E-Ticket Check-In Q&A
| Q: | What is E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A: | E-Ticket Check-In is a self-service kiosk allowing Southwest Airlines Customers to quickly check in for a flight. Customers with an eligible Ticketless TravelSM reservation may walk up to any E-Ticket Check-In kiosk at the airport and, in as little as 30 seconds, can receive their boarding pass and proceed to their Departure Gate. It's that easy! At most Ticket Counter Kiosks, Customers may also print baggage tags that will be attached to their bags by a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent. |
| Q: | Why should I use E-Ticket Check-In? What's the advantage? |
| A: | The advantage of E-Ticket Check-In is speed and convenience of getting through the airport faster. We have the best Customer Service Agents in the business who are always ready, willing, and able to assist you with checking luggage or checking in for your Southwest Airlines flight. This new checkin location provides Customers a self-service option as well. |
| Q: | How do I access my information to get a boarding pass? |
| A: | There are several ways to access your information and begin the checkin process at a kiosk:
Note: When using the Rapid Rewards membership card or account number, the name in your reservation MUST match the name on your Rapid Rewards account and membership card in order to quickly process your reservation at the kiosk. You may update the name on your account by contacting Rapid Rewards Customer Service to have a new card issued. |
| Q: | Can I use E-Ticket Check-In if I have a paper ticket? |
| A: | No. Customers with a paper ticket of any kind will need to check in at either the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, or Departure Gate (to check in at the gate, you must have a Security Document). |
| Q: | If I have a Ticketless reservation but need to check luggage, can I use E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A: | Most E-Ticket Check-In kiosks located at the Ticket Counter allow Customers to print an automated bag tag with assistance from a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent. E-Ticket Check-In kiosks not located at the Ticket Counter cannot be used to print baggage tags. |
| Q: | Can Customers traveling on a Senior Fare use E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A: | Yes, but only if they have been age verified. |
| Q: | If my fare requires proof of military status can I use E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A: | No. Customers traveling on Military fares are required to provide identification to the Southwest Agent as proof of eligibility for these "status fares." Therefore, Customers must see a Customer Service Agent by checking in at the Ticket Counter or Skycap if checking luggage or at the Departure Gate if they are not checking luggage (to check in at the gate, you must have a Security Document). |
| Q: | Can Customers traveling on Youth, Infant, or Child Fares use E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A | No. Customers traveling on Youth, Infant, or Child Fares are required to provide identification to the Southwest Agent as proof of eligibility for these "status fares." Therefore, Customers must see a Customer Service Agent by checking in at the Ticket Counter or Skycap if checking luggage or at the Departure Gate if they are not checking luggage (to check in at the gate, you must have a Security Document). |
| Q: | What if my child is traveling alone as an Unaccompanied Minor? Can I check him/her in with E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A: | No. Unaccompanied Minor
(UM) paperwork is required to be filled out by the person bringing the child
to the airport. This paperwork must be obtained from a Customer Service
Agent and verified for completion. Also, Southwest requires the Unaccompanied
Minor to be escorted to the gate area and that the escort remain there until the child's
flight has departed.
For additional information on children traveling alone, please read our Travel Tips for Children. |
| Q: | Can I use E-Ticket Check-In to get a boarding pass for my connecting flight? |
| A: | Yes. You may request Boarding Passes for your origin city and one connecting city at the same time and avoid another checkin line at your connecting city. |
| Q: | Where can I find an E-Ticket Check-In kiosk? |
| A: | Southwest Airlines has placed E-Ticket Check-In kiosks in every airport we serve. Kiosks are located at Southwest Airlines Ticket Counters and in airport main lobby areas. A few cities may also have kiosks in the Departure Gate areas. |
| Q: | If there are several people traveling together, do we have to check in at the kiosk at the same time? |
| A: | No. Customers within a multi-passenger reservation can either check in together at one kiosk or at different times at separate kiosks. |
| Q: | Will E-Ticket Check-In be available anywhere outside of the airport? |
| A: | Southwest Airlines has placed kiosks inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. Otherwise, E-Ticket Check-In is available only within the airports at this time. We are looking into additional locations as our goal is to add convenience for our Customers. |
| Q: | How does having kiosks at the Ticket Counter save the Customer time? |
| A: | Kiosks at the Ticket Counter assist in shortening lines at all checkin points by providing additional checkin locations throughout the airport, and kiosks at the Ticket Counter that do not require a dedicated Customer Service Agent (CSA). Since the kiosk is self-serve, Customers are entering information prior to needing assistance from a CSA. This allows the CSA to serve more people, more quickly since less time is needed for each individual Customer. |
| Q: | Can you buy a ticket with E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A: | Not at this time. Initially a Customer will not be able to make a reservation, change his/her itinerary, or buy a ticket at the E-Ticket Check-In. Our goal with the initial launch is to help relieve congestion and lines at our airports. Our primary focus is on providing the essentials for a Customer to check in for a flight. As we continue to expand the number of kiosks, we will also be evaluating the most beneficial enhancements. |
| Q: | If I use my credit card to begin the checkin process at E-Ticket Check-In, will I be charged a fee? |
| A: | No. The credit card is used only for identification purposes to assist in retrieving reservations. |
| Q: | Why can't I check luggage at ALL E-Ticket Check-In locations? |
| A: | To comply with FAA regulations, a Southwest Agent must control the receiving and applying of luggage tags to the Customers luggage. To accommodate this, Customer Service Agents are located at the Ticket Counter where luggage tags can be printed and handled as usual. This is not possible at remote locations. We have begun implementing a solution that allows Customers to print their own luggage tags at most Ticket Counter kiosk locations with the assistance of a Southwest Customer Service Agent (to attach the tag to the luggage). |
| Q: | Can I change my itinerary at E-Ticket Check-In? |
| A: | No. Currently the kiosk provides Customers a quicker option for simple checkin transactions. As always, if a Customer needs to buy a ticket, change his/her travel plans, or arrange for special services such as Unaccompanied Minors, he/she may check in with a Southwest Customer Service Agent at the Ticket Counter or Departure Gate (to check in at the gate, you must have a Security Document). |
| Q: | I am traveling on a Rapid Rewards Award - can I use the kiosk? |
| A: | Yes. |
| Q: | As a Customer of size, can I use the kiosk? |
| A: | To ensure Customers get both seats they have paid for and the opportunity to preboard, we suggest they check in with a Customer Service Agent at the Ticket Counter or Departure Gate (to check in at the gate, you must have a Security Document). |
Updated: September 20, 2005
