Hi! Thanks for the video. I will be flying with my 2 children and have paid for our tickets all together. When I check in 24 hours before the flight will my pass be for all 3 of us? Or will it be 3 separate passes? Thanks
@@jjmjblessed1179 as long as you have the same confirmation number for all 3 tickets you will receive all 3 boarding passes at the same time. Otherwise, you will have to check in separately if you have different confirmation numbers.
What if there are multiple people in my group for the same flight. Do we each have to check in or will it all check in if one of us does? Also, for digital boarding, will I just have them scan my pass, then switch it to my sons?
@@Tmama84 As long as everyone is on the same reservation just one of you has to check-in. I think it will ask you who you want to check in and then you will just select everyone in your group. For digital boarding passes. Once your boarding pass is scanned then you will just switch to the next one to get scanned.
I already checked in for my flight via the app. I depart after two days, so would I have to check in again 24hrs for my flight even if I have the same confirmation number? And thank you for the video it was incredibly helpful!
@BenDreamVacations This month I flew for the first time in over 30 years. Was terrified of the entire process. My daughter hooked me up with your videos, which were SO detailed. Watched them over and over again which led to SUCCESS! Thank you SO much!! 💖
Just wanted to say THANKYOU SO MUCH for making this video. I dont fly that often and have never flown Southwest. I will soon be taking my first flight with Southwest. Your video covered everything. GOD BLESS
This video has relieved so much of my anxiety. I did the early bird, and so i dont have to check in 24 hours early, i caught that, but what about bag check in prior to arrival? How much earlier do we get to board the plane. This is stressing me out 😂
If you are going to be checking a bag, I would still get to the airport 2 hours early. The lines for the kiosk can be rather long sometimes depending on the airport and time of day. Since you did the early bird check-in you will most likely be in the A group. I think there has only been one time where I did early bird and received a boarding position in the B group. If you end up in the A group you will have good seats and you will be ahead of most people boarding the plane. The boarding process goes rather quick, maybe 25 minutes to board everyone in all 3 groups.
I am so glad I watched this video. It's very clear on procedures and is much better than the assorted emails Southwest sends out in the days after you make your reservation and again in the days before your flight. This video makes it all very logical.
Flying tomorrow from STL to Dallas Lovefield on southwest. Bought the early bird check in. We got group A position 35 and 36. I'd say I think we got a good group. So I am beyond happy
Yo! I'm only 22, and this is my first time flying alone and only my second time EVER flying somewhere on a commercial airliner so I've been extremely nervous and stressed. Your video definitely helped me get rid of a few of those worries. I was so concerned it was going to be such a complicated process! Glad it won't be. If you have any other pointers for me I'll gladly take any advice you can offer 🙏
Glad the video was helpful to you! Since you are new to flying just make sure you get to the airport early especially if you are going to be checking an bags. At least 2 hours or more to make sure you have enough time to get checked in and get through security. Safe travels!
I have a question. For teh check in process is, do I check in on time of my departure. Like let's say its at 3:00 pm on Friday, do I check in on thursaday at 3:00 pm?
Thanks for the video. I think that people who fly Southwest all the time forget how different it is from other airlines. You can debate good or bad but it's different. Now that we're working on getting a companion pass we will be flying them a lot more. Thanks for the run-through.
Can you put a laptop that's inside a regular laptop bag (not a laptop sleeve) inside a personal bag or would they consider that as an "extra (personal) bag" ....???
Thank , thank you , thank you. Only second time flying to the states and first flight with South West. You have helped me so much . I was so intimidated. This video is a big help. I will be watching it again. 🇨🇦♥️
I have an connecting flight was unsure of how to get my second boarding pass. This video has calmed my nerves. Unsure of how to pack my medication. Does it go in a quart size bag or can I just put it in my bag?
Medication can just go in your bag but just make sure it is easily accessible. If you are carrying any liquid medication you will need to tell the TSA agent that you have it so they can screen it separately.
If you just taking a carry-on and are already checked in with the airline and have received your boarding pass you can go straight to the security lines.
A concourse is not the same thing as a gate. A concourse houses many gates. You can think of a concourse like a long hallway where on either side of the hallway are many gates. Concourses are usually labeled as a letter such a Concourse A, B and C and then within each concourse there are numbers for each gate. So for example, your flight could be located in Concourse A, gate 12 or simply A12.
Southwest without early bird is a nightmare if you have more than 2 passengers. People are monsters. The line of wheelchairs which recieve early boarding is ridiculous at southwest. You wont see this at any other airline. Famileis with young children also get early boarding. Pairs of row hogs then turn 6 seat rows into 4 seat rows through 3/4 of the plane. The southwest system could be great but people are monsters. My advice. Get a leg boot. If you cant beat em join em!
@@mickelwarren2598 would love to know which part of my statment was wrong. I fly exclusively southwest thanks to my southwest rapid rewards credit card and there is rarely an exception to the things I mentioned. People are monsters and can't act right. Just flew back and forth to Orlando with my family of 4. We diddnt pay for early bird, B group both times after immediately check in at 24hrs and couldn't find a single row of 3 available either trip. This is a regular occurrence! Not always of course. It's not that we mind being separated as we're all going to the same place, it's simply annoying how all of these people behave. When my family gets on with early bird we could easily split up 2 and 2 locking up a row of 6 but we don't. My wife and kids take a row of 3 and I sit across in the aisle seat. Leaving a pair together for someone else. There is no debating the long wheelchair lines on southwest. It's seen no where else in the airport. People know you grab a chair you get priority boarding!
Big THANK YOU here as well. I used to travel regularly, but for business and never flew Southwest. Now that I'm retired, I rarely fly. We are flying tomorrow on Southwest and I didn't know what to expect. This video was super helpful. Thanks again!!
@@BenDreamVacations We got back from our trip a couple of days ago. One the return leg, we got in line with our boarding group. A few minutes later, a lady comes along the line asking each person what their number was. She was B4 and told every person that had a higher number that she was B4 and thus entitled to get in front of them. I thought of your video and had a good laugh.
Hi, first time flyer here! I’ve been anxious about the whole process especially because I’m flying solo, but your video helped ease my nervous! I appreciate it! I have a question, for round trip flights, will the process be the same for the returning flight? Thank you again!
If I have multiple people on the same reservation, is there a way to get their boarding passes to their own devices if i check in on the app? Or so i just show mine at boarding and security?
Yes, great question! There is a few ways you do this. If you are traveling with children who do not have their own ID's yet then it's best to just keep them on your phone. You will have to present their boarding passes to the TSA at the security check point and also at the time of boarding. If you want the boarding passes on their own devices then you can either screenshot the boarding passes and send it to them or if you have an iphone you can save it to your apple wallet. Once the boarding passes are in your wallet you will be able to either airdrop or text them the boarding passes.
Thanks for the video! Question regarding connecting flights. If your first SW flight is delayed and arrives late, causing you to miss the connection. What happens to you and your checked luggage?
You will get rebooked on the next available flight along with your luggage. If you know that you will miss your connecting flight before your first flight departs then go ahead and get your next flight rebooked either through the website or app or with the gate agent.
Thank you for this video! A little confused on the size for a carry on. The Southwest Airlines website says: Your carryon can be no bigger than 24” (L) + 16” (W) + 10” (H). If it’s bigger than those dimensions, it will need to be checked. But the image you showed shows the measurements differently. Or are they the same?
Southwest has their measurements as if the carry-on were on its side because that is the position the carry-on will be in when its loaded in the overhead bin. My image has the carry-on standing up but the measurements are still the same either way. Good question!
Also my daughter has inhalers that she needs, do i need a prescription to bring these? Should all electronics including chargers and hair tools be in my cary on?
You don't need a prescription for inhalers but you will just need to let the TSA agents know that you have them and they may inspect them separately. Most electronics can go in your checked luggage but if you are taking anything cordless like a hair straightener that have rechargeable lithium batteries in them then you will need to either pack it in your checked bag with the batteries removed or carry the whole thing in your carry-on. The batteries either way need to end up in your carry-on.
When it comes time to check-in, it will ask you who you want to check-in. You will just check the box next to each of your names and then click check-in. That will check both of you in at the same time. Once you do that you will receive your boarding passes and boarding position.
Could I just screenshot the boarding pass QR code to use? I get really bad signal at the Nashville airport and the wifi seems to always be to slow to get it to load.
@@BenDreamVacations I was able to use a screenshot. I tried downloading it to my phone but it kept giving an error code (probably my old phone). Just wanted to update just in case anyone else was curious.
Question, will I have to go through the check in process if I decide to bring a carry on and a personal bag? Or could I skip that process and move onto the TSA process?
If you don't need to check a bag and you have already checked in online and received your boarding pass you can just go straight to the TSA lines when you arrive at the airport.
There is no limit to the amount of liquids you can carry in your checked luggage but you want to be careful about the weight of luggage. Anything over 50lbs will cost you $100 per bag and anything over 70lbs $125 per bag.
Beginner's Guide to flying Southwest??? DON"T. IF you like being in competition with 100+ other passengers for a place in line, room for your carryon, or not sitting next to a loved one on your flight, go right ahead. Cattlecar of the skies. Most flights run 20 minutes behind because of this silly boarding policy. Just don't. Some people like being treated little cows to save a few bucks. but have some pride.
The rules are basically the same. The only difference is that you will be one of the first people to board. Just so you know, there is no business class section on Southwest flights. It's all one class seating.
I’m so afraid of flying on Southwest Airlines. I have been always flying with AA and Delta , but AA has become expensive and really a bad experience in the whole experience . I fly a lot times to Tucson and I don’t have a lot of options . Is Swest a good option to fly? The seats has a good leg room ? Etc . Thanks
Yes, Southwest is a good option to fly. I either fly them or Delta. Compared to Delta, I think Southwest offers a similar experience to Delta's economy seats. I feel Southwest has maybe an inch or 2 more legroom. Southwest also only has one class of seating and there is no assigned seats but they are changing all that next year when they will offer at least add a premium seat with more legroom and the option to choose your seat.
Never flown with Southwest before. Thank you for this video. It was very informative. However, I have a couple of questions. I am leaving for Vegas next week. I have 4 people on the same reservation. When I check in at the 24 hour mark, will it check in all 4 of us, or do we have to check in individually?
When you check in for your flight you will have the option to check-in everyone on the same reservation at the same time. It will ask you who you want to check in and then you will just check all the boxes next to everyone's name.
Hi Ben, From watching several of your videos, I am assuming that you live in Ohio. I live in Ohio as well. So, I have two questions, one is a general question, the other involves the Ohio area, but both concern flying Southwest. 1) If you apply for TSA Pre-Check after you have booked your flight on SW, I am assuming that, if approved, you are able to edit/ add the KTN to your reservation, correct? 2) I know that most, if not all the airlines that fly out of CMH, have a measurement frame for carry-on bags to see that your carry-on meets the specific airlines' specifications, but ...do you know of any business or retail outlet, OUTSIDE of the CMH terminal, that has these same measurement frames, as to avoid going to the hustle and bustle of the airport, merely to make sure said carry-on meets the specifications? Thank you, B M Nusser
Yes, from Columbus Ohio. To answer your first question yes, you can add your KTN any time after you have booked your flight up until you check in. Once you check in you won't be able to add it. To answer your second question. I do not know of any measurement frames outside of CMH. You can measure your bag at home. If you find that your bag is over by an inch you will still be ok and it will still fit in the overhead bins.
Thank you so much for making this video. I am flying with Southwest from Sacramento to Columbus for the first time in September and this answered a lot of my questions. I am glad to learn that if I check a bag it will automatically be transferred to my connecting flight (I was worried about the layover time/getting my bags, etc. in between the two flights). I didn't know they did that! I am feeling more at ease about my first flight in probably a decade :) Also, If I add the early bird, does it automatically apply it to my connecting flight?
So glad you found the video helpful! Early bird does not automatically apply to the connecting flight. You will have to select Early bird for your connecting flight as well if you want it for both flights to Columbus. Safe travels!
I haven’t flown since 2018. My family size has double too. If I bought the tickets can I do the check in for my while family? It’s the same reservation number. Do my other members have to have the app as well?
Yes, you can do the check-in for your whole family. When you click the check-in button it will ask you who you want to check-in. Here you can just click the boxes to everyone's name to check-in everyone at the same time.
flying to seattle by myself for the first time at age 19...im terrified of whats to come but this video is helping me relax a little bit and prepare! i do have a question and im sorry if it seems like a stupid one but im only bringing one suitcase and a mini backpack to take on the plane with me...will i have to take the suitcase on the plane with me or will my backpack count as the carry-on?
Good question! As long as the suitcase fits the carry-on size dimensions for the airline you will be flying on you will be able to take your suitcase and your mini backpack.
What drives me nuts is their connecting flights. Most of the times you only have 50 minutes between your plane landing and the next one taking off. I am really nervous about missing my flight. Do you have any advice?
I am with you on this one. I don't like booking flights with a connection less than an hour. If you are flexible on your dates of travel, try a different day otherwise if Southwest isn't offering any longer connection times then I would look at other airlines.
Yes, I heard the news about Southwest getting rid of their open seating policy and adding extra leg room for certain seats. It won’t go into effect until sometime next year as they need to reconfigure their aircraft.
Great video. One question: I have early bird check in, so I do nothing until I arrive at the airport and get in line for kiosk to get boarding pass and tags, right?
With early bird you don't have to do anything until you get to the airport. You will still need to check-in at the kiosk to receive your boarding passes and bag tags if you are checking bags. You can also check-in online if you want to see your boarding position ahead of time.
The bag gets weighed when you drop it off so if it's 1 pound over they may let it go without an extra charge. It really depends on the agent checking the bag. I would error on the side of caution and try to avoid going over.
This is an awesome info. Very well explained and it helped me a lot as a senior not so computer savvy user when it comes to airflight domestic and international.
I am an Australian booking a flight from Las Vegas to LAX to catch a connecting flight home. I Have been confronted with 3 viable options. Anytime, Wanna get away plus & Wanna get away. Not interested in points, Is the wanna get away options viable.
I would like to understand this topic more of going through the airport process as a person with a disability but I really need to see the process first hand to really understand it. Hopefully I can make a video on this soon.
Outstanding video 👏🏾 Very thorough and straight to the point which always makes for a great video. Random question: Have you ever seen one of the flight agents move a passenger to the side for trying to skip the line? Meaning, someone in boarding group C trying to board with group A in order to get a seat.
Thank you! I appreciate it! Glad you found the video helpful. To answer your question. Yes, I have seen people try and board in the A or B group when they have been assigned in the C group and most of the time the gate agents will tell them to step aside and wait until their boarding group is called.
First time traveling with 4 children under 18. Do you know if any identification is needed for them? The video was very informational and helpful, Thanks!
No ID is needed for them. I just flew on Southwest with my two daughters who are both under 18 and no one asked for an ID for proof of age. The TSA did ask what the ages of my two daughter were but that was it.
If everyone is on the same reservation then you will be able to check-in everyone at once. Otherwise, if they are on separate reservations then you will have to check in each person individually.
No, you will not need to drop off your bag. You can just head to the security lines as long as you have already checked in and received your boarding pass.
Yes, Southwest allows small cats and dogs that are able to fit under the seat on a first come first serve basis. They allow a max of 6 pets per flight and they charge a $125 fee each way. The pets do need to be in a carrier that meets a certain size requirements. You can find more information at the following link 👉 www.southwest.com/pets/
It's a tight fit when it's at the max dimensions but if your carry-on has some give to it then I think you can make it work. Otherwise if it doesn't fit you will have to check it.
You will receive your confirmation number once your flight is booked. You will use that confirmation to access your reservation which you can do at the kiosk, or online.
@@MarcosGuerrero-rx9lh once your flight is booked you will receive an email or a text with your confirmation number on it that you can save to access your flight reservation later. If you lose that then at the airport you can swipe the credit card you used to book your flight at the kiosk to access your reservation.
Thanks so much for this video. I needed it! Regarding TSA pre-check, can you do a video about TSA Cares too? What’s the difference, is there a separate line or do they move you to the front of the standard line?
So glad you found the video helpful! I can do a video about TSA Cares. That program is really about assisting passengers with disabilities or medical conditions. It doesn't get you through security faster like TSA precheck or get you to the front of the line. You will still have to go through the standard TSA line unless you have TSA precheck.
If i plan on flying and i buy a ticket a hour or two before departure time do i still need to check in ? If im not able to check in because it’s not 24 hours before can i still board ? Please help
You can check-in anytime within 24 hours before departure. If you are buying a ticket an hour or two before departure then yes, you will still need to check in.
@@ellae2341 Yes, you will still be able to board and have a seat as long as the flight is not oversold in which case if you are one of the last people to check in you could be bumped to the next available flight.
Can you take aerosol hair spray in your personal bag on flight? And can you take a women’s rechargeable razor in your personal item bag?? Thank you this video was very helpful!
Yes, you can take aerosol hair spray in your personal bag but it has to be less than 3.4oz. Rechargeable razors can also be taken in your personal bag as well.
Hi...I have a question for you, if I have 2 suitcases, the second suitcase is large and 30kg excess of the airline's provisions, how much do I have to pay?
To check a 3rd bag would be $125. A bag that is overweight would be $100 if the total weight is between 51 and 70lbs and $125 if the weight is between 71 and 100lbs. Anything over that amount would not be allowed. So if you are saying your bag is 30kg over the standard limit then you would need a 3rd bag so you are not over the max limit.
Yes, but you will need to talk to a Southwest agent first. They will ask you some questions to make sure you qualify and then will issue you a new ticket that will be marked as PRBD which will allow you to pre-board before the A group.
We are flying to Orlando this year. I’ll be me and two kids ages 8 and 9. I want us to all sit in same row. Is that possible? How many seats are in a row on a southwest flight?
Each row has 3 seats on either side of the aisle. You shouldn't have any problems being able to all sit together even if you are one of the last people to board. People will usually offer to move seats for you so you can sit with your kids. The flight attendants can also help if you can't find 3 seats together.
We fly often with a family of 4. People are monsters. Make sure you are on the ball and check in the second you are allowed if not doing early bird. Weve been in the beginning of b group and still couldn't find a single row of 3 open because people are monsters. The giant lines of "wheelchair" passengers get early boarding and it seems as if every "disabled person" coincidentally flies southwest now. The lines of wheelchairs is ridiculous. Then families with young children get priority. Then you get all of the pairs of row hogs taking a window and an aisle seat hoping no one will ask for the seat. You also have the groups who pay early bird for 1 person and save seats. The end of b and c group is chaotic. It would be an amazing system if people could act right but i dont have that much faithbin humanity. I might just toss a walking boot on in the future. If you cant beat em join em.
