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What happens if you board before your group Southwest?

Preboarding If you do, you'll receive a boarding pass with a specific preboarding designation, and you'll be allowed to preboard with one companion. If you're traveling with more than one other person, they'll typically have to board with their original group.



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Sometimes you may slil through and be allowed to board while on other occasions the gate agent may ask you to wait until your boarding group is called. In my experience, it usually never mattered. They are so busy trying to get passengers to quickly go through the boarding process, they just let you go through.

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Re: Preboarding with Family It's technically limited to one adult traveling with a child six years old or younger, but some agents allow multiple family members to board together at that time.

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For one thing, most airlines determine boarding groups based on ticketing class (first, business, economy or basic economy).

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A parent who purchases airline tickets for a family should receive a guarantee from the airline that it will seat the parent and child together without fees or a last-minute scramble at the gate or having to ask other passengers to give up their seat to allow the parent and child to sit together.

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You won't know for sure when your group will be called until it is, but once it's your turn you'll have an hour to get to the ride entrance and sign in.

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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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On Southwest.com, navigate to the “Check-In” window and enter the confirmation number. The Upgraded Boarding option is displayed below the flight's itinerary. NOTE: Upgraded Boarding can only be purchased within 24 hours of the flight's departure time depending on availability.

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Typically, if you have a boarding position under B30 you should be able to find a window or aisle seat. The further back in the plane you decide to sit, the more likely you will find a window or aisle seat. When do standbys board? Standby passengers will be the last to board.

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That means you don't have to worry about checking in exactly 24 hours ahead of time — which is a luxury when flying on Southwest. Boarding right after the A group also guarantees you'll be able to find a group of seats together, which is essential when traveling with little ones.

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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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Boarding Groups: Zones 1 to 4. Zone 1 passengers have purchased carry-on bags; Zone 3 fliers are toward the back of the plane; Zone 4 fliers are toward the front of the plane. What's new: n/a. Preboarding: Passengers with disabilities and those traveling with children under the age of 2. Advertisement.

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Preboarding is reserved mainly for travelers needing special assistance and passengers with a child under age 2.

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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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Southwest assigns boarding positions rather than seats
  • You'll either be in group A, B, or C, with A being allowed to board first, B being allowed to board second, and C being allowed to board last.
  • You'll be given a specific number within that range, which determines the order in which you can board within each group.


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