I’m nowhere near “new” to commercial aviation, though I don’t fly much at all (other than direct flights between a few west coast cities) and I’ve never been to Chicago Midway. I’m flying Southwest from San Diego to Chicago (Midway, somewhat obviously) next weekend. If I may, I have a couple of questions (mostly just out of intellectual curiosity about how it all works):
I bought earlybird check in for both flights. On my way to Chicago, I change planes in Phoenix. How does check in to a connecting flight work out? I understand that I don’t have to check in twice, but does my purchase of earlybird for the first leg also gain me an advantage as to the second leg? I.e., will I get an A for boarding in Phoenix, or will I get stuck with a B or C?
What’s flying into and out of Midway like? I’ve never done it. Does it suffer frequent delays and/or cancellations? My trip centers around some events with strict timing issues so delays or a cancellation would suck (a lot).
I could be wrong, but I believe that early bird only applies to your first leg. With that said, if you did online checking exactly 24 hours prior to (first leg) departure, you should get a good enough boarding position on the second leg.
This time of the year, thunderstorms could be an issue in Chicago. I personally avoid flying through there in winter and summer.
2:00ish arrival. I *think *we’re going straight to Wrigleyville but I’m not positive because that part is being planned by others and hasn’t been communicated to me yet.
Oh good lord, WHY? I love SWA for anything under 1.5 hours but it’s terrible IMO for anything longer. I was also concierge key and all other status options on AA bc of travel so I am/was spoiled. As far I understand your early bird is only for 1st leg but if you check in for all flights at same time you should get a some-what early in line boarding spot. But it is quite common to see connections on SWA racing off the plane to race to the next one. Given that you don’t have assigned seating it’s a crap shoot for where you’ll end up sitting.
When there’s a connecting flight, you get you check in and get your line number for both flights at the same time. I don’t know how early bird works, as I’ve always had priority and get the A1-15 slot for every flight. But if you check in precisely 24 hours in advance of the first flight, that means you’re checking in more than 24 hours in advance of the connecting flight, which means you’re checking in before the vast majority of those on that flight. If early bird lets you check in more than 24 hours in advance, then it’s even better for the second flight.
I’ve been on planes that have had to circle a bit before landing at Midway. But that seems to be the exception in my experience. More often, however, there’s a line when taking off, but usually not enough to significantly delay the flight. Southwest is pretty good at keeping their flights on time.
Earlybird gets me automatic check in 36 hours before the flights for which I bought it.* Earlybirds get the lowest numbered As following you A1-15 bourgeoisie. So we start at A16 and our numbers are granted in the order in which we bought our earlybirds. The 24-hour proletariats board after us (which is why a lot of people who check in exactly 24 hours in advance now get high As and low Bs-it all depends on how many earlybirds were purchased). Now that I have means, ain’t nobody got time for checking in a mere 24 hours early.
*In the event of a cancellation, your earlybird is terminated, the fee is refunded, and you’ll likely be a C on the flight onto which you’re rebooked. We went through that exercise in early March flying out of Sacramento… I’m told that if you sweet talk the gate agent in such a situation then you *may *be allowed to preboard between the As and Bs, kind of like if you’re flying with a young kid. Luckily, we *were *flying with a kid, so even though she’s a year older than allowed for kids’ pre-boarding, they let us on early anyway after I was nice to the gate agent.
Earlybird check-in is good for all legs of your flight - not just the first.
To OP:I pretty much exclusively fly SWA if I’m paying. They have the best snacks and if something goes wrong, they always make it right (read: they don’t leave you stranded without compensation)
I flew in/out of Midway 90% of the time (2x flights per month over 12 years or so). I’m a fan. Absolutely hate Ohare though.
Delays were rare, as were cancellations. Security lines (especially during lower traffic days) are long and slow due to trainees cutting their teeth. Give yourself plenty of time to be safe.
2 in the afternoon should be fine just jumping on the orange line (which will get you to the loop). If you’re flying back late at night I might decide to Uber it instead. It’s not terribly dicey at night but I’ve seen some shit that could have very easily gone sideways for me between 10-6am on the orange line.
2:00ish arrival. I *think *we’re going straight to Wrigleyville but I’m not positive because that part is being planned by others and hasn’t been communicated to me yet.
Orange line to Roosevelt go downstairs transfer to red line… redline ti Addison
Earlybird gets me automatic check in 36 hours before the flights for which I bought it.* Earlybirds get the lowest numbered As following you A1-15 bourgeoisie. So we start at A16 and our numbers are granted in the order in which we bought our earlybirds. The 24-hour proletariats board after us (which is why a lot of people who check in exactly 24 hours in advance now get high As and low Bs-it all depends on how many earlybirds were purchased). Now that I have means, ain’t nobody got time for checking in a mere 24 hours early.
*In the event of a cancellation, your earlybird is terminated, the fee is refunded, and you’ll likely be a C on the flight onto which you’re rebooked. We went through that exercise in early March flying out of Sacramento… I’m told that if you sweet talk the gate agent in such a situation then you *may *be allowed to preboard between the As and Bs, kind of like if you’re flying with a young kid. Luckily, we *were *flying with a kid, so even though she’s a year older than allowed for kids’ pre-boarding, they let us on early anyway after I was nice to the gate agent.
Make sure you check in as soon as you are able, it will give you a better slot in the line. Priority is 1 - 15 and then Early Bird after and that is dependent on when you go online and check in.
As others have said, Midway is a good choice depending on when/where you’re going. I would second the information that said security can be much longer than it should be so plan on getting there with plenty of time to make it through.
Orange line into the city is OK if you’re really going directly to Wrigleyville from MDW plan Orange/Red line combo to take at least 90 minutes. With light traffic a car would be about 35-45 minutes.
Just flew Southwest to New Orleans from Raleigh thru Nashville. Paid a $20 early bird fee that covered both legs. Return flight was nonstop which is so nice. Other times I have flown and paid the early bird fee, I haven’t checked in the day before as I thought that the fee covered that. My travel partner still insisted on checking us in the day before. Seems like I’ve always ended up in the 30’s.
Earlybird gets me automatic check in 36 hours before the flights for which I bought it.* **Earlybirds get the lowest numbered As following you A1-15 bourgeoisie. So we start at A16 and our numbers are granted in the order in which we bought our earlybirds. **The 24-hour proletariats board after us (which is why a lot of people who check in exactly 24 hours in advance now get high As and low Bs-it all depends on how many earlybirds were purchased). Now that I have means, ain’t nobody got time for checking in a mere 24 hours early.
No - you people who have to buy the earlybird will be behind the A-List who are behind the A-List Preferred (and those who pay for Business Select) so you’ll be more in the A40 range.
Nothing to add about Southwest or Midway, but re: efficiency and time-savings totally recommend having TSA-pre and CLEAR.
That’ll get you through security comfortably and quickly… Not sure when you’re flying, but there is a few weeks lag between signing up and when ready for use.
Pulaski to 55 and either to NB LSD or Kennedy based on traffic.
So you want to get stuck going on LSD up to Chicago which sucks and then get off at Fullerton and drive through boystown or get stuck going through the city with construction at the Byrne and then get off at Addison plus day of game traffic? And you think that will be 40 minutes?
That’s why you use google traffic, and never get off at Fullerton to get to wrigley get off at irving and avoid the tourists and other jackasses who dont know any better.
That’s why you use google traffic, and never get off at Fullerton to get to wrigley get off at irving and avoid the tourists and other jackasses who dont know any better.
Oh you mean the tourists all up and down from Roosevelt up through the curve trying to go to Navy pier, Millennium park, mag mile who don’t know how to drive in the city late afternoon in the summer? Turning left onto Iriving Park is worse than Fullerton. Besides walking there is exactly one way to get to Wrigley that is not insane and it ain’t driving. 40 minutes is fucking delusional at that time.
So we start at A16 and our numbers are granted in the order in which we bought our earlybirds. The 24-hour proletariats board after us (which is why a lot of people who check in exactly 24 hours in advance now get high As and low Bs-it all depends on how many earlybirds were purchased). Now that I have means, ain’t nobody got time for checking in a mere 24 hours early.