To Anyone who has flown on SouthWest Airlines...

[cgcruz]

My flight confirmation number said I can check-in beginning midnight, the date of our flight. What I want to know is if I check in online, do i NEED to print anything out? My printer is out of ink, so I cant print anything. If I check-in online, do I really increase my chance of getting a decent seat. I want anything I can sit besides my fiance. Also, if I check in online, will I still be able to check in my cargo luggage? Should I just go ahead and do everything at the airport?

I am just worried because southwest.com says there is a chance a flight might be overbooked. Why would they overbook a flight? Wouldnt southwest know when every seat is sold out? Does it really happen?

Thank you!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Flights are overbooked all the time. They usually overbook in coach by the statistical number of no shows. If most of them show, others are bumped into first class until there are no seats. Southwest has no first class, but if you are denied boarding you will be compensated.

Checking in online involves printing your boarding pass, too. If you can't get ink, check-in anyway (online) and have the sky cap or counter person print it when you check your bags. This will reserve your 'place' in the check-in queue, so to speak. You will want to check-in as early as possible because they board passengers in groups, numbers 1-30 (A group) first, 31-60 (B group) second, etc. Your chances of sitting next to your SO are 100% if you are in the A group.

Good luck!!

 

[pamouselover]

I would give southwest a call!
Have a great trip! Tell we will be there soon!

 

[cgcruz]

hmmm.... Now im worried. I have a very early morning flight from Baltimore Washington Airport. I hope it wont be too crowded.

 

[Steffy]

Don't worry. It will be okay..

You can check in online right after midnight, and you will probably get an A boarding pass. If you can't print it, it's okay... (my printer ran out of ink this last trip...)

When you go up to the curbside check in, give the skycap your confirmation sheet with your confirmation number. When they check your bags, they will print out a boarding pass.

Go to the gate. Depending on how long your flight is and what time it is, get one of the lunches to go at one of the kiosks. Southwest serves no food. I always make sure I have a bagged meal, sandwich, salad, something...

When you see people start lining up at the lines (marked A, B, C) get in line. You will get seats together, no problem. Really.

When SW makes the annoucement that the plane is oversold and asks for volunteers, just say nothing. You will get on the plane. It will be fine....

I love SW. And have always sat with my family. You'll be fine....

Happy Wedding!!!

 

[cgcruz]

Happy Wedding!!!

hehehe, thanks.... Still working on the date though...

 

[kandmwedding]

I always fly SW out of BWI. I would definitely check in online, even if you're not able to print out the boarding pass. BWI just opened their new SW terminals and they've got tons of self-serve kiosks. You can go and pull up what you checked in and print it out there. That is also where you'll choose how many bags you have to check and someone will come take them from you and tag them. Very easy!

 

[escape]

SWA folks told me that as long as you attempt to print you'll be okay. In other words, even if you don't have access to a printer, you still need to click the "print" button. Once you get to the airport the agent can "re-print" the ticket.

 

[csaag]

Did I understand their website correctly in that if you're traveling with your under 18 kids you can't use online checkin?

 

[goofy4tink]

Did I understand their website correctly in that if you're traveling with your under 18 kids you can't use online checkin?

Nope, not neccessarily. I traveled SW to Orlando with my almost 12 y/o dd several weeks ago. I believe that 'rule' only applies if you have a child's fare, which most people don't have. The on-line fares are all one price. It's those 'full-price' fares that have a children's rate on them and it's usually higher than the on-line adult fare.

to the OP...Did you check-in online yet? I have heard that people check in, can't print, so have their conf. number and get a boarding pass printed at the airport all the time. Have a terrific trip!!!!

 

[Steffy]

SWA folks told me that as long as you attempt to print you'll be okay. In other words, even if you don't have access to a printer, you still need to click the "print" button. Once you get to the airport the agent can "re-print" the ticket.

Ditto!!!! I took my absolutely unreadable pass to the skycap.


Enjoy!

 

[mommykds]

Does SWA let people board first with young children? I have 3 little guys & I obviously would need to sit with them..

 

[eeyore0062]

Did I understand their website correctly in that if you're traveling with your under 18 kids you can't use online checkin?

DD is 11 and we always print out our boarding passes the night before. The only time we couldn't is when she was flying as an "unaccompanied minor". Then you would call SWA and they set it up, and you pick up the boarding pass when there, because they need to see your ID, and the child.

 

[eeyore0062]

Does SWA let people board first with young children? I have 3 little guys & I obviously would need to sit with them..

Only if the children are "unaccompanied minors" do they get to board 1st. If you check in early, (like right after midnight) you should get an A boarding pass, so you will board immediately after the unaccompanied minors, guests with disabilities, etc.

 

[4fireworks]

Does SWA let people board first with young children? I have 3 little guys & I obviously would need to sit with them..

I was concerned about that also, and I called to make sure that we all would get to sit together b/c it's my kids first airplane trip. The women that I talked to explained it like this= If you have children 5 and under, 1 child and 1 parent get to go on board 1st, no matter what. So when we get on and get our seat we will save 2 seats for my DH and DS. I think it will go smoothly unless the women didn't know what she was talking about!!

30 Day countdown

 

[CherylA]

She knew what she was talking about. Yes 1 adult for each child under 5 board 1st.

Cheryl