Southwest Question

[PrincesCJM]

I know with Southwest, they do not assigned seats. Instead, many people check-in 24 hrs in advance to get the best boarding group. I am looking into booked flights on Southwest and checking-in won't be a problem when I'm home but I'm a little nervous for the way back. Is there an option to print your boarding pass at the airport or does it have to be printed when you check-in? I do not have a smart phone and will likely not have internet access. I would have my parents back in Maine check DH and I in if possible. I was able to do this with Delta in April but this is a "last-minute" trip for early July for the shuttle launch. I would rather fly Southwest since they have better policies regarding flight changes/credits.

ETA: I'm not sure where I am staying yet (I know it won't be on Disney property) so I do not know if I would have access to the internet there. I would prefer to not take my laptop with me.

Thanks!

 

[LidoDeck]

Check-in promply at T-24 is critical for a "decent" boarding pass. You can have someone else do it for you. If you don't mind middle seats and sitting apart, you can opt out of the online check-in and just do so at the airport.

But what I'd suggest (especially for the return), is adding Early Bird Check-In (EBCI) to your return flight at a cost of $10pp. Then you don't have to worry about or hassle with it; Southwest automatically checks you in and theorectically you get a better boarding number than you would otherwise.

One good thing about EBCI for your circumstances is that if you do modify the dates, EBCI goes with you to the new flight (as long as the confirmation number stays the same). If you cancel and rebook, you lose the EBCI and your $10pp.

 

[goofy4tink]

I love SW...fly it whenever I can. I always do EBCI for my return flights. I know that a ton of people just checkin on their phones, in parks, etc. But, I prefer not to worry about it...and I get a jump on the 24 hr window people, since EBCI is done for you at the 36 hr mark. Just pay the $10, pp, each way, and forget about it. When you get to the airport, you can print out your boarding pass.

The other thing to remember is that the earlier you book and pay for EBCI, the lower boarding number you get. It's almost like first come, first served. So, theoretically, a person who booked their Dec flights in May, and paid for EBCI will get a lower boarding group than someone who books their Dec flight (and EBCI) in August. On the same idea....the person who buys their Dec airfare in May but does't book EBCI until Sept, will get a higher boarding group/number than the person who buys their Dec flight in August and buys EBCI at the same time...if that makes sense.

 

[Dacky619]

The pps covered EBCI pretty well (which is a good idea), but to answer your other question, you can print out a boarding pass at the airport after you've already been checked in. You can have someone check you in from home, then print the pass when you get to the airport. What we did before I got a smart phone is just go to guest services at a park or in the hotel lobby and they would check us in.

 

[DisneyWitch]

When we were at WDW last month, the Magical Express folks printed out a boarding pass for us that morning when we dropped off our bags. All we had to do is get to the gate. You can always print a duplicate boarding pass at the SW kiosk / ticket counter if you need one.

I agree with the early bird fee - I use it for every trip, to and from my location. I feel that $10 is absolutely worth the time and frustration I have saved.

 

[Dacky619]

When we were at WDW last month, the Magical Express folks printed out a boarding pass for us that morning when we dropped off our bags. All we had to do is get to the gate. You can always print a duplicate boarding pass at the SW kiosk / ticket counter if you need one.

I agree with the early bird fee - I use it for every trip, to and from my location. I feel that $10 is absolutely worth the time and frustration I have saved.

Just to clarify, I think you are talking about the RAC (resort airline check-in) desk here, not Magical Express. They are separate and you can use one without the other.

 

[jcarwash]

This may not happen every time, but if you are using DME so Disney has your flight info, and you use EBCI or have someone at home check you in to SWA, Disney will print your boarding passes without your even asking and include them with your envelope with your DME information. This has happened a few times for us at Pop Century.

We have been able to have our Disney-printed boarding passes a few times now, and when combined with Resort Check-In taking your luggage, it's wonderful because you can avoid the SWA desk at MCO altogether and go directly to security.

 

[lyonking3]

check in with your smart phone. Then when you get to the airport, print your boarding document. Do it all the time, it works well...

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have checked in via any Disney hotel lobby, (even if I am not a guest there, just there for a meal for example). I have also checked in at Guest Relations, inside a Disney theme park, and both the hotels and parks will even print out the boarding pass for you.

 

[PrincesCJM]

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't know about the EBCI. I wasn't planning on taking this trip but I had to jump at the opportunity to see the last space shuttle launch. I bought my tickets for the launch this morning and am so excited!!

 

[jalpert]

This. Checking in to get in the A boarding group has nothing to do with your boarding pass. Check in exactly 24 hours in advance from your phone, get your boarding pass at the airport.

If no smartphone is available, any internet computer, any smartphone, or, call someone back home who is at a computer.

check in with your smart phone. Then when you get to the airport, print your boarding document. Do it all the time, it works well...

 

[MOmousefan]

Here is my experience from my May2-7 trip. I forgot the 24 hour mark and was 35 minutes late checking in yet my number was B20. At the airport SW has poles with numbers 1-5, 6-10, etc. When they called B tickets I found my spot and when boarding there were lots of seats to choose from so I took an aisle seat.
For my return home I happened to be in DHS at the 24 hour mark and guest services printed out my pass. I was B16 and wondered how so many people could have checked in so soon. I found out at MCO the reason was the EBCI, Early Bird Check-In. I got a window seat this trip home, so the Bs seem to be fine. If I was traveling with a group I would probably use EBCI.
Does this help?

 

[bumbershoot]

I would have my parents back in Maine check DH and I in if possible.

This should be perfectly fine. YES there's an option to not print the boarding pass. But your parents could print it, and you could *still* print another one when you get to the airport. It's all very forgiving, once someone checks you in.


I actually haven't run into an airline yet that doesn't let you defer printing the boarding pass.

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I always fly SW and always get EBCI. We get it and forget it...it is great. I print out our passes before leaving the house. Coming back, we use the skycap guys at the SW kiosk outside the airport. They check our bags and print our passes before we even get in the door--best tip money spent. With EBCI we have always gotten an A ticket. I purchase it when I get our tickets several months in advance. Our flight home was on a Sunday last time and it was packed to the gills. We were soooo glad we had the EBCI.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Is there an option to print your boarding pass at the airport or does it have to be printed when you check-in?

You don't have to print your boarding pass when you check in for any airline.

 

[PrincesCJM]

So I bought my flights last night and bought EBCI. Now, I have another question about it. At the 36 or 24 hour mark when they do check us in, will they send me an email/text letting me know what # I got?

 

[buffettgirl]

check in with your smart phone. Then when you get to the airport, print your boarding document. Do it all the time, it works well...

I did this. Checked in with the smart phone app (while standing in line for a ride...) and when we arrived at MCO and handed our bags to the curbside check in they printed our boarding passes for us. Very simple. I did not do EBCI and I got (at exactly 24 hours) B 11, 12, 14.16 we had no trouble sitting together (3 and 1across the aisle on an aisle seat).

 

[radrn]

No, SW does not send you an email or text. You will find out your boarding number ( ex. A35) when you print your boarding pass. I always use EBCI and it works out great. I just print my boarding pass at the airport when I check my luggage.

 

[PrincesCJM]

Thanks!