[KiKi]

Just hit the 24 hour mark for our flights tomorrow ... ... and I went to the Southwest web site to print out our boarding passes. There are four of us, but I was only able to print for 3 of us -- they wouldn't let me print my 6 year old son's boarding pass.

Called SW, they said it is a security thing, TSA controlled, they don't know why we can't print his boarding pass and we will need to check him in at the airport tomorrow.

So three of us have "A" boarding passes and one of us has nothing at this point.

Does anyone know if they will just put my son with the rest of us in A, or will one of us have to move to C with him?

Any info is greatly appreciated. This is our first time flying Southwest and I'm a little nervous about this whole boarding scenario.

Oh, I have another question. Any suggestions on how to get our boarding passes printed out while we are at Disney? Our return flight is early, 8:45am, so we will probably still be at the hotel that morning. Can we get them printed out at the hotel? We're staying at POR.

Thanks!

I can't believe we're leaving today to drive to the airport. I'm so excited to see The Disney Magic on Saturday.

[Cosmicwaves]

Yes, POR will print them out for you...I did that last time I was there...just head to the concierge desk.
Southwest will most likely put your son in the A group with you since you already have your passes.

[woohoo]

you will not only have A but you will also be allowed to board with the small children before the A boarding group as long as he is under 12- You can also get this printed out at the curbside checkin if you like- they will print it there for you.

[ddoll]

Originally Posted by woohoo

you will not only have A but you will also be allowed to board with the small children before the A boarding group as long as he is under 12- You can also get this printed out at the curbside check-in if you like- they will print it there for you.

They no longer do that with kids. Now families with young kids can board between A and B groups. So that may be what they tell you to do. What I would suggest is you let the first two people go in and save your seats until you get there with your son.

[woohoo]

Originally Posted by ddoll

They no longer do that with kids. Now families with young kids can board between A and B groups. So that may be what they tell you to do. What I would suggest is you let the first two people go in and save your seats until you get there with your son.

That must vary between airports- My friend just flew home yesterday and she was the one who told me it was up to the age of 12 because she asked me to check in for her- she was on the road and when I told her that I would not be able to print them for her she told me that they boarded early with the kids going from Bradley to San Francisco so it did not matter- her kids are 10 and 6. I wonder if its different for different airports.

[lovemysons]

Last time we flew (back in Nov/Dec) they still let parents and young children pre-board, before the A&B groups. I am flying with them on Sat, I will let you know what they do!

[woohoo]

oops that got a little confusing- she was granted c boarding when I did it for her and I told her that she should have done it 24 hours in advance and that is when she mentioned that they boarded early with the kids....

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by KiKi

Just hit the 24 hour mark for our flights tomorrow ... ... and I went to the Southwest web site to print out our boarding passes. There are four of us, but I was only able to print for 3 of us -- they wouldn't let me print my 6 year old son's boarding pass.

Called SW, they said it is a security thing, TSA controlled, they don't know why we can't print his boarding pass and we will need to check him in at the airport tomorrow.

So three of us have "A" boarding passes and one of us has nothing at this point.

Does anyone know if they will just put my son with the rest of us in A, or will one of us have to move to C with him?

Any info is greatly appreciated. This is our first time flying Southwest and I'm a little nervous about this whole boarding scenario.

Oh, I have another question. Any suggestions on how to get our boarding passes printed out while we are at Disney? Our return flight is early, 8:45am, so we will probably still be at the hotel that morning. Can we get them printed out at the hotel? We're staying at POR.

This happened to us at Christmas, my DH couldn't check in on line. He had to wait in the buy tickets/change tickets line at the airport. We didn't know why, but guessed it was a random thing because he could check in for our return flight just fine. When he checked in at the airport it wasn't a big deal, he showed his ID (your son won't need one) and he was done.

We have the front desk print our boarding passes. If we are in the park we call someone at home and have them check in for us and we have the resort print our passes later or do it at the airport.

[Daisee]

Originally Posted by ddoll

They no longer do that with kids. Now families with young kids can board between A and B groups. So that may be what they tell you to do. What I would suggest is you let the first two people go in and save your seats until you get there with your son.

I hope your right, because i have seen far too many people taking advantage of this. I have seen as many as 10 people board with 1 smaller child. Ridiculous!

[lovemysons]

Originally Posted by Daisee

I hope your right, because i have seen far too many people taking advantage of this. I have seen as many as 10 people board with 1 smaller child. Ridiculous!

You mean it doesn't take 10 people to help board 1 child??

[ultim8jeep]

this is good info.I did not know this as I have never flown SW but I am planning on it our next trip. My DH has flown SW and all he told me is it was a cattle call. But I figure for the price and the fact that it is only a 2 hr flight we could put up with it. Besides it beats a 16hr car ride which means more time at WDW!!

[Daisee]

Originally Posted by lovemysons

You mean it doesn't take 10 people to help board 1 child??

Actually it was the 1 child hearding his ten people! You know how smart kids are these day.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by ultim8jeep

this is good info.I did not know this as I have never flown SW but I am planning on it our next trip. My DH has flown SW and all he told me is it was a cattle call. But I figure for the price and the fact that it is only a 2 hr flight we could put up with it. Besides it beats a 16hr car ride which means more time at WDW!!

I love how SWA boards, it fast and easy. Your boarding pass in have a letter and number, you line up in that number order when they call your letter group. We were A 20 something and we sat around until they called the A group then got in number order. It's not really a cattle call now.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by Daisee

I hope your right, because i have seen far too many people taking advantage of this. I have seen as many as 10 people board with 1 smaller child. Ridiculous!

That's how it was in December when we flew and it was nice. People took advantage of it and boarded 5 or more people with a 4 year old. Families with car seats I understand but not older children who just need to buckle in.

[spacerangerspin]

We flew SW in & out of MCO last weekend. Boarding procedures were enforced as pre-board sleeves, A group, *new* family boarding (children 4 & under & parents only, not whole group), then B & finally C. We have never had boarding passes printed out at hotel (never even thought to ask!), we just have someone at home check us in 24 hours in advance & re-print at airport. Very easy to do with Southwest, if checking bags can do at bag checking kiosk & if not checking bags they have stand alone printers for this on way to center atrium. We have flown SW all but 3 of the last 20 trips in & out of MCO in past 2 years & LOVE THEM!! I pick SW over any other carrier & I need to drive 2&1/2 hours to airport on home end to pick them up. I don't think you can beat them, especially on price, but for speed & ease of loading planes & they unload baggage SOOOO quick!! I moaned our entire December trip about how long JetBlue held me up at airport & how much of my short trip I missed!! (Yeah, I'm a little NUTS!! DH told me I didn't lose as much time as I would have driving, since JetBlue airport is 10 minutes from home!! ) I would send someone with A boarding ahead to save seats just in case b/c I KNOW my son would NOT sit beside someone else. You shouldn't have any problems, it is usually only the last dozen or so people on who have to split & if that is a problem with children the flight attendants are great about trying to find someone to move to get a couple seats together. Mostly just every single flier not waiting the middle seat!