How do I get my boarding pass with Southwest Early Bird check-in?

Customers with eligible reservations may check in online at www.southwest.com or using the Southwest® app available here. Once you have checked in for your flight, you can print your boarding pass online, download via the Southwest app, or choose to receive a text.



Excellent question! This is a common point of confusion with Southwest’s unique system. Here’s the clear breakdown:

The Short Answer: Southwest Early Bird Check-In does not automatically give you a boarding pass. It automatically checks you in 36 hours before your flight. You must then retrieve your boarding pass yourself.

Step-by-Step Process:

  1. Purchase Early Bird Check-In: You can add it when booking your flight or later through your trip confirmation.
  2. Wait for Automatic Check-In: Southwest’s system will automatically check you in exactly 36 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled departure (this is 12 hours earlier than standard check-in).
  3. Get Your Boarding Position: At the moment of automatic check-in, you are assigned a boarding position (like A35, B22, C10). This is the key benefit—you get a better spot in line without being online at the 24-hour mark.
  4. Retrieve Your Boarding Pass: After the automatic check-in happens (i.e., after that 36-hour mark), you must actively get your boarding pass. Your boarding position is not held until you do this.

How to Retrieve Your Boarding Pass (3 Easy Ways):

  • Mobile App (Recommended & Easiest):
    • Download the Southwest app and log in.
    • Your upcoming trip with the boarding position will be visible.
    • Tap “Check In” or view your trip details. You’ll see an option to “Save Boarding Pass” or “Get Boarding Pass.”
    • This

People Also Ask

EarlyBird Check-In Customers will have their boarding positions reserved beginning 36 hours prior to their flight's scheduled local departure time. Boarding passes can be accessed beginning 24 hours prior to the flight's scheduled local departure time.

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There are several ways to get a boarding pass. You can get it on the airline's website and print it on paper. Or pull it up on your phone in the airline's app. You can also print it at the airport.

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It depends on the airline. Most domestic flights ask you to arrive with your printed boarding pass. Some airlines have been known to charge a fee ,if they print a boarding pass. As for international flights ,many airlines use Eric lets.

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How to get your mobile boarding pass:
  1. Check in on aa.com and choose 'Email with Mobile Option.' ...
  2. Check your email from your mobile device and follow the link to get your mobile boarding pass.
  3. Save the boarding pass to your device for easy access at security and when you board.


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Customers can add EarlyBird Check-In to their reservation up to 36 hours prior to a flight's scheduled departure, when it is available. Upgraded Boarding guarantees an A1-A15 boarding position and, when available, can be added to a reservation up to 30 minutes before a flight's scheduled departure.

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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. 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.

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Meanwhile, a paper ticket won't tell you when your flight is canceled. Plus, a poorly printed boarding pass can render your ticket useless at the gate. Hoeller points out that printing a paper ticket and neatly folding it into your passport is much easier than juggling between your personal items and phone.

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Can I use my mobile boarding pass to go through the security checkpoint and board my flight? Yes, simply show your mobile boarding pass on a mobile phone, iPad, or Apple Watch and a valid form of identification to the TSA Agent at security to proceed.

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What are the Rapid Rewards Rules and Regulations? Rapid Rewards is a rewards program offered by Southwest Airlines® Co. for Southwest Airlines Customers.

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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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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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C 1-60: This is the group you will most likely get if you don't check in right on time. While the C group isn't a guaranteed middle seat, the chances are pretty high that you won't be sitting in the ideal spot.

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There are two Southwest credit cards that give Upgraded Boarding — a personal and business version. Both provide 4 Southwest upgraded boardings per cardmember year. This means that if you open a card in October 2022, you will get 4 upgraded boarding credits to use over the next 12 months.

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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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