Stand between the corresponding posts based on your boarding position. Once onboard, pick any open seat, stow your stuff in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, and get ready for takeoff.
Southwest allows people who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability, who need boarding assistance, or who need help stowing an assistive device to board first. Expect to be asked what Southwest calls "fact-finding questions" to determine if you meet the qualifications for pre-boarding.
People who are preboarding are not allowed to occupy an exit row seat. The next set of people to board Southwest flights are people with seats in A1-A15, which is typically filled with Southwest elite flyers and those who paid extra for their tickets or boarding.
The rest of the A group follows with A This boarding group also includes active-duty military. Everyone else now gets to board, with the B group going next. Both groups board in numerical order starting with position 1 and moving to position There are a few ways to get an early Southwest boarding group position, but many of them come at an additional cost.
You can check in online at Southwest. Otherwise, you can check in at the airport or with an agent at the airport. Business Select fares come with many perks including Fly By priority lane access, a complimentary premium drink, and yes, guaranteed receipt of an A1-A15 boarding position.
These positions are not assigned to regular ticket customers once the 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. 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.
Customers with Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred or A-List Member status get their boarding position automatically reserved 36 hours before departure and before normal check-in begins, putting you ahead of everyone else who has to wait for that hour window. While holding Southwest status is not a guarantee of an A position e. EarlyBird Check-In is an add-on option to your ticket that automatically checks you in 36 hours prior to the flight's scheduled departure time.
That puts you in the running for the best boarding position next to the folks with Southwest status or Business Select fares and ahead of everyone else who has to wait for the hour window.
As far as how the order of EarlyBird Check-In is determined amongst everyone who pays for it: Boarding positions are assigned based on the time that EarlyBird Check-In was purchased relative to passengers within the same fare class so Anytime passengers with EarlyBird will be checked in ahead of Wanna Get Away passengers with EarlyBird.
EarlyBird does not guarantee a boarding position again, if everyone purchases EarlyBird, then some people will still have to be in the B and C groups , but it does increase your odds of getting in a better boarding position. A good way to tell whether that A boarding position is still available is by checking the seats still available for your flight. If there are Business Select fares left, then it's likely there are A spots leftover too.
Next time, consider purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or booking a higher fare class to begin with. Otherwise, be prepared to pony up some extra cash for expensive tickets or upgraded boarding passes. It saves everyone time! Departure is earlier and the time wasted could be used drinking a beer or walking to baggage claim.
It takes 5 minutes at baggage claim compared to 30 mins waiting for SW to check your Carey on because there was no room in the overhead bins. No worries, William. Glad the math worked out as it should have. Thanks for reading! I have a connecting flight and paid for early check in. Does that roll over to my connecting flight? Did you buy the connecting flight separately or by connecting flight did you mean a stop and then a change of planes?
I think Karen means, I. Does the purchased early bird cover both boardings or need to buy two? Hi Jame, Thanks for reading and for your follow-up question. I still need more information from Karen, though, to properly answer. Here is a post on Early Bird that might help clear up any confusion. I purchased the early bird check in so what do I do once I get to the airport.
Do I still need to get online at 24 hours prior to departure to reserve a boarding pass? And what do I do once I get to the gate? Hi Donna, Thanks for reading. I need to fly to Florida nonstop with my wife who is disabled, how do I board with a wheelchair? I also need to make sure we make the flight and not be put on standby. Any tips for me? Hi Steve, I suggest you call Southwest Airlines directly and talk with them about your needs. Safe travels and thanks so much for reading and taking the time to ask your questions.
Hope my suggestion to reach out to SWA helps! Our trip to Florida went perfect. SW airlines was great and we got first boarding and everyone was friendly and helpful.
We had a great trip. Flights were half full,and middle seats left open. Thanks so much for the data points Steve. Glad you had such a great experience. Generally speaking, SWA does not disappoint! Since Southwest does not have assigned seats this is my question, My family of 6 is flying, I hate to fly so I always want an aisle seat, others are ok with whatever, but I want us all close by each other. I plan to check in early but do you have any other suggestions?
Good question, Therese. If not, maybe someone outside your family will switch with you. Early bird check-in is the way to go because it puts you in a favorable boarding group.
Good luck, and thanks much for reading! Good question, Claudia. Southwest assigns boarding groups based on a few factors. This fare type does not mean last to board. Hope this helps. I fly Southwest all the time but I have a trip coming up in July where my family is traveling from Oakland to Cincinnati on 3 different confirmation numbers and would like to seat near each other.
My granddaughter has her own confirmation number but we cannot qualify for family boarding because she is 7 years old.
Also, I imagine there will be people on your flight who would swap seats with you so your granddaughter can sit with family. Safe travels! I was a boarding agent for SWA for 40 yrs. First article I ever read that actually explains the boarding process correctly. Thank you. You broke down all versions perfectly.
The entire idea of paying for early boarding can and will eventually backfire horribly. I paid big bucks for two early bird seat numbers only to get a seat crammed into the back of the plane. Shame on Southwest for selling priority boarding positions on planes that are almost full when you first get on.
March 13, Checking In at the hour mark Boarding assignments are given in the order that you check-in for the flight. There are now ways to get in line ahead of those checking in at exactly hours. Share this: Twitter Facebook Pinterest. Like this: Like Loading A-List early bird seating Priority Boarding Southwest. B July 8, - pm Except I recently had B40 or so, and was still able t get exit row seating because typically the southwest flight attendant stands in exit row as folks are boarding and people skip taking it.
Boraxo March 14, - am Why would you pay for 2 people? Chris H March 19, - pm The entire idea of paying for early boarding can and will eventually backfire horribly. Rick March 20, - am Just think where you would be without the early bird seating.
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