Southwest fliers can nab an ‘A’ sooner

SOUTHWEST Airlines customers no longer have to burn the midnight oil to get into the coveted “A” group for boarding.

The low-cost carrier, which assigns passengers to boarding groups rather than seats, used to let them check in online and print boarding passes no earlier than 12:01 a.m. before their flight. Now they can do so 24 hours ahead.

That makes it easier for morning fliers to get an “A” boarding pass, entitling them to enter the plane first to choose seats. Passengers who check in later are assigned to “B” and “C” groups, which board after the “A” group.

More than a third of Southwest’s passengers use online check-in, said spokeswoman Brandy King.

For details, visit www.southwest.com, click on “Travel Center,” and choose “Check In Online/Print Boarding Pass” under “Travel Tools.”

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Post-disaster advisories for Central America

RESPONDING to deaths, flooding and mudslides caused by Hurricane Stan, the State Department has issued public announcements on Guatemala and El Salvador advising of “dangerous conditions.”

In Guatemala, major highways have been cut off, and some areas lacked phone service, the State Department said. In El Salvador, storm damage was compounded by concern about the Illamatepec volcano, which recently erupted and may erupt again.

Pakistan, which suffered catastrophic loss of life and damage from an earthquake last week, was already under a travel warning by the State Department, which urged U.S. citizens to avoid travel there “due to ongoing concerns about the possibility of terrorist activity.”

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Rail service

back on track

AMTRAK last week restored service from New Orleans to Memphis, Tenn., Chicago and other destinations on its City of New Orleans line and to Atlanta, New York and other cities on its Crescent line. Service had been suspended after damage from Hurricane Katrina.

The Sunset Limited train, which usually runs between Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla., three times a week, is still ending in San Antonio. Amtrak did not announce a date for resuming full service. Representatives said service to the east, through Biloxi, Miss., and Mobile, Ala., would not be possible until next year because of storm damage to tracks and bridges.

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Auction aids

Katrina victims

IN one of the more unusual drives to raise money for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, Best Western is auctioning travel packages and other products on EBay. Proceeds go to the American Red Cross.

Among recent offerings were a two-night hotel stay and Jeep tour in Sedona, Ariz., and DVDs of “The Sopranos” TV series. Since Sept. 16, the auction has raised more than $16,000, Best Western spokeswoman Denise Seomin said last week. It ends Oct. 31. Visit www.bestwestern.com and click on “Hurricane Katrina Auction.”

-- Jane Engle