![]() The idea is that you get an alphanumeric pass that allows you to board in order. And now it has added more and more to that system to get to the point where it is today. But Southwest decided to make a change, so it created an entirely new system. People were ready at 24 hours out to make sure they got the coveted boarding pass in the first group. The time limit backed up until it was 24 hours in advance. ![]() It sucked.Įventually, this changed to the point where you could check in at the ticket counter and then online. So you would get camps of homeless-looking people staking their spots. Those in the first 30 could board in whatever order they lined up in. Plastic boarding cards were handed out beginning 1 hour prior to departure, and boarding was in groups of 30. When you got there, it was common to find lines snaking out into the concourse. It used to be back in the day that you could only check in at the gate. Let’s start with a graphic.īefore I start explaining this little picture, I might need to back up a little further. So, I thought it was time to break down how Southwest handles boarding. That’s going to be changing quickly as AirTran gets converted over. Long time Southwest loyalists might smirk a little at this, but keep in mind that in places like New York and Atlanta, flying Southwest is still a somewhat foreign concept. Is it really possible that the entire plane (less 3 people) checked in >4 hours prior? I was surprised in line to see that there were only 3 people behind us for the entire plane. I was peeved to be B48, but figured that we’d be ok. I forgot to do the 24 hour checkin yesterday, but remembered about 4 hours prior and did so from my phone figuring I’d still be OK by beating the airport checkin people. I think my favorite was from someone in New York who is used to flying AirTran but just had her first experience on Southwest. The one less-traveled scenario is leaving Orlando late evening which seems to be less busy, maybe due to people not traveling late with kids and business people paying for midday flights in general.In the wake of Southwest announcing that you can now jump to the head of the line for $40 a person if there is room, I’ve received a lot of questions about just exactly how the Southwest boarding process works. Then also quite a few people that fly infrequently also flying to do the same thing without A-list, some of these go for EBCI.Īnyway, to make a long story short, my experience as an A-lister is that there are a lot of other A-listers coming and going to MCO. Then it is also a popular tourist area for when all these out of town business people want to take the family to see the mouse (like myself). Then there is also a fairly robust consulting industry there so A-listers are flying from MCO. ![]() I think Orlando is a unique place - you have a lot of business and convention activity, so there is some high traffic among A-listers visiting your city. In some forums this is known as "Serendipitous Early there really that many EBCI or A-Listers flying at 6:55 on a Sunday from MCO? I realize that if MCO is my home airport, I'm in a premium location, but this all seems a bit much. The means that someone checking in manually at t-24 or later can receive a great position, one that is ahead of those who bought EBCI. These are often A-Listers with low positions, and the next person(s) to check in get those positions. *Southwest re-issues the positions of passengers who are checked in but then cancel their flight prior to departure. Online check-in at t-24 (in order of check-in*, follows EBCI, may occur in A or B, depending on the number of EBCI's sold) Family Boarding, Military, A-Listers who don't have an A position, those needing extra time (between the A and B groups) EBCI (ranked based on order of purchase, with those who bought Anytime fares ahead of those who bought Wanna Get Away) Serendipitous Early Boarding* (possibly, no guarantee) A-List Preferred & A-List (ranked using a secret formula known only to Southwest) A1-15: Business Select (based on order of check-in) followed by Upgraded Boarding (based on order of purchase, otherwise empty) A-Listers are assigned positions ahead of EBCI.ĭepending on market, the bulk of A (when not available at t-24) will either be filled with A-lister's (lots of business, like intra-California) or EBCI (lots of leisure, like MCO).
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