Is there a way to check in on Southwest Airlines?
The following options are available for Southwest Airlines check-in:
- Automatic check-in, early bird check-in available.
- Online Check-in is available at southwest.com.
- Mobile Check-in, through the smartphone app or on mobile.southwest.com.
- Airport Check-in, either at the ticket counter, self-service kiosks, Skycap podium, or departure gate.
What time does Southwest check-in begin?
Exactly 24 hours before your departure, you will be able to check in.
- You need to find out your departure time first. Once you have that information, you can begin the check-in process exactly 24 hours before your departure.
- Let’s say you fly out of Houston at 3:05 PM. Your check-in time will open the day before at 3:05 PM central time.
- Southwest Airlines does not have assigned seating, so you should check in exactly 24 hours before check-in opens.
- Instead, you are assigned a boarding group and a position within that group based on your check-in order. There are three groups (Group A, Group B, and Group C) and 60 positions in each group.
- After boarding the plane, you will be called into line with your boarding group in order of your boarding position.
- If you wait too long to check in, you might be assigned a boarding position at the back. You might not have enough space to store your carry-on and might not even be able to choose some of the most comfortable seats.
Are there priority boarding privileges offered by Southwest Airlines?
In addition to priority boarding privileges, Business Select customers are also members of Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred or A-List.
In order to benefit from priority boarding privileges, other passengers can choose from two options:
- Early Bird Check-in – available for $15-25 one-way, up to 36 hours before departure.
- Upgraded Boarding – $30-50 per segment, available at the ticket counter or departure gate.
Those traveling as Unaccompanied Minors board the aircraft before general boarding begins, as well as those with disabilities requiring preboarding and an adult traveling with a child ages 6 or younger.
The online check-in process
For all Southwest Airlines flights, passengers can check in online and print boarding passes at home or in the office. During the 24 hours before departure time and 60 minutes before departure time, online check-in is available. To check-in online, follow these steps:
- To check in, go to the Southwest Airlines website and click on “Check In”.
- Please enter your confirmation number, first and last name.
- Select the passengers you wish to check in and click “Check In.”
- Select your seats after reviewing the flight details.
- Save your boarding pass to your mobile device or print it.
Southwest Airlines requires passengers with checked baggage to drop off their bags at the baggage drop-off counter 45 minutes before the scheduled departure of their flight.
Mobile check-in with Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines’ mobile app can be used for the following:
- Reservations, check-in, cancellations, and changes to domestic and international flights
- Track your flight’s status, gate information, and boarding position
- Save your mobile boarding pass to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay account (iPhone and iPad users)
- You can share your flight status with others
- You can make or cancel your car reservation
- You can access your Rapid Rewards account here
- Alerts about the weather and travel
- Find useful airport information
- Express checkout is available
Check-in with the early birds
Early Bird Check-in is available on Southwest Airlines for passengers who want to get a good boarding position. Passengers can check in automatically 36 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time by buying Early Bird Check-In for $15-$25 per person, per flight. Due to this, Early Bird Check-In passengers will be checked in before most other passengers, giving them a better chance of getting an earlier boarding time.
Check-in at the airport
Arrive at the airport 2 hours before the scheduled departure if you wish to check in. If your itinerary includes at least one international flight and you have to get your passport verified, your luggage checked in, and your boarding pass issued, you must be at the airport on time. International flights with Southwest Air Lines do not allow curb-side check-in.
Southwest Airlines won’t be able to accommodate you on your scheduled flight if you arrive at the airport one hour before the departure time. For a smooth check-in process, passengers need to arrive at the airport three hours before departure time during peak seasons. So passengers must be prepared in advance.
Check-in at Southwest Airlines Airport (Self-Service) Kiosk
A kiosk is available at all non-U.S. airports except Nassau. To check in physically, you can use one of the following methods:
- Please enter the confirmation number you received
- Please enter your Rapid Rewards number
- You can swipe any major credit card bearing your name
- Use your Rapid Rewards membership card to swipe
Self-service kiosks at the airport offer the following options:
Check your luggage
- Luggage can only be checked at the ticket counter kiosks
- Tags cannot be issued at kiosks located in the lobby
- Take a printout of your boarding pass for your flight
- You can add a Rapid Rewards number to your reservation
- Business Select Fare Upgrade
- Make a flight change
- Add your name to the standby list
- Keep a copy of your itinerary receipt
Note
Self-service check-in is not available for the following types of reservations; passengers must check in at the airport ticket counter:
- Travelers with paper tickets
- Minors who are unaccompanied
- Pet-carrying passengers
- A passenger traveling on an age-qualified fare
- Assistance required by special needs passengers
Curb-side check-in for Southwest
Most U.S. airports allow you to check in from the curb-side for domestic flights (but not for international flights).
- Photo ID
- Code for your flight reservation
- Flight number or electronic ticket number
You can find check-in and cut-off times on the Airport Information page.
The boarding process
Upgraded boarding.
A new Southwest Airlines service, Upgraded Boarding, allows passengers to board in a better position. This is available on flights with boarding positions A1-A15. These are Business Select seats on every flight. There will, however, be the option to purchase remaining Business Select seats for $ 30-50 per segment if a flight has fewer than 15 Business Select customers. These seats can be purchased only by credit card at the ticket counter or boarding gate. Upgraded Boarding offers no additional benefits associated with Business Select Fares. Upgraded Boarding is offered in limited quantities and varies flight by flight.
Time requirement
To avoid cancellation, you must be present at the boarding gate area at least 10 minutes before scheduled departure time, even if boarding begins 30 minutes before scheduled departure time.
Preboarding
Southwest Airlines will announce priority preboarding before general boarding begins:
- Minors who are unaccompanied.
- Customers with extra seating documents.
General Boarding
Southwest gate agents will call boarding group A for general boarding. A TV monitor displays the current boarding group at the jetbridge entrance. When your group is called, you need to stand next to the column that represents your boarding number. Once on the airplane, you need to choose your seat.
Boarding Order
- Customers with Business Select
- Customer boarding upgraded
- A-List Preferred members of Rapid Rewards
- A-List members of Rapid Rewards
- (Group A) Early Bird Check-in customers
- One travel companion per passenger with disabilities who requires preboarding.
- 2 Family Boarding
- Customers assigned to Group B (including Early Bird Check-in customers)
- The C-group
Boarding after Group A is available to adults and families with children 6 and younger.
Can you tell me what Southwest Airlines’ check-in requirements are?
- In order to check in online with Southwest Airlines and print your boarding pass or save it to your wallet, you will need:
- The age of the passenger must be verified if traveling on a Senior, Child, or Infant fare.
- Check-in begins 24 hours before departure.
- Make sure you check in at least one hour before your scheduled departure.
- You must have purchased an eligible fare type (Marine fares must be checked in at the airport).
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