Some Southwest concerns

[cinderwannabe]

I am thinking about flying Southwest for an August trip. I have flown JetBlue and loved it but my friend wants to fly out of Islip. My concerns are with the boarding. It will be myself and my daughter, my friend and her son. I know I can check in early and print my boarding passes early for a fee from home on the way down but is this possible on the way back up?

In other words, can I check in at the 24 hour mark using my iphone and then bring my bags down to the checkin at my resort (Disney) and have them print my boarding passes and take my bags for DME the morning of?

I don't think I could handle not having my daughter (12) sitting with me and I don't like that I can't choose my seats ahead of time.

 

[conefrog]

We flew SW out of Des Moines after Thanksgiving. I checked in on my IPhone exactly 24 hours before our return flight. We had the B boarding group. It was myself, DH and DS 12 and DD 9. We had no trouble finding seats next to each child.

 

[npcougar]

I am thinking about flying Southwest for an August trip. I have flown JetBlue and loved it but my friend wants to fly out of Islip. My concerns are with the boarding. It will be myself and my daughter, my friend and her son. I know I can check in early and print my boarding passes early for a fee from home on the way down but is this possible on the way back up?"

Yes, you can do that on the way back up. If you pay for their early check in, early bird, then the system checks in for you. All you have to do is print out the boarding pass

In other words, can I check in at the 24 hour mark using my iphone and then bring my bags down to the checkin at my resort (Disney) and have them print my boarding passes and take my bags for DME the morning of?

Yes, you can do that. I usually buy the early bird and have them print out the boarding pass for me. I have done the check in myself and then had the resort print the passes

I don't think I could handle not having my daughter (12) sitting with me and I don't like that I can't choose my seats ahead of time.

Personally, I'd buy the early bird so you get a low number and can sit where you want. I'm not familiar with your airport to know if your flights are going to be crowded.

 

[cinderwannabe]

Excellent! Thanks for the quick replies! I am hoping that since JetBlue is releasing August dates today, Southwest will be quick to follow!

 

[albarellic]

This is from an email I got from SW:

Now accepting reservations through August 9, 2013. On February 4, 2013, we will open our schedule for sale through September 27, 2013. This date is subject to change. Please check back frequently.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you pay for their early check in, early bird, then the system checks in for you. All you have to do is print out the boarding pass

And you don't even have to print anything until you get to the airport.

 

[francie57]

We traveled SW our last trip and purchased the early check-in for both ways. I checked us in at home the day before the trip (not at the 24 hr. mark) and we boarding numbers in the A20s. For the way back we never checked in until we took our luggage to the RAC desk the day of our return and we got A19-22. Well worth the extra $10 per person not to have to worry about being online at the 24 hour mark. We already have our flight to MCO for Aug. and have purchased the early checkin.