Simple I know . . . how do I do return flight with ticketless travel

[BlueFairy]

Never done this. We will confirm from home on our trip down. What is the process for our return trip? How do we get the boarding pass? I can't believe I'm in the dark here. I guess it's cause we always drive to Orlando.

 

[dck12ga]

You can have friends or family check you in. Then when you get to the airport just go to the airline counter and have them print the boarding pass for you.That is what we are doing. Sometimes the hotel has a computer that you can use to check in and print boarding passes. Good luck!

 

[dkrause716]

YOur hotel will do it for you. Just ask at the front desk.

 

[tkldisney]

It works great, and you don't have to worry about losing tickets.

 

[seashoreCM]

For ticketless travel (electronic ticketing) you can still do the whole check in process and get your boarding pass in the airport, when you get there. Allow plenty of time, some experts say to be at the airport 2 hours before the plane leaves.

For Southwest Airlines most experts recommend getting your boarding pass as close to 24 hours in advance if you can, use the methods suggested above.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[safetymom]

You can also have someone check you in from home. Then when you get to the airport you would print the boarding pass.

 

[bg4]

All advice given so far is correct -

The reality is that - except for SWA - it really doesnt matter because you have an assigned seat (except SWA -but I digress)

If your airline has a kiosk like Delta/Song it is no problem. Check in at hotel or wait til you get to airport, go to kiosk and get BP. Or use the old fashion way and go to ticket counter or check in with skycap. If you are checking luggage you have to talk so someone anyway so again it is no big problem cause you have a seat assigned and no one can take that away - (actually they can so check-in early)

With SWA its dog eat dog, only the strong survive and get on line three hours before boarding time. Yes that coveted A pass is important but a B isn't so bad for 2 people. C sucks-you may be split up. All suggestions for SWA apply. Get it at the 24 hr mark. SWA now allows you to check in via wireless device so that is another option.

 

[BlueFairy]

We're SWA.

I don't really understand why we need to do it 24 hrs ahead if we still have to wait in line for seating? Not a problem since we can do it at the hotel.
Anyway, we have an infant so we get to pre-board. I can skip that 2 hour wait at the gate.
Will definitely be checking baggage.
Thanks.

 

[Figment1964]

I don't really understand why we need to do it 24 hrs ahead if we still have to wait in line for seating?

The A,B and C boarding cards only determine what part of the line you'll get to be in. If you have an "A" card you'll be among the first 3rd of the passengers to board, a "B" will have you in the second 3rd and a "C" card you'll be in the last 3rd of the people to get seated.

They only give out a certain number of each letter and if people are checking in online at the 24 hour mark, they're the ones getting the lower letter, thus among the first to board usually. (Except for pre-boarding which you said you'll be able to do with your baby, that's a different scenario.)

I hope I didn't confuse the situation more with my explanation.

 

[BlueFairy]

I understand how the cards work. So you mean Southwest issues these when you confirm ahead of time? Not just as you arrive in person at the gate? It's obviously been A LONG TIME since we flew, cause they did it as we arrived the last time I was on SWA.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

A bit of confusion here. You do not need to confirm domestic reservations, even without a ticket. I travel weekly and haven't had a paper ticket in years.

With Southwest (and some other airlines) you have the option of printing your boarding passes (checking in) for your flight 24 hours ahead of departure. With Southwest, that's how you get preferred boarding. For Continental, for example, printing the boarding pass ahead of time saves you a few minutes but does not impact boarding at all.

 

[BlueFairy]

A bit of confusion here. You do not need to confirm domestic reservations, even without a ticket. I travel weekly and haven't had a paper ticket in years.

With Southwest (and some other airlines) you have the option of printing your boarding passes (checking in) for your flight 24 hours ahead of departure. With Southwest, that's how you get preferred boarding. For Continental, for example, printing the boarding pass ahead of time saves you a few minutes but does not impact boarding at all.

Thank you! Now I understand. I guess I was using "checking in" and "confirm" interchangeably. My fault.
So according to you, if I did not have a special reason to pre-board, then checking in ahead of time would save me a place in line (i.e. possibly get me one of those A cards) without having to arrive so early. Gotcha!!

 

[jim and meesie]

We're SWA.

I don't really understand why we need to do it 24 hrs ahead if we still have to wait in line for seating? Not a problem since we can do it at the hotel.
Anyway, we have an infant so we get to pre-board. I can skip that 2 hour wait at the gate.
Will definitely be checking baggage.
Thanks.

Are you sure everyone with an infant gets to preboard. I know you should but I seem to remember A, B & C still applying. Good luck to you.

 

[BlueFairy]

Well, I went to the source, and yes I can pre-board. You get A B or C based on when you did your checkin. From southwest.com:

Checkin Procedure
Customers may check in for their flight and receive their boarding pass and Rapid Rewards credit online at southwest.com (for eligible reservations only), at the Skycap Podium (in select locations), Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk (where available).

Customers who are age 65 and older and traveling on a Senior fare must be age verified in order to request their boarding pass online. Visit our Travel Tips for Seniors for more details on how to become age verified.
Customers may check luggage and receive boarding passes at the Skycap Counter (in select locations) or Ticket Counter up to four hours prior to scheduled departure.
To determine the best time to check in for your flight, please refer to the Airport Arrival chart. The Departure Gate opens for checkin and boarding pass distribution one hour prior to departure.
At 20 minutes prior to scheduled departure you can get a boarding pass only at the Departure Gate.
Passengers who do not obtain a boarding pass and are not present and available for boarding in the departure gate area at least ten minutes prior to scheduled departure time may have their reserved space cancelled and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boarding Procedure
Each Customer will be issued a boarding pass grouped by A, B, or C (in that order) based on when the Customer checked in online at southwest.com, at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk (where available).
Prior to general boarding, Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children between the ages of five and 11, and adults traveling with a child under five years of age will preboard. Customers who choose to preboard cannot sit in an emergency exit seat.
Because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, general-boarding Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C." General-boarding Customers who choose an emergency exit seat must meet all requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines.

 

[LIGrumpyGirl]

I would definitely check in at the 24 hour mark...infant or not. They pre-board in many places but due to the fact that there are so many children flying to/from Orlando they may suspend that. If that is true in your case, you may get a "C" boarding pass. I would (and AM in April) check in 24 hours in advance and then pre-board if allowed. If not you are safe.

 

[jim and meesie]

I would definitely check in at the 24 hour mark...infant or not. They pre-board in many places but due to the fact that there are so many children flying to/from Orlando they may suspend that. If that is true in your case, you may get a "C" boarding pass. I would (and AM in April) check in 24 hours in advance and then pre-board if allowed. If not you are safe.

I agree, I've been on many Southwest flights back and forth to Orlando where they have not preboarded families with young children (even infants). Probably because most of the families had children and that would have filled the plane up before they even started regular boarding. Better safe than sorry, get the boarding pass as early as possible. I have traveled with my 3 kids for more than 18 years and you can never count on anything.

I remember 9-10 years ago when my husband and I were traveling with the kids from Puerto Rico. We all had advance confirmed boarding passes seated together. When the airline switched the aircraft we were just lucky to all get on the plane. Unfortunately the flight originated in St. Thomas and was nearly full with connecting passengers. We had an infant (under 1) a four year old and a nine year old and two parents all seated separately spread throughout the cabin. My 4 year old daughter was terrified to be between two very large older men speaking a foreign language all alone!! Fortunately a very sweet woman volunteered to swap with my daughter and she ended up sitting in front of me between two other young women traveling on business and proceeded to happily chat their ears off (about Eloise I believe) for the whole flight home. They were such good sports. I took the baby on my lap (even though we had paid for a seat for him) so he could be near me. Can you imagine some stranger keeping an eye on an infant in the seat next to them??? Neither the flight attendants nor the gate agents made any effort to help us out.

SOOOO, always prepare for worst case. If you end up in C boarding with an infant he may just be seated by himself unless I'm (or any other sympathetic sole is ) on the plane and then I will gladly move for you!!