 child, at least.

SW has a decent price on a flight coming back right now...but I am terrified to do it because I hate hate hate the boarding process.

If you purchase early bird check in then you don't have to worry, SWA will automaticlly check you in at T36 instead of T24.

Other options,
use a web enabled cell phone
check in from guest relations at the wdw resorts or parks
have a trusted friend or relative check you in from home

FWIW I Fly SWA almost monthly and it is the only airline where I have not been separated from my kids. The boarding process is actually very orderly and fairly quick vs other airlines since no one is standing in the way of the group that is actually boarding. Unlike US Air last week when the first group was called but we I couldn't get through the passengers waiting for their group to be called and blocking the gate !!

 

[Minnesota!]

If you purchase early bird check in then you don't have to worry, SWA will automaticlly check you in at T36 instead of T24.

Other options,
use a web enabled cell phone
check in from guest relations at the wdw resorts or parks
have a trusted friend or relative check you in from home

FWIW I Fly SWA almost monthly and it is the only airline where I have not been separated from my kids. The boarding process is actually very orderly and fairly quick vs other airlines since no one is standing in the way of the group that is actually boarding. Unlike US Air last week when the first group was called but we I couldn't get through the passengers waiting for their group to be called and blocking the gate !!

Thanks!

So pretty much I will need to pay $40 more for them to choose a seat at 36 hours out vs the 24 hours out that those who don't choose EBCI do? How do they prioritize all the people who do have EBCI? Does it guarantee that my party will be somewhat together (which normally ISN"T a big deal for me...I am fine with my family being split up...but we are traveling with another family who is NOT ok with it...).

I would so rather they keep Airtran's model of $6 gets you a seat. No needing to jockey or time for position.

The web enabled phone isn't an option - we don't have/want them, and the last option isn't an option, either. The only person I would trust to do it for me...will be on vacation with me!

So option 2? Guest relations at my resort (Pop)? Would that be the same as concierge?

Thanks again! Airtran has the same prices as Southwest...but only 5 seats available on the flight we want. SW can get all 8 of us on for that cheap price.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Thanks!

So pretty much I will need to pay $40 more for them to choose a seat at 36 hours out vs the 24 hours out that those who don't choose EBCI do? How do they prioritize all the people who do have EBCI? Does it guarantee that my party will be somewhat together (which normally ISN"T a big deal for me...I am fine with my family being split up...but we are traveling with another family who is NOT ok with it...).

I would so rather they keep Airtran's model of $6 gets you a seat. No needing to jockey or time for position.

The web enabled phone isn't an option - we don't have/want them, and the last option isn't an option, either. The only person I would trust to do it for me...will be on vacation with me!

So option 2? Guest relations at my resort (Pop)? Would that be the same as concierge?Thanks again! Airtran has the same prices as Southwest...but only 5 seats available on the flight we want. SW can get all 8 of us on for that cheap price.

Once you get on the plane you choose your seats, so you can arrange your family how you want.

Guest services or anyone at the hotel with a computer can check you in. You'll need your confirmation #.

 

[Jestocost]

So pretty much I will need to pay $40 more for them to choose a seat at 36 hours out vs the 24 hours out that those who don't choose EBCI do? How do they prioritize all the people who do have EBCI? Does it guarantee that my party will be somewhat together (which normally ISN"T a big deal for me...I am fine with my family being split up...but we are traveling with another family who is NOT ok with it...).

Just to make sure it's clear what others have said relative to the highlighted portion above, you never get to "choose a seat" in advance on SWA, you select your seat from what's open after you board the plane. EBCI checks you in at 36 hours so you get a lower boarding number than if you checked in at 36 hours. That means you get on the plane earlier when more seats are available to choose.

 

[gmeh1]

Just to make sure it's clear what others have said relative to the highlighted portion above, you never get to "choose a seat" in advance on SWA, you select your seat from what's open after you board the plane. EBCI checks you in at 36 hours so you get a lower boarding number than if you checked in at 36 hours. That means you get on the plane earlier when more seats are available to choose.

Excellent point!!!!

 

[Minnesota!]

Just to make sure it's clear what others have said relative to the highlighted portion above, you never get to "choose a seat" in advance on SWA, you select your seat from what's open after you board the plane. EBCI checks you in at 36 hours so you get a lower boarding number than if you checked in at 36 hours. That means you get on the plane earlier when more seats are available to choose.

Ahhhh!! I get it now!

So, if I do purchase tix on SWA, and EBCI, I don't have to do anything to "check in" in WDW, right? I can just do my RAC at Pop the morning we fly out and all will be kosher?

Thanks!!

 

[mb187143]

Ahhhh!! I get it now!

So, if I do purchase tix on SWA, and EBCI, I don't have to do anything to "check in" in WDW, right? I can just do my RAC at Pop the morning we fly out and all will be kosher?

Thanks!!

If you purchase ECBI, you will be checked in by SWA at 36 hours before your flight. You will need your boarding pass to do RAC at the POP (Any resort actually), so you will need to have them printed for you before you go to the RAC counter. The last 3 times I went this year, i had purchased ECBI, and was checked in at 36 hours out, and the resort actually delivered my boarding passes to my room on the morning i checked out with my express check out docs. If they don't, go in to the lobby and have someone print them for you - it shouldn't be a problem. Then, go to RAC with your boarding pass and ID, and they'll check your bags as though you're doing curbside check in at the airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just to make sure it's clear what others have said relative to the highlighted portion above, you never get to "choose a seat" in advance on SWA, you select your seat from what's open after you board the plane. EBCI checks you in at 36 hours so you get a lower boarding number than if you checked in at 36 hours. That means you get on the plane earlier when more seats are available to choose.

Took the words right out of my mouth...so to speak.

Minnesota....I tend to use EBCI for my return flights simply because I don't want to have to worry about being near a computer at the 24 hr mark...drives me nuts at WDW. Yes, you can do it at a resort or at a park, at Guest Services. But, it can be a pain....what if you get stuck on an attraction, or you simply forget??
I would much rather pay the money for EBCI. You say $40??? How are you going to do that?? How old are the kids that are traveling??? If any are under 4, they can be boarded in between the A and B groups, with an adult. But, I'm not sure how you would get away with paying just $40 for 8 people.

I love flying SW...it has always been a very easy boarding process for me. And, once SW puts a flight out there, they seldom change it. Not the case with AirTran. And seats are never a sure thing....I paid for seats on my last flight with DirectAir..only to find upon arrival that they had given those seats to someone else. But, they did refund me the money I had paid.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If you purchase ECBI, you will be checked in by SWA at 36 hours before your flight. You will need your boarding pass to do RAC at the POP (Any resort actually), so you will need to have them printed for you before you go to the RAC counter. The last 3 times I went this year, i had purchased ECBI, and was checked in at 36 hours out, and the resort actually delivered my boarding passes to my room on the morning i checked out with my express check out docs. If they don't, go in to the lobby and have someone print them for you - it shouldn't be a problem. Then, go to RAC with your boarding pass and ID, and they'll check your bags as though you're doing curbside check in at the airport.

Did you ask them to do this? Just wondering how they knew you needed the passes printed/delivered.

 

[mb187143]

Did you ask them to do this? Just wondering how they knew you needed the passes printed/delivered.

Nope, never asked them. They had my flight information since I provided it for DME, so i guess that's how it was done, but I know I never asked for it. In the past, I've just gone to the lobby and had it done there.

 

[Minnesota!]

Took the words right out of my mouth...so to speak.

Minnesota....I tend to use EBCI for my return flights simply because I don't want to have to worry about being near a computer at the 24 hr mark...drives me nuts at WDW. Yes, you can do it at a resort or at a park, at Guest Services. But, it can be a pain....what if you get stuck on an attraction, or you simply forget??
I would much rather pay the money for EBCI. You say $40??? How are you going to do that?? How old are the kids that are traveling??? If any are under 4, they can be boarded in between the A and B groups, with an adult. But, I'm not sure how you would get away with paying just $40 for 8 people.

I love flying SW...it has always been a very easy boarding process for me. And, once SW puts a flight out there, they seldom change it. Not the case with AirTran. And seats are never a sure thing....I paid for seats on my last flight with DirectAir..only to find upon arrival that they had given those seats to someone else. But, they did refund me the money I had paid.

There are 8 of us flying, but only 4 (including me) that I am responsible $$ wise for (me, DH, our 2 boys). We are going with my BFF and her family. I thought I read it was $10/person for EBCI...so $40 for us 4.

Thanks for all the info, all.

 

[Jestocost]

You will need your boarding pass to do RAC at the POP (Any resort actually), so you will need to have them printed for you before you go to the RAC counter.

You can get your BPs printed before using RAC if you want to for some reason, but it's not necessary. RAC can and will print out your SWA BPs for you when you check in with them.

The last 3 times I went this year, i had purchased ECBI, and was checked in at 36 hours out, and the resort actually delivered my boarding passes to my room on the morning i checked out with my express check out docs.

This is hit or miss. Guests with morning flights sometimes even get their BPs the night before check out along with their DME information.

 

[Minnesota!]

You can get your BPs printed before using RAC if you want to for some reason, but it's not necessary. RAC can and will print out your SWA BPs for you when you check in with them.


This is hit or miss. Guests with morning flights sometimes even get their BPs the night before check out along with their DME information.

I thought so - I recall getting my BP's at the resort in the past - and I know I have never had anyone at the front desk do it - so it had to be RAC. In fact, I KNOW that RAC did it for us when we were at CBR in 2009...