Why is Southwest boarding different?

Why is Southwest boarding different? 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.

What is Southwest priority lane?

Priority Lane and Express Lane are dedicated lanes meant to speed our Business Select?, Anytime, A-List, and A-List Preferred Members through check-in and security lines.

Does early bird guarantee a group?

Buying early bird does not automatically put you in A boarding group. Often times you will be assigned B boarding group. There are a lot of factors that go into this boarding assignment.

Can you see how full a Southwest flight is?

As such, we do not publish flight loads. If for any reason you're uncomfortable traveling in the current environment and would like to discuss the flight load of your upcoming flight, we strongly encourage you to reach out to our Customer Service Department via any of the options below. Email here.

What is Group A on Southwest?

A Southwest boarding group (either A, B, or C) and position (1-60) will be assigned to you at check-in and it'll be printed on your boarding pass. Group A boards first, then group B, and afterwards group C. If you end up with A1, then it's your lucky day — you'll likely get to be the first passenger on the plane.

How does Southwest assign seats?

At Southwest, we let you sit where you like. We don't assign seats on our flights, so feel free to sit in any available seat once you board the plane. We have a quick, easy, and efficient boarding process. Look at your boarding pass to find your assigned boarding group (A, B, or C) and boarding position (1 - 60).

Is a45 a good boarding position on Southwest?

Yes, A45 is a very good number. No worries. There may be 44 people ahead of you but probably less.

How many people board in Group A on Southwest?

Southwest has three boarding groups, A, B, and C, and each group has 60 'positions. ' Upon checking in, you'll be assigned one of these 180 positions, determining when you can board and choose your seat. In addition to these three, the carrier also offers preboarding and family/military/extra boarding groups.

Can you sit in first class on Southwest Airlines?

Southwest Airlines doesn't actually have a dedicated first-class fare, instead, it's known as Business Select. Generally, first-class tickets are the most expensive fare that you can purchase.

How early does Southwest start boarding?

30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time: We may begin boarding as early as 30 minutes prior to your flight's scheduled departure time. We encourage all passengers to plan to arrive in the gate area no later than this time.

Is boarding Group B good on Southwest?

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.

Who gets to board first on Southwest?

How strict is Southwest with family boarding?

Up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. There should be enough open seats to enable the child to sit next to at least one accompanying adult.

Why does Southwest do open seating?

Southwest Airlines has long argued that its unassigned seating policy is popular with passengers and facilitates speedier boarding. That means planes spend less time at the gate and more time in the air generating Southwest money. Over the years, the airline has tinkered with the no-system boarding system.

How is Southwest boarding position determined?

Your Southwest boarding group is determined upon check-in. The earlier you check in, the earlier your boarding group. Typically, you'll check in for your flight online beginning 24 hours before the scheduled departure time or anytime thereafter.

Does Southwest ever overbook?

Overselling a flight can occur because of weight restrictions and aircraft type changes. We don't overbook as part of our philosophy of Customer-friendly policies. Will I be compensated for an oversold flight? When appropriate, we'll offer compensation when a flight is in an oversale situation.

How do I get Group A on Southwest?

Purchase a Business Select fare or upgrade to Business Select: Customers who purchase a Business Select fare will get guaranteed A1-A15 boarding. If a Customer did not originally purchase a Business Select fare but wants guaranteed A1-A15 boarding, they can upgrade their flight to Business Select.

Can you save seats on Southwest?

Re: Saving Seats Unfortunately, there's no policy to enforce. Officially, Southwest has no policy for or against seat saving, and in practice actively allows it. Reps will even suggest that passengers save seats for later boarding companions.

Are all Southwest seats the same?

Southwest's planes feature a few different types of interiors, but unfortunately there's no way of really knowing which type you'll have until you board. Within each, almost all seats on the plane are pretty much the same, with the exception of the bulkhead and exit row(s).

Is Southwest boarding position random?

Southwest follows an open seating style, meaning there are no assigned seats. You'll be assigned a boarding group (either A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check-in, which determines your boarding order. Once on board, you choose your seat. If you're last to board, you likely won't get to sit with your family.

Is boarding Group 5 good?

However, even in general boarding, there are clear queues: Group 5 (Preferred Boarding): Passengers in Main Cabin Extra seats (not on Basic Economy tickets), AAdvantage members who accrue 15,000 Loyalty Points (milestone benefit), and select AAdvantage co-brand card holders.

Is Southwest upgraded boarding worth it?

Who should do it? A ticket upgrade may make sense if any of the following are true: You like the idea of boarding the plane quickly so you can choose your preferred seat and are guaranteed an A1 through A15 boarding position. You want to maximize the Rapid Rewards points that you earn.

Does checking in early get you a better seat on Southwest?

Customers who purchase an Anytime fare will automatically be checked in to their flight 36 hours prior to scheduled departure—that's 12 hours before our traditional 24-hour check-in. You will receive an earlier boarding position, improved seat selection, and earlier access to overhead bins.