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Southwest Airlines does things differently than other US airlines.
The low-cost carrier gives customers two free checked bags on every flight whether they opt to pay for their fare with cash or rewards points. Likewise, it’s had a flexible rebooking and cancellation policy long before COVID-19 forced other airlines to lighten up their own.
But, the strangest thing about Southwest is the airline’s boarding policy. Southwest does not let you select a seat ahead of time, even for a fee. Instead, the airline boards customers based on their boarding group and position. Once onboard, you can pick any available seat.
Because of this, you can never guarantee a window or aisle seat or that you’ll sit with your travel companions. However, there are a few things you can do to improve your chance at getting a good seat on your next Southwest flight.
Let’s take a closer look at how to work Southwest’s open seating policy in your favor.
How Southwest boards its planes
So, how do you even know where you’ll wind up sitting with Southwest? That depends on the boarding group and seating position you get at check in.
Essentially, Southwest flights have three boarding groups that get on the plane one after the other, and individual flyers get to board by group then pick whatever seat they want.
Each boarding group has positions from 1 to 60 that show where you fall in the boarding group, from the front to the end of the line. The lower the number, the sooner you board the plane.
The three boarding groups Southwest offers include:
- A boarding group: This is where you want to be if you want the chance to be near the front of the plane or a guaranteed aisle or window seat. If you get the chance to be in A 1 - 30, you’ll get your pick of the best seats on the plane.
- B boarding group: This is the next best boarding group to be in if you want the chance to select a seat you can live with. However, being near the beginning of the B group is a lot better than the end.
- C boarding group: Almost everyone who ends up in the C boarding group doesn’t know how they got there and winds up boarding the plane with a bewildered look on their face. These people end up in whatever seats are left, which typically consist of middle seats throughout the plane.
When you get your boarding pass for a Southwest flight, you’ll be assigned a boarding group and a boarding position based on when you checked in for your flight and other factors. For example, your boarding group and position could be A35, B59 or C15.
From there, Southwest has signs that show where you line up to board the plane based on your boarding group and position. When they call your group (A, B or C), you’ll get in line based on your boarding position and get the chance to board the aircraft and select from the seats that are left.
6 ways to get the best seat on Southwest flights
Now that you have a better handle on how Southwest boards its planes, you can see why getting a good (or at least decent) boarding group and position is essential.
If you don’t take steps to control this aspect of your flying experience, you may wind up boarding the plane when nothing is left but middle seats. This means there’s a higher chance of being uncomfortable for most of the trip, but it also means you will almost certainly be separated from your traveling party.
To ensure you have a better shot at a seat you can live with, here are our best tips to get a better seat with Southwest.
Check in 24-hours before departure
First off, know that you’ll get a better boarding position on the plane if you check in as early as possible, starting at 24 hours out from departure.
This can mean having to set an alarm to get up early to check in for the next day’s flight or checking in for a flight during work hours or evenings when you’re running errands.
Regardless, checking in early (up to 24 hours before your flight’s planned departure time) can help you score the best boarding group and position after people who paid for early boarding or get it as an elite status perk.
Checking in exactly 24 hours before departure will often get you in either the tail end of the A boarding group or the first half of the B boarding group, although this isn’t guaranteed.
Pay for Early Bird check-in
If you don’t like the idea of having to check in exactly 24 hours before your flight — or if you won’t be available to do so because of work or other responsibilities — you can pay for something called “Early Bird check-in.”
This perk gives you the benefit of automatic check-in for the purpose of a better seating group and position, and you can pay for it up to 36 hours before departure for Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus fares.
The cost of Early Bird check-in varies, but it starts at $15 per person for each leg of the flight. This could be worth purchasing if you want to ensure a specific seat on the plane or want to guarantee you sit with a travel companion.
Earn elite status with Southwest
While Southwest planes don’t have a premium cabin to get upgraded to, the airline still offers two tiers of elite status: A-List and A-List Preferred. Both include priority boarding on all flights as a benefit. Plus, other perks include bonus points earning and free same-day flight changes.
According to Southwest, A-List and A-List Preferred members have their boarding position on the plane automatically assigned 36 hours before departure. However, they still have to check in for the flight starting at 24 hours out.
The chart below shows the main perks of both elite status tiers and how you can earn them.
|
|
A-List
|
|---|---|
| How to earn it | 25 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points. |
| Points bonus on flights | 25% earning bonus. |
| Priority boarding | Yes. |
| Same-day changes and standby | Yes. |
| Dedicated customer service line | Yes. |
| Free in-flight internet | No. |
|
|
A-List Preferred
|
|---|---|
| How to earn it | 50 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points. |
| Points bonus on flights | 100% earning bonus. |
| Priority boarding | Yes. |
| Same-day changes and standby | Yes. |
| Dedicated customer service line | Yes. |
| Free in-flight internet | Yes. |
Pay for a Business Select fare
Southwest has four fare types with various benefits and cost.
Wanna Get Away fares and Wanna Get Away Plus fares are the lowest cost options available, whereas Anytime fares and Business Select fares offer more perks for a higher price point.
Buying a Business Select fare includes automatically includes zone A1 to A15 boarding, essentially giving you priority over all other flyers. However, Business Select fares also cost more than lower fare types.
For example, this one-way flight from New York-LaGuardia (LGA) to Chicago-Midway (MDW) costs $149 in Wanna Get Away or $279 in Business Select.
This means you would pay an extra $130 for the extra benefits that come with Business Select for a single leg of your trip. This includes a boarding position between A1 and A15, a complimentary premium drink, free in-flight internet and earning 12 Southwest points per dollar spent (compared to 6 points per dollar with Wanna Get Away fares)
In some cases, you may be better off booking a cheaper fare and paying for Early Bird check-in instead. You wouldn’t get boarding group A1-A15, but you would still get on the plane earlier than most other flyers.
Do the math and see if it’s worth paying up for a Business Select fare. If you plan to pay for a better boarding group and Wi-Fi already, it might be worth upgrading if the cost is low enough.
Have the right Southwest credit card
Southwest Airlines has several credit cards, and they all have a limited benefit when it comes to early boarding. However, having one of these cards is a great way to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points for each dollar spent and enjoy other perks like anniversary points and discounts on in-flight purchases.
Some of these cards offer four upgraded boardings per year, which will let you board in groups A1-A15, depending on availability. Meanwhile, cards that include Early-Bird check in will automatically check a traveler in before the standard 24-hour check-in window, but does not include zone A1-A15 in most cases.
The chart below provides an overview of the current Southwest credit card offers, plus their early boarding benefits and other perks.
| Welcome offer | Earn 40,000 points plus a $400 statement credit after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. |
|---|---|
| Benefits | - 2 Early Bird check-ins per year. - 3,000 anniversary points per year. - 25% back on in-flight purchases. - 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year. |
| Annual fee | $69. |
| Welcome offer | Earn 40,000 points plus a $400 statement credit after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. |
|---|---|
| Benefits | - 2 Early Bird check-ins per year. - 6,000 anniversary points per year. - 25% back on in-flight purchases. - 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year. |
| Annual fee | $99. |
| Welcome offer | Earn 40,000 points plus a $400 statement credit after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. |
|---|---|
| Benefits | - 4 upgraded boardings per year. - 7,500 anniversary points per year. - $75 annual Southwest travel credit. - 25% back on in-flight purchases. - 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year. |
| Annual fee | $149. |
| Welcome offer | Earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. |
|---|---|
| Benefits | - 4 upgraded boardings per year. - 9,000 anniversary points per year. - Up to 365 in-flight wifi credits per year. - Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $100 every four years. |
| Annual fee | $199. |
| Welcome offer | Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. |
|---|---|
| Benefits | - 2 Early Bird check-ins per year. - 6,000 anniversary points per year. - 25% back on in-flight purchases. - Unlimited tier qualifying points. - $500 fee credit for point transfers. |
| Annual fee | $99. |
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bring your kids with you or say you need extra time
Finally, keep in mind that you may not have to do anything special to get a better boarding position on the plane if you’re traveling with your children. This is because Southwest offers a family boarding time in between the A boarding group and the B Boarding group, and because your entire family might qualify to board the plane at the same time.
According to Southwest, family boarding is for up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger. However, you may see families with older children boarding the plane during this time since Southwest agents don’t usually check the ages of kids boarding during this time.
Also, Southwest offers pre-boarding for people who need extra time getting on the plane just like other airlines do. The airline says this benefit is available to passengers with disabilities who need a specific seat, but older people frequently take advantage and pre-board the plane as well.
Bottom line
The Southwest boarding process can be stressful if you don’t plan ahead and you wind up boarding the plane toward the end. For example, you never want to see a boarding position in the C group, and even being in the latter half of the B boarding group can mean slim pickens when it’s time to get on the aircraft.
That’s why you should plan ahead and make sure you board the plane in the first half of the process. By picking up a Southwest credit card, earning elite status or paying for Early Bird check-in, you can avoid being stuck in a middle seat.
Looking for a new travel credit card? Check out CNN Underscored’s list of the best credit cards currently available.