SWA - how to get Preboard ?

[maryliz]

We are flying SWA in Jan with 2 adults, and a 7yr old and a 4 yr old. My question is this ... how do you get preboard passes if you are doing on-line check-in? I've heard that sometimes they don't do preboarding depending on if most of the flight has small children, so I don't want to wait until I get to the airport to check-in because my luck would be that I'd get to the airport assuming I'd get preboarding passes, only to end up with "C" passes instead. Is it possible to do on-line in hopes of securing "A" boarding passes, and have them changed at the curbside check-in to be preboard instead? Or would I have to do something inside at the counter? We're travelling with another couple so they will just do the on-line check-in for themselves. We've never flown with our kids, and it's been many years since we've flown at all.

Hope this makes sense! TIA for your help!

Mary-Liz

 

[okiegirl]

They told me I couldn't use online passes because I had children. You may
just want to call SWA and see what they say. Good Luck, we are in the same situation also.

Stacie

 

[NotUrsula]

You can now check in multiple members of a single party online; the rules just changed about a week ago. I've been using online checkin for my child since the process started, but he was always on a single-passenger itinerary. The only way that you cannot use online checkin to check in a child is if you actually paid a special "child fare" for that child. Almost no one does that, because it is usually more expensive than just buying a discounted adult fare.

You don't "switch" your A for a preboard pass. There is not a separate category for preboard passes; you just line up in the separate area, holding whatever pass you have. (Though people who need to preboard b/c of disability do get a blue envelope to put their regular boarding pass into; that allows them into the preboard line even though they may not appear to fit the criteria.)

If your flight is full of children and preboarding is suspended, you will be dependent on whatever boarding pass category you have in hand. It is better for you to go ahead and get the best boarding position you can online.
The only situation where preboarding with a child is guaranteed is when you are installing a carseat.

 

[WDWorBUST]

If you are preboarding with a carseat do both parents get to preboard - one to carry the child and one to carry the carseat?

 

[CarolA]

Isn't pre-boarding three and under? In that case you won't be able to preboard.

Either way, when you get to the gate just go to the counter and ask for a preboard. I don't think the letter on your boarding pass will make a difference. So if you want to check in on line and get As as insurance that would be fine.

 

[maryliz]

Thanks so much for your help. I'm very excited that they changed the policy of on-line check-ins and multiple passengers. I did not want to split my ressies in case flights were cancelled/delayed due to inclement weather ... I wanted to be guaranteed that they would have to put all 4 of us on the same flight since we were under the same confirmation number.

Anyone know where I could do on-line check-in at Disney for our flight home? I've arranged for our town car to pick us up an hour earlier than usual just to be safe ... and to give us lots of time to get something to eat before we board our flight.

Thanks again!

Mary-Liz

 

[NotUrsula]

Technically, it's the carseat that has to be preboarded, because the placement of it is restricted, so they are making sure that you have an open "legal" seat to put it in. How many add'l people get to board with it will vary depending on the situation and the inclination of the employee managing the loading of the plane. At MCO, I've sometimes seen it happen that the only family member who preboards is the adult installing the seat; they sometimes won't let any kids on b/c they don't want to tick off other passengers who have little kids. (This is, as long as there is still an adult staying in the gate area to supervise them. If you have a single adult travelling with kids and a carseat, the whole party is going to be preboarded.)

If preboarding is otherwise suspended, and you are dealing with a school-aged child and say, a two yr. old, and two parents, the expectation will probably be that one parent and the 2 yr. old can preboard, with the parent carrying the seat and leading the child by the hand. In practice, if a family is split for preboarding, the FA's know that the ones who preboard are going to save seats for the rest of the family, so they often let all the family members board together anyway, family being defined as parents and their minor children.

 

[lawgs]

maryliz

if you are eligible for pre boarding and you would be with the 4 year old unless they have changed the rules in the past week.....

it would not matter what LETTER boarding pass you get since you will get a blue sleeve at the gate from the gate agent for "prebaording" when you arrive there....which in effect puts you to the head of the "lines" even if you have a C boarding pass

if you did not check in online and knew you were going to get pre boarding, that would leave some "A's" in the "mix" for other people ( just a thought )

supposedly there are only a certain number of "A's" available online

 

[maryliz]

OK ... another question. Are you only able to do on-line check-in if you have NO baggage to check when you get to the airport? (ie. only taking carryon baggage)? I thought I heard this somewhere, so I'm looking on SWA site, but figured I'd ask here too since there are so many people here who use SWA.

TIA once again!

Mary-Liz

 

[lawgs]

maryliz

online check in is for anyone regardless .....if you are checking baggage or not...

since you have the pre requisites for pre boarding, would not worry too much about what boarding group you get since you will jump to the head of the lines with a pre board sleeve

as far as getting the passes printed at WDW, many have stated here that they have been able to get their front desks to print out the passes for them.....

if you are not in that situation .....there is a 24 hour kinkos near the crossroads plaza on 535 where you can print out your A passes after 12:01 am day of travel.....

but once again, having the prerequisites for pre boarding the "LETTER" on your boarding pass becomes "immaterial" since you get to board first