Can you automatically check-in to Southwest flight?

If EarlyBird Check-In® is available, we'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure - that's 12 hours before general boarding positions become available.



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Flight Check-In Online Beginning 24 hours prior to departure, from Southwest.com® or the Southwest® app, select “Check in.” Enter the confirmation number and first and last name of a Passenger on the itinerary, and click “Check in” (for desktop) or “Retrieve reservation” (for the Southwest app or mobile website).

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Depending on the requirements of airport authorities, you will need to present a mobile boarding pass, a paper boarding pass printed out by you or a paper boarding pass picked up from the check-in desk.

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Re: Checking In Online Are you traveling on a Senior or Military fare by chance? Those have to be verified at the counter. Otherwise, Southwest doesn't allow the last few boarding passes for any particular flight to be given out online, you have to get them at the airport.

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If you don't check in, you won't receive a boarding pass that allows you to board the plane, and your seat might be given up to a standby passenger. The check-in process also confirms your traveler details like your passport information and frequent flyer number.

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It's typically better to check in online, since you can do so much sooner than you would be able to in person at the airport. As mentioned above, it's especially important to check in early for a Southwest flight, since boarding order is determined by check-in order.

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Yes! Group Passengers can check in on Southwest.com and reserve their boarding positions beginning 24 hours prior to departure. The online check-in process for Group travel is slightly different than you may be used to for non-Group travel. Go to Southwest.com and click Check In to reserve your boarding positions.

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Re: Airport Checkin Required? This usually occurs if you book a special fare such as a senior or child fare that requires age verification. I think it's also possible if all standard boarding positions have already been assigned and the system can't assign you a position.

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9 ways to avoid airport lines
  1. Check in online. ...
  2. Ditch checked baggage for a carry-on. ...
  3. Skip the longer lines with TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. ...
  4. Avoid peak travel days. ...
  5. Consider alternate airports. ...
  6. Get elite status for airlines. ...
  7. Understand TSA rules. ...
  8. Be prepared for COVID-19 requirements.


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Online Check-in for International Flights. Online check-in allows those who have reserved seats and completed the required information to check into their flight from 24 hours prior to departure. During this process, you can confirm or change seats and get a boarding pass.

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I have checked in online, but can't see my boarding pass. This could be because some airports do not accept mobile boarding passes, or it may be unavailable for a number of other reasons, technical or otherwise. If this is the case, please collect your boarding pass at the airport.

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Not technically. Your boarding pass is your “ticket” to board the plane, but technically your ticket is generated as an “e-ticket,” or an electronic ticket, when you book your flight. Your boarding pass will be generated upon check-in, either online or at the check-in counter.

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Yes, printed boarding passes are still available should you prefer to not utilize a mobile boarding pass.

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Check-in times You can check in online or from the app starting 24 hours before and up to 45 minutes before your flight (90 for international). To check bags or check in at the airport, you must be there a certain amount of time before scheduled departure: Within the U.S. – 45 minutes.

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