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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.
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.
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). To upgrade your boarding position, you’ll need to see the gate attendant before the boarding process begins.
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.
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 only 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 that 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.
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 Status | Required Number of Qualifying One-Way Flights | Required Number of Tier Qualifying Points |
| A-List | 25 | 35,000 |
| A-List Preferred | 50 | 70,000 |
Southwest also 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.
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.
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 at the gate.
The cost is $30 to $50 per person per flight segment (it doesn’t cover your whole itinerary). Upgraded boarding can be purchased at the gate before boarding begins by speaking to a gate agent.
Bottom Line: Your best bets to get a higher boarding position without having to earn elite status are EarlyBird Check-In and upgraded boarding at the gate. 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 at the gate is subject to availability and costs $30 to $50 per flight per person, but it gets you an A1-15 boarding position.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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 regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
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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Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Forbes Advisor.
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19 comments
Grumpy Texan Travel
September 28, 2019
Nice post. Southwest can be fairly confusing for first-time flyers. This will definitely help those people.
Tim Boyer
December 08, 2019
Good morning,
According to two places on your website, active duty military are given seating preference of between A and B groups. This morning I was traveling on military orders and was denied this slot for boarding because I was not in uniform. We are instructed not to travel in uniform unless absolutely necessary for the mission because wearing the uniform in places like the airport because it makes us a target. Please consider revising your policy (the attendant at Little Rock Airport said a memo recently came out to enforce the uniform requirement). Or just update your website and do not have the attendants make the announcement for military to board prior to turning us away. The attendant was very friendly and was just doing her job, but it seems something needs to change or be clarified. This was flight 6322 from Little Rock to Dallas at 1200. Thank you for taking this into consideration, it’s a little embarrassing being turned away.
Katie Seemann
December 09, 2019
Hi Tim,
I’m sorry you were turned away. According to Southwest their policy is to let “active duty, uniformed members of the U.S. armed forces to board between the “A” and “B” boarding groups.”
As a frequent Southwest flyer, I can say that most times, the gate attendant calls for just “active duty military”, so I can understand how frustrated you might be that the “uniformed” part of the policy isn’t clear or consistently enforced.
I would suggest contacting Southwest directly to express your concern.
DavFerr
September 16, 2021
So wearing a uniform can make you a target however you want to board when they announce “Military” over the P.A.? Try boarding with the civilians and that will make you less of a target. And yes, I am a veteran.
USMC
December 16, 2021
He didn’t make the rules…he’s just following them. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take advantage of the benefits offered by the airlines.
Howard
September 04, 2022
Wearing a uniform from the time of entering the airport until boarding the plane makes an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces a lot more conspicuous and exposed for a lot longer than just boarding when “Military” is announced. Just sayin’. And no, I am not a veteran.
Jean
January 01, 2020
There is no consistency among which Southwest terminals permit non-uniformed active duty to board between zones A and B. This morning I was permitted to board in Dallas and then not permitted to after my layover in Phoenix. This is the first time I have not been permitted to board early after being allowed to numerous other times. Further, as previously stated, traveling in uniform is a security risk and is discouraged. Southwest’s stance on this is very confusing.
David
May 02, 2021
I would like to know if a Covid19 test is required if you have both shots.
Jarrod West
May 03, 2021
Hi David,
Where will you be flying?
Jim F
June 23, 2021
Has anyone else noticed that pre-boarding has gotten crazy out of control? My wife and I have flown quite a few times this year and we routinely see 15-20 people board before A1. Most are not in wheel chairs and few show externally a need for additional help. That’s not say that they’re not out there and we just can’t see their need. It does seem like it’s being taken advantage of, especially when you see those same people who pre-boarded walk off the plane without assistance.
Lenora Danta
July 24, 2021
I stopped flying southwest (my husband and I) for that same reason. I wrote to Southwest in regards to this same issue. They told me that is their policy and research shows that people love it! Well, I don’t. I do not nor do my family give them business. People are taking advantage of the system and in this day in age, no one has the Strength to call them out and use proper protocol. So I pay more, fly American, and CHOOSE my seat. Call and complain, not that they will listen.
Will
September 04, 2021
I once saw this guy in a wheelchair boarding, and after the flight, away from the gate, he started walking and pushing the wheelchair instead.
MilServ1972
August 17, 2022
As a person who looks personally fine but has a heart that works at less than 48 percent, I don’t agree with this. I cannot walk long distances through the terminal. Do I have to look disabled before I can use a wheelchair? It is also important to mention that my disability was caused because of two consecutive tours in Afghanistan. It is so amazing in today’s society people have to look disabled to be considered disabled. When we don’t want to stereotype. I am more frustrated when a family of six will follow the individual with the wheelchair down the jetway. Please remember that disabilities do not have signs or a look.
Alexis Marie
November 04, 2021
The inconsistency with the military boarding with Southwest is annoying. Last time I boarded early not in uniform with no problem, and this flight they denied me to board after the A group saying I had to be in uniform. I know it’s not a huge deal, but if they could pick a stance on military boarding it would save the embarrassment of trying to board early and being denied.
KBC
November 16, 2021
Actually Southwest DOESNT ALLOW military to board. You have to be uniformed which is against most military travel policies.
Greg B
March 18, 2022
I think it would be idiotic for SW to change the “in uniform” requirement. The time it takes to check each ID doesn’t make sense. Rather than complaining to SW, complain to the government travel department to let you travel in uniform. It only makes sense.
Renea
June 04, 2022
It’s about honoring our military. As the gentleman said above most are encouraged not to wear their uniforms, even when they are on a mission. A visible uniform doesn’t change their status. Good grief give them a few extra minutes to board! Especially when they have laid their lives down for our freedom! SMH
Gary
March 08, 2023
Is my early boarding status applied to my subsequent flights at layovers?
Jarrod West
March 09, 2023
Hi Gary,
If you purchased it during booking then it should be applied to each flight.
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