New Southwest Online Checkin

[DizMare]

Just got an email from Southwest about their new online checkin. Some quotes..."you can now get your boarding pass before you leave the house." "You can start checking in at 12:01 a.m. local time th day of travel."

I was really excited until I saw this caveat: "Please note that you will not be able to check in at southwest.com if you have multiple passengers on the same reservation."

Drat. Looks like I'll still have to get to the airport mucho early to secure an A pass. And will it be even more difficult now that singles can do it online?

Can I do 4 seperate reservations next time? Can you do that for kids?

Anyway, good news for single southwest flyers!

 

[heathrow42]

I just got the same email-- though I thought it was because I am flying out with them a week from today.

It is interesting that you can now print your boarding papers before you leave -- but they must be having some way of assigning A, B, and C when you get there-- else everyone will be printing their papers at 12:01 on the morning they leave. nope.. read it again, It is strange, in that the A B C system, rewarded those who arrived early or on time, and now it's like that doesn't matter as long as you have a printer.

I'm sure that you can book each adult's flight seperately.. but i think with children there is a rule that the flight has to be booked with an adults, although if you book online they never ask for your age, lol!

There must be something about the way that they book flights for multiple passengers that won't allow you to print all the passes-- because it also won't allow you to make a change for one passenger after the flight has been booked. My tuesday flight is for 2 people, and I wanted to change it to stay longer than the other person (keep hers as it is) the website wouldn't allow me to change just my portion, nor could they do it over the phone. They recommended that I fly down and then change the return portion before I leave the airport!

I love SWA.. but in the future I guess I will have to book everything separate.

--heather

 

[lawgs]

going to be interesting how this pans out, will be watching and waiting for comments from people who use this new procedure

please post your experience when you get back

 

[justhat]

You can make childrens reservations separately, at least on other airlines so I assume Southwest is the same. We are booking a seat for our daughter on the phone since we can't get the infant fare online, but booking our tickets online to earn more miles.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I was a little disappointed when reading about not being able to check in multiples on the same reservation. I too will be anxious to see how this all pans out in the future. Just about the time I thought I had everything planned and accounted for....hummm!

 

[Littleroo]

and there are 3 of us. Hope this works out OK. Bummed that we can't do the online check-in! We are gone for a week, so I'll let you know how it goes. Others will probably post in the meantime though.

How early does everyone check-in for the A grouping?

 

[threeboysmom]

I too was so excited when I got this email this morning until I read that "caveat". How many people actually book a separate reservation for each member of their party??? Hope this doesn't mean we have to get to the airport even EARLIER now to secure an A or even a B seating...

 

[dznyntnh]

All of these 'conveniences' that Southwest is offering now, are starting to make me want to fly other airlines.

I have enjoyed using SW for several years. I always arrive early and get my early boarding pass. When they starting releasing the passes earlier last year it was a bit of a pain. You had to show up a lot earlier to get a 'good' letter.

Now with this online boarding pass, its going to be harder. It will be ok for me when I fly alone, but coming back since I don't bring a laptop and printer with me, it will mean leaving for the airport very early.

With all the technology Southwest is obviously putting in place, it's definitely time for them to start offering seating assignments.

With the boarding pass situation, the fact that my tickets for May cost just as much as tickets on USAir and no reserved seating, the only positive about flying SW this year is that its the only airline that does a nonstop from mht-mco.

 

[mrsstats]

When I have my choice, I will take assigned seating over non-assigned. However, I will take non-stop to Florida from Long Island over a 5 hour trip to Florida. From now on I will be booking my tickets and my husbands are separate tickets if I can print my board pass that way

 

[Littleroo]

I almost had non-stop both ways, but my family didn't want to arrive at midnight. Would've been fine with me. Very interested how this works out Saturday!

 

[Padre Disney]

Stupid ?
Do you have to check your luggage to get a boarding pass?
OR
could you show up early (4 hours) to get your boarding pass, return to hotel and finish packing, eat breakfast and then return to airport about 1 hour before take off, then drop luggage?

We have a large group going in March. I feel sorry for the people that will have to listen to the FIVE kids in group if we end up having to make all 13 of us show up 4 hours early and wait 4 hours just so we can maybe get A passes so we an MAYBE sit near each other

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by mrsstats
When I have my choice, I will take assigned seating over non-assigned. However, I will take non-stop to Florida from Long Island over a 5 hour trip to Florida. From now on I will be booking my tickets and my husbands are separate tickets if I can print my board pass that way

Sorry, but I disagree with taking assigned seating over unassigned seating any day. SWA is known for turning it's planes around quickly because of UNassigned seating.

For instance, I flew out of Atlanta on another carrier a few months ago. The gate agent assigned seats to standby passengers that were already occupied. By the time that mess got straigthened out, we got behind a bank of Delta planes and our departure was quite delayed. Had they had UNassigned seating, now doubt we would have got out on time.

SWA is writing the book on how to run an airline. If you don't like the fact SWA has UNassigned seats, fly an airline that has them and pay for it.

I am liking the idea that I can now get my Boarding Pass on line. WTG SWA!!! I am flying them 2 weeks from today and I will try the new check in process!

pin

 

[mrsstats]

Pin.....I said I PREFER assigned seating and yes I do pick them and dont mind paying the extra. I did that when I flew to Vegas as I did not want to deal with UNassigned seating when changing planes. When I do fly Southwest, I get to the airport early to make sure I am in the first group.

 

[kda]

I really can't wait to see how this works out. Personally, I'm bummed, since I booked on line with DH so can't take advantage of on line check in. Other airlines can handle it when we book together, so what's the problem that SWA can't???

Wonder how many people will be satisfied with this system. When I booked these tickets (about 7 weeks ago), I was on line less than 2 hours after the new fares were released and the cheapest fares were literally disappearing in front of me as I was trying to decide. If I'd booked 2 separate reservations I know I'd have paid a heck of a lot more for the second ticket.

 

[safetymom]

Padre Disney, if you want to check luggage you would have to do at the time you get the boarding pass. Not sure they would let you go back to the ticket counter several hours later with luggage.

If they would I am sure that would raise all sorts of security flags.

 

[Iheoma]

Hi everyone,

I bought my tix right before the on-line check-in information came out so all three of us are on the same reservation. Our flight is at 6:50 a.m. so we're already having to get to the airport really early. Now I'm worried we'll have to get there even sooner to be in the A group. I doubt we would be allowed to pre-board since dd is 2.5 and can easily walk by herself. I would love to here about other people's experiences with the new system.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

You will be able to preboard with a two year old. I believe you can preboard with children 4 and under or 5 and under, but you definately will be able to preboard with a two year old.

 

[dizneycc]

I'm getting more confused with each post. Here's my question...How does it work if you need to check luggage?
Can you still print your boarding ticket at 12:01am and then go to the airport and check your luggage that day???

CC

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Now and then, if the fligiht has a lot of families with children 4 and under, they will not preboard children, just people with special needs.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by dizneycc
I'm getting more confused with each post. Here's my question...How does it work if you need to check luggage?
Can you still print your boarding ticket at 12:01am and then go to the airport and check your luggage that day???

CC

Yes, you can still check your luggage at the counter or with the skycap (remember to tip them. )