Okay well my Uncle purchased me ticket online to fly up to New York, the website [southwest airlines] sent me a confirmation number. I have only traveled once and that was two years ago and my Dad walked me through up until he couldn't go through the gate with me. This is my second time and I am completely clueless as to what I am supposed to do with the confirmation number, do they send me the actual ticket in the mail? I mean I don't understand the paper at all? If that at all makes sense?

i did this last month :) you just give them the confirmation number, they look it up and hand you a boarding pass :)

oh you have to be at the appropriate desk. so you'd have to go to the southwest airlines one.

Thank You, sounds good enough. I am going to try to arrange my friend who has flown a million times to take me, my biggest fear is missing my flight, getting lost or going on the wrong airplane. The last and first times I have flown, I always had an escort.

totally understand your fear there. when i got there i was convinced i'd miss my flight. but even if you get stuck in check in they have people yelling out flight numbers and times if you're still stuck in the line so they can let you to the front. well they did at my airport, i'm just assuming they'd probably do that at other airports.

everywhere is sign posted too, but staff are usually pretty good with telling you where things are if you ask.

You can't get on the wrong plane. They check your ticket as you go through the gate, and again as you board the plane.

Thats good to know, I just have to worry about being there on time now.

What does it say on your e-mail about the time the check in desk closes? (It should say in the information section under the flight details) Just add an hour or so onto that time, and you'll have plenty of time.

Yeah I read that part. I think I will do fine.

Just print out the page or write down the conformation number. Some airports have a thing where you punch in the number. Otherwise, they just take it, check your id and give you a boarding pass! it's really quite easy. And when you get your boarding pass, you check in your luggage. I always get all nervous with anticipation before a flight, but once you get there, it's really easy.

I am pretty confident now that I have it printed out and all, you guys are helping my confidence though, really.

From what I remember, it's an e-ticket. When you get there just go to the Southwest Airlines place and give them the confirmation number and they should already have the information and ticket ready for you.

You mean like customer service? God, I hate airports its not for about 2 months and I am already afraid of getting lost!

I should say when you get to the airport go the Southwest Airlines booth. Sorry, it's late and I'm tired :).

It's alright. I have 2 months to ask people haha.

I'm not sure how southwest works but I fly northwest and when you go to the counter to check in your bags you can go to the 'e-ticket' counter. Basically you walk in there, go to an open computer thing, put in your credit card and it has all your info. You tell it how many bags you need to check (pay for them if it's an additional charge) and then print your boarding passes.

It's super easy.

It's already been paid for though, I dont think I need to put my credit card through.

well yea, with Northwest you put in your credit card (because to buy tickets online one of the tickets needs to be for the person paying with the card) and it doesn't charge your card, it uses the information on the card to call up your name and reservation.

I got the receipt in my e-mailbox, my uncle paid for it and he isn't flying with me would that be a problem or would the card be proof that it is me or something? I would have my ID too.

You just go to the southwest counter, go to an open kiosk and enter in your name or your confirmation number and it prints out your tickets.

ah-hah. I believe Hollie just answered the question. I think the reason Northwest makes you use a credit card is because if you're buying tickets one of the passengers must be the one holding the credit card. So, with Northwest no one can buy you a ticket online, unless they are flying with you. Boo urns. At least you know what to do now!

first, make sure that you're at the southwest airlines ..area. go up to a kiosk/computer thing put in your info and your confirmation code and it will print your boarding pass. then go to the counter and give the lady/dude your boarding pass and check your bag(s). then go through security, where you will have to show your boarding pass and ID, again. then go find your gate and wait. it can be confusing to find your gate, but if you have any lick of sense, it shouldn't be hard. if so, just ask an airport employee. if you do happen you go to the wrong gate, when the plane is boarding, they wont let you get on the wrong plane, because again, they will check your boarding pass to make sure you're in the right place.

don't stress, it's really no big deal. i just flew from charlotte, nc to the biggest airport in the world, (at least i think it is.. ) the chicago o'hare last week, and i'm flying back on monday. i was freaking out too, but when i got there, it's was so simple. but watch out when you go through security, they can be bitches. oh, and you have to take your shoes off. how gay is that. if the cops make you do that, in south carolina, it's considered a strip search, and is very much illegal. unless of course you've been arrested.

i'm sorry, this has gone on long enough. hope i helped!!

just make sure you have that confirmation # with you when you get to the airport. We fly SW quite often and thats really all you need, plus a valid picture ID.

Airports are actually very easy places to get around as they're usually very well signposted. Check on your e-mail (the one with the confirmation number) what time the check in desk closes. It'll probably be about 30-40 mins before departure for a domestic flight. Make sure you also check if your flight leaves from a specific terminal (depends on the size of the airport, smaller airports only have one terminal). Then just aim to be there slightly earlier than that, and you'll have plenty of time. Roughly speaking you should allow an hour for a domestic flight and two hours for an international flight.

Go to the Northwest check in desk (there may be a specific desk for your destination). Hand them your confirmation number and ID/passport. Give them your bag. Answer their security questions. Take your boarding pass.
Go to departures. It will be signposted (may be a seperate one for domestic from for international). You will need to go through security.
Go to your gate (will either be on your boarding pass or the gate number will come up on departures board) and wait to get on your plane.

Honestly, you'll find it's very easy when you actually come to do it, so don't worry.

I meant the Southwest check in desk.