Based upon the option you select, you may check-in anytime beginning 24 hours (Online or Mobile check-in) and around 10-20 minutes (in the boarding gate podium) before the scheduled departure of your trip. Southwest Airlines reserves the right to limit Boarding Pass distribution in the departure gate podium.
For international flights, the check-in deadline is 60 minutes before scheduled departure (at least 75 minutes before scheduled departure for flights leaving Aruba). Passengers who don’t fulfill this check-in limitation won’t be allowed to check in or board the flight.
Even though you can check in anytime within the time constraints above, you need to understand that Southwest Airlines has a”no assigned chair” coverage. There are no reserved seats on Southwest Airlines flights. Every passenger selects his chair upon boarding the airplane. A boarding order is provided from the period of check-in, once you’re assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and some (1-60). That’s your boarding place, and it’ll be shown in your boarding pass. The earlier you check-in, the sooner you board the aircraft and also select from more accessible seats.
Normally, the advised time for arriving at the airport will be 120 minutes ahead of your flight but may change from 3 hours to 60 minutes before scheduled departure.
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Southwest Automatic Check-in
During Automatic Check-in, Southwest Airlines checks in passengers and assigns early boarding places 12 hours before overall boarding places become available. Southwest Airlines starts Automatic Check-in 36 hours before scheduled departure, assigning boarding places to clients who prioritize priority boarding privileges.
Passengers mechanically checked in by Southwest Airlines Reservations can print their boarding passes starting 24 hours before scheduled departure. Boarding passes may also be published in the self-service kiosks at the airport lobby.
Business Select Fare and Quick Reward A-List standing
Automated Check-in is among those perks in the Company Select Fare, along with a benefit for Quick Gains A-List Preferred and A-List members. To gain from booked boarding invoices, Rapid Rewards members should incorporate his/her Member number from the reservation at least 36 hours before scheduled departure.
Early Bird Check-in
Early Bird Check-in is available for purchase only using a charge card, for $15-25 one time, as much as 36 hours before scheduled departure time. It’s possible to buy Early Bird Check-in online, with your mobile device (cellular site or program ), or on the telephone using a Reservation Agent. All Early Bird Check-in buys are non-refundable. Although Early Bird Check-in doesn’t guarantee you a position in boarding team A, it’s quite probable you will find an A Boarding Pass.
Early Bird Check-in Boarding Passes are booked beginning with clients who’ve bought Anytime Fare, who have priority over clients who have bought digital tickets in the wanna Get Away Fare.
Southwest Online Check-in:
It’s possible to check-in online and prints your boarding pass beginning 24 hours before the departure period; however, not later than 1 hour before your flight. Additionally, you may print your boarding pass in the Ticket Counter, Skycap Podium, or self-service kiosks. To start Online Check-in, you will need the passenger’s first and last name and the verification number. Group Travel Passengers can check-in online with the choice to choose that passengers to be assessed in.
Online Check-in can be obtained for international flights around 90 minutes before departure to secure a boarding place. But passengers traveling globally should check-in at the ticket counter upon arrival in the airport to get their passport checked, assess in the bag, also get the boarding pass. In US airports, kiosks may also be used to test in, scan the passport, add emergency contact info, and then print the boarding pass for international flights.
Fare restrictions
Passengers traveling Military Fare should check-in at the airport. Passengers traveling Child or Baby fares may check-in online only as long as they’re Age Verified along with also the passenger’s account number is within the reservation. Age Verified means you’ve got Quick Rewards or Southwest accounts suggesting that a Customer Service Agent confirmed the date of arrival.
Southwest Mobile Check-in:
You want the confirmation number and the first and last name of the passenger when using your cellular device to test in. Mobile Check-in is available for passengers traveling at a multi-passenger booking.
In the conclusion of the check, the verification screen will signify your dressing table team. It is possible to print your boarding pass in the self-evident check-in kiosk by asking for a reprint, or perhaps you get it in the Ticket Counter, Skycap Podium, or even online.
Mobile Boarding Pass
Mobile boarding passes may be used at all US airports, but maybe not for international flights.
Babies, Unaccompanied Minors, passengers traveling to an Army Fare, and nonrevenue passengers aren’t qualified to be given a cell boarding pass.
Self Check-in In The Airport:
For the rest of the passengers, self-service check-in kiosks (accessible, for example, in most non-U.S. airports except Nassau) may be employed to test in. Kiosks located in the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counters may be used to look at your luggage. You can’t check your luggage in the kiosks located in the airport reception area. It is possible to get your booking either by inputting your confirmation or Quick Rewards amount or swiping your credit card or Quick Rewards A-List charge card.
In US airports, kiosks may also be used to test in, scan the passport, add emergency contact info, and print the boarding pass for international flights.
For flights that have been gate limited or if checking-in 20 minutes or less before scheduled departure, boarding passes can be had only in the Death Gate. You’ll require a Safety Document letting you pass through security checkpoints to get into the gate. You can find the Safety Document on the internet (24 hours before your flight) or in the Ticket Counter, Skycap Podium, or even self-service kiosk (just for ticketless clients ). Upon arrival at the entrance gate, the Security Document will be exchanged using a boarding pass from the Client Service Agent.