30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time: We may begin boarding as early as 30 minutes prior to your flight's scheduled departure time. We encourage all passengers to plan to arrive in the gate area no later than this time.

Southwest Airlines typically begins the boarding process exactly 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time for domestic flights. Unlike most other major carriers that use assigned seating, Southwest utilizes a unique open-seating policy combined with a numerical boarding group system. Because passengers are eager to secure their preferred seats—such as an exit row, a window, or a spot near the front—the gate area often becomes active well before the 30-minute mark. It is highly recommended that passengers arrive at the gate at least 45 minutes before departure to ensure they are in their correct positions within their assigned groups (A, B, or C). For international flights departing from the U.S., the process may start slightly earlier, around 35 to 40 minutes prior, to account for additional document verification. If a flight is running behind schedule, the ground crew usually attempts a "quick turn," meaning boarding might start almost immediately after the previous passengers have deplaned to minimize the delay.