are there seat assignments on southwest

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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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When will Southwest start assigning seats? What to know after airline announces big change

Southwest airlines has been known for its unique "open boarding" model for more than 50 years., published july 25, 2024 • updated on july 25, 2024 at 4:12 pm.

One of the most famous features of Southwest Airlines is about to change.

In an announcement Thursday, the company said it will "redesign the boarding model" by eliminating open seating and instead move forward with assigned seats and premium seating options. The airline also plans to add overnight redeye flight routes, the announcement said.

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"After listening carefully to customers and conducting extensive research, Southwest decided it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights," the announcement said. "The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred."

Officials began studying customer preferences and expectations around the onboarding process in April, the announcement said, with the new changes designed to "elevate the customer experience, improve financial performance, and drive Shareholder value."

The airline said it will release more details about the plan, including a timeline, during an investor meeting in September.

Following the announcement, here's what we know right now.

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The decision was based on customer preference, the airline said.

"The research is clear and indicates that 80% of Southwest Customers, and 86% of potential Customers, prefer an assigned seat," the announcement said.

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The announcement went on to say that customers who stopped flying Southwest and instead chose to fly with a competitor citied open seating as the top reason for the change.

"By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers," the announcement added.

The company also said the changes were part of "modernization efforts" part of already implemented improvements, including faster Wi-Fi, in-seat power chargers and larger overhead bins.

Will any Southwest flights have open seating?

According to the announcement, Southwest Airlines will move forward with assigning seats "on all flights."

The airline will also begin offering "premium extended legroom" in some parts of the cabin, the announcement said, though cabin layout details were still in design.

Officials in the announcement said a "refreshed" cabin design was underway, with "new, more comfortable RECARO seats ."

When will Southwest start assigning seats?

More details about the changes regarding product designs, cabin layout, timing and more will be announced in late September, the airline said, adding that the move to assigned seating will be "significant."

"In addition to incorporating new technologies and procedures for a seamless transition, the new cabin layout will require approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration," the airline said.

According to the announcement, Southwest expects to make bookings available on the new layouts in 2025.

When will Southwest start flying redeyes?

Booking on initial routes for overnight flights begins Thursday, the announcement said, with the first overnight flight set to land on Valentine's Day of 2025 in five markets: Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore.

The plan is to phase in additional overnight flights in the coming schedule's officials said.

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Get ready for assigned seats: Southwest Airlines ushers in big changes

It's the end of an era at Southwest Airlines.

After more than 50 years , the airline is getting rid of its open seating policy.

In a press release Thursday, the Dallas-based airline acknowledged "preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred." The airline hopes moving to assigned seats and revamping its boarding process will broaden Southwest's appeal to both new and existing customers, four out of five who prefer assigned seats, according to the airline, which did not give an exact date for the switch. More details are expected in late September.

Assigned seating is just one is one several major operational changes in store. Southwest also plans to introduce premium seating options on all flights and introduce red-eye flights.

"While specific cabin layout details are still in design, Southwest expects roughly one-third of seats across the fleet to offer extended legroom, in line with that offered by industry peers on narrowbody aircraft," the airline said.

Southwest already unveiled a cabin refresh earlier this year and is in the middle of upgrading its fleet with changes announced in 2022, including in-seat USB charging and stronger Wi-Fi .

Booking for the airline's new red-eye flights opened Thursday. The first overnight flights will land next Valentine's Day, in five initial nonstop markets:

• Las Vegas to Baltimore
• Las Vegas to Orlando
• Los Angeles to Baltimore
• Los Angeles to Nashville
• Phoenix to Baltimore

The airline plans to eventually roll out red-eye flights to other markets and offer 24-hour operational capabilities.

The sweeping changes aim to add value for both customers and investors.

"Our goal is to restore industry-leading margins and historical levels of shareholder returns through our comprehensive plan to deliver transformational commercial initiatives, improved operational efficiency, and capital allocation discipline," Southwest's President, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Bob Jordan said in a separate press release, announcing second quarter earnings . Operating revenues were up 4.5% year-over-year and hit an all-time quarterly high of $7.4 billion.

The airline's earnings have been under pressure in recent quarters, partly because of delays in plane deliveries from Boeing, which have impacted revenue and worsened cost pressures. Southwest is also facing pricing pressure as industry-wide overcapacity has dampened domestic airfares.

Contributing: Reuters

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.

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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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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.

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.

Some cards, such as the The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , can offset the cost of upgraded boarding by offering a $200 airline incidental credit . These annual statement credits cover incidental air travel fees with one qualifying airline of your choice.

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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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.

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

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.

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Southwest Airlines Boarding Process & Groups – Everything You Need To Know

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

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Table of Contents

What makes the southwest boarding process different, the southwest airlines boarding process [detailed], southwest boarding positions, family boarding, boarding for passengers with disabilities, how to get a better boarding position, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Key Takeaways

• Southwest Airlines uses an open seating policy with three boarding groups (A, B, C). You will receive a number determined by check-in time, with passengers boarding in numerical order within their group.
• EarlyBird Check-In, Business Select, and A-List members can help secure a better boarding position.
• Families with children under six and passengers needing special assistance can board after the A group.

Southwest Airlines has gained a lot of popularity over the years in part because they do things a little differently. They don’t charge change fees, they don’t charge for checked baggage, and they don’t assign seats.

If you have never flown Southwest before, this last one can throw you for a loop! But have no fear — Upgraded Points has got you covered!

In this post, we’ll detail what makes the Southwest boarding process different and what you need to know to navigate it like a pro. We’ll also show you some ways to help boost your chances of getting the seat you want plus answer some common FAQs.

The Southwest Airlines boarding process is different because they don’t assign seats. However, it’s not a free for all — there is a specific system that you’ll need to follow to board the plane. Then once you are on board, you can choose any available seat that you want.

Why Checking in for Your Flight Is so Important

When you check in for your Southwest Airlines flight, you’ll receive a boarding position. This boarding position will consist of a letter (A, B, or C) and a number (1-60).

The number you’re assigned is based (mostly) on when you check in for your flight — the earlier you check in, the better your boarding position will be.

Southwest opens check-in 24 hours before your plane departs, so you’ll want to check in as soon as it opens. Seasoned Southwest passengers will set an alarm to remind themselves to check in exactly 24 hours ahead of time.

Checking in 24 hours before your flight will usually land you somewhere in the B boarding group — which is generally adequate to find either a window or aisle seat or 2 seats together if you are flying with a companion.

At the Gate

When it’s time to board the plane, the gate agent will first call the A group to get in position. You’ll notice 2 lines of people lining up in rows that are labeled A 1-30 and A 31-60 (note the photo below is showing C 1-30 and C 31+). In each row, there will be a marker for every 5 numbers showing exactly where you should be standing in line.

Once boarding begins, the gate agent will start with pre-board passengers and those with boarding positions A 1-15 (usually reserved for Business Select passengers). Then they will continue with A 15-30 then A 31-60. Once A 1-30 have boarded the plane, the monitor at the front of the line will change to B 1-30. Then the B group can start lining up while the rest of the A group finishes getting on the plane.

When your number is called, you’ll walk in line to the gate agent to scan your boarding pass and proceed on to the plane. Once you are on the plane, you can choose any open seat.

Hot Tip: If you’re flying on Southwest Airlines, be sure to familiarize yourself with the Rapid Rewards program. This frequent flyer program includes lots of ways to earn points (even without flying ) and offers easy points redemptions with no blackout dates. Southwest flies to lots of international destinations plus Hawaii (finally), so their Rapid Rewards program is one you won’t want to miss.

If you aren’t familiar with Southwest’s boarding positions, they may be a little confusing. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect.

Pre-Board: Pre-boarding is reserved for those passengers with situations that require them to have a specific seat on the plane due to a disability or those who need assistance in boarding or stowing an assistive device. A pre-boarding designation needs to be arranged prior to boarding.

A1-15: These positions are usually reserved for Business Select passengers (the most expensive type of ticket you can purchase on Southwest). If not all of the Business Select tickets were sold, other passengers can upgrade their position to the A1-A15 section for $30 to $50 (the upgraded boarding applies to just that flight, not your whole itinerary). If A1-A15 boarding positions are available, they will be available to purchase beginning 24 hours before departure.

A16-30: This group is usually assigned to A-List Preferred or A-List members and anyone who purchased EarlyBird Check-In . However, an A boarding position is not guaranteed even if you have A-List, A-List Preferred, or EarlyBird Check-In.

Family Boarding/Active Duty Military/Passengers Needing Extra Time: Families traveling with a child who is 6 years old or younger can board after the A group regardless of their assigned boarding position. This does not need to be arranged ahead of time. You’ll just line up to the side and board when they call for families with young children.

Any active-duty military passengers are allowed to board at this time as well.

Any customers with a disability who just need a little extra time to board can go in this group. This needs to be pre-arranged by speaking to a ticket counter agent or a gate agent prior to boarding.

B 1-60: This middle-of-the-road group can vary depending on how full the plane is and how many people purchased EarlyBird Check-In. You can still end up in the B group when you purchase EarlyBird Check-In, however, you’ll probably be at the front of the pack if you do.

If you check in exactly 24 hours ahead of time, you’ll usually end up somewhere in the B group. If you have a B group boarding position, the chances are good that you’ll still be able to get a window or aisle seat or find 2 seats together if you’re traveling with a companion.

Hot Tip: If you are in the B group (or even one of the first numbers in the C group), head to the back of the plane. People tend to fill in the front of the plane first, leaving open seating in the back. While this doesn’t always work, you’ll have better chances of avoiding a middle seat if you head to the rear of the aircraft.

C 1-60: This is the group you will most likely get if you don’t check in right on time. While the C group isn’t a guaranteed middle seat, the chances are pretty high that you won’t be sitting in the ideal spot.

If you’re traveling alone, it’s worth it to go to the back of the plane in search of a window or aisle seat. If there are only middle seats left, the flight attendants will announce it so you’ll know when to give up and take the first seat you see.

Tips for Finding an Open Seat

• The flight attendants will usually be standing in a row of seats near the middle of the plane (often in the exit row) during boarding. They are usually more than happy to move if you’d like to sit where they are standing.
• You’ll see people with their bags on the seat in an effort to save them for traveling companions with a later boarding number. While you are technically allowed to ask them to move their items so you can sit there, you’ll have a grumpy seatmate for the whole trip. It’s probably best to move on.
• Often you’ll see 2 people in a row who are traveling together but sitting in the window and aisle, leaving the middle seat empty. If you ask to sit there, more often than not one of them will move over, giving you a window or an aisle seat.
• Don’t pass up a prime empty seat in the front of the plane. I see this all the time! You’ll often see a decent empty seat in the front of the plane that people are passing up. Unlike other airlines, these are not reserved for anyone, so feel free to take a great seat in the front if it’s available (I’ve used this trick to score a second-row aisle seat with overhead bin space even though I had a C boarding position!).

Flying on Southwest with young children is one instance when bringing the kids makes your trip easier. That’s because parents traveling with a child that’s 6 years old or younger get to board after the A group regardless of what boarding position is listed on your boarding pass.

That means you don’t have to worry about checking in exactly 24 hours ahead of time — which is a luxury when flying on Southwest.

Boarding right after the A group also guarantees you’ll be able to find a group of seats together, which is essential when traveling with little ones.

Family boarding is limited to 2 parents and their children as long as one is 6 years old or younger. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or anyone else traveling with you will still need to board in their assigned position.

If you are traveling with a child and you both have A boarding positions, you’re more than welcome to go ahead and board with the A group — you don’t have to wait for family boarding.

Bottom Line: If you’re traveling with a child who is 6 years old or younger, you’ll be able to board during family boarding. This takes place between the A and B groups which will ensure you can find seats together. This courtesy only extends to children and 2 parents — any other traveling companions will still need to board based on their boarding position.

Customers with disabilities who require pre-boarding due to a specific seating need or those who need assistance with a medical device need to speak to a ticket agent or gate agent before boarding begins. If the passenger qualifies, a new boarding pass with a pre-boarding designation will be issued. Anyone who pre-boards may not sit in an exit row.

If a customer with a disability just needs a little extra time, they will be permitted to board before family boarding between the A and B groups.

This courtesy extends to 1 travel companion as well — any additional family or friends will need to board with their assigned groups.

If you want a great boarding position but don’t want to worry about checking in at the right time (or paying for a Business Select fare), there are other options to help you secure a coveted higher boarding position.

• Earn Southwest elite status
• Purchase EarlyBird Check-In
• Purchase an upgraded boarding position beginning 24 hours before departure (subject to availability).
• Get a credit card that comes with upgraded boarding passes or a travel credit to cover the fees.

Earn Southwest Elite Status

You can earn elite status on Southwest Airlines through the number of one-way flights you take or through the number of elite qualifying points you earn in 1 calendar year. Southwest also allows other passengers on the same reservation as the elite member to board at the same time as the elite member.

Southwest will occasionally run promotions to help you fast-track your status, or you can try a status match .

Hot Tip: While having a Southwest Companion Pass is a fantastic perk, it does not make you eligible for any type of priority boarding.

EarlyBird Check-In

Adding EarlyBird Check-In to your reservation will automatically check you in up to 36 hours ahead of your flight, giving you a higher boarding position. However, it doesn’t guarantee an A group position. You could still get a B boarding position even if you pay for EarlyBird Check-In.

You can add EarlyBird Check-In when you purchase your ticket, or you can add it to an existing flight. It costs between $15 to $25 one-way per person.

Purchase Upgraded Boarding

If there are open boarding positions available in the A1-A15 group, you’ll be able to pay to upgrade to one of these positions on the Southwest mobile app beginning 24 hours before departure.

The cost is $30 to $50 per person per flight segment (it doesn’t cover your whole itinerary).

Bottom Line: Your best bets to get a higher boarding position without having to earn elite status are EarlyBird Check-In and upgraded boarding. However, both options will cost you. EarlyBird Check-In costs $15 to $25 one-way per person and doesn’t guarantee you’ll get an A boarding number. Upgraded boarding is subject to availability and costs $30 to $50 per flight per person, but it gets you an A1-15 boarding position.

The Best Credit Cards for Upgraded Boarding

Of course, perks like upgraded boarding or EarlyBird Check-In are even better when you don’t have to pay for them. The good news is that some credit cards will cover these costs for you.

Southwest Credit Cards:

An A1-15 boarding position sounds great, but paying up to $50 per person isn’t great. Thankfully, there are credit cards that can help you cover this cost.

The following Southwest credit cards each come with 4 upgraded boarding passes per year:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card
• Southwest ® Rapid Rewards ® Performance Business Credit Card

Other Credit Cards:

Some credit cards offer credits for travel purchases. You can use these credits to upgrade your boarding position or to purchase EarlyBird Check-In on Southwest Airlines.

The airline fee credit on these American Express cards will only be reimbursed if the charge comes from your selected airline (so be sure to choose Southwest!). These credits don’t apply to airfare, so if you want to use your credit for EarlyBird Check-In, be sure to purchase it separately from your flight.

Amex credit cards that offer airline fee reimbursements include:

• The Platinum Card ® from American Express : up to $200 airline fee credit
• The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express : up to $200 airline fee credit

Chase and Citi also offer cards that come with a generous travel reimbursement. Using the travel credits on these cards is easier than those on Amex cards. You don’t have to designate a specific airline or worry about making sure you pay for EarlyBird Check-In separate from your flight.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve ®
• Citi Prestige ® Card

Southwest is an airline that does things a little differently. This includes their boarding process — because they don’t assign seats! While the idea of not having an assigned seat can be a little confusing at first, once you get the hang of it, it’s easy peasy.

We hope this guide gives you the confidence to board your next Southwest flight like a pro.

The information for the Citi Prestige ® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

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The Travel Sisters

Tips on how to get a good seat on southwest airlines.

by Matilda | Mar 24, 2021 | Family Travel , Southwest , Tips | 103 comments

Learn how the Southwest Airlines seating process works.

Southwest Airlines has a unique open seating policy – basically, seats are not assigned. When you check in for your Southwest flight, you are assigned a boarding group. Your boarding group and position determine the order in which you will be allowed to board the flight. Upon boarding the flight, you may choose any open seat.

Learn about Southwest Airlines boarding groups.

When you check in for your Southwest flight, you are assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a boarding position (1-60). During the Southwest boarding process , passengers are instructed to line up in order based on their boarding group and position.  So, passengers holding A group boarding passes board first, then B, then C. Within each group, passengers will line up based on their numbers.  For example, A1 will board before A20.

The key to getting a good seat on Southwest is, obviously, to board early.

I’ve found that an A group or early B group (B1-B30) is always sufficient to provide me with several good open seats and plenty of overhead bin space. B31-B60 can be okay too but it depends on how many people you are traveling with, how full the flight is and whether the flight is connecting from somewhere else. The C group usually means “center seat” and may require you to also gate check overhead bags.

Check in EXACTLY 24 hours before your flight.

If you would like to get a good seat on your next Southwest Airlines flight, follow this rule. Check in opens 24 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time. The earlier you check in, the earlier your spot in line will be. Many passengers will also be checking in 24 hours before the flight so a few minutes or seconds can make a big difference in your boarding group or position.  This is especially true on weekdays.  My strategy is to set an alarm or calendar entry five minutes before check in opens.  I pull up my reservation, enter all the necessary details (name, confirmation number) and wait.  As soon as the clock hits the time check-in opens, I hit that check in now button.

If you are unsure whether you will be able to check-in 24 hours prior to your flight, purchase Southwest EarlyBird Check-In.

I prefer not to spend any more money than I have to but found Southwest EarlyBird Check-In useful for those occasions I know I will not be able to manually check in.  The cost for Southwest Early Bird Check In is $15 – $25 one-way per passenger depending on the length of flight and popularity. When you purchase EarlyBird Check-In, Southwest automatically checks you in and assigns your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight’s departure. Southwest Early Bird Check In does not guarantee an A boarding position, but you most likely will be in the A or early B group. (See related post :  Is Southwest Early Bird Check In Worth It? ).

Pay even more money or fly more often to guarantee early boarding.

The only way to absolutely guarantee an A1-A15 boarding position on Southwest is to purchase a Business Select fare. This isn’t the most attractive option for leisure passengers though as the fare is more expensive.

If you still want a crack at that A1-A15 spot but don’t want to purchase a Business Select fare, you can try Upgraded Boarding .  Warning: this is not a guaranteed option as it may not be available.  On the day of travel, inquire at the gate or ticket counter before the boarding process begins.  If Upgraded Boarding is available, you can secure a boarding position in the A1-A15 group for $30, $40 or $50 per flight, depending on your itinerary.

Note: If you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business credit card (our referral links), you will be reimbursed for the purchase of up to 4 Upgraded Boardings each anniversary year .

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members with A-List and A-List Preferred elite status get priority boarding ahead of general boarding.

Traveling with a child? Familiarize yourself with Southwest family boarding.

Children age six years or younger and a guardian may board during Southwest Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If you have an A group boarding pass, go ahead and board with the A group instead of waiting for family boarding.

Don’t arrive late to the gate for your flight.

I repeat, don’t arrive late to the gate for your Southwest flight. There is no point in having an A or B boarding group if you will show up to your flight right before the airplane door closes. Sometimes that can’t be helped if your connecting flight was delayed so I guess at that point, just sit in your middle seat and be thankful you caught your flight.

If you have an early boarding group but by the time you arrive at your gate they are boarding a later group, don’t be shy. Immediately step to the front of the line to scan your boarding pass.  No one will think you are line cutting.

What is a best seat on Southwest?

The best seat on Southwest depends on your own personal needs.  Passengers with a connecting flight might need to sit in the front so they can deplane quicker.  Taller passengers might have an eye on snagging an exit row seat. Larger groups and families traveling with small children might want to make sure they can sit together. Personally, when traveling solo I like an aisle seat – especially one with an empty middle seat next to it. When traveling with my kids, I prefer sitting towards the back.

Find out how full the flight is before you board.

Sometimes Southwest gate agents make an announcement whether the flight is full. If not, I will ask. This is helpful in knowing whether I have a chance at my coveted aisle plus empty middle seat scenario.  On a completely full Southwest flight, I would choose an aisle seat with the middle seat already occupied by someone I wouldn’t mind sitting next to. Similarly, it would be helpful for someone traveling with a lap child to know whether an empty middle seat might be available.

Choose wisely what section of the plane you pick a seat.

Obviously not an exact science but often, older travelers and those with connecting flights seem to choose the front of the plane.  Families typically head towards the back, where they hope to find seats together and maybe an empty middle seat for a lap child.  My sweet spot on Southwest flights is from the middle of the plane to two-thirds of the way back.  The reasoning is that the front middle seats will fill up quickly with people resigned to their middle seat predicament or eager to disembark.  Also, people tend to pass up the middle section of the plane in hopes a random aisle or window seat can be found at the back.  Once they are at the back, they will likely just grab any seat there since it is so difficult to turn around.

Saving seats on Southwest Airlines is controversial and murky.

No one likes to spend any more money than they have to.  For some passengers, this means resorting to “seat saving”.  It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what Southwest’s policy is on saving seats as it is not uniformly enforced. Many people won’t necessarily mind if someone is saving a middle seat next to them for a traveling companion that is close behind but some passengers take it to the extreme.  I’ve witnessed one man board early and attempt to block off a number of seats (on a full flight) for multiple travel companions with a C group. The flight attendant intervened but that is not always the case.

Recognize sneaky and dishonest tactics.

Much like the extreme seat-savers, some people think getting a seat on a plane is a no-holds barred type of thing.  I’ve heard of passengers attempting to keep seats empty by pretending a nonexistent/imaginary travel companion is simply in the bathroom.  Not only is this dishonest but also silly- what happens if they sit nearby and clearly no one returns from the bathroom? Conflict with fellow passengers is never a good thing.

On the less extreme end, sometimes two people traveling together try to block off a middle seat.  This is great for late boarders.  If you spot one of these twosomes, make a beeline for their row and ask to sit in the middle. Most likely, they will offer up either their aisle or window seat.

103 Comments

Or you can sit in the middle of a couple and have them talk over you and pass things back and forth for four hours…my recent experience! But I guess sometimes you just get unlucky. But some of your other tips seem worth a try!

Ick, that sounds like a pretty bad flight!

Did you offer to switch seats with one of them?

My friend and I take an isle and a window, our personal preferences. If you take the middle we will not be moving which seems to surprise some passengers. If you are fun, join in our conversations

S Jumps I would join in on the conversation by asking why the two of you think you are worth three seats.

Best response ever

Did he say they’re worth two seats? Do they somehow make the third seat unavailable? NO! He said they both sit where they like and if someone comes to sit in the middle, that’s cool. They don’t swap seats just to be near their friends. Good God some people!

I would smack the shit out of your hands if you passed anything over me. I don’t mind getting apple juice all over me as long as it gets my point across.

You would then get your face smashed in and be on a breathing tube for the rest of your life… and yes, the jail time would be worth it

Internet warriors.

Are you and your friend portly people? You require that extra middle seat to share your snacks and arm rolls?

And I’d do a Taliban on your ass if you touched me

Yeah… That’s called “self-importance” and fits perfectly into how modern day people think of themselves and others. In a world of common decency, the person with the aisle seat would offer to switch with the person in the middle. It’s called “courtesy” but I’m guessing that doesn’t fit into your worldview, moron.

My girlfriend and I do this. Take the isle and window and hope no one comes. But if they do, the above is correct, we’ll offer them window. As I like Isle and my girlfriend will just move over.

Nobody is worth two seats. We just want to sit together. And we just try to pick who we’d prefer to sit with by offering them a seat. It’s no different than picking what middle seat you want to sit in by who’s already there.

Hey, you do what you have to do to be comfortable for a long flight.

You would think that because the passengers are doing all the work here, the tickets would be dirt cheap. Passengers also should be able to get their round trip tickets once and for all. This 24 hour nonsence is horrible, especially if you are away on vacation and 24 hours before you leave you have to remember to get your boarding pass arrangements done. Think about it,we go online, book our flight, go through the 24 hour process and get back online to arrange your own boarding passes. I have tried paying the extra $15 and ended up in Group C! What a ripoff! I did a lot of flying with Southwest, but have not because they do not try to improve any of this. It is a shame because they are a convenient airline for me with very little delays, free baggage, however, their prices have escalated which probably include baggage fees unknown to the passenger.

I guess you only fly SW and think the grass in greener, but SW often runs $100+ less than the competition Basic Economy. This is a new fare that is below economy. This doesn’t even included access to the overhead bin.

One more tips. Before you board, ask if flight is oversold. In lots of cases, the gate agent would let you preboard and sit in the first row so he/she could easily locate you if the flight is actually oversold and a volunteer is needed.

That’s a good one- thanks for sharing!

Unfortunately, I have seen many instances where one passenger purchases early-bird boarding and saves a seat for a traveling companion who boards later. The flight attendants do nothing.

Yeah, I’ve seen flight attendants let it slide too a few times but usually in those cases the second person wasn’t too far behind.

You should just tell them, “Oh, well where are they?” They should have been here if they wanted it.” That easy, seriously. If that is the case, tell them you had that seat they are in already saved before you got on the plane. If they complain or say I sat here first though, say, “Exactly” and just sit down. People are just too submissive.

Nice write up. One thing I’ve noticed is that the FA’S will keep preboarders from sitting in exit rows for obvious reasons. If the flight is super light just wait until everyone has boarded and then go toward the back. Most people want to sit up front. I’ve been on planes where it is totally full in the first 15 rows and nearly empty in the back. People are funny like that.

Thanks! You’re right, people are sometimes in a hurry just to get settled anywhere they grab the first open seat they find.

Thank – you so much for taking the time to write this excellent and complete guide. I’m sure many people, like me, have found very helpful

Who benefits from this idiotic seating policy? Wish Southwest would change this system. Boarding doesn’t move any faster.

Just fly elsewhere, this seating policy sucks.

I just wish southwest would make people with the those huge overstuffed over head bags sit in the back of the plane.I missed a connecting flight because I was seated further back and had to wait almost 30 minutes for families and people trying to maneuver those big bags.I never take extra bags.just a tote that fits under the seat.

I always just have one regulation size bag that goes in the overhead and is really easy to manage. If it takes that long to maneuver a bag it probably should just be checked in- bummer missing a connection.

I agree. Also one time I decided to put my computer bag up top and people kept trying to push their oversize baggage into it and when I got it out I found it was ripped from some idiot.

I also note the number of wheelchairs (all are pre-boarded along with family members traveling with the wheelchair passenger). These passengers take front seats. If a passenger requiring a wheelchair is traveling alone, however, I’ve noticed that the seats next to them are often open and available.

That’s a good one- especially if you need to be up front to catch a connection.

Some people don’t like the bulkhead seats because there are no trays so you have to hold drinks and or food. What i dont like is that those seats are not kept open for handicapped people who board when that flight was a continuing flight and those passengers are allowed to move to different seats. I had this happen when my handicapped mom and i were on a continuing flight and 2 other bigger guys moved to the bulkhead seats. Then there were handicapped passengers boarding who had to take further seats back. I think southwest needs to change that procedure. Another situation in which i voiced my opion mightily was when our flight was delayed and my mom, which they knew she was handicapped, didnt keep an open seat up front for her and i. We ended up way in the back with her in a middle seat and me in a middle seat further back. She is very hard of hearing so she kept looking at me everytime an announcement came over the pa. If the flight had had difficulty i would not b near her to help her. Its time southwest starts doing seat assignments. It takes just about the same amount of time or longer to board a southwest flight as other airlines. It would b so much easier particularly with all the stupid people who bring big duffles etc on board.

Southwest is Southwest. You really need to fly with someone else. Why would you want to change the only airline with unassigned seating? So many of us love their procedures. I’m partially handicapped. I don’t expect people to wait on me, just give me a little more time. As long as I can get on that plane and get a seat…I’m happy to be going. I love Southwest.

I agree. Southwest is southwest. Overall their my airline of choice domestically for short to mid-range flights. Each airline has different boarding procedures so it sounds like individuals that need customized travel options should go with another carrier. I sometimes do this when I travel. For example when I’m flying to coast to coast or a two to three convection I go with another carrier.

From these comments I think I will stick with United and know I have the seat I want

My son is handicapped and we usually take the first seats. Why? because he cannot walk very far and its easier. We don’t mind waiting to be the last off, as its much easier because they have the wheelchair waiting for us it lets all the others go ahead so there is no waiting. Yes we stay on the plane and do not change but we also stay in the same seats I cannot move to another seat as he is unable to communicate People have difference reasons for staying with the person that is handicapped. besides not able to walk very far he is also mentally chanallanged

I am handicapped and endured the same situation where people were already seated in the first row. I was confused cause there was no handicap first row. I asked the flight attendant where the handicap seating was and she flippantly gestured to the entire plane. I had to tell her that according to the law you must provide accomodations to the handicapped. She immediately changed her tune and asked for volunteers to move. I felt so empowered after that.

Great tips. I have seen many with an imaginary friend, some with two. They simply put all of their things on every seat in a row. Once an FA told somebody like that that they know all the tricks and made her move her stuff. Also encountered somebody with a high B ticket who said that she could stand at the very front of the B line. Even though several of us pointed out that she needs to find her number, she insisted on being in the front. I like Southwest because of their free luggage policy and the ability to bank money when changes are made.

It’s pretty funny when someone gets called out for sketchy behavior. Agree, Southwest’s change policy has come in handy more than a few times for me.

I could have really used these tips when I was selling travel! Great post!

Thanks glad you found them helpful!

The seating policy is the main reason I choose to not fly Southwest. Only time it’s beneficial for me is if I’m traveling with my toddler and get to take advantage of family boarding. Plus, I hate Midway.

I am kinda neutral on the seating policy but it does seem like most people either love or hate it.

I agree! Midway is a drag. I live close to ORD and I’m dreading that I had to book with Southwest out of Midway. Way cheaper and with my trip being in January I needed the flexibility to change if the weather was bad (cruise) and other airlines had little to no nonstop to Houston Hobby. Oh love the not nickel and dining you tho (bags,seats etc) that other airlines do.

its not so much the seating policy for me as it is the 3×3. Why not a 4 and a 2? id pay extra for the 2. would you?

Would love a 4 by 2 as well. I don’t particularly like sitting next to strangers as I require a lot of personal space.

Only fly 2-3 times per year; 3×3 ? Or 4×2 ? Hate the seating policy, love to sit with my wife. I must have an isle sit; I am extreame Claus-tro-pho-bic. The anxiety starts the day before the flight, and gets worse until the flight is over & then the return home!!! Most times the flight booking is done by someone else. When I am in control, I fly with other carriers. BTW, the horrible Clause -Tro-Pho-Bic Anxiety began 50 yrs ago by being pinned down in fire fights in war

Explain this; I check in to a flight the second it’s available and get B15. My friend checks in to the same flight hours later and gets A25. What’s up with that?

I am guessing your friend might have paid for EarlyBird check-in or maybe has A-List status.

I’m traveling for first time on Southwest with 5 family members (adults) and now worried this was bad decision. Nothing like getting stressed the first day of vacation! Suprised there haven’t been numerous altercations.

I don’t think it was necessarily a bad decision as there are a lot of positives about flying Southwest. You should be able to sit together as long as you can board early (in As or low Bs). I recommend putting an alarm and checking in exactly 24 hours before the flight time OR purchasing EarlyBird check-in. If you want to save money, 3 of you can pay for EarlyBird check-in and save the middle seats. I think seat saving is more an issue when 1 person is saving a lot of seats especially those in the aisle or window. On a positive note, I find that Southwest has more legroom than other airlines so you should have a more comfortable flight. Plus they don’t charge for checked bags.

Southwest planes are the DIRTIEST in the industry. Be sure to take disinfecting wipes with you and DON’T use the lavatory

Maybe that’s why the SW planes are so dirty. People aren’t using the bathrooms!

You should carry wipes no matter what plane you’re on. Some people are just nasty and the flight turn arounds aren’t enough time to clean up properly. This or they just don’t care enough.

I’ve written a guide (for myself) with assorted info for the first-time LUV flyer (again me). There’s lots of good tips here that I can add to my cheat-sheet. It’s helpful to be aware of all protocols before flying with them. By flying Southwest, I’m willing to relinquish an assigned seat (United) as long as I know how to get the best seat for me. Thanks!

How do you get on the A list or preferred list

A-list is for frequent flyers. You need to fly 25 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points in a calendar year.

I will be flying Southwest from Milwaukee to Los Angels – then American Airlines to Hawaii and return to CA. In your opinion, how important is the TSA pre-check program for this type of flight?

Hi Freeman, Sorry for the delay in responding. While it is always nice to have TSA Precheck its value depends on how often you fly. I would not sign up for it only to use it on one trip. How often do you think you will be flying in the next 5 years? Do you knave any children under 13?

Thanks for your reply. We have no children under 13 nor any under 30. And we are in the 75 to 80 plus range, so I don’t know how many more years we might be traveling our selves. So even though we might get caught in a long line this time, based on the dollars, it likely won’t pay off to have the TSA Pre-check?

Probably not worth it to pay for TSA Precheck if will only use it once or twice in 5 years. It is hard to predict the future but I would suggest that each person should divide the cost of TSA by your estimate of how many flights you think you will take in the next 5 years to see how much you would pay for each use.

If you have a credit card that gives you free TSA Precheck then you might as well sign up.

You might also get TSA Precheck randomly on your boarding pass. In the past, seniors were likely to get TSA Precheck without even signing up.

Even if you do not have TSA Precheck, the line might not necessarily be long-it depends on many factors including what time and day you are flying. I would recommend going to the airport early to be on the safe side. You would have to take off shoes, jackets and belts which some people find annoying.

Thanks for the information and your help.

Now I’m worried – I just purchased 8 tickets – for me and my husband and our 8 children. The youngest one is 10, and it would be HORRIBLE if she couldn’t sit with one of us! The others are older and would love not sit with us, but I’m worried about the 10 year old! Is it possible that she would get a boarding number not by mine????

If you are all on the same reservation I think you would get nearby boarding positions.

Even if your boarding groups were not next to each other you can still board together – but you would have to board with the family member that had the last boarding position. (For example, if two people were traveling together and one had A40 while the other had B12, they would both have to board at B12 to be able to walk on the plane together.)

The key to all sit together is to board early (A group or early B group). I would recommend setting an alarm and checking in exactly 24 hours before your flight’s departure time.

We just had this happen on a full flight to Florida. I explained that my 10 year old could not sit alone and the crew asked if anyone could make room. No one responded so crew upped their game and offered free movie or drinks if someone would move to allow 2 free seats. If this happens to anyone speak up. Crew will work with uou

That is great advice. The crew does not want young children sitting alone and will usually help you sit together.

will be traveling with granddaughter and lap baby will I be allowed to board with her during family boarding in order to help with baby? This will also be first time for granddaughter to fly.

I think you would be allowed to board during family boarding. According to southwest: “An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding.”

Traveing southeest airline with a 88 year old individual, that uses a non electric wheel chair and has difficulty walking. Will this person be given pre boardimg seat assignment,early boarding and/or any other preferential treatment. Thanks for your assistance.

My first time flying southwest:

I checked in exactly 24 hours before the flight. Got boarding pass b17

Second time completely forgot, and checked in about 3- 4hr before the flight. Got A17.

So, The “early you check in the better” theory is down the drain. What I did noticed was: My first B position I paid 64 bucks for that flight. My second A17 boarding position I paid over $100 for that flights. So I guess that’s what really matters. Not how early you checked in.

We have flown on many Southwest flights and do find that, in general, the earlier you check in the better boarding position you get. One factor that affects your position is how many other people are also checking in early for that flight. For example, I have noticed that on weekday flights, I have to check in right at 24 hours because most of the people on those flights are experienced business travelers that also check in at 24 hours. On the other hand, I have checked in later for Sunday morning flights and still got a good boarding position. I have noticed that most people on Sunday flights are traveling for leisure for the weekend, are less experienced and too busy on Saturday to check in at the 24 hour mark. I wonder if that was a factor on your flights?

People may have bought early bird with a reservation. And were automatically checked-in by SW, then less than 24 hours before (even up to 10 minutes before flight) the flight if they cancel their reservation – their ‘A’ boarding position gets put back into the system and whoever checks in next gets that boarding position.

Here is a step by step guide I put together to setup automatic check-in on your own computer at the 24 hr mark – http://www.theartoftravelhacking.com/automatic-check-southwest-flights/

If you sign up for early bird check in, do you still need to check in as well to make sure you have a good boarding position? Or will it automatically show you when you log in what your boarding position is?

early bird checks you in automatically to get a good boarding position – but you will still have to print a boarding pass, get one at the airport kiosk, or pull it up on your phone before you head through security.

We signed up for the Early Bird check in. Does anybody know when I will be able to see what boarding position we received? If I log in 24 hours before the flight to check, will it be there already? Thank you for all of the other great information in this post and in the comments!

I see it when I log in 24 hours before my flight to print my boarding pass.

You’ll be able to see your boarding position right away at the 24 hour mark before you depart. Get the southwest App and they’ll send ya a push alert of your boarding position with early bird.

If you have a connecting flight, and have paid for early bird seating on the first flight, does it also apply to the second flight? We will have to change planes too!

This is one of these rules that often can vary. It should check you in but I’ve had times when I’ve had early bird that it checks in a B assignment.

This might already be mentioned by exit rows also have language, age and mobility requirements. Plus if your on a B737-700 series the window exit seat is removed on some of the aircraft. When in doubt check seat guru!

My husband and I are traveling with 5 children, the youngest being 5 years old. Does that mean that we can all board during family boarding?

In my experience, you will probably be fine. The issue Southwest tries to eliminate in Family Boarding is the opposite…4 adults trying to board with one child/toddler. Just check with the gate agent and be friendly.

Are seniors (85 years old) permitted to board a flight early, and if so, are there certain restrictions as to where they sit?

Recent experience would indicate that most people are paying for the early check in and/or that there are many A+ travelers that automatically get higher boarding numbers. Bottom line if you are an occasional SW flyer be prepared to be at the back of the bus. Checking in early will do you little good. I just checked in and got B51. Started hitting the check in button 2 minutes before my phone showed the exact 24 hour before wheels up time.

I fly SWA exclusively and am A+Preferred meaning I usually board from A16-A21. Not sure I’d pay extra to board A1-A15 as sometimes the flight is a non-originating flight and still contains many passengers flying to the next destination so you don’t get the seat you really want, hence you may have wasted your money unless the goal is to just be able to get an aisle seat or room for your bag. If I don’t get the emergency aisle I’ll sit in row 9 or multiples of 9 as they receive drinks first. I’ve only had a couple bad experiences with miserable flight crews but the exceptional experiences far outweigh those. Great airline and once you learn the boarding process and use the aforementioned tips you’ll never want to fly other airlines. Did I mention free drinks for A+ and above and the Companion Pass Program?

I will protest to the flight attendant when an early boarder puts his personal items in the seat next to him and claims he is saving a seat. I have talked to the airline and this is against their policy. I feel someone doing this is more rude then my complaint!

Travel often with Southwest, and I get really steamed when I see” wheelchair’ passengers get to board early, but on the other end of the flight,often see these same passengers sprinting around the baggage carousels lugging big suitcases.

Southwest needs a better system to identify truly deserving pre-boarders who abuse the system and laugh at the rest of us.

Perhaps its time to require medical certificates signed by doctors?

The second paragraph heading, “The key to getting a good seat…,” made me ask myself, “what’s a good seat?” I appreciate that you addressed that later in the article. As with you, I do prefer an aisle seat if just for the sake of the feeling of extra room on one side of me (briefly tucking in when the service carts come thru), though if I intend to nap on a longer flight I prefer having a window to lean up against, which is also good when a very broad passenger takes the center seat. Despite where you pick to sit, a good seat is ultimately one with overhead storage! I know overhead bin space isn’t earmarked per seat, but there is a common sense factor that makes it somewhat of an unspoken guideline. I despise when a person puts their stuff in the first open bin spot then goes to the back of the plane. The later groups board and someone filling a hole near the front of the plane has no overhead storage and has to make their way to the back to find room in a bin, then make their way back to their seat. If that isn’t bad enough, now they have to get their stuff from the back when the plane deboards, all on the account of a jerk that puts their stuff in a bin space that would typically be for a passenger in that row, rather than putting in close to the seat they chose.

Seat savers are simply violating my right to sit in a seat I’ve paid for. After a trip to Aruba last year we will never, not for all the tea on China ever, fly SWA again. Paid for business Select, arrived very early (this scenario played out identically both inbound and out) and wat in rows 7 and 13 respectively. Outbout a group of 5 children preboarded with 1 adult, each kid took a middle seat and held the entire row for others in their group in later boarding groups. FA’s were useless. Disinterested and unresponsive. I am 6’1”+, 275 and thought that paying for BS (appreciate) seats we’d have options. The seat saving kid brigade took the bulkheads and wing exit rows…how can a child hold a wing exit seat? Bonus, one of the FA’s I had asked to assist us took the opportunity to be discourteous and unprofessional the entire AUA-ISP with stop in MCO trip. Written complaints (email) followed the flights with zero SWA response. I opened 2 Chase Visa cards and purchased BS to maximize points, now I’ve got 150,000 points I will not use. Oh, almost neglected to include that through the credit card spend bonuses I had achieved my Companion Pass. SWA did not honor it for the AUA trip…! Paid full fare for both wife and I, still have a never used Companion Pass. Yikes, SWA will never see another thin dime of my hard earned dollars.

I am concerned after reading everyone’s comments. I am traveling from New York to California with my elderly mom who will be using airport wheelchair assistance to/from the gate, but she cannot sit alone and must be with me as she is non-verbal due to aphasia from a stroke and needs assistance in other areas. It’s also hard for her to get up and down. I was hoping to get the bulkhead seat with her. I’m also nervous because we have a connecting flight changing planes and we need to disembark quickly, which is going to be very difficult. What are your recommendations. She’s already stressed and I feel terrible for her.

I have come to the conclusion that Southwest is the least predictable airline there is both from comments and from my own miserable experience with them. If you haven’t already traveled, can you get a refund on your tickets and book with another less “cattle car” airline? That bulkhead seat is highly coveted by a lot of people for a lot of reasons – claustrophobia, long legs, etc. and usually goes with the first person on the plane. A communication problem will not get you the bulkhead seat. Another airline may cost more but it might be worth it not to have the worries ruin your trip. Southwest may be cheap but there is an old saying: You get what you pay for. Best wishes on your trip.

Hi….I have flown many times with Southwest. People in wheelchairs and whoever is flying with them generally get on the plane first and have the bulkhead seats. The only advantage to flying with them is free baggage. Their tickets are not all that cheap anymore. It takes forever to get a free ticket and there are so many blackout dates. I would fly with them for airport convenience, however, I started to hate when a trip that takes 2-3 hours becomes an all day deal because they stop in Baltimore. I always hated the seating issue and having to stop what you are doing to get your boarding pass online and try to not end up being in C group. Good luck when flying with them.

Blackout dates? Are you kidding me? No such thing!

This policy sucks. Southwest is the walmart of airlines. They heard people in and let them fight for seats that don’t suck. You will not sit with friends/family most of the time. They provide no seating service, letting people fight over seats. If you like being treated like you’re in a third world country, fly Southwest! Dreadful policy.

Print this out and save it. It is from Southwest website. No one can really save a seat.

Pick a seat, any seat At Southwest®, we let you sit where you like. We don’t assign seats on our flights, so feel free to sit in any available seat once you board the plane.

i pretend to be sick and start coughing. unless the flight is completely full, nobody wants to sit next to the guy that might be sick/ill.

may be deranged but it works!

Just completed a roundtrip from L.A. to Newark on Southwest with layovers in Denver and Chicago. Out of the three seating groups I know of (A, B & C), the best we managed for early check- in was B. There was always an offer for A group boarding at the gate for an additional $15-$16 when available. Boarding before the next group also makes overhead storage space easier to find. Southwest ends flights to Newark in November(?) 2019.

Postscript – I forgot to mention my shock when a guy with a full-size guitar case was allowed to take it aboard. There went two overhead storage spaces for the price of one…

Twice, or a flight from Phoenix to Baltimore and back in June I picked the middle seat in the front of the plane with more legroom because I had a small dog and was told it was occupied. I told him I didn’t Believe him ..call him an A hole and told him that If he wanted to mess with me for the rest of the flight which was five hours long. Go ahead. Never heard another word out of him for the rest of the flight. You don’t have these problems on other airlines because you get to pick your seat before your flight. Ruined my flight.

Active duty military board right after “A” (pretty much ~usually have to ~ have to have your CAC card or orders printed…). If you have uniform (which military kind of discourages unless returning from deployment) SW will also cut slack for slightly heavier bag (uniforms + boots etc…) military travel usually has deals with other carriers so frequently does seem to book with SW for some reason. TSA also seem to be nice to me when I use CAC for ID purposes in line. Only had to fly home from deployment once in uniform but number of people and other military people from almost every service were super nice (especially older heroes from ww2 etc…) military generally strongly strongly strongly discourages any alcohol drinks while in uniform so always best to decline drinks except pop or coffee. Families of other service members usually super nice too.

Mil travel *DOESNT* seem to like to use SW for some reason…

If I have 2 southwest planes within 2 hours of each other on one reservation to complete my trip, how many calls are necessary to get my boarding area for entry for both planes.

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Southwest Airlines says ‘assigned and premium seating’ will replace open seating plan

Bill Chappell

Southwest Airlines unveiled big shifts in how it does business Thursday, saying it will throw out the open-seating model it has used for decades and introduce redeye flights. Here, an employee and passenger are seen at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last year in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

An unofficial motto of Southwest Airlines’ open seating process for its people boarding its planes was once , “You can sit anywhere you want — just like at church.”

But after some 50 years, Southwest passengers will soon encounter a different process when they book and board a flight. The airline will offer assigned and premium seats and a revamped boarding model, it announced on Thursday .

Boeing agrees to plead guilty and pay a nearly quarter-billion dollar fine

Adopting a system of “assigned and premium seating is part of an ongoing and comprehensive upgrade” for customers, Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said , adding that research shows passengers “overwhelmingly prefer” an assigned-seat system like that used by other carriers.

In another change, Southwest also said it would introduce redeye flights. It did not say when the new policies would be enacted.

The company unveiled the dramatic shifts in how it does business as it announced financial results for the second quarter, showing net income of $367 million on record operating revenues of $7.4 billion. In the previous quarter, Southwest lost $231 million. The airline has $11 billion in liquid funds, but it also has $8 billion in debt and is affected by the ongoing struggles at Boeing, its longtime partner .

"We are taking urgent and deliberate steps to mitigate near-term revenue challenges and implement longer-term transformational initiatives that are designed to drive meaningful top and bottom-line growth,” Jordan said.

The Southwest CEO said in April that delivery delays of new planes from Boeing, which has been embroiled in regulators’ concerns over safety issues, “presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025.”

At the factory that builds the 737 Max, Boeing rethinks how it trains new hires

In its update, Southwest said it received five Boeing 737-8 MAX planes in the second quarter while retiring seven older Boeing planes. Southwest had ordered 58 Boeing 737-8 MAX planes for 2024; it now expects to receive around 20 of the aircraft this year.

Southwest says it’s carrying passengers in record numbers. But it’s also retiring more aging aircraft than it can add this year: With the delivery delays from Boeing, the airline’s fleet will fall from 817 planes at the end of the second quarter to roughly 802 at the end of 2024.

• Southwest Airlines

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Southwest Airlines Adding Assigned & Premium Seating: End Of An Era

• Ben Schlappig
• Published: July 25, 2024
• Updated: August 23, 2024

For quite some time, there have been rumors of Southwest Airlines radically transforming its business model. Well, it’s finally happening, as Southwest has announced some major changes today, which are long overdue , if you ask me…

In this post:

Southwest overhauling its seating policies

While details are still limited as of now, Southwest Airlines has announced that it’s introducing both assigned seating and premium seating. We don’t yet know when the new seating concepts will be introduced, or what exactly these updates will look like.

What we do know is that all seats will be assigned, and that over time, roughly one-third of seats across the fleet will offer extra legroom, and will be branded as premium seating. The airline is still working on designing exact cabin layouts. I’ve written in the past about some surveys that Southwest customers were getting , which should give you a sense of the changes we may see.

Southwest has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but the airline believes that consumer preferences have evolved, with more customers taking longer flights, where a seat assignment is preferred.

Southwest claims that according to its research, 80% of Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer an assigned seating concept. When a customer elects to stop flying with Southwest and chooses a competitor, open seating is cited as the number one reason for that.

With this change, Southwest believes it will broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers. The airline states that this is part of the overall modernization efforts at the airline, and complements plans to introduce faster Wi-Fi, in-seat power, larger overhead bins, and more.

Interestingly these are the only core changes to the passenger experience that have been announced as of now. There are also rumors of Southwest introducing something along the lines of basic economy, though that hasn’t been announced… yet.

Here’s how Southwest CEO Bob Jordan describes these seating changes:

“Moving to assigned seating and offering premium legroom options will be a transformational change that cuts across almost all aspects of the Company. Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice— at the right time—for our Customers, our People, and our Shareholders. We are excited to incorporate Customer and Employee feedback to design a unique experience that only Southwest can deliver. We have been building purposefully to this change as part of a comprehensive upgrade to the Southwest experience as we focus on Customer expectations – and it will unlock new sources of revenue consistent with our laser focus on delivering improved financial performance.”

These Southwest changes were inevitable

I don’t think it should come as a surprise to anyone that Southwest is finally updating its business model.

For decades, Southwest was one of the most profitable US airlines, but the carrier has lost its financial edge, as consumer travel patterns have shifted. Southwest isn’t able to capitalize on the premium travel boom, plus the demand for long haul travel. The airline also hasn’t been able to generate as much ancillary revenue as competitors, which is a major source of profit for airlines.

So in recent months, Southwest management has made it clear that the airline is open to making changes to its business model. The only thing that the airline is committed to keeping is two free checked bags , because Southwest management views this as being a key part of the carrier’s value proposition.

I’d say both of these updates are logical. Assigned seating is much easier to monetize, and also less frustrating for many passengers, since they know exactly what they’re going to get.

As far as premium seating goes, that also makes perfect sense. A while back, Southwest unveiled new cabins , which will be installed on newly delivered aircraft as of 2025. What’s interesting is that these seats are thinner than existing seats, yet Southwest at the time stated it wouldn’t increase the number of seats on planes.

Airlines aren’t charities (even if their balance sheets may at times suggest otherwise), so it makes sense that Southwest would try to monetize the extra space, and change the cabin layout a bit.

It’s good to see Southwest evolving

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Southwest has probably been the most consistent airline over the years in terms of not changing its business model, regardless of what competitors are doing. The US global legacy carriers have evolved to become more profitable, better competing with ultra low cost carriers, by increasingly fragmenting the market.

Meanwhile Southwest has just kept doing what it has been doing for decades, and has been one of the better performing airlines over the years. I think some people fall into the trap of thinking that if an airline is profitable and does a certain thing, that must mean that it’s the right thing to do. In many cases, airlines are profitable in spite of certain business practices, rather than because of them.

I think what has kept Southwest profitable over the years compared to other primarily domestic airlines is the scale of its network, its fleet simplicity, and the high engagement in its loyalty program, thanks largely to a pleasant flying experience and friendly staff.

The airline has high labor costs, and greatly lags other carriers when it comes to ancillary revenue. Personally I think it’s smart for Southwest to finally focus on generating ancillary revenue. I’m sure many Southwest loyalists won’t be happy about these changes, but I do think it’ll ultimately improve Southwest’s bottom line.

Bottom line

Southwest Airlines has finally revealed that it plans to introduce assigned seating on all flights, and also plans to introduce a premium seating option, with extra legroom. This evolution at Southwest was bound to happen, given the carrier’s current financial performance.

Exact details of what these changes will look like remain to be seen, but the airline is now committed to these updates, so let’s see how this all plays out.

What do you make of Southwest introducing assigned and premium seating?

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Were going to update our model to be EXACTLY like all the other airlines have been for their entire existence! WOW! What a shocking and new-aged update!

As someone that flies with southwest currently, I have zero intentions and zero reasoning to continuing flying with them. There is no reason to. They are precisely like every other POS airline that is trying to nickel and dime on trying to sell giving people an erection...

As someone that flies with southwest currently, I have zero intentions and zero reasoning to continuing flying with them. There is no reason to. They are precisely like every other POS airline that is trying to nickel and dime on trying to sell giving people an erection of paying $50 extra dollars for TWO WHOOOOOOOOOOLE INCHES MORE OF LEGROOM! WOW! If you move it up to 2.5 inches, maybe it will be a noticeable amount!

Get bent SW. You lost a long-time status business traveler for life.

A forward looking EMB 135 E2 order a few years back, probably could have brought more time to maintain open seating. However, assigned seating though, was probably destined to happen, as not everyone in the US has the neighborly honor system emplaning values Texas and its border states of NM, OK, AR, LA, had and still do (to a certain degree), during the beginnings of WN 40 and 50 years ago. Sadly but gladly, I...

A forward looking EMB 135 E2 order a few years back, probably could have brought more time to maintain open seating. However, assigned seating though, was probably destined to happen, as not everyone in the US has the neighborly honor system emplaning values Texas and its border states of NM, OK, AR, LA, had and still do (to a certain degree), during the beginnings of WN 40 and 50 years ago. Sadly but gladly, I look forward to seeing a new startup airline, picking up where WN is leaving off, in this region capitalizing upon the traditions of WN’s former quest for simplicity, customer service, and efficiency, dedicated to middle culture American guests who would gladly squeeze over and say, “sit here” when those little 112 seat. Ochre and Orange planes were filling up. It’s never too late to build a mouse trap though…and Southwest built it well. Let’s see if it is they or someone else who builds it again better for the Southwest.

As a Southwest A-lister, I was surveyed, and told them the truth; I will stop flying Southwest as a result of this change. To not provide loyalty perks like the early boarding (in other words, better seats, as I almost always get an exit row currently) means no more loyalty. The open seating policy also allowed passengers to choose or avoid certain seating situations (like being directly in front of a child who kicked me...

As a Southwest A-lister, I was surveyed, and told them the truth; I will stop flying Southwest as a result of this change. To not provide loyalty perks like the early boarding (in other words, better seats, as I almost always get an exit row currently) means no more loyalty. The open seating policy also allowed passengers to choose or avoid certain seating situations (like being directly in front of a child who kicked me in the back the entire flight, as I've had happen on other airlines, or staying away from potentially noisy babies or rowdy sports teams). I've been loyal to Southwest for years. Have flown them all over the continental US plus Hawaii and the caribbean multiple times (yes, they do fly overseas, just not to further flung locations). I've always found their fares to be significantly lower than others for the destinations I fly to. I also have a companion pass with them, so there was little point in checking fares at other airlines unless I was flying to Europe. But I'll be checking out other airlines fares now, as there is no longer a point to being loyal to Southwest (A-lister status is now meaningless). If they wanted to be like every other airline, they could have done so from the start. Perhaps they will gain enough new customers to compensate for the old loyal ones who are going to leave, but the first influx of new customers will simply be compensating for their formerly loyal customers who will leave.

I wish WN well. The airline is iconic in the industry, and many airlines around the world have used their template.

As for the changes, I have no doubt they did huge amounts of research and surveys to reach this conclusion. The change is logical, as it must be designed to gain/attract more revenue from the more premium passenger segments. Basically it will result in a better revenue management mix of the aircraft.

I suspect...

I suspect that baggage and other ancillary fees, or lack thereof, will likely not result. Changes to those fees would become a game changer...but not to be ruled out in the years ahead.

Finally, I hope and have confidence that WN has fully evaluated the IT systems and staff training to make this change possible. To me, IT & staff capability would be of strategic priority making this change.

And likely their marketing department will have to dive deep on this change...

PS - as for red-eyes....good for them...and good for the flying public. As the saying goes, an aircraft doesn't generate revenue if not in the air.

Crew scheduling and such I have no clue about...but it would have been considered...

I fly Southwest domestically more frequently than any other US airline because: A) I often fly out of BWI and Southwest is the dominant airline, carrying ~70% of passengers out of BWI as of 2022. B) Southwest goes to some of those second and third tier locations that are not always covered by the Big 3, e.g., Hartford, CT. C) I love the bags fly free policy and in my experience, it...

I fly Southwest domestically more frequently than any other US airline because: A) I often fly out of BWI and Southwest is the dominant airline, carrying ~70% of passengers out of BWI as of 2022. B) Southwest goes to some of those second and third tier locations that are not always covered by the Big 3, e.g., Hartford, CT. C) I love the bags fly free policy and in my experience, it seems to contribute to smoother boarding. (People seem to be more willing to check a bag if they aren't being charged extra, which cuts down on delays while people are forced to gate check bags.)

I liked Southwest's open seating, but I'm fine with this too.

I would, however, be upset if they got rid of bags fly free. That is a core piece of the Southwest value proposition. So if Southwest wants to jump on the ancillary revenue train, seat selection is the way to do it.

Thanks Ben for the updates. I have never flown them in 50 years. Maybe this will get me onboard ✈️

Good to see. Finally. About time. Why no details? Sounds like "The way we've always done it" is no longer the management philosophy.

I say ditch the extra legroom as a 'premium' option (it's not) and got with wider seats up front. That means fewer seats. Doesn't need to be a true first class product (does that even exist in this day and age?!), but 2x2 seats up front will be a game changer. Spirit has done tremendous with that Big Front Seat as people definitely want that wider more comfortable seat, even with limited legroom. Calling extra...

I say ditch the extra legroom as a 'premium' option (it's not) and got with wider seats up front. That means fewer seats. Doesn't need to be a true first class product (does that even exist in this day and age?!), but 2x2 seats up front will be a game changer. Spirit has done tremendous with that Big Front Seat as people definitely want that wider more comfortable seat, even with limited legroom. Calling extra legroom seats "premium" is just lazy and don't create any better of a product. The width is by far what actually creates a premium product. I'd fly them in a heartbeat if they came up with 2x2 seating up front. of course they kinda need to stop near-crashes of their planes. Oh wait, they fly the MAX...never mind.

What a strange coincidence that all this market "research" and policy changes are coming on the heels of a huge buy-in by private equity, losing the specificity of what made Southwest successful for many years (not to mention the fastest boarding process available). One can imagine charges for every type of assigned seat and group while maintaining a last group "cattle call" as a basic economy style fare that can't carry on bags without...

What a strange coincidence that all this market "research" and policy changes are coming on the heels of a huge buy-in by private equity, losing the specificity of what made Southwest successful for many years (not to mention the fastest boarding process available). One can imagine charges for every type of assigned seat and group while maintaining a last group "cattle call" as a basic economy style fare that can't carry on bags without a fee and won't earn points. PE will extract their money, Southwest will be just like everyone else and lose a loyalty base, slow their turnaround times, and will need a big investment in new tech to handle the reservations. Let's see what their appeal is to the general public - as a rare Southwest flier, these changes aren't magically making me want to fly with them!

I am thrilled. I had not considered WN in the past primarily because of the " Festival Seating" policy. Way to much uncertainty and hassle. Tampa is my home airport and WN has a number of nonstops from here to places I wish to travel too. Another travel option has opened for me. Cool !

Wish I could be there to watch the faces of those fake “early boarders” whose ailments are magically healed at the end of the flight. THAT is what is out of control at Southwest. As long as they continue to serve their routes, have decent loyalty programs, and be on time I am a firm loyalist.

For the routes I fly, WN charges far more miles than AA, and it is no longer the price leader in cash fares on most routes. I loved WN when it was the price leader, but those days are long gone. At the same time, it’s not going to attract me with Basic Economy, either. I’ll use my remaining miles when reasonable, but I don’t see Southwest much in my future.

Shrinkflation.

I preferred open seating!!!! I was never surveyed.

Not that it matters, their research showed that assigned seating was by far the #1 thing preventing their growth by competitive churn.

With new investors coming in and expecting change, that was an easy one for management to deliver. It was only a matter of time.

When WN finally implements assigned seating, US airports will suddenly have a surplus of wheelchairs.

“Airlines aren’t charities (even if their balance sheets may at times suggest otherwise)”… lol!

In addition to what everyone else has mentioned so far, changing to assigned seating will free up another 100-200 sq.ft. of floor space at every Southwest gate by removing those numbered pylons. More room for seating, and maybe less inconvenience for families whose kids can’t stay still while lining up, those who have difficulty standing for prolonged periods, etc.

Good, ending open seating fixes multiple problems with Southwest.

It really doesn't, open seating actually made their process of loading and unloading passangers faster than other airlines.

Unloading? What planet do you live on? Loading? Every other airline has figured out how to get passengers on board and managing aircraft utilization. Southwest can learn also.

It takes a huge leap of faith to change your entire business model, so kudos to them for listening to what consumers have been asking for and making that change.

I do worry that they may not see the results they think they will, because I think a lot of the reason that they haven't been able to cash in on the travel boom is not their product, it's because they don't fly where...

I do worry that they may not see the results they think they will, because I think a lot of the reason that they haven't been able to cash in on the travel boom is not their product, it's because they don't fly where the travel is booming. After being stuck in the U.S. for a few years during the pandemic travel rebounded a lot by people traveling internationally, which Southwest doesn't do (I know they do Carribean and central American, but I'm talking Europe and Asia), so they weren't positioned to capture the market, and this move still doesn't change that.

There is likely still a decent segment of the population that collects miles to travel overseas, and thus Southwest still won't work for them, but that's probably not as huge of an issue as it once one as I think a lot of us are more airline agnostic than we once were since the frequent flier programs have been largely gutted, but for any hardcore mileage nerd this change still won't capture them.

I never flew them because of the assigned seats, because they didn't fly overseas, and because the few times I did check them for domestic flights they were SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive than the majors, with the assigned seats issue fixed, if they can get the prices in line with the majors then I'll consider them for domestic travel, but I'm not holding my breath.

I appreciate all of Lucky's arguments for the merits of this change, but I for one will mourn the loss of open seating. My perspective on the policy changed when our family had kids. Southwest has been the best for families for two reasons:

1. You can book inside of a week and still get seats together as a family without having to bank on United's algorithm or begging a gate agent (DL) because of...

1. You can book inside of a week and still get seats together as a family without having to bank on United's algorithm or begging a gate agent (DL) because of Southwest's family boarding policy. Over the last week, this has been stark. Every mainline airline has single available seats scattered all over the seatmap. On southwest, we'll sit together. 2. Because of the family boarding policy, all families board around the same time and tend to sit near each other on the plane (my experience is generally right behind the exit row). Traveling with a kid is stressful, and it lowers the stress to have other families dealing with crying, blowouts, peeking over seatbacks to say "hello", etc sitting nearby. It is a low-key, forgiving place of chaos on the plane.

I go out of my way to choose southwest when booking last minute and often pay more to do so for these reasons. I won't anymore.

They really need a domestic F product now, or Business Select is completely worthless. (It's value was always highly questionable anyway.) I think they'll have to go with Euro-business (empty middle seat) until they can get the planes retrofitted.

Yea I'd like to see F seats. They can copy Spirit's model.

What about wheelchair passengers? Will they also have to book an assigned seat? What if it’s in row 18 or something like that? Are we expected to walk all that way to our assigned seat?

With assigned seating, why would that happen any differently than on other carriers?

On Southwest you would board first as a wheelchair passenger and you would pick the seat in the front.

Presumably seat 2A is going to be at a different price than 28B. It doesn't make sense to have assigned seating and not monetize seats that are typically considered more preferrable.

If someone doesn't want to walk to the back of the plane they could pay "$$$" for a seat towards the front.

This makes me sad. Not because I particularly love Southwest's model (nor do I hate it) but because it demonstrates that there's no place for different business models. The worst model -- in this case, unbundling everything and converting most revenue into "ancillary" revenue -- has taken over the industry.

It would be nice if there were a choice among the-price-is-the-price airlines like Southwest, nickle-and-dimers like the other majors, and penny-pinchers like the ones that...

It would be nice if there were a choice among the-price-is-the-price airlines like Southwest, nickle-and-dimers like the other majors, and penny-pinchers like the ones that charge for drinks. But the logic of price advertising dictates that all-in pricing can't compete. Sure, Southwest says they're keeping their free bag policy for now but Ben's analysis makes it clear that it's the "wrong" decision in the long run.

I believe two things are true: the airline advertising the lowest price will "win", but that airlines with all-in pricing provide a better customer experience. Well over half the questions in public airline fora (like the AA Facebook groups) are things like "are seat selection fees refundable?" and "Do I have to pay with the credit card to get the free bag?". In this situation the market works to the benefit of the seller, but not so much for the consumer.

You might find this an interesting explanation in part: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotelling%27s_law

More leg room with thinner seats? I’d much prefer wider more cushioned seats with space between them and with some recline. That would be worth the upgrade in price.

I wonder how the assigned seating will affect the boarding process. No more A, B, C groups? Will things slow down and turn into the mass free for all like on AA where everyone tries to board right away even though they're in Group 5+

Surely the boarding process, like the on-board experience, will be just like every other airline.

They have removed the first barrier. The second is that, from my home airport, they are often more expensive. The third is they only seem to offer too early or too late flights when they are price competitive. They offer two non-stops to a city in Florida. You either fly out at 6am or arrive at 9:30 pm.

This will probably ease the cost problem since the nickle-and-dime model allows publishing lower base fares and making it up on ancillary revenue. The lower-level fares (with limited or no seat selection) will probably come down to the level of their competitors.

A bad move from WN, putting its bottom line over the interests of passengers in having affordable tickets.

Clearly you missed that part about them not being a charity.

First, it's not clear yet if this might mean some passengers will get cheaper airfare (measured net of all fees). Second, in running your business you are not interested in net profit?

WN is more expensive than any route that they and AA offer out of DAL/DFW. They are the charging premium fares for a spirit like experience. I dont need to pay $100 extra to fly WN if i dont have checked bags and even if i do they are comped anyways with amex or other cards. Flying WN is as bad or worse than NK but at least NK is cheap. I love these moves for WN i might actually fly them next time over AA.

At least regarding DAL/DFW, I presume people are willing to pay more on Southwest for the convenience of flying into Love, closer to downtown Dallas, as opposed to having to deal with DFW. It was the same thing when I lived in Houston - Hobby was more convenient than IAH - a 15-20 minute drive versus 45-80 minutes.

What will happen to their Extra Seat Policy for large passengers?

I assume that will go away too.

One thing maybe Southwest could experiment with is empty middle seats for Business Select passengers, which would provide value to other customers while still giving an option to obese passengers that's likely cheaper than buying two seats.

Was able to offer cheaper flights and 2 bags because they got long-term fuel hedges right decade plus ago. People were willing to deal with open-seating due to lower pricing and flexible ticketing. Post-pandemic all/nearly-all mainline carriers offer flex and are often cheaper; WN lost their advantage.

I think the drive to assigned seating came about as people realized that by pretending to be "disabled" they could scam the system for have the pick of their seat. Assigned seating will negate that abuse.

Another aspect (and I think more common) is that if you were traveling in a group, you only needed one person to upgrade to A list seating, then that person could save seats for everyone.

Southwest is totally right that the lack of assigned seating is driving people to competitors. Open seating is fine when I travel alone, but as the travel group becomes bigger, it gets quite frustrating to do. At this point the gf avoids Southwest when we're traveling together because for the kind of people who get anxious while flying it really does wear on the nerves. From getting antsy waiting in queue to board, trying to...

Southwest is totally right that the lack of assigned seating is driving people to competitors. Open seating is fine when I travel alone, but as the travel group becomes bigger, it gets quite frustrating to do. At this point the gf avoids Southwest when we're traveling together because for the kind of people who get anxious while flying it really does wear on the nerves. From getting antsy waiting in queue to board, trying to be up and ready to get in line ASAP, and then the awkward seat selection itself, it is understandably stressful and frustrating for a good deal of people.

I avoid Southwest for the stressful unassigned seating (with seating abusers galore — people paying for one passenger in their large group to get A list or early bird and then holding seats for the whole clan and the FAs allowing it so the “family could sit together” and ALL the wheelchair fakers) PLUS higher prices for what you get… I have a flight in February on them due to unavoidable routing and schedules and...

I avoid Southwest for the stressful unassigned seating (with seating abusers galore — people paying for one passenger in their large group to get A list or early bird and then holding seats for the whole clan and the FAs allowing it so the “family could sit together” and ALL the wheelchair fakers) PLUS higher prices for what you get… I have a flight in February on them due to unavoidable routing and schedules and I HOPE assigned seating is offered by then. I would gladly pay for it. I don’t think the loading will be delayed any more than any other airline. I will definitely fly southwest more with these changes, especially if they simplify their weird pricing.

I am guessing they will take the extra space with the thinner seats and lower pitch in the rear and increase it in the front. But won't change the appearance of the seats? Wonder if they will keep people from moving from the back to front when empty seats?

To increase revenue they can have the FAs charge self upgraders a fee.

As FNT Delta Diamond suggests, now that SW has acknowledged its seating practices need to conform to industry norms, a follow-up needs to be installation of actual domestic first class seats. Not just extra leg room. Otherwise, the price of Business Select is unjustified.

I will say that (for this not very large passenger), I often find European business (3-3 seating with middle seat blocked in 737/320) a sometimes nicer experience than US 2-2 F seating.

Glad to see these changes. Open seating really only benefits solo travelers with A boarding who can make a mad dash for the left exit aisle to get “The Best Seat.” If that’s taken, window or aisle near the front or plane was generally a solid option. This was me for about a decade and therefore I never really had any issues with Southwest.

Traveling as a couple completely shifted my view and now...

Traveling as a couple completely shifted my view and now I hate open seating. Traveling as a group of three or more is a nightmare…. which is kinda odd since typically people view Southwest as more family friendly.

Good for Southwest for making this change.

I'm looking forward to the OMAAT review of Southwest's premium extra legroom seating.

And a photo of a 737 MAX engine in SW colours

SWA removing the #1 most disliked practice will bring new customers and make existing customers happier.

The big three will act nonplussed and even arrogant about this change. This move is the biggest threat in siphoning off flyers than any new entrant (Breeze,Avelo).

"the #1 most disliked practice" lol, it really isn't

The end of Jetway Jesus is near!

It really should be a crime to make fraudulent requests for disability accommodation. (the liars should also face lifetime bans.) Actual consequences would get rid of Jetbridge Jesus for once and for all. No need for a felony though - a misdemeanor would suffice for this.

Assigned seating will punch a huge hole in social media.

Same old snack mix, same old ass planes, same tacky ass uniforms.

I've never flown Southwest and will never, ever fly them until (1) I can have an assigned seat and (2) I can buy something equivalent to domestic first-class. As soon as I hit 2 million miles with Delta (late 2025), I'll be a free agent and will book the best, cheapest premium product, regardless of carrier.

Such a strange flex.

Just wait until there is a Crowdstrike outage, and you have to fly WN because they are the only airline flying to where you need to go. Oh wait...

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When will Southwest start assigning seats? Airline to change rules

Frequent Southwest Airlines flyers who grew accustomed to the airlines' open seating policy will have to adjust to a new way of flying, as the airline is set to make wholesale changes to its seating policy.

Here's what you need to know.

Does Southwest have first class?

Southwest Airlines doesn’t use assigned seats or offer first class options, yet.

The low-cost carrier said it is ditching its decades-long open seating policy and moving to assigned seats and premium seating with extra legroom.

"Southwest decided it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights," read Southwest Airlines' seating announcement . "The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred.

"By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers."

When will Southwest start assigning seats?

Southwest Airlines' press release did not provide a specific start date for its new assigned and premium seating program.

The press release did indicate that Southwest Airlines officials intend to provide an update during its investor day in late September, meaning changes could take effect immediately thereafter.

How much will premium seating cost on Southwest Airlines?

Southwest Airlines' press release doesn't explicitly state how much premium seating will cost you, nor if the airline will offer any special seating deals through its Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Assigned seats on Southwest to go away

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Assigned seating 👎🏼

Assigned seating and companion pass, assigned seats - do not do it, re: earlybird transfer with short layover, re: no more open seating, quick links, community champions.

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My Secrets to Getting the Best Seats on Southwest

Some travelers won’t even fly Southwest  due to their quirky open seating boarding process It can be stressful and often means you have to summon up your best hustle energy to get a good seat on Southwest. And of course, a good seat means different things to different people.

It’s best to board with a plan! Here are some tricks, tips and strategies so that the dreaded middle seat goes to someone other than you!

How Southwest Airlines Open Seating Policy Works

If you’re new to Southwest and can’t figure out how to pick your seats, don’t worry, neither can anyone else.

Southwest Airlines has an open seating policy. Seats are not assigned ahead of time, rather passengers are assigned a boarding group, A, B, or C, and a boarding position, 1-60.

The boarding group and position determine when you board the plane, and thus how many seats you will be able to choose from.

The whole thing used to be a true free for all. The airline handed out placards with one of the three letters. People would line up under a letter, camping out on the ground for literally hours before a flight departed, in hope of improving their real estate situation onboard the flight.

Southwest decided this wasn’t a good look, and back in the mid-2000s added boarding positions. Now, the lines have numbers and everyone is expected to sort themselves out based on their exact position in line.

Unless you really are dead set on sitting at the bulkhead or you really want an exit row aisle or window, the key to finding a decent seat on a full flight is to secure a boarding position in roughly the first half of passengers to board.

• If you’re not using these tips, tricks, and strategies, you’re spending too much on your travels!

What Makes For a “Good” Southwest Seat?

All of this talk about seating begs the question, which seats qualify as good ones? The seats on the plane are more or less all identical. Except for exit rows, there’s no extra legroom seating, and there’s not really any perk to one seat over the other, besides location.

Pro tip : Staying healthy is key to enjoying your travels. Here’s my SECRET, and I’ve even got a 10% discount for my readers!

The best seat on Southwest depends on personal needs. Travelers with connecting flights might want to sit in the front in order to make a quick exit, but then there are those who head straight for the back perhaps because they are a family looking for seats together. Some folks head to the back hoping the flight won’t be full and they’ll have a row with an empty middle seat.

One piece of information I like to have before I sit down is how full my flight is. I’ve seen Southwest gate agents make announcements as to whether a flight is full, but they often make this up just to get everyone on the plane quicker. One inexact way to judge is to see how many people remain in the gate area after the A Group is called. If about half the gate area lines up for A boarding, it’s a safe bet there will be plenty of empty seats.

The Complete Guide to Southwest Airlines’ Quirky Perks and Hacks

During full-ish flights, choosing seats in the front-center section increases your chance of securing an empty middle seat between you and a neighbor. When there are plenty of empty seats, though, the rear of the aircraft can be downright spacious.

Want the discounts, welcome gifts, room upgrades, and hotel credits a travel agent can get you? I sure do. Here’s the travel advisor I use to get the best deals, lowest prices, and personalized service.

Rule Number One: Check-In ASAP

If there’s one rule Southwest regulars follow religiously, it’s this: check-in  exactly 24 hours before the flight. I sometimes even set an alarm for the exact minute!

Use this page. Use it early.

Get on your laptop, open the Southwest website on a smartphone or download the Southwest app. Within a few minutes of opening, many of the coveted top boarding positions will be gone, so it’s crucial to click that Check In button as early as possible.

I know some Southwest frequent flyers who set an alarm five minutes before  check-in opens. They’ll enter all the necessary information on the website to check in and then as soon as the clock ticks 24 hours, they’ll click the button.

Pro tip: Keep your personal information private! Here’s the easiest way to stay protected.

EarlyBird Check-In Option

Not sure if you’ll be able to check-in 24 hours prior to your flight? Consider purchasing Southwest EarlyBird Check-In. EarlyBird Check-In costs $15.00 one-way, per person. When you purchase EarlyBird Check-In, Southwest automatically checks you in and assigns your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight’s departure. Southwest EarlyBird Check-In doesn’t guarantee an A boarding position, but it stands to reason you would be in the A or early B group.

Does Southwest Airlines Have a Family Boarding Policy?

Have a family? You’re in luck. An adult traveling with a child six or younger may board during Family Boarding, after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position, but if either is B1 or later, this shortcut helps families sit together.

Southwest Boarding Groups Move Quickly — If You’re Late, Walk-Up Front

Once Southwest starts boarding, things happen quickly. If you are running late and have an earlier boarding position, just walk to the front of the line to board. Don’t worry, cutting isn’t rude in this circumstance.

I’ve seen this happen many times, especially with travelers from connecting flights.

Pay Extra or Fly More

Southwest offers a fare that guarantees an A1-A15 boarding position: Business Select. These fares are pricy — more than a fully refundable ticket — but they include FlyBy Priority Security lane access and come with free cocktail coupons.

What Exactly Is a ‘Wanna Get Away’ Fare?

If you don’t want to purchase a Business Select fare, Upgraded Boarding is an alternative. Upgraded Boarding is not always available, but can be worth trying.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

The new Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card actually includes Upgraded Boarding on four flights per year. It also comes with a heap of intro bonus points, if you spend enough.

• Click here to access this card and others like it and decide which SWA card is best for you!

On the day of travel, go to a Kiosk at the airport and Check-In again. It’s also possible to ask about Upgraded Boarding at the baggage counter. You can also ask at the gate before the start of the boarding process.

If Upgraded Boarding is available, depending on your itinerary, you’ll be given a boarding position in the A1-A15 group. The cost is $30 or $40 per flight depending on your itinerary.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members with A-List and A-List Preferred status. These members are automatically assigned boarding positions ahead of general boarding. They even board ahead of EarlyBird flyers.

Want to be unpopular? Try Saving Seats 

Save a seat and someone’s likely to give you this look.

Some travelers will attempt to save seats for people boarding after them. Many frequent flyers will complain because Southwest doesn’t seem to have an official policy on this practice. Even if they do, crews don’t consistently do anything about it.

I’ve observed that most people don’t care if someone is saving a middle seat next to them when their traveling companion is boarding soon. But beware! Some passengers take saving seats to the max.  You may need to speak up or ask a crew member for help.

• Do you find it difficult to book award flights with your miles and points? I do! That’s why I turn to Point.me. They get me great deals and save me money and time.

How do I select a seat on Southwest Airlines can be a confusing question to answer. These tips and suggestions can help you navigate Southwest’s open seating policy with the least amount of stress, a good dose of humor about how it all somehow works, and the best chance of getting the best seat possible!

Related Posts:

• 9 Awesome Travel Accessories to Take on Your Next Trip
• Staying healthy is key to enjoying your travels. Here’s my SECRET, and I’ve even got a 10% discount for my readers!
• Why use just any credit card when you can use one that earns miles and points? Don’t MISS OUT on the BEST current travel credit card offers!
• These Hacks Save Money on Hotel Stays
• 35 Free Things to Do in Hawaii

Shelli Stein is a health and fitness entrepreneur who travels the world in search of culture, food, and fun! Besides contributing to PointMeToThePlane , you can find her at Joy in Movement.

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Shelli Stein

Shelli Stein is a travel writer, personal development coach , and story teller. She has come to realize writing as a way of sharing travel experiences brings her a lot of pleasure! Her areas of expertise are: all things  Southwest Airlines ,  hotel reviews , and what to do, see, and eat in destinations around the world. She sees travel as an adventure, trying to somehow get inside and experience a different way of life, a different cultural heritage. Maybe she can  show you something  you’ve never seen.  Inspire you with new ideas  for your next vacation. Attempt to  put a smile on your face . Help you learn from her mistakes . Or challenge your  assumptions about the world . She lives life with humor, gratitude, and humility and always sees the coffee cup as half full!

What Exactly is a Southwest ‘Wanna Get Away’ Fare

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If you check in C group, check your carry on. It saves everyone time! Departure is earlier and the time wasted could be used drinking a beer or walking to baggage claim. Oh, you don’t want to wait? It takes 5 -10 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.

Early bird fees are sometimes more than $15, depending on the length of the trip, but still can be worth it.

Good point, Stan. Thanks for reading and adding to the conversation!

Early birds are no longer $15. They’ve gone up to $25 per person each way.

Hi Mike, According to Southwest, EarlyBird check-in can be purchased at prices ranging from $15-25 one-way per passenger.

We just booked southwest from Milwaukee to Vegas and the early bird checkin wwas$50

Sorry bout that,it was $25 apiece

No worries, William. It’s confusing, for sure. 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?

Hi Karen, I’m not exactly clear on what you mean by connecting flight. First I’m assuming your connecting flight is also on Southwest. 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.e. one reservation from east to west coast, with a Dallas layover and continue on a different aircraft, that would be two segments, right? 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. https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/southwest-early-bird-check-in/

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. Hope this helps answer your questions: https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/southwest-early-bird-check-in/

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? I haven’t flown in 40 yrs.

Hi Steve, I suggest you call Southwest Airlines directly and talk with them about your needs. I’m quite certain they will be able to assist you. 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. Given you’re a family of 6, I’m thinking at least one of the family members will be able to grab an aisle seat. 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!

Does a Wanna Get Away ticket mean the last to board?

Good question, Claudia. Southwest assigns boarding groups based on a few factors. This fare type does not mean last to board. To understand more about the Wanna Get Away fare, I suggest taking a look at this post, https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/wanna-get-away-fares/ . 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. We all don’t want to buy an Early Bird check-in but the flights are full so how can we ensure that at least she is seated with one of us and we are not all in middle seats.

Hi Beth, Try reaching out to SWA with your concerns and see what they suggest. 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!

[…] all on the same page before I start this rant, I need to make sure you’re all in the know about how Southwest Airlines assigns seats. They don’t assign seats at all! It’s an open seating policy. First come, first […]

[…] incidental credit option. This can be useful on Southwest Airlines because priority boarding often gets you the best seats. Always remember that the incidental fees will only cover priority boarding fees on your designated […]

[…] How to Get the Best Seats on Southwest Airlines […]

[…] Learn more: Secrets to Getting the Best Seats on Southwest Airlines […]

Do they allow handicap to board first? Is it possible to get seats if unable to walk the aisle?

Hi Kathleen, I believe that Southwest does make a boarding call for anyone needing extra time to board. I’m not sure about the answer to your second question though. You might want to reach out to Southwest and ask them directly.

[…] Source: https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/best-seat-on-southwest-airlines/ […]

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