Can I check my baggage online with Southwest?
Yes. If you're checking three or more bags, you'll be prompted to use a credit card to pay the applicable bag charge. Learn more about our checked bag policy. What other functions can I perform on the self-tagging kiosks?
- Add check-in baggage. Enter your PNR/Booking Ref and Last Name in the fields below.
- Select number of baggage. Add number of baggage(s) against the name of each passenger.
- Baggage tag generated. Your baggage has been successfully added and baggage tag(s) have been generated!
There are a few quick and easy ways to check if you booked checked in luggage. Probably the quickest way is to find the email that we sent you with your tax invoice. On that email you'll see a Checked Bag listed under the description column in the charges section.
When you arrive at the bag drop, a United employee will check your ID, you'll scan your boarding pass, and the United employee will attach a bag tag. Voila! Your bag is on the way to the plane, and you are on your way to security.
At the Bag Drop point, you simply place your bag on the baggage belt to start. You'll then be prompted to scan your boarding pass and follow the instructions on the screen to check in your bags.
If you do have luggage to check-in you will need to go to the check-in desk assigned for your airline/flight, this will be displayed on the flight information screens in the terminal.
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.
But Southwest does not offer baggage tracking features that the other three major US carriers do on their apps. Southwest only began tallying up the number of bags on each flight by scanning them into a computer a few years ago.
Customers can check luggage as early as four hours prior to departure or as soon as the airport ticket counter opens for early morning flights. To find out what time the ticket counter opens in your departure city, tweet @Southwestair, contact us on Facebook, or call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.
The biggest benefit of checking in online is bypassing the lines at the airport. You can skip waiting in line to check in, then possibly–if the airline allows it for your flight–skip waiting in a second line to check your luggage, and instead head straight to security.
Do we have to print baggage tag?
You can print a baggage tag at a self-service check-in kiosk at the airport and proceed to a Self-service Bag Drop or Bag Drop desk. If there are no self-service check-in kiosks at your departure airport or if you have already checked in online, you can get the baggage tag from a Bag Drop desk.
The majority of checked baggage is screened without the need for a physical bag search. Inspection Notices: TSA may inspect your checked baggage during the screening process. If your property is physically inspected, TSA will place a notice of baggage inspection inside your bag.
Boarding passes are provided directly by the airline after checking in for your flight. If the airline you're flying with offers online check-in 24 hours before departure time, you can usually print your boarding passes directly from the website or have them sent directly to your phone!
At eligible airports, look for the self-tag kiosk. Check in and pay applicable* baggage fees with your debit or credit card. Self-sticking tags will print from the kiosk, along with your boarding pass. Attach the tag to your luggage using the printed instructions.
The earliest you can check your bags vary based on the airline and airport policies. But in general, the earliest time you can check your bags is 2-4 hours before flight time. Some may allow up to 6 hours, but most international flights won't accept check-in earlier than that.
Your carryon can be no bigger than 24” (L) + 16” (W) + 10” (H). If it's bigger than those dimensions, it will need to be checked. Where can I store my carryon? You must store your carryon in the overhead bin.