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Flying SW

Passepartout

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How does SW do it when you change planes?

You just need to check in once- at 24 hours before the first flight of a trip. You will then be all checked in for all that day's flights on that trip code. You get a boarding pass for each leg even if there is a plane change.

Jim
 

bellesgirl

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When you print your boarding passes you get a pass for the first flight and another pass for the second flight.
So if you have a connecting flight at noon but your first flight is at 8:00am, you can check in for both at 8:00am the previous day and get boarding numbers for both? Does that means those who cannot checkin until noon get what''s left over or do they hold some numbers aside in each group?

Also if you pay for early boarding, do you still have to check in online? I am not clear about the 36 hour statement mentioned in an earlier post. Is that automatically set by SW?
 

Bwolf

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So if you have a connecting flight at noon but your first flight is at 8:00am, you can check in for both at 8:00am the previous day and get boarding numbers for both? Does that means those who cannot checkin until noon get what''s left over or do they hold some numbers aside in each group?

Also if you pay for early boarding, do you still have to check in online? I am not clear about the 36 hour statement mentioned in an earlier post. Is that automatically set by SW?

Yes, you get boarding passes for both.

I doubt that they hold numbers aside.

You should check-in online, but you don't need to 24 hours in advance. With Early bird, you may check in later, but you do need to check-in. That said, my wife insists I check-in 24 hours ahead of time. :)
 

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It's open seating in 3 groups (A, B and C), based upon your boarding number.

I just booked a flight for my mother on SW. I paid the "wanna get away" aka cheap ticket. I was able to select seats for all of her flights. I did indicate that she was a senior citizen. Perhaps that's why I was able to select her seats. I have no idea.
 

scootr5

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I just booked a flight for my mother on SW. I paid the "wanna get away" aka cheap ticket. I was able to select seats for all of her flights. I did indicate that she was a senior citizen. Perhaps that's why I was able to select her seats. I have no idea.

I have never seen nor read anything that allowed for selecting sets online for SWA, senior citizen or not.
 

Passepartout

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I have never seen nor read anything that allowed for selecting sets online for SWA, senior citizen or not.

New one to me, too. I wonder if she was a wheelchair bound passenger who required assistance by airline staff? They would of necessity get one of the front bulkhead seats.
 

scootr5

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New one to me, too. I wonder if she was a wheelchair bound passenger who required assistance by airline staff? They would of necessity get one of the front bulkhead seats.

As far as I know, they would get a preboard card then though, not assigned seats.

I asked over at Flyertalk to see if anyone there has ever seen anything with seat selection.
 

scootr5

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I was able to select seats for all of her flights. I did indicate that she was a senior citizen.

Out of curiosity, what flight number and date? Did you get a confirmation of some sort with the seat assignments on it, that showed row number and seat? I'd like to see if I can replicate it.
 

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Sorry for all the confusion. Lucky I took a screen shot of her ticket. The first reservation I made for her was on AA. But I ended up buying her a ticket on SW. So you're correct. I didn't select seats. Ugh. I have no problem with SW but my mom requires assistance. I'm not sure how she'll manage with the cattle call.
 

Bwolf

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I think it is a misunderstanding. :)

OK, jehb2, you beat me to the punch. If you can't get in touch with SW about your mom needing assistance, she will be able to ask for a preboard and assistance down the ramp.
 
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scootr5

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Ditto what Bwolf said. :) Just talk to an agent at ticketing, or at your gate, depending on your needs:

"Assistance in the Airport and with Boarding

Upon arrival at the airport, please inform a Southwest Airlines Agent or Skycap at your first point of contact, either at the Skycap podium or the ticket counter, if you need an airport wheelchair and/or assistance within the airport.

Priority preboarding is available for those who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft or stowing an assistive device. If a Customer has a disability and requires preboarding, the Customer should request a Preboarding Document from our Customer Service Agent at the departure gate. The Preboarding Document serves as notification to our Operations (Boarding) Agent that the Customer has a need to preboard. It's important to keep in mind that Customers who preboard may not occupy an exit seat. Customers with disabilities who have any other special needs related to boarding should speak with our Customer Service Agent at the departure gate."
 

dwojo

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If you are flying with young children you will get earlier boarding so you can be seated together.
 

Luanne

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If you are flying with young children you will get earlier boarding so you can be seated together.

With Southwest families with small children get seated between the A and B groups. If you already have A seating this doesn't benefit you. The only people who get to pre board are those who need extra time, and you need a special boarding pass (a blue card) to do this.
 

PigsDad

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Just make sure you listen to the guy with the cattle prod!
I have found Southwest's boarding procedures much more civilized than the majors. On Southwest, everyone lines up nice and orderly, and only when their boarding group is ready. On the majors, if I am in boarding group 2, I usually have to fight my way through the mobs of people with boarding passes for groups 3+ that are crowded around the gangway entrance. They usually get up and stand in front of the entrance as soon as they announce pre-boarding! Very annoying!

Kurt
 

Dori

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Kurt, I wholeheartedly agree! On Tuesday, we flew out of Toronto To Vietnam, on Air Canada. It was bedlam at boarding time. Gives me a whole new appreciation of SW's boarding procedures.

Dori
 

topmom101

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Good morning, I checked in at exactly 24 hours prior (actually I inputted all info a few minutes before, using two devices simultaneously for my sister and I) and got B21 and B23. Hopefully we'll be able to sit together.

Thank you all so much for your help. Love tugs.

Beachplace Towers, here we come!!!!
 

Passepartout

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Good morning, I checked in at exactly 24 hours prior (actually I inputted all info a few minutes before, using two devices simultaneously for my sister and I) and got B21 and B23. Hopefully we'll be able to sit together.

Shouldn't be a problem. Those boarding numbers are at less than half the plane's capacity. Unless there are a lot of passengers staying on the plane from the inbound flight and continuing on, there will be lots of seats together.

Jim
 

JackieD

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Sorry for all the confusion. Lucky I took a screen shot of her ticket. The first reservation I made for her was on AA. But I ended up buying her a ticket on SW. So you're correct. I didn't select seats. Ugh. I have no problem with SW but my mom requires assistance. I'm not sure how she'll manage with the cattle call.

The people at SW are great with customer service and assistance. I purchased tickets for my parents (76&79) to go to his brother's funeral. I put on their reservation a special request to have wheelchair assistance for my mom. They had a connecting flight and the SW employee took my parents from one plane to another. Not only that but my dad stopped at McDonalds for food while mom & SW employee went on. My dad stood there waiting to take his order while teens chatted it up. He was worried about catching flight and getting seats together so he left and went to the gate. The gate agents asked where their food was and he explained. The SW agent went back and stood in line at McDonalds, got their food and took them onto the plane (flight attendant saved them seats on the plane!!). They took great care of them during their time of distress. I love Southwest not only because of this but have found their change policy exceptional. I try to book with them as much as possible.

P.S. I didn't use the senior rate since it was higher than the cheap rate
 
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