New TSA Security Document

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun its transition of secondary screening from the gate area to the security checkpoints. This means that the majority of the more thorough screenings, currently being conducted at departure gates, will soon take place at the main security checkpoints. Once this transition is complete at an individual airport, anyone passing through a security checkpoint will be required to have a government-issued photo ID and either a Boarding Pass or a TSA approved Security Document. As a result, a Customer's security experience may vary by airport.

What You Need to Know

During this transition, some airports may not immediately require a Boarding Pass or Security Document to pass through a security checkpoint. To make this transition easier and less confusing for Customers, as of Tuesday, January 7, 2003, Southwest Airlines advises its Customers to have government-issued photo ID, his/her Itinerary/Receipt, and either a Boarding Pass or a Security Document to proceed through the security checkpoint. In doing this, Southwest hopes to avoid any confusion over which airports have transitioned to the new requirement, and which have not. It is better to have the documents ready than to be caught unprepared.

Once the transition is complete at an individual airport, an Itinerary/Receipt alone will no longer get a Customer through the security checkpoint.

Who Does This Affect

If you are checking luggage, there will be no change. Customers checking luggage may do so up to four hours before scheduled departure at a Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter or curbside Skycap Podium. At that time, a Boarding Pass will be issued that will also get you through the Security Checkpoint. The only other thing you need is your government-issued ID.

If you are not checking luggage and would like to bypass the Ticket Counter or Skycap Podium, you may get what is called a "Security Document" to pass through the Security Checkpoint (see below for details). A Security Document is not a Boarding Pass. You will need to checkin for your flight at your Departure Gate or an E-Ticket Check-In kiosk located within the concourse (where available) to receive a Boarding Pass.

(All Group Customers must checkin at a Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter to receive a Boarding Pass.)

How To Get A Security Document

• Customers not checking luggage may request and print out a Security Document at southwest.com as early as 6:00 a.m. (local departure time) the day before departure. If all flight segments fall within this timeframe, a Security Document will print for each flight segment. If a flight segment does not fall within this timeframe, you will need to print your Security Document beginning at 6:00 a.m. one day prior to that flight segment.
• At the airport, Security Documents will be issued at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, or E-Ticket Check-In kiosk (where available; only Ticketless Customers will be able to obtain a security document at the E-Ticket Check-In kiosk).
• Customers receiving a Security Document rather than a Boarding Pass at the airport include:
  • Standby Customers
  • Nonrevenue, Space Available Customers
  • Customers who arrive 20 minutes or less prior to scheduled departure
  • Customers traveling on a flight that has been gate restricted

Additional Information

• Customers will be required to surrender the Security Document to the Customer Service Agent at the Departure Gate to receive a Boarding Pass. Customers are advised to keep the Security Document with them until they checkin and get a Boarding Pass.
• Southwest continues to roll out E-Ticket Check-In kiosks for Ticketless Customers who are not checking luggage.

About the TSA Transition

• The TSA has stated its intent to focus security screening resources at the Security Checkpoint. (Random secondary screenings at the gate may still occur.) This transition will take place over a period of time.
• The TSA is working with the individual carriers and airports to make this transition while maintaining high security standards. Secondary screenings are one of many different steps the TSA takes to secure your flight. Please be assured that the TSA is performing many different security checks for your safety.

Additional Questions and Answers

Updated: January 10, 2003