SouthWest Airlines Check In - General Information

Over the years, Southwest Airlines has put into practice several procedures  to bring improvements in their functioning so as to make for better services for their customers. They keep making changes for the better on how their customers check-in for their flights and how they reserve their seats for boarding the plane. Frequent flyers with Southwest know very well that all boarding passes are determined individually on a first-come, first-serve basis. The customers can check in starting precisely 24 hours before the scheduled flight time.
Depending on the chronological order, they would be given A, B, or C boarding group. Passengers then line up in any order as they arrive at the gate, thus deciding upon their place in line as they arrive.
The new procedure with Southwest Airlines makes it possible for the entire procedure of the line up order down to the individual person to be set up as the time of check in. This gives the customer as well as the staff some free time to do some more important tasks if any. Of course, there are still many people who are still not used to the new procedure ands still wait for hours in the lines waiting for the attendant to call their group.
In order to avail of the online check in with Southwest Airlines, you need to be careful of the following procedures:

• Check-in online starts 24 hours before departure.
• You will need confirmation number
• First Name and Last Name.
• Be age verified
•  Passengers with infants cannot check-in online as the proof for the child being under 2 years old must be given to the Southwest Airlines agent in person
• Have a ticket less reservation.
• You are not a passenger with special needs
• Have an electronic ticket for a Southwest flight

You should check in at the airport at least one hour prior to the scheduled departure. This is to ensure that you have sufficient time at the airport to go through security, bag checks and all.
You can use Online Check-in if you are carrying bags to check and get the boarding pass printed at home but you will need to leave your bags at a Southwest Airlines Check-in counter before the announced time at the airport. However you will not be able to select your seat as Southwest does not assign seating number on their flights.
Southwest Airlines will soon have a dedicated security-screening lane for its frequent flyer members, and highest-tier business class passengers.