Airline check-in at resorts

[TheMouseFan]

Hi all! I know how the airline check-in works in general, as I have used it before, but we are flying Southwest this time and I have a few questions. I know they don't have assigned seats and you are assigned your boarding number based on when you check in. How does that work with Disney doing the check-in and printing your passes? Do they generally check you in at the 24 hour mark and get a low boarding number, or do you usually end up with a higher number? I don't really care where we sit, but it would be nice to be sure we can sit together! Is it easier to just pay for priority seating?

 

[lilclerk]

I would think that you'll end up in the late B or C boarding section since you'll be checking in almost a day late. I would still do the online check in yourself, either through a smart phone or the hotel concierge if you want to be able to sit together. Then you can bring your bags down and get your boarding passes the morning you leave.

 

[Nemo14]

When we've used it for Southwest, we checked ourselves in at the 24 hour time, and then the next day they printed our boarding passes for us when we checked our bags at the hotel.

 

[75disney]

In the past (before Smart Phones) we have gone to guest relations wherever we are at exactly 24 hours prior to our flight and they have assisted us with check-in and printing the boarding passes. We usually got the A section for boarding. Now with Smartphones, you can do it yourself 24 hours in advance and go to concierge at your convenience to print your boarding passes. If you don't have a smartphone, you can still do it the old way.

 

[Tinkerbell397]

We check in using our smartphone and then go to the concierge at our convenience and print them up. Just remember that SWA offers Early Bird Check-in for $15 per booking and those people are guaranteed an "A" boarding pass. Most people who check in within 24 hours will usually get a "B" or "C" boarding pass. Since you really don't care where you sit, this should not be an issue for you.

 

[TheMouseFan]

I would think that you'll end up in the late B or C boarding section since you'll be checking in almost a day late. I would still do the online check in yourself, either through a smart phone or the hotel concierge if you want to be able to sit together. Then you can bring your bags down and get your boarding passes the morning you leave.

When we've used it for Southwest, we checked ourselves in at the 24 hour time, and then the next day they printed our boarding passes for us when we checked our bags at the hotel.

In the past (before Smart Phones) we have gone to guest relations wherever we are at exactly 24 hours prior to our flight and they have assisted us with check-in and printing the boarding passes. We usually got the A section for boarding. Now with Smartphones, you can do it yourself 24 hours in advance and go to concierge at your convenience to print your boarding passes. If you don't have a smartphone, you can still do it the old way.

We check in using our smartphone and then go to the concierge at our convenience and print them up. Just remember that SWA offers Early Bird Check-in for $15 per booking and those people are guaranteed an "A" boarding pass. Most people who check in within 24 hours will usually get a "B" or "C" boarding pass. Since you really don't care where you sit, this should not be an issue for you.

Thank you all for your quick replies. I may just purchase the early bird so I don't have to remember the night before to stop watching Fantasmic or looking at the Osborne lights to check-in on my phone!!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

You check in at the 24 hour mark (as Nemo said) and they'll print your boarding passes when you check your bags with them.

You can also pay extra if you really want to be in A. We generally do this for our return trip, also because you cannot count on the in-park Wifi to be quick and within seconds the A boarding group will be GONE. No I'm not kidding. I clicked two seconds too late once and got it mid B.

 

[TheMouseFan]

You check in at the 24 hour mark (as Nemo said) and they'll print your boarding passes when you check your bags with them.

You can also pay extra if you really want to be in A. We generally do this for our return trip, also because you cannot count on the in-park Wifi to be quick and within seconds the A boarding group will be GONE. No I'm not kidding. I clicked two seconds too late once and got it mid B.

Thanks! I went ahead and bought early bird when I purchased my tickets last night!

 

[CamiLyn227]

We always pay for the early bird check-in. Its worry-free and I know we will get to sit together!

 

[jaklgreen]

Just to clarify, just because you purchase early bird does not guaranty that you will get an A boarding. It depends on how many people actually buy it. I always get early bird and I have had B group. I always recommend that people that have families buy the early bird, but if you have small kids under 5 then they let you go between the A group and B group. If your kids are older and you are late checking in then chances are that you will be separated. Usually everyone takes the isle seat and the window and all that is left is the middle seat. Some people say that if your family is separated then to ask people to switch seats but people who paid for early bird to get their seat will not be forced to do that.

 

[Nemo14]

Yes, if you get a B group, you can board before the rest of the B group if you have small children. Your chances are pretty good of getting seats together in the B group anyway. It's the c group that is chancy.

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

I always pay for the early bird on Southwest. That way I don't have to worry about checking in.

 

[jkl2000]

In the past (before Smart Phones) we have gone to guest relations wherever we are at exactly 24 hours prior to our flight and they have assisted us with check-in and printing the boarding passes. We usually got the A section for boarding. Now with Smartphones, you can do it yourself 24 hours in advance and go to concierge at your convenience to print your boarding passes. If you don't have a smartphone, you can still do it the old way.

They don't have a terminal (PC) at the resorts where you can check in? Surprising, as even small hotels have this usually.