Have you ever flown Southwest Airlines and wondered how their unique boarding process works? Unlike most airlines, Southwest doesn’t assign specific seats. Instead, when you check-in, you receive a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a position (1-60) within that group. This letter and number determine when you board the plane and select your seat.
As you can imagine, your boarding position is crucial to securing a window or aisle seat or sitting with your travel companions. In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Southwest boarding process so you can be a pro traveler. Let’s dive right in.
How Does Southwest Boarding Work?
Southwest’s boarding process is unique because of its open seating policy. When you check in for your flight, you’ll be assigned to boarding groups A, B, or C and given a position between 1 and 60 within your group. So, your boarding pass might say something like “B23” or “A48.”
This boarding group and position determine when you board the plane. Group A boards first, in order of their numbers 1-60. Then, Group B boards, again in numeric order, followed by Group C. The gate area has columns with numbers indicating where to line up.
Once onboard, you can choose any open seat you’d like – that’s the beauty of Southwest’s open seating! Of course, the earlier you board, the more open seats you’ll have to pick from. That’s why your boarding position is so important.
What is the Southwest Boarding Process?
Here’s the step-by-step boarding order for a typical Southwest flight:
1. Preboarding
First up is preboarding, which is available for passengers who have a specific seating need due to a disability, need assistance getting to their seat or stowing an assistive device, or are an unaccompanied minor.
If you qualify for preboarding, you must speak to the gate agent before boarding to get a new boarding pass with a preboarding designation. You can board with one travel companion during this time. However, preboarding passengers cannot sit in an exit row.
2. Group A
Next, group A lines up in order based on their assigned numbers 1-60. The first 15 positions (A1-A15) are typically reserved for Business Select passengers who bought the most expensive fare. Some of these slots may be sold at the last minute as Upgraded Boarding if available. The rest of group A then boards in order.
3. Elite Members, Family Boarding, and Military
Families traveling with a child six years or younger can board next, between groups A and B, regardless of their assigned boarding position for up to two adults per child.
Active-duty military in uniform can also board at this time if they haven’t already boarded after group A.
Additionally, any A-List and A-List Preferred elite members with a B or C Group position may board after Group A.
4. Groups B and C
After families, the rest of the passengers board in order of their assigned group and number. Group B lines up in order and boards, followed by all of Group C. Your boarding card might say something like “B23,” which means you’d board with group B when they call for positions 16-30.
How to Get Your Southwest Boarding Position
Your boarding position is assigned when you check in for your flight, which opens 24 hours before departure. The earlier you check in within that 24-hour window, the better the boarding position you’ll receive.
For example, if you check in right at the 24-hour mark, you will likely get an A or B group boarding pass. If you wait 5 hours to check in, you might get a C group instead.
Here’s my top tip: Set an alarm on your phone for 24 hours and 5 minutes before your flight. That way, you’re ready to check in right at the 24-hour mark when your check-in window opens. If you have a connecting flight, you can check in for both flights at the 24-hour mark before your first flight, which lets you check in ahead of many passengers on your second flight.
How to Get the Best Seat on Southwest Airlines
Southwest’s open seating policy means the earlier you board, the better your seat choices. If you want a coveted window or aisle seat near the front of the plane, you must be in group A or early group B. Here are four ways to increase your odds of an early boarding position:
1. Buy a Business Select Ticket
Southwest’s most expensive ticket type, Business Select, guarantees you’ll get an A1-A15 boarding position. You’ll be among the first to board after preboarding, giving you first dibs on overhead bin space and your choice of almost any seat. Business Select fares also include bonus perks like a free premium drink. However, these tickets can be pretty pricey.
2. Buy Upgraded Boarding
If Business Select is out of your budget, consider Upgraded Boarding instead. You can purchase an A1-A15 slot at the gate before boarding begins for $30-50 per flight, which lets you snag an early boarding position even if you originally bought a cheaper ticket. However, Upgraded Boarding is subject to availability and often sells out on popular flights.
I use my wife’s Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card to purchase Upgraded Boarding, which is reimbursed as a perk up to four times per cardmember year. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card also has this same benefit.
3. Have A-List Elite Status
Do you fly Southwest often? I recommend working towards A-List or A-List Preferred elite status in their Rapid Rewards loyalty program. One valuable perk is that Southwest will automatically check you in for your flights 36 hours before departure—12 hours before the general 24-hour check-in time.
This usually secures you a spot in the A group; in the worst case, elite members can board after the A Group.
4. Buy EarlyBird Check-In
If you don’t travel enough for elite status, consider purchasing EarlyBird Check-In instead. For $15-25 one-way, Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours ahead, just like they do for elite members.
While not guaranteed an A group position, I’ve found that EarlyBird often lands you in A or early B. For a modest extra cost, it takes the stress out of checking in exactly at 24 hours. But remember, if you have a connecting flight, you’ll need to add EarlyBird separately for each flight.
Three credit cards offer up to two free EarlyBird Check-Ins each account year: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
The Verdict
Your place in line is determined by your boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60), which is assigned when you check in for your flight. To snag the best possible seat, remember these essential tips:
- Check-in exactly 24 hours before departure for the best position for no extra fee.
- Purchase EarlyBird Check-In for an automatic check-in 36 hours ahead.
- Buy a pricier Business Select ticket or last-minute Upgraded Boarding for a guaranteed A1-A15 slot.
- If you fly Southwest often, earn A-List or A-List Preferred elite status for early check-in.
