Southwest Airline check-in - can only chek in 3 out of 4?

[Davidsmommy]

Has anyone ever had this problem?

I went to check in my family of 4 (purchased adult tickets for everyone - under one ressie) this AM at the 23 hour mark (I can't believe I forgot to do it right at 24 hours). We are me, dh, a 6 year old, and a 2 year old, but everyone has their own seat and paid full price.

I was able to check in me, dh, and my 2 year old, but my son's said I had to check him in at the airport. (We only got B passes - but Albany lets us pre board with a 2 year old so I am not really too worried). I called southwest to find out why we couldn't check him in online, and they didn't know. I confirmed he had a seat and a paid ticket and all, and she said yes.

It is just odd. Anyone have any problems like this before? Like I said, I should be ok since we can pre-board anyway, but I am anal and like having everything set.

 

[DebbieB]

His name probably matches someone on the "do not fly" list.

 

[Davidsmommy]

YIKES! Really? Will they give me a hard time when we get there and they see he is a six year old? I copied his birth certificate (both of the kids actually). Oh no, now I am never going to sleep. I was hoping they just gave out a certain amount online or something....

 

[ducklite]

His name probably matches someone on the "do not fly" list.

That's exactly it. Expect extra screening of your bags and wanding--perhaps even of him. While he won't be taken out of your site, you will possibly be asked tos tay some distance away while he is wanded, be sure he is prepared for this.

Anne

 

[Davidsmommy]

We'll still be able to pre-board, right?

I don't mind having us split up (2 and 2), but each kid HAS to be with a parent. I won't allow my 6 year old (and obviously not the 2 year old) to be sitting with strangers on a flight.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We'll still be able to pre-board, right?

One parent will be able to pre-board with the 2 year old. I don't believe you can pre-board with a 6 year old. Also, often there is no pre-boarding for SWA flights with lots of kids.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

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.

 

[Davidsmommy]

The lady on the phone told me we could all pre board together.....

 

[NotUrsula]

Normally an immediate family can board together, even if one or more of the siblings is over age 5. Extended family such as grandparents would not be able to preboard with the children and their parents.

 

[Davidsmommy]

I just called again and reiterated that I was confused as to why my son couldn't check in online and now I was very worried we would be seperated - the lady I spoke with told me we would just preboard with the 2 year old and insisted we would all be able to (especially if I explain we weren't able to check him in online - incidentally, she said they don't tell them why certain people can't be checked in online). In the past, we have always been able to preboard the whole family (nuclear, not aunts/uncles/grandparents/cousins Lol).

I guess if worse comes to worse, we will school David on being very, very polite and NOT talking to anyone next to him (hmm, that sounds contradictory.....lol) I could just see him sitting there crying if he had to go to the bathroom and he didn't want to tell the person next to him he had to get up.....

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Even with B's you should be OK to sit 2X2 . Most likely they will let you all preboard but thats up to the gate agent and no one else.

If you find it hard to find seats together in the 2X2 ask a flight attenent for help they can request (bribe with free drinks ) an adult to switch or move.

Get there early for the extra screening and to get in the front of the B line just in case.

Again I don't see you having any problems.

 

[NotUrsula]

SWA will NEVER force a child to board in a different group from the rest of the family if the rest of the family are all in the same boarding group. He will be able to board with the rest of you, in your boarding group. You won't have to hang back to a later group if he gets a C pass at the counter. Just tell the agent collecting BP's that he was selected for security, and they won't bat an eye.

BTW, since you have B's; it is probably best to have only one adult hang back to take him to the counter while the rest of the party goes to the gate. This is insurance just in case preboarding is suspended, so that if need be you will get a good spot in the B line. (Other passengers won't have an issue letting you join them if you make it known that the child was selected for extra security screening -- it's a legitimate reason for having to catch up.)

 

[jctwizzer]

My name was on the double check list for some time. There was a little extra time taken because I had to check in at the counter while they verify that the name thing is only a coincidence......and I was always cleared....due to age. Your son is at the other end of the age spectrum and I think once they see his age there will be no problem. And, with all that, all the double checking took place at the counter. Once I was cleared there it was smooth sailing. And at no point was I seperated from my party. With pre boarding, should be a piece of cake

 

[vacation dreamer]

YIKES! Really? Will they give me a hard time when we get there and they see he is a six year old? I copied his birth certificate (both of the kids actually). Oh no, now I am never going to sleep. I was hoping they just gave out a certain amount online or something....

This happened with my Dad.....no biggie but I would take your child's BC with you since he does not have a DL to prove himself. I would also get to the airport a half hour earlier then you planned incase it takes time to clear up the matter. And DO not loose sleep over this.

 

[Davidsmommy]

We are planning on leaving at 8 AM (45 minutes to the airport, plus half hour to check car and catch shuttle to airport). That would put us getting there around 9:15 - 9:30, and our flight is at 11:20. Do you think that is enough time? I am always early for stuff like this, and am still operating on 2 hours in advance even though my airport says 1 hour is sufficient.....

Thanks guys, I feel better. Now, if only dh will stop glaring at me for the pounds of luggage I have packed lol...

 

[edk35]

This happened to me with SW a couple of years ago. I went on line just like you. Everyone's printed out but MINE. We did curb side check in.......and I thought we were good to go at that point. He handed us all our boarding passes. I didn't know that mine said something different at that point. So we wait in our A section and when it came time to board...I COULD NOT GET ON. They boarded everyone but me and one other lady. It was a mess. We almost missed the plane. This was our first time flying SW too. So I was not happy. Then the lady at the check in place couldnt' get her computer to work and it kept dragging out. Needless to say...........I got on. Just make sure you get there early and that you double check with the gate before standing in the ABC section.

 

[debster812]

DON'T WORRY!!!!

This happened to us 2 years ago on a different airline. DS (age 7 at the time) was flagged not once, but both ways on our trip from BOS to RSW (Ft Meyers). Like other posters have said, it will be a few extra minutes in the screening process, and either you or your DH will be with him the entire time. He'll probably have to take off his shoes, he'll be wanded, and they will probably go through his carry on. The TSA agent in Boston was WONDERFUL with DS, explaining everything that was going to happen, and even comparing notes on a couple of his Gameboy games to put him at ease.

The agents in Ft Meyers were appalled that a 7 year old would be flagged, but were very impressed with how well DS handled it (by then he was a PRO).

I would make sure that DS's pockets are already emptied (no stray Matchbox Cars, etc) and just briefly go over with him what 'might' happen.

And as others have said, as long as you're at your gate early enough, you should all be able to pre-board together, and even if not, you can pre-board 2, and have 2 board with the B's.

It will be FINE.

 

[Silverbelle990]

OK i am reading this thread and going thru my head is WHAT ARE A"S AND B's???? We are taking southwest on the 4th and i have no clue as to waht you are all talking about. Can some please explain this to me?? I read also that one person was trying to fly out of Albany with her son who got flagged. I am leaving from Albany and now am getting altille worried.!! Please explain to me!!!!

 

[salmoneous]

Silverbelle - I'm sure some nice poster will fill you in on the details. Let me just

1) Point you to a link - http://www.kadavy.net/blog/archive/2006/08/how_to_get_the.php - which covers not just the A,B,C thing, but hints on why folks like me prefer SW's open seating.

2) Ask, again - can we get a SW "sticky"? Note to Mods - you guys do a great job, and I respect your decision. But I'm still going to ask for a sticky every now and then.

 

[mrscoobs]

With it being 4 adult tickets as well it could be that the random generator starting kicking in where every few people have to go through, what I like to call Super Security Screening System (I have had it happen when checking in large groups of adults where 7 are allowed to checkin online and the last has to wait till the counter to check in). If this is the case, then the boarding pass will have SSSS (hence my acronymn) and just means that they get to go through the pat down and extra security measures. They should be fine, the TSA usually feel bad when they have to do it to a child, so just reassure them as they are going through the process that it is okay and you should be on your vacation just fine.

 

[polyfan]

don't worry I really don't think it has to do with what other posters are saying. I can never print boarding passes for my kids. If they are marked as children when you book your airfare this will happen. There is no extra security screening etc., They will go ahead and print their boarding passes at the airport. It is o problem and no extra hassle with security. They just don't let you print childrens boarding passes if they are marked as children. I have only been able to print them once( and we numerous times a year on SW) and it was when they were identified as an adult.