I need some opinions on a SW ? PLEASE

[ktink]

Well this time tomorrow morning, we'll be on our way!!! But I have a question. Should I print my boarding passes off the internet? The only reason this is a problem, is that we are traveling w/ a 4 yo and I called SW because they say if you're travelingw/ achild not to print your boarding passes. I talked to a nice CSR and she told me that they would let us preboard. Sounds good. But last year on our flight out of Nashville, they didn't say anything about preboarding, but I didn't know to even ask about it. But on our departing flight from MCO, they told us they were putting us preboard.

So my question is should I print the boarding passes after midnight or should I chance it and just ask for preboard? Thank you

 

[zurgswife]

I would print just to be on the safe side...If you get to preboard then you won't need the pass...but if there are so many kids they don't preboard then you have a pass...

 

[NHAnn]

Even if you are allowed pre-board, you need a boarding pass. So if you don't print it at home, you will have to get it at the airport. The person you spoke with probably meant that since you would likely be able to pre-board due to your child's age, it wouldn't matter if you got to the airport after all the A and B boarding passes were gone. If they are allowing pre-boarding, even if you have a C pass you can board ahead of the the A's, B's and C's. Sometimes if flights are heavily booked with lots of parties with small children, they don't do a pre-board. In which case you would be taking a chance if you ended up with a C pass, you wouldn't have as good a chance of getting seats where you desire to sit or seats all together. My suggestion would be print at home if the timing works for you, otherwise get to the airport a couple of hours ahead of your flight to insure an A or B in case they dont' let you pre-board.

Have a great trip!!

 

[ktink]

I would print just to be on the safe side...If you get to preboard then you won't need the pass...but if there are so many kids they don't preboard then you have a pass...

Thanks so much, that's what I was thinking and really it wouldn't be an issue if our printer was working. But I'm going to go into the office and print them out shortly after midnight, it's only 5 minutes away.

 

[ktink]

Even if you are allowed pre-board, you need a boarding pass. So if you don't print it at home, you will have to get it at the airport. The person you spoke with probably meant that since you would likely be able to pre-board due to your child's age, it wouldn't matter if you got to the airport after all the A and B boarding passes were gone. If they are allowing pre-boarding, even if you have a C pass you can board ahead of the the A's, B's and C's. Sometimes if flights are heavily booked with lots of parties with small children, they don't do a pre-board. In which case you would be taking a chance if you ended up with a C pass, you wouldn't have as good a chance of getting seats where you desire to sit or seats all together. My suggestion would be print at home if the timing works for you, otherwise get to the airport a couple of hours ahead of your flight to insure an A or B in case they dont' let you pre-board.

Have a great trip!!

Thanks! I have been stressing about this for some reason and now I feel because common sense tells me to print the boarding passes. It won't hurt anything even if we do get to preboard.

 

[Lewisc]

You don't need to actually print the pass. You can re-print it at the airport and you keep your letter and sequence number.

Sometimes SW doesn't allow for family pre-boards on flights to MCO. Really doesn't accomplish much when more than half the plane qualifies for it.

SW, like most airlines, overbook. If you don't get a BP and get to the airport late you will be the people bumped.

 

[Pinnie]

Get your boarding pass online even if you can't print it out. At BNA there are kiosks that will prompt you to PRINTING one out if you already went online to get one. Also, if you are on the flight that originates at DTW (I usually fly this one), keep in mind that when you board in BNA, there will already be pax ON the plane continuing their flight.

Have a good time!

pinnie

 

[ktink]

Thanks Lewisc and Pinnie. So I can actually go online in the early morning hours and get a boarding pass but wait and print it at the airport? That is wonderful, I had no idea. Ya'll are wonderful!

 

[Pinnie]

So I can actually go online in the early morning hours and get a boarding pass but wait and print it at the airport? That is wonderful, I had no idea.

Yes, you can do exactly that! Four weeks ago I did just that in Nashville. We went online at our hotel after midnight, (did not have a printer) got an assigned boarding pass and then got to the airport and printed the boarding passes. There are prompts that will say something to the effect: Reprint a boarding pass. IT is all done by touch screen and very easy. There are also SWA agents that will be more than willing to help you along!

pinnie

 

[ktink]

Yes, you can do exactly that! Four weeks ago I did just that in Nashville. We went online at our hotel after midnight, (did not have a printer) got an assigned boarding pass and then got to the airport and printed the boarding passes. There are prompts that will say something to the effect: Reprint a boarding pass. IT is all done by touch screen and very easy. There are also SWA agents that will be more than willing to help you along!

pinnie

Thanks Pinnie! That has really made things alot easier.

 

[chamonix]

Also, if you are on the flight that originates at DTW (I usually fly this one), keep in mind that when you board in BNA, there will already be pax ON the plane continuing their flight.

Which flight is that one?

 

[Pinnie]

Which flight is that one?

I "think" it is Flight 986 our of BNA. It originates in Detroit (as 986), lands in Nashville and all the pax that are continuing on to MCO stay ON the plane.

pinnie