Southwest Rapid Rewards - MDW to TPA Question

I am flying a middle segment of a trip from Chicago to Tampa next Sat morning (way too early). I have a 12pm meeting in Tampa and United's earliest flight was still too late.

I am booked with business select fare. Now I have not flown SW since college (10 years), and just remember a crazy boarding process. My question is do they only sell a standard number of business fare seats or do they allow anyone to get priority boarding for a fee?

I am also looking forward to flying out of Midway. The last time I was there was 20 years or so ago on a connection on ATA.

They only sell 15 business fare tickets so you will be the first group immediately after preboards.

You will find the boarding process to be greatly improved and not at all chaotic. Stand in line in your place and grab the first seat you see that you want.

The TPA terminal is a good one. You will follow the signs to the train and ride over to baggage claim. Luggage usually comes out fairly quick. If you are renting a car, they are in the terminal and you can walk right to your car.

Saturday morning first flight at MDW will be a lot of travel naive folks. I suggest that you plan 2.5 hours before your flight for arrival at the airport. You probably will not need it, but be safe. You are BS so look for the FlyBy elite lanes at both check in if needed and in security. If you check in on line and print your boarding pass and are not checking a bag, you can go straight to security. MDW has a reputation for being lax at enforcement of the FlyBy but recent reports are that they are getting better. FlyBy is to the right of the entry to the checkpoint.

If you are way too early enjoy breakfast at Harry Carey's. It is always good to plan extra time for MDW.

You will find the boarding process to be greatly improved and not at all chaotic. Stand in line in your place and grab the first seat you see that you want.

The TPA terminal is a good one. You will follow the signs to the train and ride over to baggage claim. Luggage usually comes out fairly quick. If you are renting a car, they are in the terminal and you can walk right to your car.

Saturday morning first flight at MDW will be a lot of travel naive folks. I suggest that you plan 2.5 hours before your flight for arrival at the airport. You probably will not need it, but be safe. You are BS so look for the FlyBy elite lanes at both check in if needed and in security. If you check in on line and print your boarding pass and are not checking a bag, you can go straight to security. MDW has a reputation for being lax at enforcement of the FlyBy but recent reports are that they are getting better. FlyBy is to the right of the entry to the checkpoint.

If you are way too early enjoy breakfast at Harry Carey's. It is always good to plan extra time for MDW.


Sorry, InkUnderNails, but your info on MDW is behind the times.

I don't know whether the OP is checking a bag or not, but either way 2.5 hours is way more time than is necessary.

MDW has a fly-by check bag lane, and now has a secure fly-by TSA lane - both are available to the OP with a BS fare. Fly-by TSA is now to the left and you won't get in unless you have a boarding pass with A-list or BS. If the OP arrives 1 hour before departure, he will be fine - though I am paranoid and always arrive earlier than that.

In the last 6 months, it has never taken me more than 30 minutes from arrival at the airport to being at the gate - and I always check a bag.

Sorry, InkUnderNails, but your info on MDW is behind the times.

I don't know whether the OP is checking a bag or not, but either way 2.5 hours is way more time than is necessary.

MDW has a fly-by check bag lane, and now has a secure fly-by TSA lane - both are available to the OP with a BS fare. Fly-by TSA is now to the left and you won't get in unless you have a boarding pass with A-list or BS. If the OP arrives 1 hour before departure, he will be fine - though I am paranoid and always arrive earlier than that.

In the last 6 months, it has never taken me more than 30 minutes from arrival at the airport to being at the gate - and I always check a bag.

That is good to know. The last time I went through Midway the FlyBy lane was a joke and all lanes were backed up over the bridge. I was in line over an hour to the screening. Traffic was locked up on Cicero and I was over 45 minutes for the last 8 blocks. I was very happy to plan for over two hours.

I'm glad they got it fixed.

The only negative about the MDW TSA fly-by lane is that it's also the lane pilots, FAs and airport employees use, so a deceptively short line can sometimes take longer than you expect to get through, since there's a constant stream of employees cutting to the front.

Thanks for the info guys. I am leaving Four Seasons hotel downtown at 4:30am for a 6:40 flight. That was hotel recommendation. I figure on Saturday morning that 90 minutes should be enough. I am going out for drinks the night before with client, so not sure I can do much earlier then waking up at 4 :).

The only negative about the MDW TSA fly-by lane is that it's also the lane pilots, FAs and airport employees use, so a deceptively short line can sometimes take longer than you expect to get through, since there's a constant stream of employees cutting to the front.

Actually, that is not true. While you start at the very beginning with employees, they go through a different scanning station.

Actually, that is not true. While you start at the very beginning with employees, they go through a different scanning station.

I was just there last week, and the pilots, FAs and employees were being directed to the front of the two available fly-by lines, bypassing the line we were all standing in and moving all the way to the front. Employees were taking the next position thru the WTMD, and air crew were putting their bags on the belt right at the opening for the scanner and then taking the next opening thru the WTMD.

We were all using the two lanes to the left once you go around the corner. Several months ago -- after they first moved the fly-by lane over from the other far side of the checkpoint -- there was another set of lanes open, to the right instead of the left once you go around the corner, and it was reserved for employees only. But my last 3-4 trips through have all been as described above. That lane appears to no longer be used -- at least at the times I'm traveling.

I was just there last week, and the pilots, FAs and employees were being directed to the front of the two available fly-by lines, bypassing the line we were all standing in and moving all the way to the front. Employees were taking the next position thru the WTMD, and air crew were putting their bags on the belt right at the opening for the scanner and then taking the next opening thru the WTMD.



That only happens when the employee lane is closed which is rarely. Even if you go down the side lanes there is one screening lane for elites (left) that looks out onto the Concourse A walkway and the other for employees on the right that looks out towards the food court.

That only happens when the employee lane is closed which is rarely. Even if you go down the side lanes there is one screening lane for elites (left) that looks out onto the Concourse A walkway and the other for employees on the right that looks out towards the food court.

As I said, in my experience (4x in the past 6 weeks), the "employee lane" has never been open.

Same here - 4x in the last 2 weeks both right and left priority lanes have been open to all (rather than left, pax, right crew) with the crew 'dropping in' at the head of the line.

Same here - 4x in the last 2 weeks both right and left priority lanes have been open to all (rather than left, pax, right crew) with the crew 'dropping in' at the head of the line.

Ive been to MDW 4x in the past 8 days and have used it every time. Looks like its a hit/miss then.

Thanks for the info guys. I am leaving Four Seasons hotel downtown at 4:30am for a 6:40 flight. That was hotel recommendation. I figure on Saturday morning that 90 minutes should be enough. I am going out for drinks the night before with client, so not sure I can do much earlier then waking up at 4 :).

you'll be fine. i fly SW out of MDW all the time, two hours is my general rule of thumb for leaving home/work/etc to get to MDW, and I'm never rushed. You'll hop on lake shore and be at MDW before 5 and at your gate at 5:30. if you're not checking bags, i think 5AM departure would be fine too.

you'll be fine. i fly SW out of MDW all the time, two hours is my general rule of thumb for leaving home/work/etc to get to MDW, and I'm never rushed. You'll hop on lake shore and be at MDW before 5 and at your gate at 5:30. if you're not checking bags, i think 5AM departure would be fine too.

Thanks for the response. I will be checking a bag as this trip is 8 days and I have too much for the carry on size! So will keep it at 4:30!