Does Southwest give free upgrades?

Southwest® Upgraded Boardings: Each anniversary year you will be reimbursed for the purchase of up to four Upgraded Boardings which are positions A1-A15.



Southwest Airlines does not offer "free upgrades" in the traditional sense because they do not have a First Class or Business Class cabin. Every seat on a Southwest plane is the same physical size. However, in 2026, they offer seating and boarding benefits that function as upgrades. For flights departing after January 27, 2026, A-List and A-List Preferred members gain the ability to select "Preferred" or "Standard" seats at the time of booking for free. Furthermore, A-List members can upgrade to Extra Legroom seats (located in the front of the plane and emergency exits) starting 48 hours before departure at no extra cost, if available. For the general public, the only way to get a "better" seat without paying is to check in exactly 24 hours early to secure a high boarding position (Group A). While Southwest occasionally surprises passengers with "Business Select" boarding (A1-A15) if the slots aren't sold, these are rare operational gestures rather than a standard policy. The airline remains committed to its "Open Seating" heritage while introducing more assigned seating options for its elite flyers.

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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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Southwest® Upgraded Boardings: Each anniversary year you will be reimbursed for the purchase of up to four Upgraded Boardings which are positions A1-A15.

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Although Southwest priority boarding isn't based on the cabin class you fly, you can get the perk by:
  1. Purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or Upgraded Boarding.
  2. Carrying a credit card that offers priority boarding benefits.
  3. Purchasing a higher fare ticket.
  4. Being an elite member.


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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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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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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.

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Generally speaking, it is usually cheaper to upgrade your flight in advance online or over the phone than at the airport before checking in. However, if you wait until you get to the airport, there may be last-minute deals available that could save you money.

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The closer to the flight departing, the less likely the airline is to sell a cash fare in the upgraded cabin. Thus, they may be open to the idea of offering it to an existing passenger for a discounted price. The prices vary depending on the airline and route.

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Realistically, it's a gamble and getting upgraded to business class at the airport is pretty rare. If luxury and extra legroom is really important to you, book it in advance. However, if you're perfectly willing to fly economy class, and willing to roll the dice, a last-minute upgrade can be the cheapest option.

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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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Check the airline's app Many airlines provide information such as seat maps that are accessible via their apps and websites before the day of travel. These maps will show you the layout of every seat on the plane and whether it's been booked or not.

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6 ways to get the best seat on Southwest flights
  1. Check in 24-hours before departure. ...
  2. Pay for Early Bird check-in. ...
  3. Earn elite status with Southwest. ...
  4. Pay for a Business Select fare. ...
  5. Have the right Southwest credit card. ...
  6. Bring your kids with you or say you need extra time.


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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.

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Southwest Is A Safe Airline
They are a favorite among travelers looking for cheap flights without having to compromise on comfort or security. According to the most recent list of the world's safest airlines, Southwest was ranked in the top 15 airlines in the world in 2021, even beating out Delta, American, and United.

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Preboarding is available for Customers with disabilities who need a specific seat to accommodate a disability, need assistance boarding the aircraft, or need to stow an assistive device.

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Purchase a Business Select fare or upgrade to Business Select: Customers who purchase a Business Select fare will get guaranteed A1-A15 boarding.

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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).

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Those assigned Zone A (listed on your boarding pass) are the first group of passengers to board the plane, but EarlyBird DOES NOT guarantee you Zone A boarding.

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Re: Assigned Seating and First Class Southwest has 52+ years experience that shows that open seating is far more operationally efficient than than assigned seating. Operational efficiency = more flights/day per plane which in turn allows SW to keep fares low.

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