With the different variables involved in Southwest boarding positions, it’s not unexpected to be put into groups B or C when checking into your flight. Technically, only two adults are allowed in this option, but the policy isn’t always strictly enforced. If you find yourself in this situation, you’re what’s called a “through passenger.”įamily boarding: Families with at least one child age 6 or younger get to board between A and B groups. Through passengers: Southwest frequently books tickets where you might have a stop on the way to your final destination, but you don’t disembark to change planes on the layover. This guarantees an A1 to A15 boarding position.Ĭredit cards: Select Southwest credit cards offer a certain number of complimentary EarlyBird Check-Ins or Upgraded Boardings each year. Upgraded Boardings: If available, you could have an option to purchase Upgraded Boarding for $30 to $50 on the day of travel.
EarlyBird Check-In is automatically included with the purchase of an Anytime fare. Rapid Rewards elite status: Passengers with Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List status receive automatic check-in 36 hours before flight departure.ĮarlyBird Check-In: Purchasing EarlyBird Check-In provides automatic check-in 36 hours before flight departure. However, here are a few variables to keep in mind that could affect boarding positions or seat selection:īusiness Select fare: Purchasing a Business Select fare guarantees an A1 to A15 boarding position.
The quicker you check in, the higher your chances of getting an earlier boarding position. Standard check-in starts 24 hours before flight departure. Your position shows up on your boarding pass. You typically receive a boarding assignment, including a group and boarding number, when you complete Southwest check-in for your flight. Each group, starting with A, assembles in a specified boarding area according to numerical order. Gate agents announce when it’s time to board and who will board next. So A1 would board before A30, B1 before B30, and C1 before C30. And within each group, the lower numbers board first. The general rule is that the A boarding position group boards first, then B, then C. Southwest has three boarding groups (A, B, and C) and numbers (1 to 60) within each group.
Where the complication occurs is knowing who gets to board first. This can be slightly different and confusing if you’ve never flown Southwest before, but the process isn’t complicated once you get the hang of it. All Southwest flights work according to an open seating plan, which means you get to choose between any open seat once you get onto the plane. With Southwest, there are no seat assignments. The Southwest check-in and boarding process is different. You should also have EarlyBird Check-In transferred to a changed flight if the new flight departs more than 25 hours from the time of the change. If Southwest cancels your flight, it will typically refund the cost. If you change your flight and the new flight departs in less than 25 hours, you’ll lose EarlyBird Check-In and it won’t be refunded. This means if you choose to cancel your flight, don’t expect to be refunded the EarlyBird Check-In cost. Keep in mind that EarlyBird Check-In is nonrefundable in certain circumstances. Paying $15 for some peace of mind doesn’t sound too bad, but what if the price jumps to $25 and you want it for your entire group for a round-trip flight? A relatively small fee may become $200 for a group of four. The cost itself could also be off-putting. They already know they’ll be boarding earlier than some of the other passengers, so there’s likely not a huge reason to get EarlyBird Check-In. Passengers who already have access to some sort of priority boarding, including family boarding, might not find EarlyBird Check-In to be worth the additional $15 to $25 expense. In general, it depends on your travel preferences and whether you think this optional cost is worth paying. Southwest EarlyBird Check-In could be worth it in certain situations, but it might not always make sense. See how Southwest boarding works and in what situations Southwest EarlyBird Check-In might be worth it.ħ Nearly Secret Things to Do If You Fly Southwest Is Southwest EarlyBird Check-In worth it? Especially because you’re not guaranteed to board first.
Because Southwest seating works on a first-come, first-served basis, getting early boarding could help you get a better seat and access overhead bins quicker.īut at $15 to $25 per one-way flight, the cost might not always make sense. EarlyBird Check-In is an optional paid service from Southwest Airlines that offers the opportunity to receive an earlier boarding position than general boarding.
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