Southwest, Do I get to Pre-Board?

[Patpat15]

I am worried about printing out my boarding passes for the return from Orlando to Long Island in April. I know I can print my boarding passes after 12 midnight the night before the trip from Long Island but I have no access to a computer at Disneyworld.

I am travelling with my wife and 2 year old baby, we have a purchased seat for him but will be bringing the child seat along.

Then I heard that all people with children under 4 get to pre-board. Is that true?

Do I need to print out boarding passes at all?

Thanks

 

[ducklite]

I could be wrong, but I think sometimes SW doesn't pre-board in ORlando when there's a lot of kids on teh flight.

THere are places to print a boarding pass at WDW--all of the hotels with business centers have them, and at the front desk at some of the other resorts they can do it for you. Also, you can always use one of the Internet Kiosks located in all the hotels and parks to check-in, then not actually print the boarding passes. T hat way you are checked in and can get the "A" passes when you have them printed for you at the airport.

Anne

 

[nygrl]

I am worried about printing out my boarding passes for the return from Orlando to Long Island in April. I know I can print my boarding passes after 12 midnight the night before the trip from Long Island but I have no access to a computer at Disneyworld.

I am travelling with my wife and 2 year old baby, we have a purchased seat for him but will be bringing the child seat along.

Then I heard that all people with children under 4 get to pre-board. Is that true?

Do I need to print out boarding passes at all?

Thanks

southwest definatly preboards with children under 5 so it really doesnt matter if you have an A boarding pass or not. i wouldnt worry about it at mcgarthur either just stay in front of the pre boarding area.and i mean stay there because a trip to orlando usually has lots of people pre boarding.

 

[Patpat15]

Thanks for your advice

 

[yogibigdog]

I have taken SW to Orlando many times. Sometimes they let children pre-board many times they do not when leaving or going to Orlando. I have heard comments from SW attendants comments like "Going to Orlando we would have to let the whole plane pre-board" I also had a two year old at the time and they wouldn't let us pre-board. Had no problem waiting and getting a seat together. So basically it depends on the flight. Also if you purchase a child or youth rate for your baby - I read on SW website you cannot print boarding pass ahead of time for any rates like child, senior, etc. Good luck

 

[Cora]

From MCO I have them NOT pre-board because of the number of children. I've even seen this happen in Providence heading the MCO.
good luck

 

[NotUrsula]

If you will be using a carseat on board the plane, you are guaranteed preboarding status, even if the general under-5 preboarding is suspended for the flight. There are restrictions on carseat placement, so all carseats must get on before the plane begins to fill.

 

[Pinnie]

SWA will preboard a child with carseat, BUT I have seen it at MCO where they ONLY allow one parent and the child to board. The other parent had to wait in his/her assigned corral.

pinnie

 

[yogibigdog]

I had a two carseats and they did not let us pre-board in Orlando. Both children were under 4. You just never know.

 

[NotUrsula]

I've corresponded with SWA on the subject of carseats and preboarding, and I have written confirmation that unless the flight is so empty that no "C" passes are being given out at all, carseats will always be allowed to preboard. It's fairly rare that their flights out of MCO are that empty.

If you are installing a carseat, and the flight is full, and you are told you cannot preboard, politely ask to speak to a supervisor. One adult and the child who will sit in the carseat should be allowed to preboard, even if general preboarding is suspended. Making already-seated passengers move so that carseats can be secured in "legal" seats will delay departure, something no SWA Operations Agent wants happening on his/her watch.