Southwest Rapid Rewards - Does southwest allow airport change at the time of checking in?

Hi, I was wondering if southwest allows close airport changes? For example if I buy a 4:15pm ticket flying from San Jose airport, can I show up at 4:30 at San Francisco airport and still be able to get a boarding pass?

I have seen something similar, I missed my flight to Los Angeles last week and they let me fly to Burbank which was flying right away compared to the next LA flight which wouldn't be for another hour...

Thanks!

They're going to charge you the difference in fare.

I also know for a fact that if your original flight is delayed, they are not going to charge you if you take an earlier flight or go to a nearby airport and fly... Just wanted to see if it holds when the original flight is right on time.

You would have to had missed your original flight by less than 2 hours. Your flight times are suitable, so you have a chance if you get to the gate at the last minute. I don't know how much of a chance, since nobody has ever reported attempting this. Good luck, and let us know how it works!

P.S. You need to figure out how to get past security at the "wrong" airport. You need a gate pass from the main counter. Will they give you one on the basis of being a standby passenger with the wrong kind of ticket? I don't know.

I heard some airlines (e.g. United?) will issue you pass such that you can clear security to access to their lounge even if you're not flying with them. Now all you have to do is obtain lounge membership, find a lounge that has access to a Southwest terminal, and you're all set to try it.

Additionally, you could book an award ticket just to get in and then cancel.

Additionally, you could book an award ticket just to get in and then cancel.

One of the first things the gate agent will ask is "How did you get past security?" Any hint of premeditation in your answer would doom your request if I were in their shoes. Pleading for a gate pass at the main counter would be more likely to succeed IMHO.

It usually works the opposite. If you are at SFO, and you want to leave from OAK or SJC many times they will let you. Same if you are flying back to SFO from anywhere. SFO is usually delayed, and they will let you go anywhere you want.

I have had success calling at 1630 for a 1715 departure and saying my SFO flight is delayed, I am still in the car, can I leave from OAK and them letting me, but I really doubt that you are going to get away with showing up at SFO, saying that you missed your flight by 15 min at SJC (a 30 min drive in the best traffic) and getting away with anything.

Pleading for a gate pass at the main counter would be more likely to succeed IMHO.The first time you suggested this I almost asked "why not just request the change at the ticket counter?" I then thought I figured out why, but now I am back to wondering again. I wouldn't expect gate agents to have any more authority than the check-in agents to hand out pickles. Why mess with requesting a pass and spending time getting through security without knowing whether the ticketing change will be permitted?

Separately: surely it has happened that, upon attempting to obtain a boarding pass or to check luggage, folks have innocently discovered that they are at an incorrect co-terminal airport?

Separately: surely it has happened that, upon attempting to obtain a boarding pass or to check luggage, folks have innocently discovered that they are at an incorrect co-terminal airport?

I was going to post that I'm pretty confident that this has happened legitimately. While it happened on CO, my college roommate showed up on time at SFO only to realize that he was ticketed out of SJC.

I think the problem though is that FTers are so good at what they do that they aren't very likely to make such a rookie mistake and then follow up on it.

Separately: surely it has happened that, upon attempting to obtain a boarding pass or to check luggage, folks have innocently discovered that they are at an incorrect co-terminal airport?

Sort of....
I book out of OAK and SFO all the time, usually one ways as do many here on FT. I often take public transit to the airport. I had a overnight to SAN on the weekend, arriving back late Saturday night. I was leaving Friday from OAK. At the last minute, I decided to drive to OAK instead of the train. I had my (very long) work day Saturday, and left to go to SAN. I printed out my Boarding Pass, and as I was walking up to security I noticed that, ooops, my return was booked to SFO, but my car was at OAK. D'oh.

The last flight of the night for OAK was leaving in 15 min, I ran through security, explained to the Gate Agent what had happened. She laughed at me, and let me get on the OAK flight. (No fare increase). I got her card and emailed her boss and made sure I gave her a great kudos.

I never arrive at the wrong airport when leaving town though, if only because I usually check before I leave the actual departure time (my girlfriend hates it when she ask when I am leaving and I answer, around 10 I think).

SFO/OAK/SJC are all considered the same market. The same for LAX/ONT/BUR/SNA. The fares, especially Anytime/Biz Select, will be the exact same in most of the overlapping markets. So it is relatively easy to just do an even exchange if you are wanting to switch markets, given there is space available and your fare class is available (advanced purchase WGA for example doing a day of travel change wouldn't be available).

Trying to use a boarding pass though to get through security, say departing SFO and you are wanting to depart from OAK instead, is just asking for trouble. Get it changed at the counter, the website, or over the phone before causing more grief than needed.

FYI, the wiki has a list of airports considered co-terminals. http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Southwest_Rapid_Rewards#Which_airports_ar e_considered_co-terminals.3F

SFO/OAK/SJC are all considered the same market. The same for LAX/ONT/BUR/SNA. The fares, especially Anytime/Biz Select, will be the exact same in most of the overlapping markets. So it is relatively easy to just do an even exchange if you are wanting to switch markets, given there is space available and your fare class is available (advanced purchase WGA for example doing a day of travel change wouldn't be available).

Trying to use a boarding pass though to get through security, say departing SFO and you are wanting to depart from OAK instead, is just asking for trouble. Get it changed at the counter, the website, or over the phone before causing more grief than needed.

Co-Terminals or not, prices can vary widely. And OAK had more direct service to other places than SFO.

SFO is *usually* cheaper to LAS though....