<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Stefan Daystrom:
If they had plenty of pre-security kiosks at EVERY airport already, and especially if those kiosks could be made to print out security documents (even if not boarding passes) for Award Tickets, this would be less of an issue. But they're not there yet...</font>
Implementing the check in kiosks may not be totally within the control of WN (or UA, AA, etc). I'm told (but have no way to verify) that the management at my home airport (LAS) are resisting the carriers' installing these units. I'm sure there's another side to that story, but the only thing I know with certainty is that neither WN, UA or AA have them at McCarran at this time.
While the Southwest security document may not be perfect, it is at least a small step to make it possible for WN pax (without checked luggage) to continue going directly to the gates, avoiding the lines at the ticket counter.
This week (perhaps as soon as January 1), LAS is apparently implementing the boarding pass requirement to clear the security checkpoint. Presumably they will also accept the WN security document.