Southwest "B" in the first few minutes?

[MrShiny]

Wow - this never happened before! I logged on at 24 hours before our flight (I know I had the time right, as I tried one minute before and was told it wasn't 24 hours yet). We have 4 different confirmation numbers, so I had to do everyone seperately.

Well, I logged in my 7 year old daughter first and got group A. Then I immediately put in the next one and got group B! I finished all 4 within 5 minutes, but now we have one in A and the rest in B!

Called and they said they may allow us to board with my daughter in A (she obviously can't board herself!).

Guess we'll see tomorrow!

 

[princesspumpkin]

Wow - this never happened before! I logged on at 24 hours before our flight (I know I had the time right, as I tried one minute before and was told it wasn't 24 hours yet). We have 4 different confirmation numbers, so I had to do everyone seperately.

Well, I logged in my 7 year old daughter first and got group A. Then I immediately put in the next one and got group B! I finished all 4 within 5 minutes, but now we have one in A and the rest in B!

Called and they said they may allow us to board with my daughter in A (she obviously can't board herself!).

Guess we'll see tomorrow!

I read here that this happens when the flight is part of a "connecting" flight, meaning that it originate somewhere else (before you board). People starting their flight on the first leg have been able to print their boarding passes for probably a few hours.

 

[mytwotinks]

Do you have to print anything out to do this? I have a 4 yo so my family will get to pre-board anyway right? I don't have a printer for my laptop yet so I am not sure if I am even going to bother. Do I need to?

 

[kaytieeldr]

You should be prepared - given that the majority of your party has "B" passes, it's possible (not likely, but possible) that they'll require your daughter to board with you instead of the other way around.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, wow - I thought I was the only printerless computer owner!
You can check in online 24 hours in advance, then when you get to the airport, go to a checkin kiosk and choose the 'reprint boarding pass' option.

Also, given that your destination is Walt Disney World and there may be numerous families with young children on your flight, Southwest may not allow anybody to preboard (except handicapped passengers).

 

[Lewisc]

Your flight may have originated from another airport. Those passengers, and passengers who connect to your flight, were able to get their BPs 24 hours before their first flight.

A 7 year old is old enough to board by herself. The GA will probably let at least one of you board with her or they might just suggest she board with you in the B group.

Wow - this never happened before! I logged on at 24 hours before our flight (I know I had the time right, as I tried one minute before and was told it wasn't 24 hours yet). We have 4 different confirmation numbers, so I had to do everyone seperately.

Well, I logged in my 7 year old daughter first and got group A. Then I immediately put in the next one and got group B! I finished all 4 within 5 minutes, but now we have one in A and the rest in B!

Called and they said they may allow us to board with my daughter in A (she obviously can't board herself!).

Guess we'll see tomorrow!

 

[seashoreCM]

Mouse ready?

On your mark. Get set. Click!

A lot of people are doing that 24 hours in advance of their Southwest flight and there are still a few on line automated services (similar to on line eBay sniping services) managing to get in a few checkins in behalf of fliers for a fee.

So the A passes can still go in a few minutes.

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

 

[Lewisc]

All true but the OP is leaving from MDW. I suspect a lot of passengers connect in Chicago and all of those passengers were able to get their BP at least an hour before the OP was able to try. The OPs flight might not even be originating at MDW and all the continuing passengers also had more than an hour head start.

SW is taking action and the number of services is going down not up so I don't think the services are the main cause of the OP "B" BPs.

Mouse ready?

On your mark. Get set. Click!

A lot of people are doing that 24 hours in advance of their Southwest flight and there are still a few on line automated services (similar to on line eBay sniping services) managing to get in a few checkins in behalf of fliers for a fee.

So the A passes can still go in a few minutes.

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

 

[dudspizza]

Why were all 4 on separate confirmation #'s? That is the way it had to be in the past to use online check in, but now all can be on the same confirmation number. Just curious. If it had to do with use of travel funds or something else, I totally understand, but I would try to get them all on the same confirmation next time to save some time.

Best of luck. It will all work out! Have a great time.

duds

 

[MrShiny]

Do you have to print anything out to do this? I have a 4 yo so my family will get to pre-board anyway right? I don't have a printer for my laptop yet so I am not sure if I am even going to bother. Do I need to?

You can check in online and then print your pass at the airport.

 

[MrShiny]

Why were all 4 on separate confirmation #'s? That is the way it had to be in the past to use online check in, but now all can be on the same confirmation number. Just curious. If it had to do with use of travel funds or something else, I totally understand, but I would try to get them all on the same confirmation next time to save some time.

Best of luck. It will all work out! Have a great time.

duds

We had a combination of things - rewards reservations, companion pass (on one leg, but expired for the trip back), travel funds, and I think maybe even one paid for outright!

Never thought much about having multiple confirmation numbers until now!

 

[mytwotinks]

Oh, wow - I thought I was the only printerless computer owner!
You can check in online 24 hours in advance, then when you get to the airport, go to a checkin kiosk and choose the 'reprint boarding pass' option.

Also, given that your destination is Walt Disney World and there may be numerous families with young children on your flight, Southwest may not allow anybody to preboard (except handicapped passengers).

Thanks! Good to know. Our flight there is 6:50 a.m. so it is usually a lot more business guys and gals than families so I'm not really worried about that one. The return flight at 5:00 p.m. I am a little more concerned about, but we'll just have to see what happens there. I'll be so exhausted that if someone else insists on sitting by my 4 yo dd or my 8 yo dd I might just let them! Maybe they'll take them to the potty for me too!

 

[Pinnie]

All true but the OP is leaving from MDW. I suspect a lot of passengers connect in Chicago and all of those passengers were able to get their BP at least an hour before the OP was able to try. The OPs flight might not even be originating at MDW and all the continuing passengers also had more than an hour head start.

SW is taking action and the number of services is going down not up so I don't think the services are the main cause of the OP "B" BPs.

You are correct, Lewis. When I fly out of DTW to make a connection at MDW or BNA, etc. I get my boarding passes for BOTH of my flights when I log on for my originating flight out of DTW.

For instance, I leave out of DTW at 6:10 a.m. and my connection at MDW is for 8:00 a.m.. With the time difference, I get a 2 hour jump on the people just flying out of MDW.

pinnie