Southwest-flight home

[ndavis]

For those that have flown southwest home-how do you check in? Will guest services print your boarding pass even though they are not part of the on-board check in? Anything else I need to know?

 

[arielmomma]

We have found that it is best to just pay for Early Bird Check In so that Southwest automatically checks you in and you can print your boarding passes at the airport when you check your luggage. Prior to paying for early bird, we used just used the internet on the ship to check in and then asked guest services to print our passes. They were willing to print them on the Fantasy, but were not willing to print them on the Wonder. We always got terrible boarding numbers this way though. Since we travel with kids, we now just pay for Early Bird Check In.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

My experience has been no, they do not print them out for you at Guest Services, but YMMV. We always pay for EB on the way home and find it's well worth it. I understand some are able to have Guest Services print their boarding passes however I haven't asked in a very long time. I understand their position they are very busy helping other guests and honestly just don't have the time to print everyone's boarding passes out.

If you do EB, there are plenty of SWA self check-in kiosks at the airport and you can just enter your information when you arrive the airport and it will print out your boarding pass or you can use your mobile device and get your boarding pass on your phone.

I would strongly encourage you to have your boarding pass prior to entering the line (specifically at MCO) as the line for people who don't have boarding passes is huge and if you have boarding passes, the line is much quicker and shorter.

Heather

 

[DIS_Ag]

Depending on your kids, you might qualify for family boarding which is between A and B. Ours are 6,4, and 1 so we don't really care what number we get, we are going on then. I plan on checking in via my phone once on the bus back. The biggest downside to SWA is DCL can't make your bags disappear the night before and just show up at baggage claim the next day like other airlines. Although, last time we did this with United, our bags got put on the wrong flight and it was probably DCL's fault.

 

[Dug720]

99% sure they only print boarding passes for those who are eligible for and have signed up for onboard airline check-in.

Yet another reason I'm glad I use airlines that assign seats in advance. No need to stress that I miss a 24-hour mark or pay extra to get it done (not that that always helps in Orlando - I have friends who bought EB when they bought their tickets (first day available) and STILL ended up midway through B.

 

[KalamityJane]

We have found that it is best to just pay for Early Bird Check In so that Southwest automatically checks you in and you can print your boarding passes at the airport when you check your luggage. Prior to paying for early bird, we used just used the internet on the ship to check in and then asked guest services to print our passes. They were willing to print them on the Fantasy, but were not willing to print them on the Wonder. We always got terrible boarding numbers this way though. Since we travel with kids, we now just pay for Early Bird Check In.

If you have a kid that is 7 or under, you can board between A and B groups regardless of your actual boarding number.

 

[KalamityJane]

Depending on your kids, you might qualify for family boarding which is between A and B. Ours are 6,4, and 1 so we don't really care what number we get, we are going on then. I plan on checking in via my phone once on the bus back. The biggest downside to SWA is DCL can't make your bags disappear the night before and just show up at baggage claim the next day like other airlines. Although, last time we did this with United, our bags got put on the wrong flight and it was probably DCL's fault.

They do let you check in your bags with Southwest at WDW, I wonder if this is a DCL vs WDW thing? They did it for us in 10/15.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I just always pay for Early Bird boarding for the flight home, then print the boarding passes at one of the self-service kiosks at the airport.

 

[bumbershoot]

They do let you check in your bags with Southwest at WDW, I wonder if this is a DCL vs WDW thing? They did it for us in 10/15.

They are part of rac at wdw but not part of onboard airline checkin through dcl.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you have a kid that is 7 or under, you can board between A and B groups regardless of your actual boarding number.

"Do families get to preboard?

An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding."


Also, they can and sometimes do drop family boarding if there are a huge number of kids.

 

[allears]

We also fly South West, we really like them despites some people's snarky judgments about the cattle airline. We also go ahead and pay for early board check in for the return flight, when we are flying home day we get off the ship. We're typically on Castaway Cay that day and don't want to worry about getting on the internet and checking in. We do have to get our bags once off the bus at the air port and print our boarding passes while checking our bags. Always works fine. We have occasionally had the B boarding group when doing this or even split between A and B, but we never have had an issue finding seats we're happy with and together. Though we're only two people.

Yes Southwest is a participating airline with the resorts. This year we're flying back the day after we get off the ship, staying at WDW so we'll be using Magical Express and checking our bags at the resort, but we'll check in on our phones on Saturday while in the park.

A couple of years ago DCL and Southwest did a test of them being a participating air line, we got to try it and it was great, but for some reason it didn't become a permanent thing.

 

[ndavis]

99% sure they only print boarding passes for those who are eligible for and have signed up for onboard airline check-in.

Yet another reason I'm glad I use airlines that assign seats in advance. No need to stress that I miss a 24-hour mark or pay extra to get it done (not that that always helps in Orlando - I have friends who bought EB when they bought their tickets (first day available) and STILL ended up midway through B.

We did previously, but SW can get us home via a direct flight-hours before anyone else can, which is worth it

 

[ndavis]

We also fly South West, we really like them despites some people's snarky judgments about the cattle airline. We also go ahead and pay for early board check in for the return flight, when we are flying home day we get off the ship. We're typically on Castaway Cay that day and don't want to worry about getting on the internet and checking in. We do have to get our bags once off the bus at the air port and print our boarding passes while checking our bags. Always works fine. We have occasionally had the B boarding group when doing this or even split between A and B, but we never have had an issue finding seats we're happy with and together. Though we're only two people.

Yes Southwest is a participating airline with the resorts. This year we're flying back the day after we get off the ship, staying at WDW so we'll be using Magical Express and checking our bags at the resort, but we'll check in on our phones on Saturday while in the park.

A couple of years ago DCL and Southwest did a test of them being a participating air line, we got to try it and it was great, but for some reason it didn't become a permanent thing.

I normally like to drive places, but doesn't make sense for this. We flew delta last time, but their flights to our airport are always either very early or late-and I don't feel like getting a day room and getting back late-and a non-stop sounds amazing

 

[Dug720]

We did previously, but SW can get us home via a direct flight-hours before anyone else can, which is worth it

As long as they don't do elective maintenance (hello...if they flew to the airport where you are with the issue, it was not flight-threatening) and break a screw stranding you for 6 hours. It's happened to me TWICE which is why I'd rather pay a lot more - or take a bus or a train - than ever step a toe on them again.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

They do let you check in your bags with Southwest at WDW, I wonder if this is a DCL vs WDW thing? They did it for us in 10/15.

DCL and SouthWest did a trial run about a year or so ago. It was reported that both parties opted not to continue the program.

Yes WDW and DCL are different entities. Each handles it's own checkin processes.

 

[Shanti]

We did previously, but SW can get us home via a direct flight-hours before anyone else can, which is worth it

Another vote for Early-Bird check-in- we've used it several times and only once have gotten a B assignment. I'm with you on the value of SWA's non-stop flights to and from Orlando- definitely worth the seat-yourself hassle which is the only thing I dislike about Southwest. The only other major carrier that offers nonstops from my city is Jet Blue, so I try to book Jet Blue on the way out of a Port Canaveral cruise, because they do participate in Onboard Airline Check-In. Love not having to deal with our bags until the baggage carousel at our home airport.

 

[allears]

Another vote for Early-Bird check-in- we've used it many times and only once have got a B assignment. I'm with you on the value of SWA's non-stop flights to and from Orlando- definitely worth the seat-yourself hassle which is the only thing I dislike about Southwest. The only other major carrier that offers nonstops from my city is Jet Blue, so I try to book Jet Blue on the way out of a Port Canaveral cruise, because they do participate in Onboard Airline Check-In. Love not having to deal with our bags until the baggage carousel at our home airport.

We've had only positive experiences with south west. We actually like the self seating. Seems to make boarding go faster. And really like not paying extra for our luggage.

 

[Shanti]

We've had only positive experiences with south west. We actually like the self seating. Seems to make boarding go faster. And really like not paying extra for our luggage.

I love the 2 bags fly free, and being able to make changes without penalties, too.

 

[allears]

I love the 2 bags fly free, and being able to make changes without penalties, too.

Exactly! We've all have our reasons for who we fly with. Doesn't mean we have to be snarky about others choices.

We do with they were participating. Love the ease of having the bags checked through.

 

[Psychodisney]

I would agree with EBCI. In addition, you can get the app on your smart phone and have your boarding passes sent to your phone. SW has added self check in kiosks at MCO to tag your bags. You can print off your boarding pass from that kiosk too.