Pittsburgh curbside checkin- Southwest Airlines

[jmkst58]

Help- anyone who has flown Southwest out of Pittsburgh recently? My husband & I are flying- checking 2 bags. 6:30 flight tonight & we might be cutting it close time-wise. Can he drop me off- while curbside checking both our bags-one under his name & one under mine (leaving a tip) & then park? Or will he be told to pull away before he's able to curbside check his bag under his name? Or should he drop me off- & pull away immediately? Then I could check them both under my name? Doesn't matter? Nothing to consider? Or should we both just park in long term & then take the bags into the inside to check them (do you have to go upstairs to check them)?

Sorry- I've never done curbside at Pittsburgh

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Usually DH will drop me and the kids off curbside and he goes to park. I check the bags. You have to show ID and boarding passes so I check in under my name, and the kids.

Only have done it for early AM flights though, not evening.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm not sure what you're asking. SW free baggage is still 2 bags. You can check both bags under your name while your husband parks the car. Most airlines will let one person check bags for everyone on the same reservation number. In other words you would generally be allowed to check 4 bags, as long as your husband was on the same reservation number as you.

Most airports won't let you keep the car curbside long enough for the driver to check in.

Just decide if you want to wait for your husband before going through security. Are you tight for time? You should take whatever carryon bag, if any, you're taking. Your husband will go faster without having to carry a bag through the parking lot. Are you really tight on time. "Suck it up" and park in the regular (short term) parking lot. Makes sense if the extra 10-30 minutes is the difference between making your flight. Is there a later flight? SW has a "flat tire rule". They'll accomodate you on the later flight, no extra charge, on a standby basis.

 

[jmkst58]

really great info you guys. thanks so much to you both.

yeah- we will have to see how bad traffic is tonight. lol. i can't leave Vandergrift until 3. I'll keep the carrryons with me too so he can get through the lot faster. Good advice. If we have to-- we'll just park short term.. THANK YOU!!


I have to check & see if there's a later flight. THANKS FOR IT ALL!!

 

[DebbieB]

Keep in mind short term is $21 per day. You can easily walk from long term and it's $11 per day. Extended is farther out, $8 per day.

There should not be a line at security that time of day, you should be fine if you get there by 5:30 and use curbside check. I'm not sure if SW's minimum check-in time for bags is 30 or 45 minutes*.

*I checked their website, it's 30 min for PIT.

 

[jmkst58]

Keep in mind short term is $21 per day. You can easily walk from long term and it's $11 per day. Extended is farther out, $8 per day.

There should not be a line at security that time of day, you should be fine if you get there by 5:30 and use curbside check. I'm not sure if SW's minimum check-in time for bags is 30 or 45 minutes*.

*I checked their website, it's 30 min for PIT.

Thanks Debbie! Yeah- I'd like to get there in time for long term atleast. we're going to disneyland this time. staying in california for 9 total days. Parking for 9 days--- ughhh

 

[Lewisc]

edited to add--Any way to either take a taxi or to get a friend to drive you to the airport?



I mention parking in short term parking as an alternative to missing a flight and having to fly tomorrow. It might not make sense if there is a later flight, with availability. I'm not familar with PIT but some airports a passenger without a carryon bag can walk/run to the main terminal faster then waiting for the next shuttle bus.

A few years ago I was on the shuttle from long term parking. Long delays due to having to drive around construction. A passenger on the bus was probably going to miss his flight, he was already past the scheduled departure time. I said something like you must be on a long trip for you to risk missing your flight over the difference in parking costs. It was a weekend trip and he was upset with himself for not doing just that.

At the time JFK had major construction. It took an hour from the time I dropped off my family and got back to the terminal and I didn't have to wait for a shuttle bus.

 

[Threeriversdisneyfan]

Have you tried a local hotel that offers a "Park and Fly" option.

Should be cheaper and might save you time.

 

[Lewisc]

Have you tried a local hotel that offers a "Park and Fly" option.

Should be cheaper and might save you time.

The flight is 6:30p tonight. Checking into a park and fly hotel would take more time then parking in long term parking and walking to the terminal.

 

[keishashadow]

really great info you guys. thanks so much to you both.

yeah- we will have to see how bad traffic is tonight. lol. i can't leave Vandergrift until 3. I'll keep the carrryons with me too so he can get through the lot faster. Good advice. If we have to-- we'll just park short term.. THANK YOU!!


I have to check & see if there's a later flight. THANKS FOR IT ALL!!

I hope the OP made it

Town she was starting her drive is a good 1/2 hour past me from downtown PIT, factoring in rush hour traffic & multiple construction zones, it will be some feat if she does make the flight.

We use offsite parking (charlie brown's) who whisks us to gate within minutes of our arrival in their lot