Southwest - Check In

[johnnyr]

Can you select seats and check in online prior to your flight with Southwest Airlines?

 

[mickeymost]

No you can not. You can get a boarding pass at 12:01am the day of departure, but you will get an A,B, or C boarding pass. No assigned seats on southwest. It's basically a first come basis. Everyone with A boards first, followed by B and then C.

 

[lawgs]

and to add what mickeymost said.....

there will be a group of "blue sleeves" or pre boarders who get to go before A B or C groups, regardless of the boarding pass they got when they checked in

although the reasons for getting a "blue sleeve" are various and some are outlined in SW policy, who gets pre boarding is sometimes at the discretion of the gate agents

 

[johnnyr]

That stinks. You pay for a ticket on a specific flight when you book, but are not garanteed a seat? Sorry, I don't care how much they dicount the ticket, I still think they should garantee you a seat. I don't see the logic.

 

[lawgs]

johnny

they only hand out the same number of boarding passes as they have seats is my understanding

you just want to make sure you check in online and get A boarding passes, then there should be no problem getting a seat

the people with C passes on full flights are the ones that usually have to take the "leftover" seats not filled yet when they board

 

[maraakl]

Southwest has been operating like this for many years. The boarding and seating policy is fully explained on their website.
It works for them and they are about the only profitable airline runnig. It may not be your cup of tea, but, it works well for others and it works really well for SWA.
If you want a sort of guaranteed seat, then, I would suggest an airline that does this. No rudeness intended.

 

[figment27]

Lawgs,
We will be traveling SWA for the first time in January to LV.
I did call the airline and ask about pre-boarding as I am legally blind. The CSR did explain about the blue pre-boarding passes but she did not mention anything about registering on line to obatin a boarding pass. She just said to show up early enough prior to our departure to secure a pre-boarding pass.
"there will be a group of "blue sleeves" or pre boarders"- Do you know if I should still try to print out boarding passes on line or just wait until I get to the airport?
Thanks,
Figment

 

[maraakl]

figment,
Just show up and you will be fine. People with disabilities or those that need extra time to board are given the blue sleeve at the gate.

 

[gigi1313]

from what i understand (and having flown swa more than a dozen times, have witnessed) while you are guaranteed *a* seat, you are not guaranteed a SPECIFIC seat... so while you will not have to stand (and hopefully not have an overbooked/need to bump passengers plane) ['cause no standing allowed], you are not promised a certain row/seat #... it's never been a problem for us to be seated together, be comfortable, etc... hopefully you will have the same luck

 

[NotUrsula]

BTW, no airline *guarantees* that you will keep the seat that was assigned to you when you booked the flight. They all reserve the right to make equipment substitutions as needed, and if there is an equipment change, all bets are off for seat assignments.

 

[lawgs]

johnny

you seem to have avoided the "if you cannot stand the heat get out of the kitchen" sermon from an urban legend

but it came close to that

hope things work out for you in your quest to find reasonable answers to your questions

 

[jctwizzer]

Originally posted by lawgs
johnny

you seem to have avoided the "if you cannot stand the heat get out of the kitchen" sermon answers


lawgs....just can't resist, can you? That was probably the most unresponsive "answer" to a question in the history of DIS...which takes in quite a range. And just to get a dig in.....One wonders if your not one of the infamous newfis from your area. Or, perhaps a paki. JMHO.

 

[gigi1313]

i am quite confused...

 

[lawgs]

well you see gigi

the urban legend seems to have a following

and look out if you cross (s)words

you may be subjected to a similar "derision"


it was not an answer but an observation about a comment made to johnny who asked the original question to which it was suggested " if he did not like southwest, find another airline"

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by johnnyr
That stinks. You pay for a ticket on a specific flight when you book, but are not garanteed a seat? Sorry, I don't care how much they dicount the ticket, I still think they should garantee you a seat. I don't see the logic.

You get a SEAT on SWA, just not a SPECIFIC seat. If you want one of those, try UsAir (oops, they may be filing for bankrupcy again) or DELTA (oops, bankrupcy) UNITED (oops, bankrupcy) or ATA (Oops, pulling out of MDW). Get the picture?

SWA makes money ONLY when the planes are in the air, not parked at a gate. Assigned seating takes time and $$$. SWA has quick turnarounds.

You want a specific seat on SWA???. Print out your boarding pass at 12:01 a.m. on the day of your flight and plan on being at the airport early.

pinnie

 

[eddiemal]

Originally posted by lawgs
well you see gigi

the urban legend seems to have a following

and look out if you cross (s)words

you may be subjected to a similar "derision"


it was not an answer but an observation about a comment made to johnny who asked the original question to which it was suggested " if he did not like southwest, find another airline"

You must be a lawyer, reading things into people's words (posts) that aren't there.

 

[renda460]

Printing off a boarding pass at 12:01am is not allowed for all reservations. Apparently only single passenger reservations can do this. I didnt find this out until after I made my reservation for September and put all 5 of us on one reservation. So we are limited to obtaining one of the A passes available at the airport.

 

[maraakl]

You can call Southwest and have the reservation put into 5 unique ones, that way you can check in online.

 

[Esmerelda]

Johnnyr...no need to worry my dear. I have flown SWA many many times. I am a single mom and myself and my boys have always been able to sit together! We have had A, B, and C passes and still sat together or at least I was across the aisle from them if the seating was 2 and 2.

They will have you a seat (unless you are one of those last minute, I'm on stand-by mode...) if you have a confirmed ticket. Many folks get quite upset on here. Personally, I have had my seat changed MORE when I had an ASSIGNED seat...LOL

I have watched many times as passengers get upset over seats that are changed prior to their checking in. With SWA, you don't have that silliness to worry about. You just check in...get a boarding pass....and board! There isn't any wasting time over "little Billy is in the wrong seat..."..."excuse me, but I think you're in my seat....?" "wait!...we were supposed to be seated together but we aren't!".....etc (I rest my case....)

I hope you (and your family if included) enjoy your flight. I have always had good flight crews and they have a great sense of humor along with their professionalism!

happy trails,
Esmerelda

 

[gigi1313]

well said esmerelda!