Southwest boarding passes

[mjp12831]

Forgive me if asked before - I did search threads and read them and want to make sure I understand them correctly. I've also only flown once now and am not a savy/seasoned traveler. Can someone answer my questions so I'm sure that I wont mess this up?

Southwest is now a participating airline with DME (last year they were not and we are traveling to POR in July 10)? Note that on the WDW site in FAQ they are still not listed as participating.

This means that we are able to use Resort Airline Check-in?

We are automatically set up to use RAC by virtue of registering to take DME?

24 hours prior to our flight departure time, the resort will automatically check us in, get our A,B or C boarding group and print out our boarding passes for us? Do we have to do anyting to initiate this process or is it automatic?

Departure day we can then bring our bags down to the CM and check our luggage at POR, then go to a park and just come back later to board the ME bus that will depart POR somewhere around 3 hours before the flight departure time?

 

[Missytara]

Forgive me if asked before - I did search threads and read them and want to make sure I understand them correctly. I've also only flown once now and am not a savy/seasoned traveler. Can someone answer my questions so I'm sure that I wont mess this up?

Southwest is now a participating airline with DME (last year they were not and we are traveling to POR in July 10)? Note that on the WDW site in FAQ they are still not listed as participating.

This means that we are able to use Resort Airline Check-in?

We are automatically set up to use RAC by virtue of registering to take DME?

24 hours prior to our flight departure time, the resort will automatically check us in, get our A,B or C boarding group and print out our boarding passes for us? Do we have to do anyting to initiate this process or is it automatic?

Departure day we can then bring our bags down to the CM and check our luggage at POR, then go to a park and just come back later to board the ME bus that will depart POR somewhere around 3 hours before the flight departure time?

You need to go to the concierge desk at the resort or guest relations to get your boarding group. It is not done automatically.

You must be at the RAC desk between 5:00 am and 1:00 pm. You must have your baggage completely checked in 3 hours before your flight departs.

If you have any carry-ons that you don't want to take to the parks, you can leave them at Guest Services and they will hold them for you - they will give you a receipt.

Allow enough time to get back to the resort to have your bags retrieve, especially if you are departing at a very busy check-in time.

The bus will LEAVE 3 hours before your departure time (the time will be in the ME packet left under your door the night before), so arrive 15 minutes before your departure time.

 

[mjp12831]

Thanks Missytara

Do I have to actually be present at the resort desk to have them get our boarding group or can I establish with them to do it for us when they get our boarding passes?

I saw a post on one of the treads that indicated it was an automated process once we were set up to do RAC.

Ideally would like to avoid having to be present because 24 hours in advance we would be in a park.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

If I were you, I would invest $10 per ticket and get the Early Bird Check In from SWA. SWA will check you in at 36 hours before your flight. Then all you need to do is print your boarding pass at the airport. This way, you won't have to go to the concierge or guest services desk to have them check in for you at 24 hours.

 

[mjp12831]

had no idea about that $10 option - thanks - definately better than spending the last evening of the trip worrying about details like boarding passes and boarding groups

 

[Missytara]

Thanks Missytara

Do I have to actually be present at the resort desk to have them get our boarding group or can I establish with them to do it for us when they get our boarding passes?

I saw a post on one of the treads that indicated it was an automated process once we were set up to do RAC.

Ideally would like to avoid having to be present because 24 hours in advance we would be in a park.

No, you have to request it. The concierge desk will have no idea if you did EBCI or if you want to check in at the 24 hour point or take a chance when you get to the airport. They are just a concierge desk at the resort to assist with a variety of things needed by the resort guests.

It is an automated process to get your boarding pass; you are basically gate checking 30 miles from the airport.

You will have to be present, but if you are in the park, you can go to their guest relations in the park.

That is the one quirk with SW because they don't have assigned seats; you still have to do the check-in for yourself; they will just assist you do it.

 

[Missytara]

If I were you, I would invest $10 per ticket and get the Early Bird Check In from SWA. SWA will check you in at 36 hours before your flight. Then all you need to do is print your boarding pass at the airport. This way, you won't have to go to the concierge or guest services desk to have them check in for you at 24 hours.

Actually RAC will have the boarding pass, if you are checking your baggage with them. You can bypass everything but security!

 

[ccgirl]

We flew Southwest and stayed at BWV. First, anyone can take DME regardless of the airline they take. Southwest is new to RAC. They are two separate things. That being said, I used my blackberry to check in approximately 19 hours before the flight. We had a noon time flight back from Orlando to Providence on Saturday. I "checked in" with Southwest at apprx 4:30pm on Friday night. At 6:30 Saturday morning, the hotel slipped my final bill along with my boarding passes under my door. I did not request either and they were automatically done for me. We had to board the bus at 9am for our noon time flight. At first, I was a little ticked we had to leave so early but I quickly understood why. The ME bus stopped at a lot of other resorts and security was a madhouse at Orlando. We ended up at our gates 40 minutes before our flight. As others stated, you can pay $10 per ticket for EBCI and Southwest will check you in approx 36 hours prior to your flight. Guest services at any park will also check you in if you would rather save the money. Hope this helps.

 

[mjp12831]

sorry to be so obtuse - seems like the boarding pass and boarding position are two separate things - right??

After arriving, seems like we should arrange with the consierge to print our boarding passes - that they will be put under our door with the check out paperwork.

But it is still on us to get our boarding position which we can do 24 hours in advance?

Will the consierge get the boarding position for us as well if we ask them that morning? (Trying to avoid having to be back at the resort at 6pm the night before we leave to get it ourselves).

thanks everyone for helping me understand

 

[disneyfaninaz]

sorry to be so obtuse - seems like the boarding pass and boarding position are two separate things - right??

After arriving, seems like we should arrange with the consierge to print our boarding passes - that they will be put under our door with the check out paperwork.

But it is still on us to get our boarding position which we can do 24 hours in advance?

Will the consierge get the boarding position for us as well if we ask them that morning? (Trying to avoid having to be back at the resort at 6pm the night before we leave to get it ourselves).

thanks everyone for helping me understand

Okay, let's see if we can simplify this. With SWA it is important to check in as close to the 24 hour mark as possible to get a good Boarding Position. Your boarding position determines what order you get on the plane and is printed on the boarding pass.

With EBCI, SWA will automatically check you in at 36 hours and obtain your boarding position. No need to ask the concierge, RAC or guest services to do this for you.

The way I am understanding it, if you have checked in with SWA and are using RAC, they will print your boarding pass for you. However, RAC will not check in and get your boarding position for you.

Another option, if you don't want to spend $10 or go back to the resort, is to use a web enabled phone to check in or have a trusted friend or family member back home do it for you.

HTH

 

[Missytara]

Okay, let's see if we can simplify this. With SWA it is important to check in as close to the 24 hour mark as possible to get a good Boarding Position. Your boarding position determines what order you get on the plane and is printed on the boarding pass.

With EBCI, SWA will automatically check you in at 36 hours and obtain your boarding position. No need to ask the concierge, RAC or guest services to do this for you.

The way I am understanding it, if you have checked in with SWA and are using RAC, they will print your boarding pass for you. However, RAC will not check in and get your boarding position for you.

Another option, if you don't want to spend $10 or go back to the resort, is to use a web enabled phone to check in or have a trusted friend or family member back home do it for you.

HTH

You are absolutely correct.

That is the glitch with SW, since you have no option to choose your seat ahead of time (with the exception of the EBCI at 36 hours), like the other airlines. It does add an extra step.

 

[mjp12831]

ok - one last question - do you need to print anything out when you get your boarding position or can you do it later (you mentioned the web enabled phone)

 

[clanmcculloch]

You can get RAC or your resort Concierge to print your boarding pass for you or you can print it at the airport.

 

[Missytara]

ok - one last question - do you need to print anything out when you get your boarding position or can you do it later (you mentioned the web enabled phone)

You can do it on a web enabled phone, and then when you return to the resort, ask the concierge desk to print out your confirmation for you.

 

[Missytara]

You can get RAC or your resort Concierge to print your boarding pass for you or you can print it at the airport.

Actually, she understands how to get the boarding pass.

It is the confirmation of her boarding position. They will be in a park at the 24 hour mark, so we are suggesting ways of getting her boarding confirmation locked in and printed out.

Boarding pass and boarding confirmation are two totally different animals with Southwest.

 

[swabikedude]

Missytara - you are correct...everything posted here seems to give you some great options.

I included this link below so you will understand the Southwest boarding process...it's kinda cool - cuz once you view the short presentation "Boarding School" you can print out your own certificate!!!

Either way - it's fairly easy and as long as you either purchase the $10 per person Early Bird Checkin OR have someone (you or family member) check you IN online - you will grab some great boarding passes.

Let me know if you have any other questions....have a safe flight!!!

http://www.southwest.com/boardingschool

 

[disneyfaninaz]

ok - one last question - do you need to print anything out when you get your boarding position or can you do it later (you mentioned the web enabled phone)

No, you do not have to print your boarding pass when you get your boarding position. It is yours and will not change. Therefore, there is no rush to print your boarding pass. In fact, we always wait until we get to the airport to check our bags. There is an option to print your passes at that point.

That way, you don't have to worry about going to the front desk, concierge or whatever and wait for them to print them out for you.

 

[Missytara]

No, you do not have to print your boarding pass when you get your boarding position. It is yours and will not change. Therefore, there is no rush to print your boarding pass. In fact, we always wait until we get to the airport to check our bags. There is an option to print your passes at that point.

That way, you don't have to worry about going to the front desk, concierge or whatever and wait for them to print them out for you.

But if you go back to the OP's original post, she is using RAC and they are checking their bags. SW now participates in almost all of the resorts. She was asking how she could get a copy of her boarding position, she already knows that her boarding pass will be under her door the night before she leaves, from my previous posts......

 

[disneyfaninaz]

But if you go back to the OP's original post, she is using RAC and they are checking their bags. SW now participates in almost all of the resorts. She was asking how she could get a copy of her boarding position, she already knows that her boarding pass will be under her door the night before she leaves, from my previous posts......

I forgot she was using RAC, but her latest question was if she needed to print anything out. If she's using RAC, then she won't have to print anything at all, it will be done for her. She can find out her boarding position when she checks in at 24 hours or anytime after 24 hours if she uses EBCI simply by going to the SWA site and clicking on the "Check In Online."

 

[mjp12831]

thanks everyone for helping me understand the process - I'm pretty sure I understand it now.

Also - this is my 200th post!!