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. UponArriving has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products.
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Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving. Find his full bio here. Hey Daniel, do you have any insight on this phenomenon? I was standing in line at A54 and noticed that there were a LOT of empty spots in front of me AA53 in a random array. There were even quite a few sporadic spots in the AA30 line next to me. After those AA30 people boarded the B1-B30 lined up and there were about 10 people with huge gaps between them.
The flight was obviously not full and only had about 75 people flying lucky me! It was also an early flight 5am. Before you board, ask if flight is oversold. Unfortunately, I have seen many instances where one passenger purchases early-bird boarding and saves a seat for a traveling companion who boards later.
The flight attendants do nothing. If that is the case, tell them you had that seat they are in already saved before you got on the plane. People are just too submissive.
Nice write up. If the flight is super light just wait until everyone has boarded and then go toward the back. Most people want to sit up front. People are funny like that. Who benefits from this idiotic seating policy?
Wish Southwest would change this system. I just wish southwest would make people with the those huge overstuffed over head bags sit in the back of the plane.
I missed a connecting flight because I was seated further back and had to wait almost 30 minutes for families and people trying to maneuver those big bags. I never take extra bags. I always just have one regulation size bag that goes in the overhead and is really easy to manage.
If it takes that long to maneuver a bag it probably should just be checked in- bummer missing a connection. I agree. Also one time I decided to put my computer bag up top and people kept trying to push their oversize baggage into it and when I got it out I found it was ripped from some idiot. I also note the number of wheelchairs all are pre-boarded along with family members traveling with the wheelchair passenger.
These passengers take front seats. What i dont like is that those seats are not kept open for handicapped people who board when that flight was a continuing flight and those passengers are allowed to move to different seats. I had this happen when my handicapped mom and i were on a continuing flight and 2 other bigger guys moved to the bulkhead seats. Then there were handicapped passengers boarding who had to take further seats back.
I think southwest needs to change that procedure. Another situation in which i voiced my opion mightily was when our flight was delayed and my mom, which they knew she was handicapped, didnt keep an open seat up front for her and i.
We ended up way in the back with her in a middle seat and me in a middle seat further back. She is very hard of hearing so she kept looking at me everytime an announcement came over the pa. If the flight had had difficulty i would not b near her to help her. Its time southwest starts doing seat assignments. It takes just about the same amount of time or longer to board a southwest flight as other airlines. It would b so much easier particularly with all the stupid people who bring big duffles etc on board.
Southwest is Southwest. You really need to fly with someone else. Why would you want to change the only airline with unassigned seating?
So many of us love their procedures. I love Southwest. Southwest is southwest. Overall their my airline of choice domestically for short to mid-range flights. Each airline has different boarding procedures so it sounds like individuals that need customized travel options should go with another carrier. I sometimes do this when I travel. My son is handicapped and we usually take the first seats. Yes we stay on the plane and do not change but we also stay in the same seats I cannot move to another seat as he is unable to communicate People have difference reasons for staying with the person that is handicapped.
I am handicapped and endured the same situation where people were already seated in the first row. I was confused cause there was no handicap first row. I asked the flight attendant where the handicap seating was and she flippantly gestured to the entire plane. I had to tell her that according to the law you must provide accomodations to the handicapped. She immediately changed her tune and asked for volunteers to move. I felt so empowered after that.
Great tips. I have seen many with an imaginary friend, some with two. They simply put all of their things on every seat in a row. Once an FA told somebody like that that they know all the tricks and made her move her stuff.
Also encountered somebody with a high B ticket who said that she could stand at the very front of the B line. Even though several of us pointed out that she needs to find her number, she insisted on being in the front. I like Southwest because of their free luggage policy and the ability to bank money when changes are made.
The seating policy is the main reason I choose to not fly Southwest. Plus, I hate Midway. I am kinda neutral on the seating policy but it does seem like most people either love or hate it. I agree! Midway is a drag. Way cheaper and with my trip being in January I needed the flexibility to change if the weather was bad cruise and other airlines had little to no nonstop to Houston Hobby. Oh love the not nickel and dining you tho bags,seats etc that other airlines do.
Would love a 4 by 2 as well. Hate the seating policy, love to sit with my wife. I must have an isle sit; I am extreame Claus-tro-pho-bic. Most times the flight booking is done by someone else. When I am in control, I fly with other carriers. My friend checks in to the same flight hours later and gets A Nothing like getting stressed the first day of vacation! You should be able to sit together as long as you can board early in As or low Bs.
I recommend putting an alarm and checking in exactly 24 hours before the flight time OR purchasing EarlyBird check-in. If you want to save money, 3 of you can pay for EarlyBird check-in and save the middle seats.
I think seat saving is more an issue when 1 person is saving a lot of seats especially those in the aisle or window. On a positive note, I find that Southwest has more legroom than other airlines so you should have a more comfortable flight. A-list is for frequent flyers. You need to fly 25 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35, Tier Qualifying Points in a calendar year. In your opinion, how important is the TSA pre-check program for this type of flight?
Hi Freeman, Sorry for the delay in responding. While it is always nice to have TSA Precheck its value depends on how often you fly. I would not sign up for it only to use it on one trip. How often do you think you will be flying in the next 5 years?
Do you knave any children under 13? Thanks for your reply. We have no children under 13 nor any under Probably not worth it to pay for TSA Precheck if will only use it once or twice in 5 years.
It is hard to predict the future but I would suggest that each person should divide the cost of TSA by your estimate of how many flights you think you will take in the next 5 years to see how much you would pay for each use. You might also get TSA Precheck randomly on your boarding pass. In the past, seniors were likely to get TSA Precheck without even signing up. Even if you do not have TSA Precheck, the line might not necessarily be long-it depends on many factors including what time and day you are flying.
I would recommend going to the airport early to be on the safe side. You would have to take off shoes, jackets and belts which some people find annoying. Is it possible that she would get a boarding number not by mine???? Even if your boarding groups were not next to each other you can still board together — but you would have to board with the family member that had the last boarding position. For example, if two people were traveling together and one had A40 while the other had B12, they would both have to board at B12 to be able to walk on the plane together.
The key to all sit together is to board early A group or early B group. We just had this happen on a full flight to Florida. I explained that my 10 year old could not sit alone and the crew asked if anyone could make room. No one responded so crew upped their game and offered free movie or drinks if someone would move to allow 2 free seats. If this happens to anyone speak up. Crew will work with uou. That is great advice.
The crew does not want young children sitting alone and will usually help you sit together. This will also be first time for granddaughter to fly. I think you would be allowed to board during family boarding. Traveing southeest airline with a 88 year old individual, that uses a non electric wheel chair and has difficulty walking.
Thanks for your assistance. What I did noticed was: My first B position I paid 64 bucks for that flight.
Not how early you checked in. We have flown on many Southwest flights and do find that, in general, the earlier you check in the better boarding position you get. One factor that affects your position is how many other people are also checking in early for that flight. For example, I have noticed that on weekday flights, I have to check in right at 24 hours because most of the people on those flights are experienced business travelers that also check in at 24 hours.
On the other hand, I have checked in later for Sunday morning flights and still got a good boarding position. I have noticed that most people on Sunday flights are traveling for leisure for the weekend, are less experienced and too busy on Saturday to check in at the 24 hour mark. I wonder if that was a factor on your flights?
People may have bought early bird with a reservation. If you sign up for early bird check in, do you still need to check in as well to make sure you have a good boarding position?
Or will it automatically show you when you log in what your boarding position is? We signed up for the Early Bird check in. Does anybody know when I will be able to see what boarding position we received?
If I log in 24 hours before the flight to check, will it be there already? Thank you for all of the other great information in this post and in the comments! If you have a connecting flight, and have paid for early bird seating on the first flight, does it also apply to the second flight? We will have to change planes too! This is one of these rules that often can vary. This might already be mentioned by exit rows also have language, age and mobility requirements. Plus if your on a B series the window exit seat is removed on some of the aircraft.
When in doubt check seat guru! My husband and I are traveling with 5 children, the youngest being 5 years old. Does that mean that we can all board during family boarding? In my experience, you will probably be fine. Just check with the gate agent and be friendly. Are seniors 85 years old permitted to board a flight early, and if so, are there certain restrictions as to where they sit? Bottom line if you are an occasional SW flyer be prepared to be at the back of the bus.
There are no assigned seats. Yet it also means you get to pick your seat from whatever is available once on the plane. If the guy in row three has already whipped out his tuna sandwich, maybe you opt for a seat at least a few rows back. The Southwest boarding process is also theoretically more efficient or at least it is, according to MythBusters than most boarding systems with assigned seats. Rather than assigning seats to passengers, Southwest has an open seating style.
A Southwest boarding group either A, B, or C and position will be assigned to you at check-in and it'll be printed on your boarding pass. Stand between the corresponding posts based on your boarding position.
Once onboard, pick any open seat, stow your stuff in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, and get ready for takeoff. Southwest allows people who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability, who need boarding assistance, or who need help stowing an assistive device to board first. Expect to be asked what Southwest calls "fact-finding questions" to determine if you meet the qualifications for pre-boarding.
People who are preboarding are not allowed to occupy an exit row seat. The next set of people to board Southwest flights are people with seats in A1-A15, which is typically filled with Southwest elite flyers and those who paid extra for their tickets or boarding.
The rest of the A group follows with A This boarding group also includes active-duty military. Everyone else now gets to board, with the B group going next. Both groups board in numerical order starting with position 1 and moving to position There are a few ways to get an early Southwest boarding group position, but many of them come at an additional cost.
You can check in online at Southwest. Otherwise, you can check in at the airport or with an agent at the airport. Business Select fares come with many perks including Fly By priority lane access, a complimentary premium drink, and yes, guaranteed receipt of an A1-A15 boarding position. These positions are not assigned to regular ticket customers once the hour check-in window begins, so if the flight is low on elite flyers or Business Select passengers, there may be some available for purchase.
Those boardings can be purchased all at once, or for different flights, so you could opt to upgrade your posse once, or give yourself the VIP treatment a few times throughout the year. Customers with Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred or A-List Member status get their boarding position automatically reserved 36 hours before departure and before normal check-in begins, putting you ahead of everyone else who has to wait for that hour window.
While holding Southwest status is not a guarantee of an A position e. EarlyBird Check-In is an add-on option to your ticket that automatically checks you in 36 hours prior to the flight's scheduled departure time.
That puts you in the running for the best boarding position next to the folks with Southwest status or Business Select fares and ahead of everyone else who has to wait for the hour window.
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