All Insights About Southwest Airlines Boarding Process

Southwest Airlines Boarding Process 

Before your upcoming Southwest Airlines flight, make sure to keep yourself informed about the Southwest Airlines Boarding Process to avoid any confusion or frustration at the gate. This airline uses a unique boarding system that differs greatly from standard airline boarding. Unlike assigned seats, it operates on a random boarding order, where passengers get allocated to boarding groups based on a combination of factors. This system can feel chaotic at first, but with some knowledge, you can go through it easily. 

This article will make it easy for you to understand their boarding process, explaining how it works, highlighting the different boarding groups, and providing helpful tips to increase your chances of securing the best seats. If you fly often with Southwest or are a first-time traveler, this information will make it easy for you to confidently live your next flight and enjoy a more relaxed trip.

How Does Southwest Boarding Differs?

The Southwest Airline boarding process stands out greatly from the usual seating model used by most airlines. The differences are outlined below:   

No Assigned Seats

Unlike traditional airlines, where you choose your seat when you book or check-in, this one does not assign specific seats in advance. Instead of picking a seat, it places passengers into groups. These groups then board the plane in order, and passengers can choose any available seat once they are on board.

Boarding Groups

Southwest Airlines divides passengers into boarding groups labeled A, B, and C. Within each group, passengers receive a specific position number. This varies from usual airlines where boarding usually happens in zones, with passengers in certain rows or sections boarding together.

Open Seating

Southwest uses an open-seating system, meaning passengers can choose any available seat once they board the plane. It differs from other airlines where passengers must sit in the specific seats they selected during booking.

Focus on Early Boarding

With this airline, early boarding is important if you want to secure your preferred seat, such as a window, aisle, or exit row. This is very different from usual airlines, where your seat gets defined by the seat you initially chose.

Boarding Order

It determines boarding order based on several factors, including how early you check in, your Southwest status like A-List or A-List Preferred, and if you purchased EarlyBird Check-In. On the other hand, standard airlines usually board passengers based on the zones assigned to their seats.

Flying with Kids on Southwest

If you have a flight with your kids soon, you might wonder how the boarding process works at Southwest Airlines. This section helps families understand how to board and find seats together.

Families with Young Children 

If you’re traveling with a child six years old or younger, you and up to one other adult can board before the “B” group. This airline tries to seat your child with at least one of you. If you both have “A” boarding passes, board with your appointed group. If you need help seating your child with an adult 14 or older, Southwest will assist you. Ask the Gate Agents or Flight Attendants for help.

Families with Older Children 

If you’re traveling with children aged 7 to 13, they can help you seat your child next to an adult who is 14 years old or older. You just have to communicate with any agent present nearby to get assistance, and they will do their best to adjust your request.

Boarding First: Preboarding Information

If you have a disability, you may board the plane before most other passengers. You can preboard if you need an exact seat to help with your disability, need help boarding the plane, or need to keep a special device. You will receive a “PRBD” pass if you qualify for preboarding. Keep in mind that you cannot sit in an exit row if you preboard. If you have a disability but don’t need to preboard, you can board between the “A” and “B” boarding groups. You will receive an “XT” pass to board before families with young children.

Improving Your Boarding Position

To make your boarding position better, you can upgrade to “Upgraded Boarding”. This will let you go for early paid boarding from positions A1 to A15. You can then choose your preferred seat and have more space in the overhead bins. Another option is EarlyBird Check-In. This automatically checks you in early, giving you a better boarding position, more seat choices, and easier access to overhead bin space.

Southwest’s New Assigned Seating System

Southwest Airlines is changing its boarding system. For many years, passengers could choose any open seat after boarding. Now, the airline is moving to a system where passengers will have assigned seats. This big change will happen by 2026.

Major Changes

The airline will make a major change. 

  • Soon, passengers will receive assigned seats instead of choosing any open seats.
  • This change will happen gradually. Starting late this year, Southwest will offer the option to buy assigned seats. 
  • By early next year, assigned seats will become the standard on all flights.

How Travelers Will Benefit?

Travelers will benefit from the ability to choose their preferred seats in advance. This allows them to select aisle or window seats or even seats with extra legroom. 

  • The stress of rushing to board early and finding a good seat will also decrease, creating a more relaxed boarding experience. 
  • Also, assigned seating could rush the boarding process and get everyone on the plane faster.

Factors To Consider in Southwest Boarding Order

Many factors influence your boarding process in Southwest Airlines system:   

A-List Priority

A-list status gives you a big advantage when boarding. You’ll commonly board near the front of group A. If you have A-List Preferred, the highest level, you’ll board even earlier, among the very first passengers.

EarlyBird Check-In

EarlyBird Check-In is a paid service that automatically checks you in for your Southwest flight 24 hours before your planned departure. This automatic check-in improves your chances of getting a better boarding position within your assigned group (A, B, or C).

Business Select

Buying a Business Select fare usually lets you board the plane very early. You’ll be among the first 15 people in boarding group A, giving you a big advantage when choosing your seat.

Check-in Time

To get a better boarding position, check-in for your Southwest flight as early as possible within the 24-hour window before departure. The earlier you check-in, the lower your boarding position number will get. But remember that many passengers will also try to check in at the exact 24-hour mark. This can create a lot of competition, so get ready to check in quickly to grab a good spot.

Other Factors

Southwest employees and their families may board the plane first. Passengers needing extra help or traveling with young children also board before the main groups.

Southwest Boarding Hacks

Now that you understand the basics of the Southwest boarding process, you need to know about some practical tips to help you get the best possible boarding position and make your travel even better.

Arrive Early

Arrive at the gate early to avoid stress and confirm that you don’t miss your boarding group. Give yourself plenty of time to find your group and get ready to board the plane.

Use EarlyBird Check-In

Use EarlyBird Check-In to improve your boarding position greatly. This service automatically checks you in 24 hours before your flight, giving you a head start. View the cost of EarlyBird Check-In as an investment in a better boarding experience, especially if securing preferred seating is crucial to you.

Increase A-List Benefits

To increase your A-List benefits, arrive at the gate early to take full advantage of your priority boarding. If you have A-List Preferred, remember that you have even higher boarding priority, so make the most of this valuable perk.

Get Prepared

Get prepared for your Southwest flight by gathering all your necessary travel documents, including your boarding pass and identification. Make sure you have everything easily available. Packing light will make it much easier to go through the boarding process and find space for your luggage in the overhead bins.

Boarding Etiquette

Their boarding process can sometimes feel very fast. You need to stay patient and kind to everyone around you, including other passengers and the airline staff. As you move through the boarding area and onto the plane, be careful not to bump into others. Remember that everyone is trying to get on the plane and reach their location.

Seat Selection Strategy

To increase your chances of getting the seat you want, first, think about where you’d like to sit – by the window, aisle, or in an exit row. Once you’re on the plane, move quickly and confidently toward the area where you’d like to sit.

Adapt With the Flexibility

This airline uses an open-seating system, meaning you can’t choose your seat in advance. It can feel different at first, but it’s important to remember that your seat isn’t guaranteed. You must get ready to stay flexible and choose from the available seats when you board. 

Common Concerns about Southwest Boarding

Unfortunately, Southwest Airlines’s new boarding process has become a source of frustration for those who fly often. This system, where passengers are assigned to boarding groups (A, B, and C) and board the plane in that order, can lead to several concerns listed below:

Preboarding Abuse

The preboarding policy, created to help people with disabilities, is sometimes misused. Many travelers think that some people without disabilities pretend to have them board the plane early. This causes delays for people who genuinely need preboarding, creates more crowding at the gate, and makes other passengers feel the system is unfair.

Seat Saving

Passengers who board early often save seats for their friends and family, even if those people don’t need to board early. This makes fewer seats available for people who board later. This can force passengers to sit in less comfortable seats or even make them check their bags at the gate.

Lack of Transparency

Flight attendants may not always have clear rules or ways to make sure people follow the preboarding rules. This can cause problems because some people may preboard when they shouldn’t, and it can confuse other passengers.

Disorganized Boarding Experience

When too many people try to board at once, and some passengers take advantage of preboarding or save seats, it can create a chaotic and stressful situation at the gate. This can lead to delays, missed connections, and an overall unpleasant travel experience.

Reduced Benefits for Loyal Customers

Regular travelers with high status usually feel their benefits are less useful because many people pre-board. This can make them less loyal to Southwest and encourage them to fly with other airlines that have a better boarding system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Southwest Airlines Boarding Process may seem different at first, but it’s easy to understand with a little knowledge. By arriving early, using EarlyBird Check-In, and taking advantage of A-List benefits, you can improve your boarding position. Keep in mind to stay patient and polite to other passengers. Most importantly, adapt the flexibility of open seating and focus on enjoying the trip. With some preparation and the right mindset, you can confidently go through the boarding process and have an enjoyable travel.   

FAQs

How does Southwest Airlines boarding process work?

The airline uses an open-seating system in which you get assigned to boarding groups and board in order.

Is Southwest Airlines changing their boarding process?

Yes, the airline is changing its boarding process. They will implement it by early 2026

Has Southwest changed its boarding process?

Yes, the airline now has a Southwest Airlines changing boarding process.

Can I choose my seat in advance?

No, they don’t offer seat selection in advance.

Who boards first on Southwest?

They board passengers in groups based on their boarding pass numbers.

How does seating work on Southwest?

It uses open seating, in which passengers board in boarding groups and choose their own seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

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