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Trying to complete your Southwest check in but the website or app will not let you continue? A failed online check-in does not necessarily mean your reservation is canceled or that you cannot fly. The problem may be related to the timing of check-in, your reservation details, an international itinerary, a partner airline, or a temporary technical issue.
Southwest online check-in opens 24 hours before the flight's original scheduled departure time. Passengers can check in through Southwest.com, the Southwest app, or at the airport using available self-service kiosks or Southwest ticket-counter services.
This guide explains the most common reasons for a Southwest online check-in not working, what different errors may mean, and what to do if you cannot obtain your Southwest boarding pass online.
Several different situations can prevent a passenger from completing a Southwest flight check in. Start with the following possibilities before assuming there is a problem with your ticket.
Southwest opens online check-in 24 hours before the original scheduled departure time. If your flight is still outside that window, the check-in function will not be available yet.
For example, if your flight is scheduled to leave at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow, online check-in generally becomes available around 7:00 p.m. today.
If your flight is more than 24 hours away, there is usually nothing wrong with your reservation. Wait until the check-in window opens.
Southwest's check-in page asks for your confirmation number, first name, and last name.
A small entry mistake can prevent the reservation from being retrieved.
Check:
If you have a Rapid Rewards account, upcoming reservations associated with that account can also appear under your trips. Southwest says confirmation numbers can also be found in reservation emails.
This is an important reason that some passengers cannot complete Southwest online check in.
If your itinerary contains a partner airline, the airline operating the first flight determines where you need to check in. Southwest states that passengers whose first flight is operated by a partner must check in through that airline's website.
Look at your itinerary and identify the operating carrier.
If the first flight is on Southwest, you may be able to check in through Southwest.com beginning 24 hours before departure. If the first flight is operated by a partner, start with that carrier.
Southwest has specific restrictions for online check-in on some international itineraries.
The airline states that customers traveling to or from Aruba, Havana, and Punta Cana cannot check in online.
For international travel generally, passport verification may also be required. Southwest says eligible customers can scan their passport or U.S. I-551 Permanent Resident Card during check-in, while verification can also be completed with an agent or kiosk at the airport.
If your itinerary falls into one of these categories, an inability to check in online may be expected rather than a website error.
International travel can require additional documentation.
If Southwest cannot complete the necessary passport verification electronically, you may need to visit a ticket counter or kiosk at the airport.
For international flights, Southwest says passengers must have their passport verified by an agent or kiosk at the ticket counter at least 60 minutes before scheduled departure.
Have your passport and other required travel documents available when you arrive.
Sometimes the Southwest check-in issue is technical rather than related to your reservation.
Possible symptoms include:
If the problem appears to be technical, try the Southwest app instead of the website, or switch from the app to Southwest.com.
If the website works but the app does not, the problem may be specific to the app or your device.
Try:
If departure is approaching, do not spend too long troubleshooting the app. Airport check-in remains an option.
Certain reservation types have different procedures.
For example, Southwest states that Unaccompanied Minors and Customers traveling on Group reservations must check in at the Southwest ticket counter rather than using the self-service kiosk.
So if your reservation has special handling requirements, an inability to complete every step online may be intentional.
A Southwest check-in error message does not always explain the underlying problem. Consider what happens when you attempt to check in.
First, confirm that you are within 24 hours of the flight's original scheduled departure time.
If you are within the window, check whether your itinerary involves a partner airline or an international destination with different online check-in procedures.
This usually calls for a review of the information you entered.
Recheck your:
Southwest's check-in page specifically requires the confirmation number and passenger name to retrieve the trip.
If Southwest directs you to the airport, there may be a document, itinerary, or passenger-specific requirement that cannot be completed online.
Follow the instruction rather than repeatedly submitting the same check-in request.
A boarding pass may not be issued electronically in every situation.
Southwest explains that, in certain circumstances, it may issue a security document instead of a boarding pass. Examples include some customers without a seat assignment, standby passengers, and passengers arriving very close to departure. A boarding pass may then need to be obtained at the airport.
If your Southwest online check-in not working problem is not immediately obvious, work through these steps.
Check your flight's original scheduled departure time.
Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure.
Do not confuse the 24-hour check-in window with the final check-in deadline.
Find the six-character confirmation number in your Southwest reservation information.
If you have a Rapid Rewards account, look under your upcoming trips. Southwest also says the confirmation number appears in its reservation emails.
Use the first and last name associated with the reservation.
Avoid adding extra spaces or using a different passenger's information.
Look carefully at your itinerary.
If a partner airline operates the first flight, Southwest says you need to check in with that airline.
If you are traveling internationally, check your passport and destination requirements.
For eligible international itineraries, Southwest may require passport scanning before the mobile boarding pass becomes available.
If the website does not work, try the app.
If the app fails, use Southwest.com.
Trying both platforms helps determine whether you are dealing with a temporary technical problem.
If the problem continues, use another browser or device.
You can also temporarily disable browser extensions that may interfere with website functionality.
If online check-in still does not work, go to the airport and use a self-service kiosk where available or visit the Southwest ticket counter.
Southwest says kiosks can be used to retrieve reservations and obtain boarding passes at participating locations.
Yes.
Southwest provides several airport options for passengers who cannot complete online check-in. Depending on the airport and itinerary, these can include:
Southwest's current check-in information confirms that boarding passes can be obtained online, through the app, or at the airport using available services.
If your online check-in has failed, arrive early enough to resolve the problem before the applicable deadline.
If you completed check-in but cannot see your Southwest boarding pass, first try retrieving your reservation again through the app or website.
If the boarding pass still does not appear, go to a Southwest kiosk or ticket counter.
Southwest also explains that some travelers receive a security document instead of a boarding pass because of certain security or reservation circumstances. In those cases, the actual boarding pass may need to be obtained at the airport.
Do not assume that a missing digital boarding pass means your reservation has been canceled.
Southwest's deadlines are important because checking in online is not enough if you miss the final required cutoff.
For domestic flights, the check-in deadline is 30 minutes before the original scheduled departure time. For international flights, the deadline is 60 minutes, or 75 minutes for flights departing Aruba. Southwest says passengers who attempt to check in after these cutoffs may need to be rebooked on the next available flight.
Southwest also requires passengers to have their boarding passes and be in the gate area at least 10 minutes before departure. Failure to meet that requirement may result in cancellation of the reservation.
These are minimum requirements, not a recommended arrival time.
Your recommended arrival time depends on the airport, destination, security conditions, and whether you are checking bags.
Southwest notes that airport arrival and baggage deadlines can vary by location. Its airport information pages provide airport-specific guidance.
If you are already experiencing a Southwest check-in issue, arrive earlier than you normally would. This gives you time to:
Checking in online does not mean you can arrive at the airport immediately before departure with luggage.
Southwest says checked bags must generally be presented at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure on domestic flights and at least 60 minutes before international flights, with a 75-minute requirement for flights departing Aruba.
Some airports may have additional requirements, so always check the instructions for your departure airport.
If your phone is preventing you from completing Southwest online check in, move through the troubleshooting process quickly:
The screenshot can be useful if you need to explain the problem to a Southwest employee.
Southwest allows eligible passengers to indicate that they will check bags and pay applicable standard checked-bag fees online through Southwest.com or the Southwest app.
However, online baggage processing does not eliminate the airport bag-drop requirement.
At the airport, you may need to print baggage tags, attach them, and take your bags to the appropriate bag-drop location.
Before assuming there is a major reservation problem, check these items:
The most common reasons are that you are too early, your reservation information is incorrect, your first flight is operated by a partner airline, your itinerary has international check-in requirements, or there is a technical problem with the Southwest website or app.
Southwest online check-in opens 24 hours before the flight's original scheduled departure time.
Check your confirmation number and passenger name first. If those are correct, look at your itinerary for a partner-operated first flight or an international destination where online check-in is unavailable.
No. Southwest states that customers traveling to or from Aruba, Havana, and Punta Cana cannot check in online.
There are several possible reasons. Some passengers may receive a security document rather than a boarding pass because of security or reservation circumstances. In some cases, the boarding pass must be obtained at the airport.
Yes. Southwest offers airport check-in options, including kiosks where available, Skycap podiums at select locations, ticket counters, and certain gate services.
Try restarting or updating the app, checking your internet connection, signing in again, and using Southwest.com. If the problem continues, use an airport kiosk or visit the Southwest ticket counter.
If the first flight on your itinerary is operated by a partner airline, Southwest says you must check in through that airline.
The domestic check-in deadline is generally 30 minutes before the original scheduled departure time. Southwest says passengers who fail to check in and obtain a boarding pass or security document by that time may have their reservation canceled.
The general international check-in deadline is 60 minutes before scheduled departure, or 75 minutes for flights departing Aruba.
You must meet the applicable baggage acceptance deadline even if you have already checked in online. Southwest generally requires bags to be presented at least 45 minutes before domestic departure and 60 minutes before international departure, with a 75-minute requirement for Aruba departures.
If you are searching for “why can’t I check in on Southwest Airlines,” start by checking whether you are within the 24-hour online check-in window and whether your confirmation number and passenger name are correct.
Next, look at your itinerary. A partner-operated first flight or certain international destinations can change where and how you check in. Southwest specifically states that online check-in is unavailable for customers traveling to or from Aruba, Havana, and Punta Cana.
If the problem appears technical, switch between the Southwest app and website and try another device or browser. If you still cannot complete your Southwest flight check in, do not wait until the final minutes before departure.
Go to the airport with your identification, reservation details, and required travel documents. Southwest provides airport check-in and boarding-pass options, and an employee can determine whether the problem is technical, reservation-related, or caused by a travel-document requirement.
The most important thing is to meet Southwest's applicable check-in and gate deadlines. Online check-in is convenient, but getting successfully checked in and to the gate on time is what ultimately matters.
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