Superbowl Travel Tips

Are you ready for the Big Game this weekend?  Whether you are a Giants Fan or a Patriots Fan, here are some suggested "Game Plays" to help your Super Bowl travel experience be top-notch.

Ready - Set - Hike!

  • Get to the airport in plenty of time before your departure (especially when leaving Indianapolis—we suggest that you arrive at least three hours before your flight)

Triple Option

Save time with Online Checkin, easy-to-use E-Ticket Check-In kiosks, and convenient Fly By Lanes.

Get to your gate, minus the wait! If you have a Ticketless Travel Itinerary, you can checkin online and print your boarding pass from your home computer via southwest.com up to 24 hours prior to your flight time.

You can also utilize any of our conveniently located E-Ticket Check-In kiosks to print your own boarding pass and proceed directly to the security checkpoint. As long as you have a boarding pass in hand, you do not need to visit the ticket counter or gate podium to checkin.

If you're a Business Select® Customer or Rapid Rewards® A-List Member, be sure to take advantage of our new Fly ByTM Lanes (at select airports) to minimize your wait time even more at both the ticket counter and the security checkpoint.

Hail Mary

Head toward the front of the boarding line - upgrade to a Business Select fare or add EarlyBird Check-In to your existing reservation.

With our streamlined boarding process, there's no need to stake out a place in line to board your flight. You’re automatically assigned a group and number upon checkin, so you can enjoy more time relaxing in our comfy leather gate seats, charging your laptop and/or mobile device at one of our convenient charging stations, or entertaining the kiddos in our family-friendly area complete with kid-friendly tables, chairs, and television programming.

Want to get a better boarding position? By purchasing a Business Select fare, you're guaranteed a Group A 1-15 boarding position, along with other time-saving benefits such as access to our Fly By Check-in and Security Lanes. Or if you've already bought an Anytime or Wanna Getaway Fare, you can add the low-cost EarlyBird Check-InSM option to your reservation and you’ll automatically be checked in for your flight.

Safety Blitz

Research places to eat or stay and check the weather for your upcoming trip to Indianapolis in our Travel Guide community.

Where to go and what to see in Indianapolis? Consult our Travel Guide! Get relevant advice from real travelers like yourself in a Customer-friendly online travel community housed within southwest.com. On Travel Guide you can view others' photos, videos, ratings, and reviews of destinations, hotels, restaurants, and more. Who knows, reading up on other travelers’ experiences may even inspire your next getaway!

Bootleg Fly

Be in the know on the go with our mobile apps and mobile site.

You may be on the road, but your travel information is more accessible than you may think. Even though you're away from your computer, you can still access several key features of southwest.com on your web-enabled mobile device via our easy-to-use apps for Android, Blackberry, and iPhone® or via our mobile site. You can checkin for your flight to secure your boarding position or check your flight status, among other convenient features.

Nickel D

Avoid "rushing" through the crowds by allowing extra time to get to the airport.

The airport is "the place to be" during Super Bowl weekend, and though our Employees and airport personnel will be working diligently to ensure a pleasant airport experience, we recommend that you allow yourself a bit more time than usual since many folks will be traveling to Indianapolis during that weekend. Be sure to review the Suggested Airport Arrival Times at the Southwest Cities included in your travel plans prior to your trip.

Half Back Sweep

Bring proper I.D. for all travelers.

In order to proceed to the gate, the Transportation Security Administration requires that all traveling Customers present a government-issued photo I.D. along with a Security Document or Boarding Pass at the security checkpoint. Parents must also provide proof of age for children under the age of two traveling as a lap child. Visit our Baby On Board page for more information on traveling with little ones.

In addition, the TSA has implemented a new program called Secure Flight, which is intended to enhance the security of commercial air travel. Under Secure Flight, airlines are now required to ask traveling passengers for their full legal name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID they intend to travel with, along with their gender and date of birth. We encourage you to update your MySouthwest account with this information prior to your trip.

Hitch Route

Become familiar with our policies if you're traveling with little ones (or if your little ones are traveling alone).

We want to ensure a pleasant travel experience for all parents traveling with their young children, as well as Unaccompanied Minors. As such, we ask you to take a few minutes to become familiar with our policies and procedures by reviewing our Children/Unaccompanied Minors Policy, and our Family Travel Tips.

Cover-Two

Remember Southwest Airlines allows two free checked bags – for your Super Bowl souvenirs!

It's always more difficult to pack only one bag when traveling. Thankfully on Southwest Airlines, your first two checked bags fly free, though baggage weight and size limits still apply.  Please consult our Baggage Policies for additional information.

If you're not sure whether an item will be accepted past the security checkpoint, it's probably best to travel without it or pack it in your checked baggage. Please review the TSA's list of prohibited items prior to your trip. In the new era of security procedures, many hotel chains are assisting Customers by maintaining a supply of essential toiletries.

Goal Line Stand

Plan ahead when picking up family, friends, or Unaccompanied Minors from the airport.

If you're meeting an Unaccompanied Minor or someone needing extra assistance, you must obtain a Non-Passenger Escort pass from the ticket counter to get through the security checkpoint. In order to get a pass, you must present a photo ID and a copy of the passenger's itinerary. Please allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at the gate early.

In addition, we recommend that you decide on a meeting place ahead of time when making arrangements to pick up friends and family members from the airport. Designate a location in the terminal building, such as the baggage claim area.

Quarterback Keeper


Wanna be a "star quarterback"?  Give a giftcard to friends and family!

Score a touchdown with friends and family when you give the southwestgiftcard®. Purchase one today at southwest.com, by calling 1-800-IFLYSWA (1-800-435-9792), or at a participating retail location near you. With convenient online redemption and no expiration date, it"s the gift that keeps on giving.