Yet another SW question...

[goofy4tink]

I am flying SW for the first time this Friday. I have always flown Song but got some great fares so decided to make a last minute trip to WDW. I had planned to check-in online at 12:01 the morning of departure. But, it's an EMH in MK that night and I know my dd will really want to do that....and that will be a very long day/night if I have to be up at midnight. So......if I just get to Providence 1 1/2 hrs before my 7:40 a.m. flight will I still be good to go? I don't have to sit up front, just want to sit with dd and have her have a window seat. Same thing goes for our return flight...using DME and will most likely get to MCO about 2 hr. before flight, so will it be okay if I don't check-in online the night before? (especially since I have no idea how to do that from WDW!!!)
Thanks for any help with this SW newbie!!

 

[Pinnie]

I am flying SW for the first time this Friday. I have always flown Song but got some great fares so decided to make a last minute trip to WDW. I had planned to check-in online at 12:01 the morning of departure. But, it's an EMH in MK that night and I know my dd will really want to do that....and that will be a very long day/night if I have to be up at midnight. So......if I just get to Providence 1 1/2 hrs before my 7:40 a.m. flight will I still be good to go? I don't have to sit up front, just want to sit with dd and have her have a window seat. Same thing goes for our return flight...using DME and will most likely get to MCO about 2 hr. before flight, so will it be okay if I don't check-in online the night before? (especially since I have no idea how to do that from WDW!!!)
Thanks for any help with this SW newbie!!

Since my crystal ball isn't working this morning, I can't give you a precise answer. I can speak from some experience, however. For instance, on Satureday I was flying from BNA to DTW and checked in at 12:35 a.m. from the hotel and I was number 14 to get an A boarding card and DH was 15. I do notice that most of the pax on SWA are now using the interent to get their boarding passes. Can you print them out before you leave the house? IT could make a difference between a B and a C!

(OT here, but how is the weather in Providence? I am going to be there next week for the Drum Corp finals in Foxboro.)

pinnie

 

[Stimpy]

If it's just the 2 of you, I don't think it will be a problem getting seats together. You may not be able to get a window seat. I would try to get to the airports as early as possible though just in case.

Dh and I have been in the "B" group before and had no problems getting seats together.

 

[beccasmom]

I can tell you my experience this time last year. My printer gave out on me, so I was "sort of" checked in, but could not print the boarding pass! I got to the SWA counter very early anyway (5:15 am for a 7:00 am flight) because a friend dropped me off on her way to work. There was a large family group ahead of me, but I had no problem getting an "A" pass. I did tell the rep I had checked in earlier that morning, so she wouldn't be confused. I don't know how they allocate seats between Internet check-in and airport check-in.

I think arriving early is a good backup plan. Especially since your only request is for a window seat. Note that the security lines at MCO can be long, but seem to move fast. Good luck...I think you should be ok.

 

[goofy4tink]

Since my crystal ball isn't working this morning, I can't give you a precise answer. I can speak from some experience, however. For instance, on Satureday I was flying from BNA to DTW and checked in at 12:35 a.m. from the hotel and I was number 14 to get an A boarding card and DH was 15. I do notice that most of the pax on SWA are now using the interent to get their boarding passes. Can you print them out before you leave the house? IT could make a difference between a B and a C!

(OT here, but how is the weather in Providence? I am going to be there next week for the Drum Corp finals in Foxboro.)

pinnie

It's hot and steamy here!!! Maybe by next week it will have cooled off a bit.

Thanks all for the insights. I may just check-in online when I wake up that morning. We plan on being at TFGreen by 6:00 for the 7:40 flight, so I'll be up at 4:30 or so...that should give me enough time.

 

[Pinnie]

It's hot and steamy here!!! Maybe by next week it will have cooled off a bit.

Thanks all for the insights. I may just check-in online when I wake up that morning. We plan on being at TFGreen by 6:00 for the 7:40 flight, so I'll be up at 4:30 or so...that should give me enough time.

Thank YOU for your help, too!!!

I think the prudent thing to do would be to check in the minute you wake up! Good luck and have a great time! I'll be at WDW from the 17th -21st at SSR!

pinnie

 

[travelin' tigger]

It's hot and steamy here!!! Maybe by next week it will have cooled off a bit.

Thanks all for the insights. I may just check-in online when I wake up that morning. We plan on being at TFGreen by 6:00 for the 7:40 flight, so I'll be up at 4:30 or so...that should give me enough time.

Hey Diane
The past few trips I've left from work for late afternoon flights - checked in on-line around 7 or 7:30 am and always got As. The worst case scenario would be a B, but you'd still have plenty of seats to choose from - just line up early in the "B" line.

Don't worry too much. Usually Cs are people who arrive/checkin online late.
BTW, As, Bs & Cs are all evenly distributed between online, skycaps, koisks and check-in. I've NEVER gotten a C and only 1 or 2 Bs.

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[CarolA]

I do not normally check in at midnight. I do it when I get up. I have never failed to get an A or B boarding pass which would get you two seats together. (The one time I tried at midnight the system was broken... I am not ever staying up again for that LOL!)

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks Barb and Carol...no way am I getting up at midnight only to get up again at 4!! I'm feeling much better now.
See you in Nov/Dec Barb!

 

[HoneyPooh]

Has anyone found a way to check-in online from WDW? I have four in my party and would love to be able to get our boarding passes before we get to the airport on our way home. What if my DH did it at home and faxed them to the resort, would Southwest take a faxed boarding pass? Just a little nervous about getting a C!

 

[Pinnie]

I have been able to check in and get boarding passes at the front desk for my SWA and SPIRIT flights this summer at WDW.

I don't think they will accept a FAXED boarding pass, however.

pinnie

 

[magsmom]

AKL did this for me. Ask the concierge to print out your SWA boarding pass before you leave.

You will need your confirmation number.

 

[kda]

It sounds like the front desk in the resorts will routinely print boarding passes. WL did it without any question when I asked in December, and I've read lots of posts since then that other resorts did it.

Just ask ahead of time how they handle it. The CM at WL took my printed info and said that someone on the night shift will do this sometime during the middle of the night (definitely wouldn't be done at 12:01). We got an A pass.

One time we were the very last people in Group A and there were many, many options for DH me to sit together. We ended up with exit row seats, which we always try to get ----- there were so many people with families, and SWA was really careful who was allowed to sit in the exit row. Dad wasn't allowed to sit in exit row if his kids were somewhere else on the plane. It was explained to us that the airline didn't expect a parent to be able to focus on helping other passengers in an emergency when they would be concerned about their own children.

 

[andriade]

I never stay up to print my boarding passes. I do it 1st thing in the morning and have ALWAYS gotten an 'A' group. Good luck.

 

[NHAnn]

Have a great trip Diane!

I think you'll be fine printing in the morning and/or getting to the airport at least 1 1/2 hours ahead. We've flown SWA many many times in the past 5 years and never gotten a C, mostly A's, even checking in at MCO. On departure I wait until getting up that morning...I'm always up before the alarm for those early departures anyway

 

[goofy4tink]

Have a great trip Diane!

I think you'll be fine printing in the morning and/or getting to the airport at least 1 1/2 hours ahead. We've flown SWA many many times in the past 5 years and never gotten a C, mostly A's, even checking in at MCO. On departure I wait until getting up that morning...I'm always up before the alarm for those early departures anyway

Thanks Ann....I love these 'new airlines'...at least new to me. Makes it kind of an adventure. I'm with you when it comes to no alarm for those early morning flights....I'm always at the airport way too early.