Southwest layover question - please help

[mom2two2]

We have a flight w SWA to and from Orlando coming up and we have a layover each way (YUCK). We have never flown SWA before and I have a couple q's, if anyone can help.

I understand that we get a boarding pass upon online check in that is classed A, B and so on and that this determines the order we get on the plane and grab seats.

When we check in online at the 24 hr ahead mark, will it give us a boarding pass for both the first portion of the flight as well as the connection?

The other thing I was wondering was...since we are needing to do the online check in 24 hrs ahead of coming HOME but have no internet access, will Guest Services do it for us at POP?

TIA for the help
mom2two2

 

[Terk-1]

We have a flight w SWA to and from Orlando coming up and we have a layover each way (YUCK). We have never flown SWA before and I have a couple q's, if anyone can help.

I understand that we get a boarding pass upon online check in that is classed A, B and so on and that this determines the order we get on the plane and grab seats.

When we check in online at the 24 hr ahead mark, will it give us a boarding pass for both the first portion of the flight as well as the connection?

The other thing I was wondering was...since we are needing to do the online check in 24 hrs ahead of coming HOME but have no internet access, will Guest Services do it for us at POP?

TIA for the help
mom2two2

I fly Southwest all the time, so I think I can help you with your questions.

1. Yes you will get your boarding passes for both flights at the time you check in online. Make sure you check the boxes next to everyone's names so that you are checking your whole party in at the same time.

2. You can either go to your guest services at your resort or, if you are at the Magic Kingdom, you can go to City Hall and they will check you in and print your boarding passes for you. Just make sure you have your confirmation number(s).

 

[mom2two2]

Thank you so much. I am actually quite nervous about this for some reason...lol.

If I am clicking all the boxes for the whole family....will we necessarily get the same boarding group for all of us? What happens if I get B for example and my kids get A?

Have you ever experienced having to sit apart once on board?

 

[Jestocost]

If you check in all passengers at once using, you should get consecutive boarding numbers (although once I did and had a gap, which was weird). As a result, the only way you'd be in separate groups is if you happened to catch the very end of one group and the first spots in the next. In that case, the second group would essentially board immediately behind you anyway, so it's not really an issue. If you want to stand together while you wait to board, you can all just go with the last of your group and it won't be any different than if you had all lined up in your assigned spots.

One good thing is that you will have a head start on anybody checking in for your second flight if they are starting with that flight, since they can only check in 24 hours in advance of that flight.

As far as checking in for your return trip, the front desk at any Disney resort as well as the guest services locations in all of the parks and at DTD will do it for you 24 hours in advance. Since you're staying at POP, you also should know that SWA currently is doing a pilot with the RAC there and if it's still going on when you are there you can check your bags for your SWA flight at the resort. The RAC desk is open 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and you can check your bags up to 12 hours before your scheduled departure, but check in must be completed no later than three hours before your departure. Don't wait to get your SWA boarding cards from RAC, however, and still plan on doing the 24 hour thing for that.

 

[annagirl]

Kids board with parents, they will never ask you to split up. So just line up with the lowest boarding pass and it'll be ok.

 

[Jestocost]

Kids board with parents, they will never ask you to split up. So just line up with the lowest boarding pass and it'll be ok.

This is not necessarily true and I would not rely on them not splitting up families. It has happened before and it will happen again.

The reality, however, is that if you check everyone in at the 24-hour mark it just won't be an issue.

 

[mom2two2]

Ok, thank you. You can bet I will be online, hitting "refresh" 2 mins before that 24 hr mark. LOL. As long as one of us gets to sit with each child we will be fine. I am trying not to hope for all 4 of us together anyhow.

mom2two2

 

[DebbieB]

How old is your youngest? If 4 or under, you can board after A if you get B or C.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Kids board with parents, they will never ask you to split up. So just line up with the lowest boarding pass and it'll be ok.

No. Please all line up with the HIGHEST boarding pass designations.

 

[swabikedude]

I think you got some good advice on here already - but I wanted to add just a few more things that may help you out...links to the Southwest web site with some great info and tools to help you with your trip:

Wireless Access for Checkin on your CELL PHONE - most folks use their cell phones for just about everything, so checking in for your flight is no different...check this out...

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/wireless_access.html

This is a link to the "Southwest Boarding School" - it should explain the entire boarding procedure with some cool animation...kinda old-school!

http://www.southwest.com/help/boardingschool/

And - since you are traveling with kids - check out this page for flying with kids...all different ages...tons of good info here:

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/taking_the_kids_index.html


PLUS - with our fantastic flight attendants - never worry about being split up on board - the boarding process is there to make sure it's fair for everyone who flies...but we never intentionally want to split up families on the plane. Good luck to you and have a great vacation!!!