Odd southwest check-in issue

[Telcogirl]

We had a strange check-in experience yesterday. My husband and I traveled home yesterday from FLL to PVD. At the 24 hour mark, I checked us both in online using the Southwest mobile web app.

We were on the same confirmation number. My husband ended up with A50 and I was A52. I distinctly remember those numbers because I showed DH the phone and said "looks like there will be someone between us in line tomorrow as we board the plane." But, no big deal on that.

We got to the airport and I went to use a kiosk to print our boarding passes. I entered our confirmation number and the reservation showed that only I was checked in. My husband was no longer checked in.

I asked the SW agent if she knew what was going on and she said I had to check him in. So, I went thru that process and then he ended up with C27.

Now I really wanted to know what happened. She told me there is no way of knowing and that I had to save him a seat if I wanted to sit next to him. When I tried to tell her that seat saving some times makes the other passengers, ahem, cranky, she said I would have to call reservations if I wanted to find out what happened.

We tried again with the gate agent to see if she could tell what happened. She said she was able to see that his boarding pass was deleted, but that's all she could tell. She was very nice and allowed him to board with the family boarding section and we did get to sit together.

I got home and called SW and they couldn't tell what happened. They weren't even able to see what the gate agent saw as far as his boarding pass being deleted.

This wasn't was the end of the world for us. Nor is this a "I am never flying SW again" rants. I am just really curious as to what happened. And if we paid for EBCI, (as we sometimes do) how would they have handled that?

Anybody ever had this happen to them?

 

[Dacky619]

We've had a couple of trips where my wife and I (on the same reservation, checked in at the same exact time) ended up with a gap between us, but we've never had issues after that. That is strange, glad it worked out ok though.

 

[HappyontheLake]

I very rarely fly SW anymore (unless it is the direct flight option) and because of the line issue just pony up the extra $10 to buy my place in line when I buy my ticket. I don't want to remember to do the mobile check in. It was so worth it my last trip because I got the extra leg room seats both ways!

 

[SilverMickey]

Our family of 4 checked in last year and we were scattered between 16 people from start to finish. People offered to board before us... but not after us. Our boys are teens so we just stayed put and were fine with it. I was shocked that one reservation could vary so much. (we were all on the same reservation)

 

[Telcogirl]

It wasn't that there was a number in between us that was the issue. (Although, you do have to wonder how that happens). It was when we got to the airport, my DH was no longer checked in. He was somehow deleted and he had to check in all over again and the he was a C instead of an A.

I never did get an answer from Southwest. I guess from now on i will print our boarding passes at home whenever possible.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would imagine you'll never get an answer from SW. This is why I'm a huge proponant of checking in and immediately printing out those BPs...that way you have something in hand.
Otherwise, just pay the addtl $10 for EBCI.

 

[Telcogirl]

I would imagine you'll never get an answer from SW. This is why I'm a huge proponant of checking in and immediately printing out those BPs...that way you have something in hand.
Otherwise, just pay the addtl $10 for EBCI.

I agree about the printing. We usually do EBCI when flying out of MCO. But since it was just me and DH, and we were leaving out of FLL, we just took our chances. It was just really strange how he got "un-checked in". And it made me wonder if that could possibly happen with EBCI.

Not the end of the world by any means, just strange.

 

[goofy4tink]

It is indeed strange. I've never had that happen in all the times we've flown SW.