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Southwest Check In Tips Part 1
Last Friday, I shared Southwest Airlines Online Check In Tips For The Sandwich Generation – Part 1. I had so many boomer senior and elderly travel tips for all of us in the Sandwich Generation traveling with senior parents and/or grandchildren, I had to save some for this week. Last week, we discussed the Southwest Baggage Policy along with the early check in option.
Plane Confirmation Woes
Here’s another tip I wish I’d known about – If you have a Southwest iPhone app, but have problems logging in to get confirmed, try logging directly into Southwest from the Safari (or other) browser in your iPhone or computer. I tried this app on our last flight. For some reason, I could only confirm myself, not my grandchild. Frustrated, I quickly went to my Safari button, logged into Southwest and their early check in online option, and then I was able to confirm my grandchild.
In just that two minutes, I went from my A40 to her A50! Both were high A’s so it didn’t matter. But if you were in the mid-B’s or not able to move quickly, it could be a definite issue as some people might not let you line up by the higher number, requiring you to go with the later number instead. I don’t know if the problem was something I was doing wrong or an issue with the app itself. Since I can’t practice with it other than when I am actually confirming a flight, I’ll definitely go through the website in the future.
Southwest Airlines Senior Fare
It’s also important to note – If you or one of your traveling companions is flying with a Southwest airlines senior fare you will have to go through an age verification process with Southwest or you won’t be allowed to do the early Southwest check in online for them. That means they will have to board alone in order for you to get on early with your early numbers and be able to get seats together! This is definitely an important step to take! For more information on the Southwest airlines senior fare, go to Southwest’s FAQ for Senior Passengers, go down to “Online Checkin or Kiosk Checkin – Age Verification Details for Customers Traveling on Senior Fares” and read the third item. BE SURE to do this at least a month or more before your trip!
Planning ahead to sit together
Southwest is great and will go out of their way to seat a parent or a grandparent with a minor child but it can put you in a somewhat awkward and embarrassing situation, as you wait for someone to trade seats to allow you to sit together. And think how forlorn your senior parent might feel if they were alone in the middle seat between two total strangers! All the tips in both part 1 and part 2 are focused on avoiding just those issues!
Senior Travel Tips for Check In
By the way, if you do check in via a smart phone, it’s usually fine that you can’t print the tickets. Barring technical glitches, which I would think they could work with, you should be able to get them printed at the airport when you arrive, with all your luggage, and they’ll have your great boarding assignment nicely printed on the ticket. 🙂
Southwest Grand for Seniors
As I said last week, I definitely think one of my best travel tips for seniors – especially caregivers – is to fly Southwest. I have consistently found that Southwest is a terrific airline for those of us dealing with the Sandwich Generation issues of caring for elderly parents while enjoying trips and activities for grandparents and grandchildren. Following the tips in this article, as well as Part 1, will help to make your flying experience with elderly parents and/or grandchildren that much better!
The Sandwich Generation Travel Tips
For more air travel tips for seniors and boomers as well as Sandwich Generation caregivers, visit Flying Too Close For Comfort? Tips for the Sandwich Generation, Plan Ahead When Traveling, and Flying Practice for the Baby Boomers Generation & Senior Citizens.
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