Southwest, connecting flights and boarding groups

[ProudMommyof2]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I only have flown non-stop on Southwest.

With a connecting flight, how does checking in and getting a boarding number work. Do I have to check in for both legs of the flight? DO I check in once and get get 2 different boarding numbers (one for each flight)? Do I check in and get the same boarding number for both legs of the flight?

TIA!
Pam

 

[beno44]

Check in once, print two boarding passes

 

[pens4821]

Not silly, we were confused about this too. Our first leg was AirTran, second was Southwest. When we checked in 24 hours before our first flight, it gave us our boarding passes for SW too. Then just use each boarding pass to board each plane.

 

[sam_gordon]

Check in once, print two boarding passes

This brings up an interesting question. Yes, this is hypothetical and exaggerated.

There are ~180 boarding positions, right (A1-60, B1-60, C1-60)? There's a SW flight from Dallas to MCO. However, a 120 travellers are connecting in Dallas to that MCO flight. Does that mean someone originating in Dallas could be forced into the 'C' boarding group, even by checking in a T-24?

I'm taking EBCI out of the mix. Just 120 flyers able to check in at the 24 hour mark, which would be before the Dallas passenger gets his chance to check in.

 

[DougandBeth]

I fly SW 4 times a week and here is how it works. Regardless of who is connecting or originating it all depends on who checks in first. So if you are going from Chicago to Orlando with a connection in Dallas it does not make a difference, again it depends on who checks in first.

Now where you run into problems is the following situation:

Flight leaves from Chicago to Orlando however there is a stop in Dallas first. Let's pretend that there is no airplane change, so the folks from Chicago are staying on the plane to Orlando and there is 150 of them. The remaining 30 that are boarding in Dallas even though they have an "A" seat, they still only have a choice of 30 seats left because the plane is already full.

This happens often

 

[sam_gordon]

I fly SW 4 times a week and here is how it works. Regardless of who is connecting or originating it all depends on who checks in first. So if you are going from Chicago to Orlando with a connection in Dallas it does not make a difference, again it depends on who checks in first.

Now where you run into problems is the following situation:

Flight leaves from Chicago to Orlando however there is a stop in Dallas first. Let's pretend that there is no airplane change, so the folks from Chicago are staying on the plane to Orlando and there is 150 of them. The remaining 30 that are boarding in Dallas even though they have an "A" seat, they still only have a choice of 30 seats left because the plane is already full.

This happens often

That's what I was wondering. So the 30 people boarding in Dallas have A16-46 and are probably thinking "yay, my choice of seats!", but then board the plane and find center seats scattered.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Thanks for the details everyone!

 

[DougandBeth]

That's what I was wondering. So the 30 people boarding in Dallas have A16-46 and are probably thinking "yay, my choice of seats!", but then board the plane and find center seats scattered.

That's exactly how it works...

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That's what I was wondering. So the 30 people boarding in Dallas have A16-46 and are probably thinking "yay, my choice of seats!", but then board the plane and find center seats scattered.

 

[ironz]

I fly SW 4 times a week and here is how it works. Regardless of who is connecting or originating it all depends on who checks in first. So if you are going from Chicago to Orlando with a connection in Dallas it does not make a difference, again it depends on who checks in first.

Now where you run into problems is the following situation:

Flight leaves from Chicago to Orlando however there is a stop in Dallas first. Let's pretend that there is no airplane change, so the folks from Chicago are staying on the plane to Orlando and there is 150 of them. The remaining 30 that are boarding in Dallas even though they have an "A" seat, they still only have a choice of 30 seats left because the plane is already full.

This happens often

I've never seen a through count as high as 120. 40 or so, yes, but not super often.

Also, except for the newest 737s that SW flies, the planes hold less than 150 people. The C group will only have numbers up to whatever is left after the 60 in A and the 60 in B.

 

[airplanegod]

It really comes down to what airport you fly out of. For example, if you are flying out of MCO, MDW, BWI, DAL, HOU etc, the aircraft you are on will more than likely either started or finished there. If you are somewhere like STL, BNA, Greensboro, Birmingham etc then the plane might be still carrying passengers on to another city.

 

[Disneylover99]

That's what I was wondering. So the 30 people boarding in Dallas have A16-46 and are probably thinking "yay, my choice of seats!", but then board the plane and find center seats scattered.

We were super excited to get A3-6 out of Orlando. When we boarded, we were shocked that the plane was already 3 quarters full. We were so glad that we purchased EBCI.

 

[hsmamato2]

interesting.... we are connecting in both ATL and BWI this upcoming year (different trips) does this mean the ones from those airports are originating there,thus providing better seat choices? (SWA)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

interesting.... we are connecting in both ATL and BWI this upcoming year (different trips) does this mean the ones from those airports are originating there,thus providing better seat choices? (SWA)

Unknown.

You can call Southwest to ask where the flights originate.

 

[Firedog]

I have flights booked that start with an Airtran flight, and I then transfer to a Southwest flight for the second leg. Vice versa for the return flights.

This was all booked through Southwest. I did not prepay for a seat selection on the Airtran portion and was going to check in at 24 hours.

Do I need to check in with Airtran, Southwest or both to cover both legs of the flights? I've flown many times with Southwest but not since the merger.

Thanks in advance.