Questions about SWA lines and baggage check

[TammyC]

SWA newbie would appreciate some info. So, I've seen the SWA lines at MCO and am wondering are they that bad at other airports? Is there a place to drop off bags if checked in online or do you go through the entire queue? How long prior to takeoff does this crazy number boarding start?

Thanks so much.

Tammy

 

[pooch]

Whether or not you have to get in the queue depends on your airport and if there's curbside check in. I've always found even long lines go quickly for bag check in. As for the "crazy" boarding, it starts about 30 minutes prior to take off and is also very quick and efficient

 

[paults]

are you telling me that other airlines you used didn't have crazy boarding

 

[TammyC]

Thanks for the info. I guess it is a different kind of crazy where everyone blocks the entrance waiting for their zone to be called... or sometimes sneak in before their zone is called. Anyway I heard that for SWA you stand between poles in groups of five and that really seems a bit crazy too

 

[pooch]

Basically, you line up in order by letter and number. The poles just give you a point of reference

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah, it's actually not crazy at all. It's very sane and organized.

You can use curbside check-in. There may or may not be a fee, but either way it's customary to tip $1-$2 per bag.

 

[bumbershoot]

SWA newbie would appreciate some info. So, I've seen the SWA lines at MCO and am wondering are they that bad at other airports? Is there a place to drop off bags if checked in online or do you go through the entire queue? How long prior to takeoff does this crazy number boarding start?

Thanks so much.

Tammy

OK you're talking about two different things.

Seeing the SWA lines at MCO, wondering if they are that bad elsewhere. Which line exactly are you talking about?

Going through the entire queue...you mean to check your bags? I believe there is a line for bag drop and a line for boarding pass and bag checking. Go to the one that's appropriate for you.

Then you're talking about boarding. It's not crazy at all. Have you actually seen some other airlines recently? We have NEVER been blocked using SW (even before they put up the line poles) like we are constantly blocked on United, Alaska, and Virgin.

DH has status with United and Alaska, and if we book with him on either, or with his miles on United, we get the same status. And we have to loudly "excuse me" and move our way forcefully through the crowds that swarm around, when they are boarding our group. It's worse than I ever experienced SWA.

And now Alaska, and possibly United but I can't remember now, is starting to put in...poles! With lines. To stand in, in your boarding group.

Hmm. Sounds like some other airline....

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.........

And now Alaska, and possibly United but I can't remember now, is starting to put in...poles! With lines. To stand in, in your boarding group.

Hmm. Sounds like some other airline....

United has blocked off lines for all five boarding groups. I've never had any issues getting to my boarding group (always 1 due to my status).

 

[Manda]

I've never seen SWA check-in lines as bad as they are at MCO. I usually don't check bags when I fly to Disney, but if I do, I check them at the resort. If I can't do that, I check them curbside. That line inside gives me heart palpitations.

 

[sam_gordon]

DH has status with United and Alaska, and if we book with him on either, or with his miles on United, we get the same status. And we have to loudly "excuse me" and move our way forcefully through the crowds that swarm around, when they are boarding our group. It's worse than I ever experienced SWA.

The horror!

 

[nighttowll]

I never check luggage when I fly, so I'm not sure about that line. However, as far as the actuall boarding goes, I've found it very organized and quick. There are poles with letters and numbers on them, and you simply go stand in your letter/number section. You don't have to do this until right before boarding. It's not like you're standing there for hours or anything. I think it actually speeds things up somewhat because everyone is pre-lined up in order with their bags ready to go when boarding starts. I guess if matching a letter/number combination printed on a ticket to a pole is too complicated, you could have a problem, but as long as you can read, I don't see how it could really be any simpler.

 

[jimandami]

We have flown SW to MCO out of 4 different airports in our region, and no, the baggage lines/check-in lines are no one near that crazy long line at MCO. We have never needed to do curbside check-in anywhere except at MCO...the one time we didn't know that if one leg was AT and one was SW you couldn't use resort airline check-in.

 

[georgina]

Guess it depends on day and time. We checked a bag on SW out of MCO on a Monday afternoon in December and there was no line. (Security lines very short too.)

 

[horselover]

Also, if you're staying at a Disney resort you can check your bags right at your resort using RAC (resort airline check-in). SW is a participating airline. No need to take your bags with you to the airport & wait in line to check them. You just need to check your bags at your resort at least 3 hours prior to your flight. You don't need to use Magical Express to take advantage of RAC either. One of the best perks of staying onsite IMHO.

I also find the SW boarding procedure very efficient. Having flown JB the last few times home from MCO I prefer the more orderly line up by letter & number method of SW. It's a swarm of people at the gate for JB now.

 

[DebbieB]

You have to check your bags at the resort at least 3 hours before flight time. RAC opens at 5:00am, so if you have an early morning flight you may have to take your luggage with you and check in at the airport.

 

[formill]

At MCO with Southwest if you don't have your boarding pass printed it is faster if you are checking bags to first go to one of the kiosks at the airport and print your passes then you can go to the usually much shorter line that is for those that already have boarding passes.....an express luggage check or something like that.....we had no line up at all last Sunday yet the ones that were for those without boarding passes printed were very long waiting to check bags. We have never had an issue lining up in the boarding groups at the gate and always buy EBCI when book flights....this time we were A16-20 bought tickets the day they were released and added in EBCI.

 

[TammyC]

Thanks for all the info. I think we will use TPA for our flights as we plan to spend a few days visiting relatives there.

T