Southwest experts - layover question

[CarolMN]

Does Southwest make you get off the plane & re-board at an intermediate stop? If yes, would you get a separate boarding pass for the final leg?

The same plane continues on to the final destination and no plane change is necessary according to the reservation info. Flight number doesn't change.

We have a stop at Midway going home, but no plane change, so that is why I am wondering.

TIA for your info.

 

[DebbieB]

Does Southwest make you get off the plane & re-board at an intermediate stop? If yes, would you get a separate boarding pass for the final leg?

The same plane continues on to the final destination and no plane change is necessary according to the reservation info. Flight number doesn't change.

We have a stop at Midway going home, but no plane change, so that is why I am wondering.

TIA for your info.

You would only get 1 boarding pass if it's the same flight #. You don't have to get off. On the downside, you only get reward credit for 1 flight.

 

[MHSweb79]

Last time we did this the stop took a total of 20 minutes- they rushed off the people leaving the flight, and rushed on the new people. The rest of us sat in our seats and waited. It was pretty quick!

Forgot to mention- they let people move their seats if they wanted to, before the new folks boarded.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks, Debbie & MHSweb79. Good to know.

Interesting about the reward credits. Since the credits seem to expire, I don't think we fly enough to get a free flight anyway.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

On the downside, you only get reward credit for 1 flight.

That's because it is only one flight.

OP - SWA doesn't want you to get off the plane at all on these quick stops.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But keep your boarding pass!! On the off-off-chance passengers on the direct flight do need to exit the plane for any reason - it's rare, but it happens - you're going to want to be able to get back on, and not just rely on the flight crew remembering you.

 

[tjmw2727]

But keep your boarding pass!! On the off-off-chance passengers on the direct flight do need to exit the plane for any reason - it's rare, but it happens - you're going to want to be able to get back on, and not just rely on the flight crew remembering you.

In all my (many) SWA flights the gate agent takes the boarding pass from you scans it and keeps it.

 

[Huff]

Haven't had it happen in recent years but in the past if the flight # changed for 2nd leg then we had to deplane and reboard, taking our carry on luggage with us. That put us at the end of the line to reboard and carry on space was nil. That was before SW's new boarding system.

This years trip that won't happen. We have one stop but no change of planes or flight #'s. We will stay on plane. Return flight is non-stop.

 

[Tara]

You would only get 1 boarding pass if it's the same flight #. You don't have to get off. On the downside, you only get reward credit for 1 flight.

Why would she get more than 1 credit? Unless she's flying Business Select, she'll only get 1 credit for each leg of the trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In all my (many) SWA flights the gate agent takes the boarding pass from you scans it and keeps it.

The whole thing? Then I'd print two sets, especially if there might be weather issues. It's extremely rare - especially on Southwest - that passengers would have time to get off the plane, but somebody mentioned in the last few weeks that they all had to exit a direct flight once for a couple of hours.

 

[tjmw2727]

The whole thing? Then I'd print two sets, especially if there might be weather issues. It's extremely rare - especially on Southwest - that passengers would have time to get off the plane, but somebody mentioned in the last few weeks that they all had to exit a direct flight once for a couple of hours.

Yes, the entire bp - the ones you print at home are not perferated, they ask you to fold a the "dotted line" and then they just pile them up and you board.

I do print two just in case, always have any time I print at home no matter the airline!

The reason this was so fresh in my mind is becase on our last flight there was concern we wouldn't get off the ground due to weather issues elsewhere. The Gate Agent had to continuously remind folks that he was actually handing back the PB's and to hold on to them. He kept forgetting and starting to pile them up and folks were walking on without them and it was kind of chaotic.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks for the information! I don't have any immediate plans to fly Southwest... but the fare IS almost half of what JetBlue wants for my Christmas vacation.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I believe if you get off a plane during a stopover, SWA will give you a special boarding pass so you can get on when you are ready and not have to wait in line with the other passengers.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Most SWA stopovers have such a short turnaround time passengers are typically not let off the plane if they are continuing through. Sometimes even when you're supposed to remain in the aircraft while new passengers board there will be an unscheduled equipment change and no boarding pass is necessary. The gate agent at the new gate will have your names and allow you to board.

This happened to me a few months ago. Landed hot in PHX and remaining on the same plane and waiting for the brakes to cool for takeoff would have meant an additional 90 minutes. We were directed to gather our things the minute the last non-through pax left the plane and directed to the next gate over to board a fresh plane. They held off boarding the PHX pax until we were aboard, which infuriated one EBCI customer to no end. She screamed about paying for an A while we gave our names and boarded the plane. The gate agent tried to explain we would have been on the plane already but that didn't make the woman any less furious. Any you wonder why some airline employees pop a chute