How does boarding work on Southwest when you change planes?

No assigned seats. Boarding positions can be obtained 24 hours prior to departure of the first flight so check in either on a computer or phone as close to 24 hours before your first flight as possible. You will also get boarding positions for the 2nd leg of the trip when you check-in.



People Also Ask

Yes. You'll probably get all boarding passes at once when you check in for your first flight, whether you check in online, on your smartphone, or at the airport. For some international itineraries though, the airline will direct you to get your second boarding pass on your layover.

MORE DETAILS

Southwest® Boarding Process. How does the boarding process work? You will be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check in. Your unique group and position combination (for example: A35) will be displayed on your boarding pass and represents a reserved spot in the boarding group at the gate.

MORE DETAILS

B boarding group: This is the next best boarding group to be in if you want the chance to select a seat you can live with. However, being near the beginning of the B group is a lot better than the end.

MORE DETAILS

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

MORE DETAILS

When arriving at the connecting airport all you have to do is to go to your next gate and wait for the next plane, your next flight. There might be a security check in the terminal at the connecting airport. But mostly you don't have to do anything about your luggage. It's being taken care of by the airport personnel.

MORE DETAILS

You also need to check-in for transit flights. This means after your first flight is complete, you can check-in online or use the counter check-in for your second flight. First of all, you should take the time zone of your destination country into consideration.

MORE DETAILS

The recommended layover time for domestic flights is normally one hour. However, as previously stated, you may require longer if your flights are booked with two different airlines, if you are traveling to a very busy airport or if you require special assistance.

MORE DETAILS

Just ask at the ticket counter when you check in if you will be getting both boarding passes or if you will need to get the second one at your layover airport. They'll tell you what to do.

MORE DETAILS

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

MORE DETAILS

If EarlyBird Check-In® is available, we'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure - that's 12 hours before general boarding positions become available.

MORE DETAILS

Boarding positions will be reserved for Customers with EarlyBird Check-In. That said, in order to pass through the security checkpoint, you will need to retrieve your boarding pass online or at the airport at your convenience as early as 24 hours prior to scheduled departure.

MORE DETAILS

If EarlyBird Check-In® is available, we'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure - that's 12 hours before general boarding positions become available.

MORE DETAILS

If you don't check in, you won't receive a boarding pass that allows you to board the plane, and your seat might be given up to a standby passenger. The check-in process also confirms your traveler details like your passport information and frequent flyer number.

MORE DETAILS

What to Do After Online Check-In. Once you receive your electronic boarding pass, you can head straight to security if you're traveling carry-on only. If you're checking a bag, you'll still need to stop by the ticketing area at the airport. Look for special “bag drop” lines that bypass longer check-in lines.

MORE DETAILS

One disadvantage is certainly that many people have poor time management and arrive too late at the airport if they check in online. For some, this can lead to unwanted time pressure. On the other hand, those who still have to check in at the airport itself usually arrive early enough and are therefore over-punctual.

MORE DETAILS

When arriving at the connecting airport all you have to do is to go to your next gate and wait for the next plane, your next flight. There might be a security check in the terminal at the connecting airport. But mostly you don't have to do anything about your luggage. It's being taken care of by the airport personnel.

MORE DETAILS

What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

How to get Southwest priority boarding
  1. Purchase EarlyBird Check-In.
  2. Purchase Upgraded Boarding.
  3. Book the right fare class.
  4. Carry select Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards.
  5. Reach elite status with Southwest.
  6. Travel as a family.
  7. Use your military benefits.


MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS