Internet Access ?'s re: check-in to airline

[branv]

Have a few quick questions about the internet access on the ship.

We are likely flying Southwest and using our own transportation, so we're not able to check-in for our departure flight at the cruise terminal after we disembark.

Have learned my lesson that it's a far far better thing to check-in online from home/hotel ASAP for your flight rather then stand in line at the airport (esp. Southwest since there are no assigned seats...the earlier the more likely to be "1-30" )

I was thinking perhaps I could do this on the ship before we disembark. What I need to know:

a) are the computers even accessible on disembarkation day, or do they close them up? Or how late are they available at night, since with Southwest, you can check in as soon as 12:01 am the day of your flight.

b) how fast is the internet speed? I know on our cable internet, I can check in online in well under 5 minutes. At .79 cents a minute, dial up speed would be mucho annoying.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Vals]

Hi. I use Southwest all of the time & I love them. My GF uses them for her hubby who is in sales a Lot-She told me that you can give the info to anyone & as long as they go to southwest.com & print your boarding pass at 12.01 am the day that you are flying, that is applicable. I believe that she then gets a copy at the ticket counter. good Luck.

 

[tvguy]

When are you cruising? Southwest is scheduled to dump the current system and do to assigned seats come January 1, 2006.

 

[goofyguy7]

I went on the West Coast cruise. At home I use the internet a lot and I seriously considered getting the unlimited internet access package but I am glad I did not for several reasons.

1) It was expensive
2) I was usually busy doing something else
3) The computers were normally fairly busy (at least when I saw them)
4) At both Puerto Vallarta and Matzalan internet access was inexpensive. I bought 15 minutes (DSL speed) at Matzalan for $2 (I think). This means I only checked my email once during the cruise but it that is all I needed.

If you can't wait until you can get internet access in a port then I would consider the package.

 

[Eeyorefan12]

a) are the computers even accessible on disembarkation day, or do they close them up? Or how late are they available at night, since with Southwest, you can check in as soon as 12:01 am the day of your flight.

b) how fast is the internet speed? I know on our cable internet, I can check in online in well under 5 minutes. Thanks for the help![/QUOTE]

I just returned from the West Coast Magic cruise. I did have unlimited internet access because I wanted to check mail daily...and to make reports to this board! Unlimited access was 89.95 for the entire cruise but the first night I signed on using the .75/min rate just to see if it would be worth it. It took me only a minute or so to get to my email so...if you're just signing on to check-in for your flight, the package is too much. (I, on the other hand, am a major "surfer" so we would have gone bankrupt if I didn't buy it.)

The computers are available 24 hours a day until 8 a.m. the morning of disembarkation. There are definitely peak times but I never waited more than 10 minutes in late evening to get online and if you are a night-owl, you'll have no problem at all. They are also pretty empty during most daytimes but tend to fill up the last day at sea with everyone making disembarkation plans. The speed is about the same as I have at home with DSL...not too bad at all.

CB

 

[DisneyMom05]

EeyoreFan12 thanks for the information. My family and I are computer geeks. I will probably get the internet package for our upcoming cruise. It will be a lot cheaper for us that paying the per minute rate.

 

[branv]

Thanks for the help everyone!

TVGuy...you are KIDDING ME!!!! That just blows my mind! I mean, I like that change ALOT, but it's sort of Southwest's thing, y'know? I wonder what finally got that rolling?

 

[tvguy]

Thanks for the help everyone!

TVGuy...you are KIDDING ME!!!! That just blows my mind! I mean, I like that change ALOT, but it's sort of Southwest's thing, y'know? I wonder what finally got that rolling?

I can't find the quote from the woman who I think is president now of Southwest, but the lack of assigned seats was the number one customer complaint they had. I guess the research they did determined that the additional customers they would gain would quickly off set the costs of assigning seats.
My last experience with Southwest left a bitter taste in my mouth. Not because of the lack of assigned seats. I had to travel last year on less than a week's notice due to a family emergency, Sacramento to Houston. I just assumed Southwest would have the best fare and didn't price shop. So it's my big mistake. I guess if you book a month or more out they do have the best fare on the route....but I paid $725 per person. America West was only $475. American, usually the most expensive, was $700.