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Here's why Southwest is assigning seats — and what it means for customers

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi

Updated on: July 25, 2024 / 5:04 PM EDT / CBS News

Southwest will start selling assigned seats , marking a major shakeup of a signature policy that has set the low-cost carrier apart from airlines for half a century. The new policy, announced Thursday, will make flying Southwest look and feel remarkably different for customers. 

The shift will affect how customers of the discount carrier select seats and board planes. Southwest passengers, including longtime fans of the open seating policy,   will also be able to choose different types of seats for a price, including those offering more legroom. These changes could affect ticket costs across the board, according to experts, although Southwest has not addressed pricing or indicated that regular seat costs will change. 

Some experts are cheering the move, saying it amounts to an improvement for both passengers and the airline. 

" Southwest's decision to start assigning seats and plan to add extra-legroom seats prove an old dog can learn new tricks," Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, told CBS News. "It will make their flights more orderly and comfortable. And it should also improve the airline's bottom line as well."

Southwest will begin selling tickets with assigned seats beginning in 2025. The airline will reveal additional details around changes to the flight boarding process in September. Here are three ways flying Southwest could change. 

Assigned seats

Southwest is ending its open seating policy, in which customers find a cabin seat on a first-come, first-serve basis. When the changes go into effect next year, customers will purchase tickets with assigned seating, eliminating some of the stress associated with the current boarding process. 

"It's a pretty big change for Southwest, which always had an open seating system, and you had to run into the cabin and try to find the seat you want," Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy, told CBS MoneyWatch. 

Henderson said this turned off some business travelers like himself from choosing to fly Southwest, and he predicted the change could attract a new crop of customers to the airline.

"Many business travelers don't want to fight for a seat and deal with the drama that sometimes entails," Henderson said. 

Tensions can run high on airplanes too, with testy passengers quibbling over limited and sometimes shared real estate.

"Since the pandemic, airline passengers may be less cordial and less amicable," said airline customer experience analyst Marbue Brown. "There are certainly benefits to environments where there is no ambiguity about who owns a seat."

Some seats will have more leg room

In addition to assigned seats, Southwest will introduce premium seating, offering passengers extended legroom on one-third of a cabin's seats. 

Southwest already lets customers pay to be first in line to board aircraft, "but this is a much bigger change now, with premium seats available for purchase," Going.com's Keyes said.  

The airline is likely responding to travelers' penchant for more premium travel experiences following the pandemic, according to Keyes. "The demand is for premium economy, business class and better seats, which Southwest doesn't have to offer," he said. 

Southwest's seats already offer more legroom than traditional carriers', which has been a selling point for the airline. They come with 32 inches of space, versus the industry standard of 30-31 inches. It's possible Southwest's new cabin configuration could shrink its current standard of 32 inches of space, some experts said.

"They haven't announced the new cabin design, but the most likely outcome is we're going to see that 32 inches of legroom to start to shrink for main cabin, and for it to be more like 31 or 30," Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, told CBS MoneyWatch. "That's normal for people who are used to flying American or United, but cramped for people who fly Southwest." 

Price changes

The new cabin configurations could drive up ticket prices across the board because Southwest's aircraft might contain fewer number of total seats, industry analysts said. On the other hand, the dramatic policy changes could be price-neutral, depending on how Southwest redesigns its plane cabins. 

"Some folks will pay more for extra legroom, and, based on how you reconfigure planes, you might not have to raise prices on other seats," Brown said. 

What remains to be seen is whether Southwest will introduce a bare-bones, basic economy-type offering. 

Currently, all tickets come with free checked bags and free   changes. "But might they start to offer an economy package that includes more restrictions on baggage? That's something we'll have to wait and see," Keyes said. 

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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How to Hack Southwest’s Boarding Groups

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Table of Contents

How does Southwest boarding work?

What is the southwest boarding order, how to get a better southwest boarding position, southwest family boarding: how to sit together, how to get the best seat on southwest airlines (group a), other ways to get a good seat on southwest, southwest seating chart, when you're not happy with your southwest boarding number, southwest boarding groups, recapped.

Update: Southwest Airlines announced in July several upcoming changes to its boarding system, seat assignments and cabin configuration. Red-eye flights are also now bookable on certain routes. Read more of the news here .

The Southwest Airlines boarding process is perhaps more polarizing than whether pineapple belongs on pizza. But one thing’s for sure: The Southwest boarding process is certainly unique.

So how does Southwest boarding work? For starters, there are no assigned seats. There’s no guarantee you’ll get that coveted window seat behind the exit row (which means no seat directly in front of you). There’s no guarantee you’ll end up seated next to your travel buddy.

Yet it also means you get to pick your seat from whatever is available once you board the plane. If the guy in Row 3 has already whipped out his tuna sandwich, maybe you opt for a seat at least a few rows back.

The Southwest boarding process is also theoretically more efficient (at least according to MythBusters ) than most boarding systems with assigned seats.

For some, Southwest's open seating and boarding process creates a thrilling race for the best seats. For others, it can feel chaotic. So with that, let's unpack Southwest’s boarding method to help you get the best seat on your flight.

SOUTHWEST CREDIT CARDS WITH BOARDING BENEFITS

Unlike some credit cards offered by other major airlines, Southwest cards don't automatically get you priority boarding. But they do cover some of your costs when you pay to get a better boarding position:

on Chase's website

Reimbursement for 4 upgraded boardings, when available, each anniversary year.

Reimbursement for 2 EarlyBird check-ins each anniversary year.

To receive reimbursement for an upgraded boarding or EarlyBird Check-In, you must pay for it with the card . Reimbursement will appear as a credit on your statement within one to two billing cycles.

» Learn more: Best Southwest Airlines credit cards

Rather than assigning seats to passengers, Southwest has an open seating style. Here's how Southwest determines who gets to pick their seats in which order:

Know your Southwest boarding position

There are typically three Southwest boarding groups (plus a few in-between groups of sorts, like family boarding).

The standard boarding groups are either: A, B, or C.

With that, there are typically positions 1-60.

Your boarding group is printed on your boarding pass. Group A boards first, then group B, and afterwards group C.

Positions are assigned at check-in, which opens exactly 24 hours before departure. Though, you can hack the system and check-in earlier than that (but more on how to get a better Southwest boarding position later).

If you get A1, then it’s your lucky day — you’ll likely be the plane's first passenger. (Though there may be some exceptions for people with certain disabilities, pre-boarders or people connecting from an earlier flight.) If you get C60, well, hopefully, you’re fine with the middle seat near the bathroom.

Here’s what a paper Southwest boarding pass with the boarding position looks like. This boarding pass indicates Group A and boarding position 40.​​ This means the passenger can board the aircraft after Group A positions 1-39 have boarded.

Listen up for your boarding group to be called

As the gate agent prepares the plane for boarding, they’ll call boarding groups (e.g., Group A, 1-30). From there, you’ll head to one of the numbered posts at the gate area, broken up into smaller blocks (e.g., position 1-5). Stand between the corresponding posts based on your boarding position.

Embrace the Southwest open seating policy

Once onboard, pick any open seat, stow your stuff in the overhead bin or under the seat and get ready for takeoff.

Everyone has their favorite seat, but of course the benefits of a good boarding position mean increased likelihood that you'll nab your seat of choice. That could include getting that coveted window seat, having more overhead bin space, or simply deplaning faster.

Southwest is my go-to domestic airline. Free cancellations and no change fees have saved me a boatload of money over the years. I can also transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards® to Southwest, allowing me to offset the cost of the flight.

If you keep an eye on flight deals offered by Southwest, you can cancel your flight for free and rebook at the lower fare. Just remember to set a calendar reminder to check in 24 hours before your flight to secure an early boarding number.

I don't like flying Southwest because I find the experience to be stressful, mainly due to the open seating policy. You have to check in right when it opens to get a good boarding position. Then, while boarding, you have to avoid eye contact with people and hope they don't sit next to you.

However, I will say that it is very simple to cancel flights with Southwest, which is great if you have flexible travel plans.

Here’s the order of how early Southwest's boarding groups get to enter the plane, from first to last:

1. Preboarding

Southwest allows people who need boarding help or extra time, or folks with specific seating needs to accommodate their disability, to board first. To join that group, request preboarding from a Southwest customer service agent at the ticket desk or departure gate.

Southwest employees will ask "fact-finding questions" to decide if you meet the pre-boarding qualifications. If you do, you’ll receive a boarding pass with a specific preboarding designation, allowing you to preboard with one companion. If you’re traveling with more than one other person, they’ll typically have to board with their original group.

People who are preboarding are not allowed to occupy an exit row seat.

Next up? People with seats in A1-A15 — which is typically filled with Southwest elite flyers, people who purchased Southwest Business Select fares and those who paid extra for their tickets before boarding.

Southwest sells any leftover A1-A15 boarding positions either online through Southwest's upgraded boarding portal within 24 hours of departure, or at the gate.

The rest of Group A follows with A16-60.

3. Other people with disabilities

If you don’t qualify for preboarding but need extra boarding time, you can board after the A group but before Family Boarding and B groups. You’ll still need to speak to a Southwest customer service agent, who will print you a new boarding pass with an extra time designation, indicating that you can board with this group.

4. Families and active-duty military in uniform

If you’re traveling with a child 6 years old or younger, you and up to one other adult can board during Family Boarding, which occurs before the B group. Active military traveling in uniform may also board during this time.

» Learn more: Bookmark these military travel discounts

5. Groups B and C

Next up is B group. For large and full flights, there’s also C group. Both groups board in numerical order from position 1 to position 60.

There are a few ways to get an early (which means better) Southwest boarding position. But many of them come at an extra cost.

If you don’t want to pay anything more than what the Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus or Anytime fares already cost, your boarding position is decided based on your check-in order.

Check in online at Southwest.com or on the app beginning 24 hours before your flight's scheduled departure time. Or, check in at the airport.

But, the longer you wait, the worse the boarding position you’ll have.

Set an alarm for that 24-hour mark (maybe even a few minutes early to get logged in) to make sure you get the best Southwest boarding position possible.

Families (two adults traveling with a child 6 years of age or younger) can board after Group A but before Group B. If the child and adult both have Group A assigned on their boarding pass, they can board along with Group A in their allocated boarding position.

However, this still doesn’t guarantee you’ll sit together, especially if your boarding position is A50. The best way to ensure you sit together (and where you want) is to buy a Business Select fare, upgrade your boarding pass or have the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card or the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card .

Everyone has a different favorite seat on an airplane, but the easiest way to get the best seat on Southwest is via an A1-15 boarding group position. Since this is the first boarding group, you’ll have your pick of nearly any seat.

Here are three ways to guarantee an A1-15 group position on Southwest, but it’s going to cost you:

1. Buy a Business Select fare

Business Select fares come with many perks including Fly By priority lane access, a complimentary premium drink, and yes, guaranteed receipt of an A1-15 boarding position.

Business Select fares are not cheap. They can often be multiple times more expensive than Wanna Get Away fares, but they tend to be a better deal than Southwest’s middle tier called Anytime fares.

If you’re willing to pay for a seat upgrade, it’s almost always better to opt for Business Select over Anytime fares because you’ll get benefits like elevated points earning and the guarantee of a good seat.

2. Buy upgraded boarding (when available)

While not a guarantee, Southwest sells the remaining A1-A15 boarding positions for an extra fee. You can purchase that either on the day of travel at the ticket desk or gate, or within 24 hours of takeoff on Southwest's website .

It’s $30 to $80 per segment depending on your itinerary. These positions are not assigned to regular ticket customers once the 24-hour check-in window begins, so if the flight is low on elite flyers or Business Select passengers, there may be some available for purchase.

3. Use a Southwest credit card to get complimentary upgraded boarding (when available)

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card , reimburse cardholders for up to four upgraded boardings to positions A1-A15 every anniversary year.

The process is the same as anyone else purchasing upgraded boarding. You’ll have to buy it on the day of travel at the ticket desk or gate, and it’s only for sale if seats are available. But no matter the cost — whether $30 or $50 — you’ll get that four times a year in the form of a credit reimbursement.

Those boardings can be purchased all at once or for different flights, so you could opt to upgrade your posse once or give yourself the VIP treatment a few times throughout the year.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards

These two options won’t guarantee an A boarding position, but they’ll still put you ahead of others who try to check in online 24 hours out or at the airport ahead of their flight:

1. Have Southwest elite status

Customers with Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred or A-List Member status get their boarding position automatically reserved 36 hours before departure. That's before normal check-in begins, putting them ahead of everyone else who has to wait for that 24-hour window. The benefit also applies to other travelers on the same reservation as A-List Preferred or A-List Members.

While holding Southwest status doesn't guarantee an A position (e.g., if everyone else on the flight also had A-List Preferred or A-List status), it will get you the earliest position available (and sometimes lands you in the A1-A15 positions).

2. Buy EarlyBird Check-In

EarlyBird Check-In is an add-on to your ticket that automatically checks you in 36 hours before the flight's scheduled departure time. That puts you in the running for the best boarding position next to folks with Southwest status, Anytime and Business Select fares, and ahead of everyone else who has to wait for the 24-hour window.

EarlyBird Check-In typically costs $15-$25 one-way per passenger on top of your fare price.

How is EarlyBird Check-In order decided? Boarding positions are assigned based on the time that EarlyBird Check-In was bought relative to passengers within the same fare class. So Wanna Get Away Plus passengers will be checked in ahead of Wanna Get Away passengers with EarlyBird.

EarlyBird does not guarantee a boarding position, but it does increase your odds of getting in a better boarding position. EarlyBird check-in generally means Southwest A group.

What’s a good seat on your Southwest flight? Head over to Seatguru. Once there, type in your travel date and flight number to choose your flight.

Oftentimes, Seatguru shows several aircraft configurations for a specific flight. For Southwest, Seatguru features three aircraft seating charts: Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 737-800. Make sure your aircraft matches the Seatguru result.

From there, read the seat reviews. The plane seats will either be green, yellow, red or white. Green means it's a great seat (usually with extra legroom) and yellow means there is some drawback (like limited recline). Red means several drawbacks (such as a misaligned window and near the bathroom).

White seats are just regular cabin seats

If you’re cool with checking your luggage if the overhead bins run out of space or don't mind the middle seat for a few hours, then getting assigned Group C will be manageable.

But if you want to be among the first to board and accidentally ended up with a bad boarding position, your best bet to jump the line is to pay the $30-$50 for an A1-15 boarding position. You can do this either in-person at the airport or online.

If Business Select is sold out, you’re probably out of luck on purchasing upgraded boarding. Next time, consider purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or booking a higher fare class to begin with.

» Learn more: Is there a right way to exit an airplane?

Southwest offers three boarding groups (A, B or C), and a position 1-60+, which get assigned at check-in. While the Southwest boarding process can be confusing, remember this: Check in exactly 24 hours before your flight, and you'll generally be OK.

Otherwise, you can pony up extra cash for expensive tickets or upgraded boarding passes. Know which of your credit cards may offer airline credits to offset these fees, as they can get you out of a jam when you miss the check-in deadline.

If you’re traveling with a larger group with multiple reservation numbers, everyone needs to handle their business and check in separately if you want any shot at getting boarding positions near each other.

Southwest follows an open seating style, meaning there are no assigned seats. You’ll be assigned a boarding group (either A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check-in, which determines your boarding order. Once on board, you choose your seat. If you’re last to board, you likely won’t get to sit with your family.

However, Southwest has a solution to better ensure families can sit together. If you’re traveling with a child 6 years old or younger, up to two adults may board during Southwest’s Family Boarding period, between Group A and Group B boarding (unless both the child and adults have A boarding passes and can board in that earlier group).

For an additional fee, EarlyBird Check-In automatically checks you in 12 hours ahead of the traditional 24-hour check-in window. While it’s not a guarantee of the coveted A boarding group, you’ll end up in an earlier boarding position than if you had not paid for it.

Families with children 6 and under can board before Group B free of charge, so for these travelers, paying for EarlyBird Check-In is usually not worth it.

However, if you have children older than 6 and don’t want to risk sitting apart on the plane, it can make sense to pay for EarlyBird Check-In.

Your Southwest boarding group is determined upon check-in. The earlier you check in, the earlier your boarding group.

Typically, you’ll check in for your flight online beginning 24 hours before the scheduled departure time or anytime thereafter. If you don’t, you can check in and get your boarding pass at the airport through the Southwest ticket counter or, if available, a self-service kiosk.

However, you can secure an earlier boarding position by purchasing a Business Select fare, purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or by purchasing an upgraded boarding pass from the counter on the day of travel (when available).

Generally, yes, you can sit anywhere on Southwest. Since the airline's flights have open seating, you simply choose any available seat once on board.

There are a few exceptions. For example, passengers who preboard may not occupy an exit seat.

Seniors do not get priority boarding on Southwest.

There is priority boarding for customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability, who need assistance in boarding the aircraft or who need help stowing an assistive device. These passengers board before Family Boarding, between the A and B groups.

No, Southwest does not have assigned seats. Instead, passengers can select their seat upon boarding. Passengers board in alpha-numerical order, and your boarding position is determined by your fare, if you purchased EarlyBird Check-In, whether you're part of certain preboarding groups and how quickly you check in for the flight 24 hours ahead of departure.

If you are assigned to boarding group C on Southwest, expect to have fewer window and aisle seat options, and less overhead bin space. You may, however, secure a middle seat towards the front of the plane, which can mean earlier disembarkation. Though boarding Group C on Southwest isn't great, there are some possible upsides.

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09-26-2024 DESIGN

Everything we know so far about Southwest’s new assigned-seating policy

Southwest revealed how its going to change its signature open-seating policy to let passengers pick their own seats.

[Photo: Southwest]

BY  Grace Snelling 4 minute read

In July, Southwest Airlines announced that it would be ditching its signature open-seating model for a more standard assigned-seating system—leading some to wonder whether Southwest is losing its most defining brand features . Today, the company shared more details about how the switch will impact ticket-buying, boarding, and the in-flight experience. 

On an investor relations call today, Southwest’s top executives discussed the company’s upcoming overhaul , which is intended to address declining profits and share prices . “Recent financial performance is not up to your or to my expectations,” CEO Bob Jordan said on the call, adding that Southwest “[owns] those challenges.” Changes to the airline will include more premium add-ons for better seats, the introduction of red-eye flights in early 2025, new cabin layouts for increased legroom, and, of course, an all-new assigned-seating system.

In today’s call with investors, Southwest’s executive vice president Ryan Green shared that, the new assigned-seats model will begin in practice in the first half of 2026 and that booking those flights will start in the second half of 2025. Here’s everything else we know about the new seating and other changes:

Bundled fare prices

Southwest is best known for its “bags-fly-free” policy, which allows passengers to fly with two free checked bags, as well as its somewhat unusual open-seating policy. According to a study conducted by the company , “bags-fly-free” is an important differentiator for the company that generates brand awareness, and eliminating it would “destroy value.”

On the other hand, 80% of Southwest customers, and 86% of potential customers, reported that they would prefer an assigned seat over open seating. In fact, Southwest’s lack of assigned seating was the top reason potential customers chose other airlines. While open seating initially served as a draw factor for Southwest as an underdog airline, it requires passenger cooperation to proceed efficiently —an element which, some experts theorize, is becoming more difficult to control over time.

Currently, Southwest’s open-boarding policy automatically assigns passengers to a boarding group and seat number based on how quickly they check in to their flight. For an extra fee, the airline allows passengers to upgrade their boarding position depending on availability, and preboarding is available for passengers with disabilities ( though some claim that this option is frequently abused ).

In the new seating system, when passengers purchase a Southwest ticket, they will be given the choice to select their seats as well as choose among a number of premium options, including extra legroom and business select class in a kind of “fare bundle.”

“Gone will be the days of setting alarm clocks 24 hours in advance of a flight to secure a good boarding position and a good seat,” Green says. 

The new system will eliminate some of the time pressure involved with open seating, with the trade-off being that the cabin will be segmented between standard and upgraded seats. 

“The fare bundles will have logical step-ups and attributes with commensurately higher prices along the way,” Green says. “When customers were presented with these new fare bundles in our test environment, they showed a clear desire to purchase a higher-priced fare bundle, which translates to increased revenue through higher yields.”

Maintaining “uniquely Southwest” boarding 

According to Green, Southwest is known for the “relative calmness” of its boarding process at the gate. With the existing open-seating system, passengers line up behind stanchions based on their boarding group (labeled A-C). 

To avoid changing that process too much, customers will now receive both a seat assignment and a boarding number after checking in. The boarding number will include a letter and number, similar to the current system. However, the new model will mean that those who paid for the highest fare bundles and most premium seats will enter the aircraft and store their baggage first. 

Airlines are generally laser-focused on their boarding process to increase efficiency, and Southwest is no different. Based on today’s presentation, the company used more than 8.5 million digitally simulated flights and 200 hours of live-boarding simulations to hone its new approach.

“We expect our future boarding process to feel very familiar and uniquely Southwest,” Green says.

New plane interiors

While researching the best approach for its upcoming overhaul, Southwest tested out several new cabin configurations to offer premium upgrades, including two-by-two rows or blocked middle seats. Ultimately, though, they landed on an extended legroom model. 

“The extended legroom option generated roughly the same amount of revenue as the two-by-two seating model, or a model where we blocked the middle seats, but was far less complex to implement, and the speed to market was much quicker,” Green says. 

Based on the company’s modeling, it expects about one-third of seats on every plane to include extra legroom. To make the switch, Southwest is trading in the seats on its 175-person Boeing 737-800 plane for a skinnier profile seat , and removing a row of seats from its fleet of Boeing 737-700 planes. Southwest is currently working to receive final certification on its new cabin layouts from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The actual retrofitting is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2025. Alongside the new seats, Southwest also plans to implement larger overhead bins and double its Wi-Fi bandwidth per user. 

Green claims that the new assigned and premium seating options “will drive significant economic value for shareholders of roughly $1.5 billion of incremental EBIT in 2027.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Grace Snelling is a contributor for  Fast Company  with a focus on product design, branding, advertising, art, and all things Gen Z. Her stories have included an  exploration into the wacky world of water branding ,  a chat with Questlove about his creative-centric YouTube series , and  a look into Wayfair’s first-ever physical store   More

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• Southwest Airlines

How to snag the best seats on Southwest Airlines

Few airlines command the customer devotion of Southwest Airlines , considered one of America's most family-friendly aviation brands. The airline does things right in many ways that other airlines do not. It allows two free checked bags per person, makes it easy for families to sit together without charging onerous fees, provides a simple way to earn elite status, offers a family of credit cards and gives passengers four simple booking fares .

However, Southwest's unique boarding process does not assign specific seats to travelers. The seat selection process can baffle first-time travelers, infrequent flyers or those new to the airline. While there has been some speculation about Southwest eventually changing its famous boarding process, for now, it remains true that Southwest does not have assigned seats.

As of Aug. 15, 2023, the Dallas-based carrier announced changes to its boarding process, including reducing the availability of its EarlyBird Check-In to select flights, routes and days. This means EarlyBird Check-In will be unavailable for some customers.

Additionally, Southwest now permits same-day standby for all passengers, including those who book the cheapest Wanna Get Away fares . This allows passengers in Southwest's lowest fare classes to waitlist for a different flight on the same day without paying a fare difference; this can be helpful for passengers flying on routes with multiple daily frequencies.

The airline also recently jacked up fees for early and Upgraded Boarding. These are the prices as of May 30:

• EarlyBird Check-In: $15 to $99 one-way per traveler
• Upgraded Boarding: $30 to $149 per segment, per traveler

Considering those changes, this comprehensive guide will answer all your questions about how to get the best seat on your next Southwest Airlines flight.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Points Guy (@thepointsguy)

How Southwest boarding works

Like many other airlines, Southwest begins boarding about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. However, the similarities largely end there. Southwest's boarding process is unlike any other airline thanks to its open seating policy that allows travelers to sit just about anywhere they want.

Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with just a few exceptions that are standard for all airlines. For example, passengers who choose to sit in an exit row must meet the Federal Aviation Administration's age and physical requirements.

On Southwest flights, the boarding order is as follows:

• Preboarding (those who need specific seats to accommodate a disability, those who need assistance with boarding and stowing an assistive device, and unaccompanied minors)
• Group A 1 through 60
• A-List and A-List Preferred members, active-duty military members, travelers who need extra time getting to their seat and those taking advantage of family boarding (available to those with children age 6 and under)
• Group B 1 through 60
• Group C 1 through 60

When travelers check in for their flight, Southwest assigns each passenger a boarding group letter — A, B or C — and a position from 1 to 60. The unique boarding code, such as A45 or B52, is printed directly on the boarding pass and represents the person's place in line at the gate.

At the gate, passengers line up single file at gray metal columns to match their boarding group letter and boarding position. Boarding is called in groups of 30 (A1 through A30, followed by A31 through A60 and so on). However, three categories of passengers supersede the standard Group A through C boarding process: preboarding travelers, families and A-List and A-List Preferred members.

Southwest also has designated preboarding areas at select airports as part of an effort to improve turn times. Color-coded carpeted areas make it clear where preboarding passengers should line up.

Passengers authorized to preboard go before everyone else, including Group A. These are travelers with specific seating needs to accommodate a disability or who need assistance getting to their seats or stowing an assistive device. Preboarding is based on need and is determined by the gate agent before boarding begins. Passengers given preboarding priority can board with one travel companion for assistance and cannot sit in an exit row.

Passengers who do not qualify for preboarding but need a little extra time to board can get on the plane between the A and B groups before family boarding begins. You'll need to speak to a customer service agent before boarding begins to receive a boarding pass indicating that you can board before families.

Families with young children are also given special boarding privileges but not until a little later in the process. Family boarding occurs immediately after Group A boarding is complete; qualifying family groups include up to two adults per child age 6 and under. Older children can also board at this time, but other family members, such as grandparents or aunts and uncles, are asked to board according to the assignment on their boarding passes.

Active military personnel are also permitted to board at this time.

A-List and A-List Preferred members are said to receive the "best available boarding pass number" but occasionally end up with a Group B or C boarding designation. However, as a nod to their elite status, they can "cut the line" anytime after Group A boarding is complete.

Once you board, what comes next?

Since there are no assigned seats on Southwest flights, those who walk onto the plane first get their pick of seats. As a general rule, nobody particularly enjoys sitting in the middle seat, so those tend to be the seats left toward the end of the boarding process for Group C.

As soon as you walk onto the plane, you're free to select any seat you want, but some feel it's a lot of pressure to decide where you'll spend your entire flight. It helps to know about Southwest's plane configurations when choosing your preferred seat. As you'll see in the diagrams below, Southwest currently has three different versions of the Boeing 737.

Boeing 737-700

Southwest has 506 Boeing 737-700 aircraft, accounting for more than two-thirds of its operating fleet. The 737-700 has 143 seats in the configuration below:

Boeing 737-800

Southwest has 207 Boeing 737-800 planes in its fleet. The 737-800 has 175 seats in the configuration below:

Boeing 737 MAX 8

Southwest has 34 Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes with 175 seats.

What's the best seat on Southwest?

The best seat on Southwest is subjective and depends on whom you ask. Some, especially those with small children in tow, prefer the last row. Many others think the back row is the worst possible seat, and others swear by sitting in the first five rows.

If your flight isn't full, you'll most likely find fewer people in the back of the plane — potentially leaving that seat next to you empty.

Below are some things to think about as you consider your seat.

If you are hoping for an empty middle seat

If you're a party of three, you'll want to take the entire row to ensure no one will sit next to you since all Southwest planes have a 3-3 configuration.

If you don't fall into that category, pick a window seat. This will give you the most privacy and ensure no one is climbing over you to get in or out of their seat. You also won't have cabin crew and other passengers walking up and down the aisle next to you.

Then it's up in the air whether you should sit up front or in the back, which both have pros and cons. Sitting up front means that everyone boarding the plane after you will walk by you while picking their seat. Conversely, it means you're among the first to leave the aircraft upon landing.

The back of the plane might have fewer passengers. On Southwest planes, people pick the first open seat(s) they see, which usually means there are more passengers in the first half of the plane than in the second half. There's also a better chance that the seat next to you will be left open on a flight that is not full.

That said, on the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, there are two bathrooms in the back and just one bathroom in the front. So, there is a higher probability that more passengers will head to the back of the plane if they need to use the restroom.

If you want legroom

Aim for seat 12A; it's the window seat on the right side of Row 12, as you're facing the back of the plane on Southwest's Boeing 737-700s. Row 11 is an exit row with just two seats on the right side, meaning seat 11A is "missing." Thus, the passenger in 12A has two seats' worth of space to stretch out their legs — a godsend for tall travelers. However, if you're on one of Southwest's newer -800 and MAX 8 models, the best seats are in rows 14 and 15.

If you want to get off the plane quickly

Choose Row 1. You won't have any storage under the seat in front of you, but you'll be among the first to walk off the plane and get extra legroom as your reward for packing light. Make a beeline to your left or right as soon as you board.

If you're thirsty

Choose rows 1, 9 or 17. Southwest flight attendants split cabin service into three sections, and these are typically the rows where the drink and snack service begins.

If you only want 1 seatmate

Aim for Row 11, seats B and C. This is a two-seat row on Southwest's Boeing 737-700s, so you won't have to worry about sharing space with a third person.

If you are OK sitting up straight

Choose the last row or the row in front of the exit row. While the right to recline is a hotly contested privilege among economy travelers, some don't care to lean back during the flight.

How to get the best seat on Southwest

Here are some tactics to secure the earliest boarding position:

• Check in exactly 24 hours before departure
• Hold A-List elite status
• Buy EarlyBird Check-In, Upgraded Boarding or a Business Select ticket
• Book the first flight of the day

Remember, the best way to get the seat you want is to board as early as possible, but holding a Group A boarding pass doesn't always mean you'll get the seat you prefer.

Check in 24 hours in advance

If you bought Southwest's cheapest Wanna Get Away fare, the easiest way to get the earliest boarding assignment available is to check in for your flight exactly 24 hours ahead of time. Even waiting a minute or two after that check-in period could put you significantly lower on the boarding list.

Note that if you're using the Southwest Companion Pass for another passenger in your party, you must check them in separately since they have a different confirmation number, but they will automatically receive the boarding position immediately following yours.

Purchase EarlyBird Check-In

In May, Southwest raised the price for EarlyBird Check-in, but travelers will still be automatically checked in 36 hours before departure instead of the normal 24 hours. This means you have a better chance of getting a more desirable boarding position than if you checked yourself in 24 hours in advance.

As mentioned above, Southwest is reducing the availability of its EarlyBird Check-In to select flights, routes and days, so it may not be available at all. The airline warns passengers that while EarlyBird Check-In doesn't guarantee an A boarding position , it improves your seat selection options to get a favorite seat.

If you have the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card , you are eligible for two complimentary EarlyBird check-ins per year.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Opt for a Business Select fare

Even with the best of reminders, checking in at the exact right time doesn't guarantee you'll get a Group A designation — or, in extreme cases, even a Group B assignment. Travelers paying for pricier Business Select fares get priority boarding spots marked A1 through A15, no matter when they check in.

Earn Southwest elite status

Southwest frequent flyers who have earned A-List or A-List Preferred elite status get priority, including the "best available boarding pass number."

Purchase an A1 through A15 boarding position at the gate

If you don't like the number you were assigned, Upgraded Boarding is sometimes available at the gate on the day of departure for $30 to $149 one-way per person when A1 to A15 slots are still available. Even if you don't want to spend that cash, know that the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offer four Upgraded Boarding passes per year. Four of these include A1 to A15 slots each year.

Why you might see some passengers already on board

Sometimes, you'll board a Southwest flight and see passengers already on the plane, even when you hold a coveted A1 boarding spot. That's because several Southwest flights make multiple stops at cities between the origin and final destination. Travelers headed for the final destination stay on board when others deplane at the midway point. This becomes increasingly common later in the day, as delays and cancellations sometimes happen and travelers are rerouted onto other flights.

There isn't much you can do if someone's already sitting in the seat you want. However, Southwest will ask other travelers to offer up their seats and shift around so a parent can sit with a young child or a caregiver can sit with someone who requires their assistance.

Can you save seats on Southwest?

There isn't a definitive Southwest policy for or against seat-saving. The saving process is known as the "Southwest shuffle" — one passenger boards early to save seats for the other traveler(s) in the group. However, if you decide to save seats for your travel companion(s), be thoughtful. Remember, you can't keep those seats if someone insists on sitting there and your companions haven't yet made it onto the plane.

Bottom line

Southwest's boarding process might be intimidating or even frustrating for some who aren't used to it, but there is a lot to appreciate once you get the hang of it. As a general rule, Southwest travelers have less carry-on luggage for the overhead bins because of its generous free checked bag policy, and open seating allows people to shuffle themselves into order as they board the plane.

The next time you fly Southwest, pull up this guide. You will know what seats to target and how to get there as efficiently as possible.

Related reading:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards: Complete guide to earning, redeeming and maximizing points
• Best Southwest Airlines credit cards
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight
• Free bags and open seating: Why I choose Southwest every time

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Southwest Airlines’ Unique Boarding Process Explained

• Ben Schlappig
• Published: December 26, 2022
• Updated: July 25, 2024

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• Review: Spirit Airlines A321 Big Front Seat (FLL-AUS)
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• Southwest Airlines’ Unique Boarding Process Explained
• Review: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 (AUS-FLL)

Southwest Airlines does things very differently than other airlines in the United States. Arguably the most distinctive aspect of the Southwest travel experience is how the airline boards planes. Some people love it, while others hate it.

During my recent trip to Austin , I flew Southwest for the first time in years, so I wanted to write a post about the carrier’s boarding process. In the next installment I’ll be reviewing the flight as such .

In this post:

How boarding works on Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is the only major airline in the world that doesn’t assign seats . Rather the airline has a very different boarding process — the order of passenger boarding is determined by the “position” someone is in, and as a result that’s also the order in which people can pick seats once on the plane.

If you ask me, Southwest’s boarding process is quite polarizing. On the one hand, it’s often referred to as a “cattle call,” and at times it can get a bit frantic, especially toward the end of the boarding process. On the other hand, it’s surprisingly orderly, much more so than on many other airlines.

Southwest assigns boarding positions rather than seats

Southwest Airlines passengers are assigned specific boarding positions, consisting of a letter and then a number:

• You’ll either be in group A, B, or C, with A being allowed to board first, B being allowed to board second, and C being allowed to board last
• You’ll be given a specific number within that range, which determines the order in which you can board within each group

In other words, the person with boarding position A1 can board first, while the person with boarding position C60 can board last (if the number gets that high on a particular flight). While other airlines board passengers based on larger zones, on Southwest there’s quite literally a person-by-person priority for boarding.

The logistics of boarding Southwest flights

With most airlines, you kind of just have a mob that storms the gate when boarding is about to start. By comparison, Southwest’s boarding process is quite civilized. Southwest’s gates typically have six big “markers,” each of which lists numbers. On the left side you’ll see numbers 1-30, and on the right side you’ll see numbers 31-60. Each sign indicates where you should stand based on your boarding position, with ranges of five numbers.

As you can tell, at each given point this setup can accommodate up to 60 people, with 30 on each side. There are then monitors at the very front of this line, which indicate whether groups A, B, or C are boarding. In other words, once group C is boarding, the up to 60 people will be able to line up.

You’ll want to line up in the exact area where your number is. In other words, if group C boarding starts, and you’re assigned position C2, you’d want to stand in the 1-5 section. It’s customary to ask those around you what their position is, so you can be sure you’re in the right order (in other words, you’d want to make sure you’re behind C1 and in front of C3).

While everyone does have to line up with this system, there’s not really a rush or panic, unlike on some other airlines. There’s no need to get in line a long time before boarding. Rather you can line up just a couple of minutes before boarding starts, and get in the appropriate line. Just make sure that you don’t line up until your general group is being boarded. In other words, if you’re in group C, don’t get in line until group A and group B are totally boarded.

Southwest Airlines family boarding & more

We’re used to airlines offering to pre-board families, those needing extra time, military, etc. How does that work on Southwest Airlines?

• Southwest allows family boarding between groups A and B; this allows up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger to board at this time, assuming they’re not already in group A
• Southwest allows active duty US military (with a valid ID) to board between groups A and B, assuming they’re not already in group A
• Southwest allows those requiring extra time to board between groups A and B, ahead of family boarding, assuming they’re not already in group A

As you can tell, the intent is to provide these passengers the opportunity to sit together, though only after the first set of passengers board, and are able to get the best seats (bulkheads, exit rows, etc.).

Note that the only passengers who can board before group A are those in wheelchairs. On some routes there are quite a few wheelchair passengers, so often many of the best seats will be occupied by those travelers.

How Southwest boarding positions are determined

Southwest Airlines boarding priority is determined based on when you check-in. To secure the best possible boarding position, you’ll want to check-in online exactly 24 hours out. The closer to departure you check-in, the worse your boarding priority will be.

Below I’ll talk about some of the ways to get upgraded boarding, but checking in early is generally going to be your best bet. Now, I’d note that just because you check-in exactly 24 hours out doesn’t mean you’ll have a great boarding position. For example, I checked in 24 hours in advance (to the second), and I was assigned position B16. In other words, 75 people (A1-60 and B1-15) had higher priority for boarding than I did.

Still, if you check in exactly 24 hours out, you’ll almost certainly be able to avoid a middle seat, if that’s your goal.

I should also mention that if you’re traveling with others but don’t have consecutive boarding groups, you can either board separately, or can board with the lower priority. However, you can’t have someone else board with your higher priority. Southwest also doesn’t allow reserving seats for others once onboard.

How to secure early boarding on Southwest

As mentioned above, checking in 24 hours out is the best way to secure a decent boarding position. However, how do you secure the best boarding positions, if the goal is to get a bulkhead seat or an exit row? There are a few things to consider:

• If you purchase a Business Select fare (Southwest’s most premium fares), this automatically comes with A1-15 boarding
• If you have Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List status, you’ll receive a boarding position immediately behind Business Select, so you can expect it to generally be in the A16-A30 range
• You can pay for EarlyBird Check-In, where Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours before departure; while this should get you a good boarding position (almost always in zone A), note that it doesn’t guarantee a specific boarding priority, as you’re behind Business Select customers and A-List members
• The day of departure you can purchase upgraded boardings in positions A1-15, subject to availability; note that this will only be available if all the Business Select fares weren’t purchased

Having co-branded Southwest Airlines credit cards can potentially help you secure early boarding as well:

• The  Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card ( review ) and  Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card ( review ) each offer four priority boardings per anniversary year, where you can be reimbursed when you purchase upgraded boarding in positions A1-15 on the day of departure
• The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ( review ), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ( review ), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card  ( review ), each offer two EarlyBird Check-Ins per anniversary year, which can get you a better boarding position

Is Southwest’s boarding process awesome or awful?

People seem to either love or hate Southwest Airlines’ boarding process. Let me share my take on that based on a couple of different factors.

Southwest’s boarding is surprisingly orderly

While some people like to refer to Southwest’s boarding process as a “cattle call,” in my experience this offers one of the most organized boarding processes in terms of how people line up in the gate area.

On other airlines, people tend to crowd the gate area even when it isn’t their turn to board. Meanwhile at Southwest, everyone has an exact spot where they’re supposed to be, and that also minimizes the unnecessary crowding.

Personally I’m a bit surprised by how consistently orderly the Southwest boarding process seems to be, since there’s a bit of a learning curve to understanding this, compared to other airlines. I guess it shows you that Southwest has quite a few loyal customers who are used to this system.

I don’t like not having an assigned seat

While the boarding process is pretty organized in the gate area, I find it to be a different story once onboard, at least on a full flight. I know in theory the open seating concept is supposed to speed up boarding, but that doesn’t necessarily match my experience, at least based on the flight that I took.

There were all kinds of people going to the back of the plane trying to sit together, only to later be coming back “upstream” to find seats. Toward the end of the boarding process, the crew was offering free drinks to anyone willing to move, in order to have a mother and daughter sit together. You had several people trying to reserve seats for others, only to be told they couldn’t do that.

So while I can appreciate that being able to sit anywhere is theoretically efficient, it can become a game of musical chairs if a flight is full.

I do think this process is pretty fair, in the sense that everyone has the same chance of getting at least an aisle or a window seat, by just checking in early. I prefer that to how other airlines like to charge even for regular economy seats.

However, as an elite member and frequent flyer, personally I prefer knowing exactly where I’ll be sitting, so that I can plan my flight accordingly. For example, if I’m going to be in a middle seat, I’ll probably just load entertainment on a personal device, while otherwise I might plan on trying to work the entire flight.

Bottom line

Southwest Airlines takes a different approach to boarding than other airlines. Rather than assigning seats, the airline has open seating, and allows passengers to board in a specific order.

Some people love Southwest’s boarding process, as it’s a rather fair way to go about boarding, and it’s also quite organized. However, many don’t like not having an assigned seat, and find it to be kind of chaotic once onboard.

What do you make of Southwest’s boarding process? Do you love it or hate it? Any tips I missed?

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What a bullshit system. I had two passengers on the same ticket, and though I checked in together, they gave us different positions. How is this even justified. Same ticket, same reservation, checked in together and yet separated willfully for some unknown reason. Pretty insensitive and brutal. All I can say is I am shocked and disgusted.

How much is the extra price to get early seating?

$15-$25 depending on the length of the flight,l flew from Pitt-Houston and paid $25 for early board seating.

@Linda: wheelchair users can be ambulatory. That means they may be able to walk short distances. This doesn’t mean they don’t need a wheelchair. Unfortunately we don’t do Angela great job on educating about disabilities in the US.

The wheelchair issue is out of control! People are falsely claiming a need for the wheelchair or they put one disabled family member in the chair and the rest of the family is allowed to board with them. This is so very wrong. I pay extra every trip even though I could legally claim a medical pre-board. To have one wheelchair passenger and the rest of the family group board ahead at no extra cost is WRONG! Southwest must correct this situation immediately!!!

Hate the seating process. We switching to Delta. Too many wheelchairs checking in and abusing the process. And if you get on a bus to the plane, this order is A COMPLETE FAILURE. IE...CABO

It's a trip how people act like WN's boarding process is rocket science. You have a letter and a number. Is your letter or number called? Get up and stand at the clearly-marked posts and signs. It wasn't called? Just stay seated.

Literally the only difference between this and other carriers (and I'm a TOTAL AvGeek) is that there's no assigned seating. Never have I seen a confrontation ensue. But I'm also aware that the general public even can't read maps...

Agree with other commenters: my preference is to select a seat in advance. Don’t have the time to go online 24 hours in advance to get a boarding position. I’ve paid for the position, then have to deal with all the games people play to block seats with their sweaters, saving for friends, etc. For long flights, I go business class, and there’s no similar option on SW.

Other airlines want some SW customers,...

Other airlines want some SW customers, so they created Basic Economy. With my status, I wouldn’t loose much with BE, except I’d get fewer points. The whole “point” of the loyalty point system is to lure you into doing something you wouldn’t do otherwise, such as take one airline over another, use a different credit card, reserve a car or hotel through a certain website, or just fly to top off your status. And, I’ll admit that it works on me, so I don’t fly Southwest or Basic Economy and I stick with preferred airlines to earn status, and occasionally take mileage runs. Perhaps I’m a pawn doing my master’s bidding, but I’m happy and I get the seat that I want. Hey American, you’ve been dangling Concierge Key in front of me for too long, just tell me what to do. Your wish is my command.

Those who have priority boarding (wheelchair etc.) should not be allowed to sit in the 1sr row (bulkhead) thus allowing those traveling business select to sit there if desired.

Are you joking Tom? Do you know how difficult it is for we disabled people to even get dressed, go to and through the airport and hopefully arrive at our destination for medical care? Be happy you have the privilege of having the ability to work and travel freely. We hope this never happens to you. You must be a narcissistic sociopath. We feel sorry for your family to be afflicted with such a selfish person in their lives. Shame on you.

I am not young. I have had to sit on the floor or on my suitcase in line to have a chance of getting a decent seat. I travel alone. It would be even a worse problem if I was traveling with others. Crazy system meant for agressive youngsters.

Ive only flown Southwest once because a company was flying me out for a conference. I absolutely hated the entire experience and will never willingly fly them again, its just not for me.

Happy for those that are loyal and love flying Southwest but its a no from me dawg.

The $30. (one-way) early-bird check-in is a terrible scam by Southwest. It is an all or nothing proposition. What I mean by this is no matter what happens Southwest steals your money even if they do not provide the service you think your buying. Case in point say you've purchased a ticket with automatic check-in if that flight changes for any reason you lose your status for early check-in and must pay again. Under no...

The $30. (one-way) early-bird check-in is a terrible scam by Southwest. It is an all or nothing proposition. What I mean by this is no matter what happens Southwest steals your money even if they do not provide the service you think your buying. Case in point say you've purchased a ticket with automatic check-in if that flight changes for any reason you lose your status for early check-in and must pay again. Under no circumstances will your $30 be refunded or applied to another flight. I said never again fly Southworst when the airline changed my flight and refused to honor my early-bird status on the new flight they had changed. I was told sorry we're keeping that money your welcome to pay us again if you want early-bird check-in. This is nothing short of stealing.

I have tried it and hate it. If it was so great other airlines would have adopted it. I have no issues queueing up in a particular spot but it's always chaos I'm onboard as everyone tries to save seats and bend the rules. It is so much easier when a computer does the assignments for you.

The boarding process is actually to turn around and go back home because your flight is cancelled.

The big problem with this system is that it punishes people who have difficulty checking in online or who have a delayed connecting flight. So if your flight doesn't let you check in online for some reason and you have to wait until you are at the airport, you are at the end of the queue. And if you are connecting, and your connecting flight is delayed, even if you paid for priority boarding, you...

The big problem with this system is that it punishes people who have difficulty checking in online or who have a delayed connecting flight. So if your flight doesn't let you check in online for some reason and you have to wait until you are at the airport, you are at the end of the queue. And if you are connecting, and your connecting flight is delayed, even if you paid for priority boarding, you don't get any benefit because if you aren't there in time, you can't get a decent seat choice.

I don't like it my husband was in B group with a low number and I was in C group last person to board the plane I was lucky that I still got to sit with him other wise I would of been pissed

Perhaps there is a bit of both that could be good. The Southwest boarding procedure with an assigned seat. Regarding the comments about people not really being disabled, why can't they require proof? This reminds me of the service animals where airlines finally had to implement and enforce stricter rules due to people taking advantage of the system.

Am I imagining it, or is Ben's previously fractured bromance with AmericanAirlines now back on the rails, and his ire is now focussed on SouthWest's deficiencies?

The real issue for the unorganized boarding processing is caused by the outdated terminal structure. Meaning is are no waiting area for lines to be formed prior to each boarding to be called. If you look at big hubs in Asia , you will find huge empty space for each class to wait in line. Good examples (from my memories): HKG, HND, NRT.

SW airlines has become the bus station and buses for the U.S. I'd rather drive my own vehicle. I recently flew from Nashville to Heathrow on British Air and almost believed I was flying Southwest.

I would not say "love it or hate it", but Southwest boarding system is better than the mob scene 15 minutes before boarding on any other airline - domestic or international.

The only negative with this process, there are heaps of people that pretend to be disabled and get on before others without paying the extra price to get early boarding. And they get off the plane first as well. I have seen many miracles were people that use canes, fold them up and can walk faster than I can getting to baggage area. I have seen people use wheelchairs to get on the plane that...

The only negative with this process, there are heaps of people that pretend to be disabled and get on before others without paying the extra price to get early boarding. And they get off the plane first as well. I have seen many miracles were people that use canes, fold them up and can walk faster than I can getting to baggage area. I have seen people use wheelchairs to get on the plane that are totally cured and can walk on their own getting off the plane. I have written to Southwest about this situation on several occasions, but of course, they cannot ask you to prove you are disabled, and can't force you to stay on the plane until others disembark.

Linda, wheelchairs are used largely for the airline's convenience. I hope you do nor begrude the truly disabled that facility. There are also many who need assistance as they are unable to walk long distances through terminals with luggage who are eligible for assistance. The airlines one-size-fits-all solution is to put all these passengers into a wheelchair and deliver them to the boarging gate, or perhaps to the door of the aircraft. After that...

Linda, wheelchairs are used largely for the airline's convenience. I hope you do nor begrude the truly disabled that facility. There are also many who need assistance as they are unable to walk long distances through terminals with luggage who are eligible for assistance. The airlines one-size-fits-all solution is to put all these passengers into a wheelchair and deliver them to the boarging gate, or perhaps to the door of the aircraft. After that 99% are on their own. Crew (except in the US) will help with stowage of hand luggage. So the idea is to minimise the time it takes an employee to get a passenger from point A to B to fulfil their legal obligation; nothing more. Oh, and consider that that person in the wheelchair would give anything to be ablebodied enough to be able to breeze through without anyone's help. I think something like 99% need the assistance, contrary to what you seem to think.

Also some people have clotting issues and need specific aisle seats so they can move their legs while being seated. After the flight they need to stand and move to keep from getting blood clots. You can’t see all disabilities from the outside.

Couple of new thoughts to add to this thread. (Full disclosure -- I'm one of those who luv the Southwest boarding process). First SW has many continuing flights where the plane arrives, many but not all passengers disembark, and others stay on to a following stop. If you've flown Southwest and continuing on, you know the routine. Stay in your seat until the crew completes the count of through passengers, then you are free...

Couple of new thoughts to add to this thread. (Full disclosure -- I'm one of those who luv the Southwest boarding process). First SW has many continuing flights where the plane arrives, many but not all passengers disembark, and others stay on to a following stop. If you've flown Southwest and continuing on, you know the routine. Stay in your seat until the crew completes the count of through passengers, then you are free to change seats. Guess which seats become the favorites at that point. So if you are boarding a through flight, the A1-A15 passengers may not find their preferred seats up front. Something else that SW does to make the boarding process more efficient is to offer two free checked bags. That really reduces the blockages in the aisle as passengers as less likely to be stuffing oversize luggage into the overhead.

I totally agree with southwest's boarding progress to a point more and more people are using wheelchairs and hopefully rightfully to get pre-boarding so even if you upgrade to A1, you could still be in row 5 which is no big deal but when you sit back and watch you see abuse of the system that's what aggravates me. Anyhow it's still my airline been flying on them for 30 years and still here to talk about it!

What happens if you are late to the gate and boarding has already started? if you are A20 and they are lining up people for group B already ? Do you just go and stand in front of passenger B1?

Yes. You get to cut the line if your boarding group has already gone just like the other airlines.

Boarding Process?? With over 1700 cancellations today alone , boarding isnt anyone's focus if they are flying southwest!

It’s very annoying for a tall person to find a short person sitting in the exit seats, knowing that the tall person needs legroom. I blame the airlines for this.

I stopped reading Skytrax reviews because of non-stop comments about like "my husband is 6'5 and the economy seat was very cramped. We were not offered an exit row or an upgrade at check-in. Disgusting."

If you want the seats with leg room, you gotta pay the money to board first.

But on the clown car with wings that is WN, you don’t have that option.

I blame your parents.

I know someone that doesn't want to board first. He wants to choose his seatmate, choosing someone who is not obese.

The boarding process is consistently orderly because there's such a focus on exactly where you are in line. With the other airlines you just have a general boarding group, and the gate agents are hit or miss if they actually enforce someone trying to sneak through with an earlier group. Because everyone knows exactly where they need to be, it puts the onus on the gate agent AND the passengers to call out cheaters.

Personally, I love this system, and would like to see a variant implemented with assigned seats. Ideally this would be with front and back boarding, where Group A1-16 would be First Class, and then A17-A60 would be the seats immediately behind First and would board through the back of the plane which allows people to board quickly (because the line isn't halting every time someone is putting their bag up because the person in front of you in line is in front of you on the plane).

In my opinion, I feel that Southwest’s new boarding policy for families is discriminatory and unfair to all of us. Why are elderly or those without children being punished or treated as less important? If families want to sit together, they can book on an airline with assigned seats. I am offended by this discriminatory plan.

Same goes for you Carol, if you want an assigned seat, you can book another airline. Families are the bread and butter of Southwest. This is one of the main reasons (along with the companion pass, and free checked baggage) that my family flies southwest. When it is just me, I just check in 24 hours early, and I have never had to worry about not getting an Aisle seat or Window.

I think the previous versions of their boarding process were much more cattle call. Previously you didn't have an exact number just a letter and it got pretty chaotic. I don't hate the new process, don't love it. With all airlines not having change fees I don't fly Southwest much (ever) because they are generally quite a bit more expensive, at least out of Seattle) and I can't use their program for aspirational flights...

I thought that Southwest tried very hard to avoid taking any sort of official position on whether saving seats was permissible. Did that change at some point?

They don't have an official position on it. Flight attendants are basically left to enforce or not as they see fit. Most stay out of it. I've found it frustrating when boarding with a high A boarding card and find somebody planted in the exit row saying the other seats are reserved (for people who got on with C positions). Flight attendant just stood there and shrugged his shoulders.

That's the real issue. The flight attendants not enforcing the rules. So people get away with doing what they are not supposed to do and then will continue to do so.

That sounds annoying as hell. I'd rather find a different carrier and pick where I wanted to be.

Trust me - it is as annoying as hell. And this - and the lack of assigned seats - are two of the main reasons why I avoid WN like the plague.

Southwest's Boarding is wonderful except for the pre boards at times. Many need a wheelchair to get on the plane. They then take the front preferred seats. However, by some miracle their maladies are cured by the time the plane lands. Many often run off the plane. Southwest has tried to control this issue, but to no avail. It is maddening to see people game the system, yet that is the price for "cheap" flights.

I had A1 once and got on board and tried to take the bulkhead window to be told by the flight attendant that they were reserving the first 4 rows for those needing assistance and I needed to sit further aft.

I think Southwest is well intentioned with the boarding process and it is actually relatively organized and works quickly... from the gate perspective. The Ops agent boarding the flights tends to be more...

I think Southwest is well intentioned with the boarding process and it is actually relatively organized and works quickly... from the gate perspective. The Ops agent boarding the flights tends to be more apt to toe the line as far as rules go and doesn't seem to have an issue saying No from my observations. But they leave way too much open to interpretation after that point. The crews have free reign to handle it however they want once on board.

I will say I do really like the Southwest ground experience but I generally dislike the onboard experience. Airplanes that aren't really clean, crews making up their own rules, the annoying drink service process, etc.

Just don’t expect to get a front seat on a wintertime flight to Florida, even if you are A1. The 20+ wheelchair passengers plus their spouse and entourage all board before you.

Leff gets on the plane and throws his coat, briefcase, and shoes on seats around him to save them. He has no problem with it.

Anyone remember AirCal? (Founded in 1967 and bought by AA in 1987.) It had no seat assignments. There was no formalized boarding process. Just come on up. Southwest gave organization to the model . . . and monetized it.

I do and here’s a piece of trivia for you. Haven’t tested it recently but a few years ago I tried calling 800-4-AIRCAL and it was still a working number at AA. Somebody from group reservations answered.

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The big problem with this system is that it punishes people who have difficulty checking in online or who have a delayed connecting flight. So if your flight doesn't let you check in online for some reason and you have to wait until you are at the airport, you are at the end of the queue. And if you are connecting, and your connecting flight is delayed, even if you paid for priority boarding, you don't get any benefit because if you aren't there in time, you can't get a decent seat choice.

The only negative with this process, there are heaps of people that pretend to be disabled and get on before others without paying the extra price to get early boarding. And they get off the plane first as well. I have seen many miracles were people that use canes, fold them up and can walk faster than I can getting to baggage area. I have seen people use wheelchairs to get on the plane that are totally cured and can walk on their own getting off the plane. I have written to Southwest about this situation on several occasions, but of course, they cannot ask you to prove you are disabled, and can't force you to stay on the plane until others disembark.

Ive only flown Southwest once because a company was flying me out for a conference. I absolutely hated the entire experience and will never willingly fly them again, its just not for me. Happy for those that are loyal and love flying Southwest but its a no from me dawg.

• September 26, 2024

• July 25, 2024

• October 8, 2019

Simple Flying

How does the southwest airlines boarding process work.

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• Southwest Airlines' open seating policy improves boarding times, on-time departures, and cost savings.
• Passengers are assigned boarding positions based on fare status and check-in time.
• To get a better seat, consider purchasing a Business Select fare, buying upgraded boarding, or having Southwest Elite status.

Southwest Airlines adopts a unique approach to boarding that sets it apart from other carriers. Unlike traditional seat assignments, the Dallas-based airline employs an open seating policy, where passengers choose any available seat upon boarding the plane.

The open seating policy is credited with improving boarding times, contributing to on-time departures and cost savings, a benefit that Southwest claims translates into lower ticket prices for its customers . While boarding at the gate is organized, the process can become chaotic, with passengers moving back and forth on the aircraft, trying to find seats together. By understanding and leveraging this system, passengers can enjoy a more personalized and stress-free travel experience.

How Southwest assigns seats

On Southwest Airlines flights, people are assigned boarding positions in order of fare status and check-in. Higher fares and earlier check-in lead to better positions, and earlier boarding positions mean greater odds of getting their desired aircraft seat.

Every flight is organized into three boarding 'groups': A, B, and C. Each seat consists of a letter and number. Within these groups, passengers are assigned individual 'positions' numbered 1 through 60 (ranging from A1 to C60). When passengers board, they can choose any available seat remaining.

This usually means getting:

• Window seat closer to the front of the aircraft.
• Aisle seat closer to the front of the aircraft.

Pre-board is designated for passengers with disabilities or those requiring special assistance to board, which must be arranged before the boarding process.

If fewer than fifteen Business Select tickets are sold, the remaining spots from A1 to A15 become available twenty-four hours before departure for a nominal fee (Upgraded Boarding). Passengers provided they do so before boarding begins. Recently, Southwest Airlines has raised the price for its 'Upgraded Boarding' service . The fee has increased from up to $60 to a range between $30 and $80 per flight segment, effective May 15th, 2023.

What Is The Fastest Way To Get Everyone Onboard An Aircraft?

There are much faster boarding methods than current procedures.

This usually means:

• Window seat in the rear of the aircraft
• Aisle seat in the rear of the aircraft
• Center seat in the front of the aircraft.

Regarding Early Bird Check-In, for a fee starting at $15, Southwest automatically checks you in before the standard 24-hour window (automatic check-in thirty-six hours before departure). This service simplifies the check-in process and almost guarantees an "A" boarding group position. It applies to all flight segments on your travel day, including connecting flights.

However, holding this status does not guarantee an A-boarding position. Within this group, the order is determined by:

• Which fare was purchased (more expensive fare means better position)
• When Early Bird Check-In was purchased (earlier means better position)

Being in the B group usually means a good chance of securing a window or aisle seat or finding two seats together if traveling with a companion.

• Center seat near the rear of the aircraft.

While being in this group doesn't automatically mean you'll be stuck in the middle seat, the likelihood is higher.

Boarding order

Upon arriving at the gate, passengers are advised to locate the boarding group assignment on their boarding pass, determining their position in the queue. They are encouraged to watch the monitors for their boarding group and listen to the gate agent's announcement to start boarding.

When their group is called, passengers are expected to join the line. The boarding order is the following:

• Pre-board & Business Select passengers
• A-list members, along with passengers who need extra time but are not eligible for pre-boarding, families (traveling with children six years old or younger), and active-duty military personnel.
• B group passengers
• C group passengers

Passengers arriving late after their boarding group has been called can board any time after their group, but seat selection may be limited. Early boarders have the first pick of window and aisle seats and overhead bin space for luggage. The arrangement for families and military personnel does not require pre-boarding arrangements, but customers with disabilities should arrange this beforehand.

Southwest Airlines is reportedly considering changes to its family boarding process, moving to allow children under 13, up from the current six years, to board earlier. Based on traveler reports and not officially confirmed by Southwest, this potential adjustment suggests families with children six and under may board during pre-boarding , ahead of general boarding.

How to get a better seat

To secure the best seat on a Southwest flight, consider purchasing a Business Select fare for guaranteed A1-15 boarding, buying upgraded boarding on travel day, having Southwest Elite status, or using a Southwest credit card for complimentary upgrades.

However, unlike other airlines, Southwest credit cards don't automatically grant priority boarding but offer reimbursements for expenses on upgraded boarding positions or EarlyBird Check-In. Download the Southwest App and log in to your account for a convenient check-in process that requires just a few taps on your phone and allows you to check in early, aiming for a better boarding position.

Additionally, prioritizing seats towards the back of the plane can be beneficial, especially for those in the B or early C boarding groups, as front seats tend to fill up first. Solo travelers in the C group might find better window or aisle seats at the back.

How Do Boarding Processes Differ At Major US Airlines?

Boarding processes are different across the major US airlines. In this guide, we will discuss each individual airline's boarding procedure.

Furthermore, flight attendants can assist in finding seats, especially near the middle or exit rows. While some passengers may reserve seats with their bags, asking politely can lead to getting a preferred spot. Prime seats at the front are up for grabs and can be claimed by any passenger, offering a chance for a great seat even with a later boarding number.

Continuously innovating

Southwest Airlines is testing new boarding methods , experimenting with dual-boarding and de-planing techniques, and using data science to optimize the process. The aim is to enhance efficiency without compromising a low-cost approach, with successful strategies possibly becoming permanent.

Southwest continually evaluates its boarding procedure to enhance customer experience. Updates and changes are communicated through Southwest's official channels, ensuring passengers are well-informed of any adjustments affecting the boarding process.

Despite these challenges, we can acknowledge the fairness of this boarding process, where early check-in increases the chance of securing a preferred seat without additional charges, contrasting this with airlines that charge for regular economy seating.

Southwest's boarding procedure emphasizes the importance of checking in early, considering upgrades for better boarding positions, and employing strategic seat selection tactics once onboard to enhance your travel experience.

Boarding efficiency is crucial for Southwest, as delays can impact its on-time performance and operational costs, where it seeks to maintain competitiveness and customer loyalty in the low-cost airline market.

What do you think about Southwest Airlines' boarding process? Let us know in the comments below.

• North America

UponArriving

Southwest Boarding Groups Explained: From A-List to Group C! [2023]

Are you wondering how exactly Southwest boarding groups work?

This article will show you everything you need to know about the Southwest boarding process.

I’ll also show you different ways that you can get priority boarding and cover things like family boarding and military boarding. I’ll also give you some details about Southwest seating (charts, maps, etc.) and some tips for getting the best seats.

Table of Contents

How many boarding groups does Southwest have?

Southwest has three main boarding groups:

• Boarding group A
• Boarding group B
• Boarding group C

If you want to understand the Southwest boarding process though, you’ll need to understand much more than the three boarding groups. Keep reading below for more info on the boarding process!

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

How does Southwest boarding work?

When you check-in for your flight, you’ll be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and within that boarding group you’ll be assigned a number (1 through 60).

So for example, you might be assigned A50, which means you’ll be the 50th person to board within Group A.

It could vary depending on the airport, but generally, you’ll see monitors or signs showing you where to stand for your group. The signs will typically say something like “A 1-30” or “A 31-60.”

An “A 1-30” sign would mean that if you have an A boarding pass and your boarding number is 30 or under (e.g., A25), that is where you need to go to line up.

You should also see some silver posts marked with numbers which will tell you where to stand. These numbers are usually marked in increments of five.

So if you have A50, you’ll locate the post that might have something like “50 to 55” marked and that is where you will need to go.

You will then stand in that space and as the other four passengers start to accumulate in that area you will usually sort yourselves out by asking each other what boarding spot they have.

If you have A50, you will be in front of that little “50 to 55” section but if you had something like A53 you would be in the middle. Not all passengers care about getting in the exact order but some do.

Once you find where you need to stand, you’ll simply wait for them to start boarding and proceed to make your way to the plane. Once you’re inside the plane, you can choose any seat since seats are not assigned with Southwest.

As unconventional as it might sound from other airlines like United , the boarding procedures are usually pretty smooth.

What order does Southwest board its planes?

Although there are only three boarding groups, the actual boarding pass issuance process is actually more complex.

Below is the order that boarding passes will be issued, which also determines the order that you will board the plane.

Note that Southwest will usually not call for people to board by these categories. For example, they are not going to ask for all the “A-List” or “EarlyBird” members to board.

Instead, they will call groups up by boarding pass group number. You will hear something like, “now boarding all passengers with Group A boarding passes numbered one through 30.”

So below is the order that you can expect boarding passes to be issued/the order boarding will go.

Passengers already on the plane

Some passengers may already be on the plane depending on the origin of the flight. But if some passengers got off the plane for a layover, they might be among the first to board.

This means that you could have a Business Select ticket, and still have several people board before you depending on the size of the crowds.

Preboarding

Preboarding is available for “customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft or stowing an assistive device.”

(Those with service animals will usually be included in this group as well.)

This is also when unaccompanied minors board the plane.

Other passengers who might board at this time are those with large camera equipment, instruments, and certain other select people like those who need an extra seat .

This group will be able to board before anybody else despite whatever boarding group or boarding number they are issued.

Because of the open seat policy for Southwest, passengers using preboarding may come under more scrutiny than other airlines.

So if you want to use preboarding with Southwest, it’s a good idea to inquire at the check-in counter about getting that on your boarding pass. In addition, you can also add a special service request to your booking.

Business Select

The next individuals to board are those who purchased Business Select fares. (This will be the first group to be issued boarding passes beginning with Group A.)

Southwest doesn’t offer a traditional first class but they do offer Business Select fares, which offer you the highest earning rate for Rapid Rewards. (More on those tickets below).

After passengers who have purchased Business Select fares, those who were upgraded to Business Select will be issued boarding passes.

A-list Preferred

The next to get boarding passes will be A-List Preferred , which is the top-tier elite status offered by Southwest.

You can qualify for A-List Preferred by flying 50 one-way qualifying segments or earning 70,000 qualifying points.

Once you qualify for A-List Preferred, you’ll receive a 100% bonus on Rapid Rewards earned, priority check-in, and security lane access. You’ll also get free in-flight wifi (on planes equipped with wifi) and the ability to get on earlier flights for free.

A-list is the bottom-tier elite status just below A-List Preferred and so they get boarding passes right after A-List Preferred.

A-List can be achieved by flying 25 one-way qualifying segments or earning 35,000 qualifying points.

Once you qualify for A-List, you’ll receive a 25% bonus on Rapid Rewards earned, priority check-in, and security lane access.

The next passengers to get boarding passes will be those with EarlyBird.

Southwest EarlyBird automatically checks you in 36 hours prior to departure and while it does not guarantee an A boarding spot, it will offer you a much better chance of getting a window or aisle seat. Be aware that recently, Southwest Airlines made a change so that Early Bird Check-in is not available on all flights.

Read more below on whether or not it’s worth it.

Boarding Group A/B

After EarlyBird passengers are issued boarding passes then boarding passes are issued based on the number of slots left over for Group A.

As mentioned, it is possible that there are no Group A boarding spots left for some EarlyBird passengers so the next boarding passes issued could be for Group B.

Also, some people falling into certain categories below might always be able to board right after Group A.

Need extra time

Something interesting about Southwest is that they state that if “a Customer with a disability simply needs a little extra time to board, we will permit the Customer to board before Family Boarding, between the “A” and “B” groups.”

Technically, this goes against the rules for preboarding because even people who only need a little extra time during boarding should qualify for preboarding.

Family boarding

If you are traveling with a kid 6 or under, you should be able to board in between Group A and Group B (this is the family boarding time ).

A-List (last minute)

Also, if you’re A-List and you purchased a last minute ticket you’ll be able to board between Group A and Group B.

And finally, military members (usually in uniform but not always) can board between Group A and Group B. If you’re not traveling in your uniform, consider showing your military ID to a gate agent and inquiring about priority boarding.

Boarding Group B

Once boarding Group A is filled up, then boarding Group B boarding passes will be issued.

If you’re in boarding Group B, you can still get a decent seat if you’re in B1 to B30, but the closer you get to boarding Group C, the tougher it’s going to be to get your desired seat.

However, if you’re okay with sitting in the rear of the plane, it will be easier to find desirable seats or seats together.

Boarding Group C

Once boarding Group B is filled up, then boarding Group C boarding passes will be issued.

Most of the time if you’re in Group C, it’s going to be very difficult to get a window seat or aisle seat. Head towards the back for your best odds.

Standbys will be the last to board.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg9a8jRGsVM[/embedyt]

Companion Pass Boarding

The Southwest Companion Pass allows a partner to fly for free with you for up to two full calendar years and it’s one of the most valuable travel perks sought by many.

When you utilize the Companion Pass you and your partner will not necessarily get boarding passes right next to each other. Southwest did run a trial allowing companions to board next to each other but I’m unaware of the results of the trial.

Why do boarding groups matter?

Besides just being able to board the plane quicker and choose your desired seat (window or aisle), there are two specific reasons why you’d want a higher boarding pass.

Southwest has a generous baggage policy where they allow you to check two bags for free.

As for carry-ons, it’s the same baggage policy that most other major airlines have for their standard tickets: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on.

So by getting a better boarding position, you’ll be able to guarantee that you’ll have overhead storage for your bags.

Emergency row seats

Emergency exit rows on Southwest planes have extra legroom and/or have rows with only two seats which are great for couples.

By securing a higher boarding pass, your flight can become a lot more enjoyable as you’ll have more room.

Southwest usually flies 737-700s and 737-800s and the 737-800s have more emergency exit rows with only two seats, so it’s a good idea to check ahead of time (if possible) to see which type of aircraft you are flying on.

Southwest seating details (seating chart)

If you’re flying Southwest, chances are you’ll be flying on a 737-700 or a 737-800.

You might be wondering about how much room you’ll have with your Southwest seating and here’s what you can expect:

• 737-700 — Pitch (leg room): 31 inches; width 17 inches
• 737-800 — Pitch (leg room): 32 to 33 inches; width 17 inches
• 737-800MAX — Pitch (leg room): 32 to 33 inches; width 17.8 inches

So as you can see, when it comes to Southwest seating, you’ll get more leg room with the 737-800 according to SeatGuru and you’ll have a wider seat with the 737-800 Max.

.8 inches might now sound like that much but every little bit helps when you’re flying. You can view the Southwest seating charts here . 

Get the best seat selection (Southwest priority boarding)

There are a few ways that you can secure “priority boarding” with Southwest.

I put that in quotations because there aren’t true priority boarding groups but there are some ways you can effectively get priority boarding and get the best seat selection.

If you purchase a Business Select fare, you’ll be guaranteed a boarding position A1 to A15.

Business Select fares are usually just a little bit more expensive than Anytime fares but they allow you to earn more points and also offer the following benefits:

• Guaranteed A1-A15 boarding
• Fly By lane access
• Free premium drink
• 12 Rapid Rewards per dollar spent
• Fully refundable fare

You can read more on whether or not Business Select fares are worth it here . 

Upgrade to Business Select

Instead of purchasing Business Select fares you can also upgrade.

The cost to upgrade to Business Select varies from  $30 to $50 per segment , depending on the route.

To upgrade, simply approach the ticket counter or desk at the departure gate and inquire about the upgrade.

Sometimes they make you upgrade at the gate reserved for your flight but other times you can do it at check-in or at another Southwest gate.

Southwest should be able to tell you exactly what boarding number you’d receive before you upgrade so you can see if it’s worth it.

Update: you can now upgrade online at the time of check-in!

The Southwest Priority Credit Card offers up to four upgrades to priority boarding (A1 to A15) based on availability per year.

Among other benefits, it also offers a $75 annual credit,  20% back on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies, and  20% back on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies. It’s not a bad way to cover those upgrades to Business Select if you only need to cover a few of those a year. 

Southwest EarlyBird

Another option to secure a priority boarding position is to go with Southwest EarlyBird.

This will automatically check you in 36 hours prior to departure.

EarlyBird does not guarantee an A boarding pass but it will almost always get you a boarding pass that will allow you to get an aisle or window seat.

For the most part, you should be able to get a window seat or aisle seat just by checking in yourself 24 hours before your flight. (It’s often possible to get an A boarding pass checking in on your own.)

However, if you won’t be available to check in 24 hours prior or you don’t think that you’ll remember then EarlyBird could be worth it.

EarlyBird used to cost $10 each way and then it was increased to $15 each way. But recently, the pricing was changed to dynamic pricing so it could cost up to $25.

Good News: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card now offers two annual credits for Southwest EarlyBird!

You can read more about whether or not Southwest EarlyBird is worth it here.

Can you save seats on Southwest?

There’s a lot of debate as to whether or not its acceptable to save seats on Southwest flights.

For the most part it does seem to be frowned upon but you can usually save seats within reason.

Generally, saving seats at the rear of the plane is not an issue , especially if you’re trying to keep your family together.

With that said, if you have a very large group, you might be inviting some issues since saving multiple rows can get a little messy at times.

Also, you don’t want to save seats in the front of the plane, as that might lead to confrontations. In addition, it’s usually not a good idea to save seats in the emergency exit rows as those are usually in high demand.

Tip: One trick I’ve done in the past is to get the flight attendant to occupy a seat as people board and people will usually pass over that seat.

Can groups board together?

Southwest will allow you to board in groups even if your boarding passes are not directly before or after each other.

The catch is that they want you to board with the member who has the lowest boarding pass.

So for example, let’s say there are three of you and you have the following boarding passes:

Southwest will ask that A25 and A60 board with B30.

This is to preserve the “integrity” of the boarding process since it actually doesn’t affect the boarding waiting time of any of the other passengers.

How to print a Southwest boarding pass?

You can easily print your boarding pass by checking in online.

You can print your boarding pass  online  at Southwest.com or at the airport using a self-service kiosk on the day of departure.

Southwest also allows you to board with a electronic or mobile boarding passes. You can request a mobile boarding pass at the time of check-in on Southwest.com, the Southwest.com mobile site, or the Southwest mobile app for iPhone or Android.

But note that mobile boarding passes are not currently available to passengers traveling on international flights.

Southwest Tips

If you want to learn more tips about flying for Southwest click here.

Also, if you want to earn more Rapid Rewards, be sure to check out the Southwest Shopping Portal . 

Southwest boarding FAQ

You can get the best boarding group on Southwest by purchasing or upgrading to Business Select. Upgrading will cost you $30-$50 per segment. You can also get a better boarding position by having A-List status. By purchasing EarlyBird, you can also increase your odds of getting in the first boarding group although it is not guaranteed.

Southwest does not allow you to select your seat prior to the flight.

Opinions are mixed on saving seats with Southwest Airlines. The best advice is to save seats in the back of the plane if you must and try to avoid saving multiple rows at a time when flying with a large group.

A-List will board directly after Business Select. First, A-List Preferred will board and then following them A-List will board.

Family boarding (which is offered to families traveling with a kid 6 or under), allows you to board between Group A and Group B.

Typically, if you have a boarding position under B30 you should be able to find a window or aisle seat. The further back in the plane you decide to sit, the more likely you will find a window or aisle seat.

Standby passengers will be the last to board.

You generally will have 31 to 32 inches of legroom.

No, Southwest stopped doing the special boarding process in March 2021.

Southwest boarding policies are pretty straight forward.

There are a few ways that you can get priority boarding though they all come with different degrees of assurance.

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

One comment

Hey Daniel, do you have any insight on this phenomenon? I was standing in line at A54 and noticed that there were a LOT of empty spots in front of me (A31-A53) in a random array. There were even quite a few sporadic spots in the A16-A30 line next to me. After those A16-A30 people boarded the B1-B30 lined up and there were about 10 people with huge gaps between them. The flight was obviously not full and only had about 75 people flying (lucky me!). It was also an early flight (5am). There’s no way that 60+ people cancelled their trips at the last minute leaving these huge gaps, but it made me wonder how a person could be assigned B2, for example, the next person B8, then B12, etc. with no reasoning to the gap sizes. Again, this is assuming that half of the people on the flight were no shows or late cancellations – highly unlikely, especially because the flight check in lady confirmed that the flight was never fully sold.

It makes me think that SWA is assigning random line assignments Not in numerical order. With 75 passengers you would expect the bottom half of the A group and the first part of the B group to all be together. I get that they leave a little space for A List Preferred and all of that, but it’s odd that someone was assigned B2 and the next person that checked in was assigned B8 or whatever.

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