Can you save a seat on Southwest?

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.



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In normal circumstances, while the flight attendants will not stop people from trying to save seats, they will also not make you move if you sit in a seat someone has saved.

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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.

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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.

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No matter which airline you're flying on, don't ever pay to select a seat. By the way, you shouldn't pay baggage fees either, you can read our article about that. I personally flew on well above 100 flights where I was offered the privilege of choosing a seat for a fee, and I've never paid a single dollar for that.

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How do you avoid a seat selection fee? If you're traveling with a group, the best way to avoid a seat selection fee is to book your seats at the same time. If the airline is assigning seats for you, it typically seats people under the same record locator number together.

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2. On Southwest it is an open seating policy meaning you can sit in any open seat. With B1 you should have no problem getting a window or aisle at mid cabin or towards the back of the plane. B1 is not bad as there would be pre boarders, family boarders and up to 60 people (from A group) in front of you.

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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. Hot Tip: If you are in the B group (or even one of the first numbers in the C group), head to the back of the plane.

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Some families like to sit near the back where they can be by the bathrooms and worry less about disturbing other travelers. If you need to make a connecting flight, you may want to sit closer to the front of the plane if you can. Or split the difference and sit in the middle of the plane.

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Opt for Off-Peak Travel During peak travel seasons, airlines tend to charge more for seat selection due to increased demand. To avoid these extra costs, consider traveling during off-peak periods. Not only will you potentially save money on seat selection, but you might also find cheaper overall fares.

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If you were not able to make an advance seat assignment, keep an eye on the seat map as these seats will begin to open up once check-in begins and then once the gate opens for the flight.

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Here are some guidelines:
  1. Avoid the middle seat. The best seats are the window or aisle seats toward the front of the plane. ...
  2. Sit over the wing. Sitting over the wing may help you feel less turbulence.
  3. Choose emergency exit rows. ...
  4. Take a seat in the first row.


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If you want to experience as little turbulence as possible, it is best to book a seat above the wings. It has been proven that turbulence is least noticeable there. Another good choice is a seat in the front of the plane, as vibrations are also less noticeable there than in the back.

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Specifically, pick a window seat on the left side of the aircraft. These seats are usually off-center, making leaning up against the side of the plane more comfortable. A bulkhead seat is also a great option because you don't have to worry about anyone reclining into your space.

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The best seats on a plane
  1. Best seat for minimizing the effects of turbulence: A seat over the wing.
  2. Best seat for peace and quiet: A seat near the front.
  3. Best seat for legroom: A bulkhead or exit-row seat.
  4. Best seat for sleeping: A window seat in a bulkhead row.


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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.

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