What does southwest boarding position mean

If you get lucky enough to have a low number, you may be able to snag this seat on a Southwest plane. So while there are no assigned seats, Southwest has come up with several ways to sell preferred access to the lower boarding numbers. Boarding assignments are given in the order that you check-in for the flight. Since check-in begins at T Hours from the scheduled departure time, the quicker you are to check-in, the better position you have.

I can remember when people who had smartphones with internet were at a huge advantage over those who could only check-in using a desktop computer. With connectivity everywhere and checking in just a tap away on the Southwest app, everyone has a chance to check in immediately. EarlyBird assignments are determined by when you pay your fee so the earlier you book your ticket and pay for EarlyBird , the further up in queue you are for a boarding position.

This is how most passengers purchase a better boarding position, as the service is heavily promoted when booking your flight. Full disclosure: We typically purchase EarlyBird on our Southwest flights. Get it? A Group. A-List passengers get checked in at T, a full 12 hours before the rest of the flight, ensuring them the best boarding positions. Those crazy high Business Select fares you see when buying your ticket include preferred boarding positions.

Better than Early Bird and even better than A-List. Business Select passengers get boarding positions A1-A A less known option with Southwest is paying for Upgraded Boarding. But I wanted to try for better. When we got to the airport, we headed to the gate.

But it also means that when you go to deplane, you are one of the first to walk off the aircraft. The back of the plane, on the other hand, might have fewer passengers. On Southwest planes, people tend to pick the first open seat s they see, which usually means there are more passengers in the first half of the plane versus the second half.

There is also a better chance that the seat next to you will be left open — on a flight that is not full.

With that being said, on the Boeing aircraft, there are two bathrooms in the back of the plane and just one bathroom in the front. So there is a higher probability that more passengers will head to the back of the plane if they need to use the restroom. Related: How I plan to socially distance when flying. Choose Row 1. So if you want extra legroom as your reward for packing light, make a beeline to your left or your right as soon as you board. Choose Row 1, 9 or Southwest flight attendants split up cabin service into three sections, and these are the typically the rows where drink and snack service begins.

Aim for Row 11, Seats B and C. Choose the last row, as well as the row in front of the exit row. Here are some tactics:. The best way to get the seat you want is simply to board as early as possible. This is important: Set an alarm to go off one minute ahead of check-in time or ask your mom to call you at that time — whatever it takes. Even waiting a minute or two after that check-in period could put you significantly down on the boarding list.

This means you will generally get a better boarding position than if you checked yourself in 24 hours in advance. Here are thoughts on whether EarlyBird Check-In is worth the investment. Travelers who pay for pricier Business Select fares pay a premium to get priority boarding spots marked A1—A15, no matter what time they check in.

Getting the ideal seat this year might be more important than ever, so this is a huge benefit of the cards. And best of all, the current sign-up offer on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is up to , bonus points. Earn a Companion Pass with the new sign-up bonus on these Southwest cards. Travelers who are headed for the final destination stay on board while others deplane at the midway point.

This becomes more and more common later in the day, as delays and cancellations sometimes happen and travelers end up rerouted onto other flights, which means less available space for passengers boarding the flight later on. Related: This is the difference between a nonstop and a direct flight. But there are a couple of tricks you can employ if you really, really want to sit together with someone else. As a general rule, Southwest travelers have less carry-on luggage for the overhead bins because of its generous free checked bag policy, and open seating allows people to shuffle themselves into order as they board the plane.

So next time you fly Southwest, pull up this guide so you know what seats to target, and how to get there as efficiently as possible. Terms Apply. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser.

Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy. If you are traveling with a kid 6 or under, you should be able to board in between Group A and Group B this is the family boarding time. And finally, military members usually in uniform but not always can board between Group A and Group B. Head towards the back for your best odds. When you utilize the Companion Pass you and your partner will not necessarily get boarding passes right next to each other.

Southwest has a generous baggage policy where they allow you to check two bags for free. You can view the Southwest seating charts here. Business Select fares are usually just a little bit more expensive than Anytime fares but they allow you to earn more points and also offer the following benefits:. You can read more on whether or not Business Select fares are worth it here.

To upgrade, simply approach the ticket counter or desk at the departure gate and inquire about the upgrade. Sometimes they make you upgrade at the gate reserved for your flight but other times you can do it at check-in or at another Southwest gate. The new Southwest Priority Credit Card now offers up to four upgrades to priority boarding A1 to A15 based on availability per year.

This will automatically check you in 36 hours prior to departure. EarlyBird does not guarantee an A boarding pass but it will almost always get you a boarding pass that will allow you to get an aisle or window seat. For the most part, you should be able to get a window seat or aisle seat just by checking in yourself 24 hours before your flight. You can read more about whether or not Southwest EarlyBird is worth it here. With that said, if you have a very large group, you might be inviting some issues since saving multiple rows can get a little messy at times.

Southwest will allow you to board in groups even if your boarding passes are not directly before or after each other. Southwest will ask that A25 and A60 board with B You can print your boarding pass online at Southwest. Southwest also allows you to board with a electronic or mobile boarding passes. You can request a mobile boarding pass at the time of check-in on Southwest. But note that mobile boarding passes are not currently available to passengers traveling on international flights.

If you want to learn more tips about flying for Southwest click here. You can get the best boarding group on Southwest by purchasing or upgrading to Business Select.

You can also get a better boarding position by having A-List status. By purchasing EarlyBird, you can also increase your odds of getting in the first boarding group although it is not guaranteed. Opinions are mixed on saving seats with Southwest Airlines. The best advice is to save seats in the back of the plane if you must and try to avoid saving multiple rows at a time when flying with a large group. A-List will board directly after Business Select.

Family boarding which is offered to families traveling with a kid 6 or under , allows you to board between Group A and Group B. Typically, if you have a boarding position under B30 you should be able to find a window or aisle seat. The further back in the plane you decide to sit, the more likely you will find a window or aisle seat. No, Southwest stopped doing the special boarding process in March There are a few ways that you can get priority boarding though they all come with different degrees of assurance.