sw luggage question

[cshelzy]

if we print our boarding passes ahead of time what do we do with our luggage at the airpot?

 

[ironz]

You still would check in at the SW counter. They have self-serve kiosks (I suppose at most airports), and you just enter your confirmation number and it will give you the option to "check bags only." Then you enter how many bags are being checked, and the person at the counter will tag them and verify your ID and give you the baggage claim tags. Very easy.

The main point of the early checkin is to get the good boarding position.

 

[Jestocost]

You can check you bags the same as if you hadn't already printed your boarding passes. As the PP noted, the self-service kiosks are very convenient, but you also could check your bags curbside with a sky cap or even use the manned ticket/baggage counter inside, if you prefer.

 

[justcantwait]

We checked our luggage curbside. Much easier and quicker than standing in line, and less confusing than using a self-serve kiosk (especially if you get nervous about new things, like my DH!).

 

[ironz]

I always forget about the curbside...at our local airport, the lines are shorter inside.

 

[pamjb]

I always forget about the curbside...at our local airport, the lines are shorter inside.

In my experience, that isn't the case at MCO. The curbisde lines are MUCH shorter, at least they have been for me. The system they have for checking luggage at MCO is a little bass-ackwards if you ask me. At least at the SW counter. First you check your luggage at the counter, and then you have to take it over to the xray. At curbside, they handle the whole thing. Well worth the $2 tip per bag.

 

[pooch]

In my experience, that isn't the case at MCO. The curbisde lines are MUCH shorter, at least they have been for me. The system they have for checking luggage at MCO is a little bass-ackwards if you ask me. At least at the SW counter. First you check your luggage at the counter, and then you have to take it over to the xray. At curbside, they handle the whole thing. Well worth the $2 tip per bag.

now, from disembarking ME, where do I go for curbside checkin for SWA? I hate the inside line and would gladly pay the skycap.

 

[gigi1313]

it's my recollection that swa does not drop you near a swa curbside location, therefore you have to go inside and wait on that horrific line... no?

 

[Camster0307]

it's my recollection that swa does not drop you near a swa curbside location, therefore you have to go inside and wait on that horrific line... no?

You're right - DME doesn't drop you off by the curbside checkin. But we got dropped off, walked down to the SW ticket counter and saw really long check-in lines. I looked back outside and saw NO ONE in line for curbside check-in, so out we went. We already had printed our boarding passes; so we let curbside handle our bags and we were on our way - 3 minutes tops!

 

[TDC Nala]

You'd check in at the desk, or curbside, as usual.

If you are not checking luggage, you can just proceed to security.

The point of the online checkin is just that - to get checked in. If you are able to print the boarding passes and carry them, that again is one less step you will need to take. But you don't absolutely need to print the boarding passes when you check in, as they can be reprinted at the airport.

I don't check luggage, and on my return flights from MCO I usually check in on my cellphone, which I obviously can't print from. There are stand-alone SWA kiosks at MCO for passengers who are not checking luggage. I reprint my boarding pass there, which means I don't have to stand in line at the counter.

 

[Camster0307]

TDC Nala - When you check in on your cellphone, do you get your boarding group assignment? Or does that only get assigned when you print the actual boarding pass?

 

[TDC Nala]

TDC Nala - When you check in on your cellphone, do you get your boarding group assignment? Or does that only get assigned when you print the actual boarding pass?

You get the boarding group and number assignment (my last one was A 31) when you check in on the cellphone. When you print the pass at the airport, it will have that group/number assignment on it.

You can get the passes printed when you check in your luggage, or at the stand-alone kiosks if you have only carryons.

You can even go online after you use the cellphone to check in and print your pass from a computer. If I can't get to the internet computer in my office at my checkin time, I just do it from my cellphone and print the pass when the computer is available.

 

[DebbieB]

We were surprised when we arrived at MCO around 5:00pm on July 1 that there was no line at the counter, walked right up. First time that ever happened.

The curbside check-in is right outside the doors across from the counter. In the past, if the inside line was long I went outside.

 

[Camster0307]

You get the boarding group and number assignment (my last one was A 31) when you check in on the cellphone. When you print the pass at the airport, it will have that group/number assignment on it.

You can get the passes printed when you check in your luggage, or at the stand-alone kiosks if you have only carryons.

You can even go online after you use the cellphone to check in and print your pass from a computer. If I can't get to the internet computer in my office at my checkin time, I just do it from my cellphone and print the pass when the computer is available.

Thanks! I don't usually fly SW but on this last trip in June, I was concerned w/checking in at the 24hr. mark for our flight home. We were going to be in Epcot for dinner; but I stuck around the BW until 6:30pm so I could check in, get our group assignment & print the boarding passes.

What kills me is that I had SW's # on my cell because I wanted to be able to confirm our flight time; never occured to me to check in that way!

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't call them and check in. You need a web enabled cellphone, and you go to mobile.southwest.com and enter your confirmation number and name.

 

[gigi1313]

thanks for the cellphone check in info... i don't have a web-enabled phone, but my 13yo dd does... so she'll be responsible for checking us in... i hope she knows how

 

[TDC Nala]

She can rehearse! Check out the site and have her put it in her bookmarks.