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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If you'd rather have money in your pocket than landing the seat of your choice, it's probably worth it to skip EarlyBird Check-In. Budget-minded group travelers. While $15 to $25 may not seem like much to pay for early boarding, it can quickly add up if you're traveling with a group.
A-List and A-List Preferred members receive priority boarding for everyone booked on the same reservation as boarding positions get assigned to elite Rapid Rewards members 36 hours before departure — so you don't have to purchase EarlyBird Check-In separately.
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.
Southwest allows preboarding only for customers who 1) need a specific seat on the plane, or 2) need assistance boarding the plane. If you find that having a specific seat helps with your anxiety, that would be a way for you to preboard.
When you scan it the computer the agent is monitoring shows your boarding position. Whether the agent chooses to act on it or not is up to them. Typically if you're really out of position (like a B while A's are boarding) they will ask you to step aside and board when called.
EarlyBird Check-In®If you purchase EarlyBird Check-In, we'll automatically check you in and reserve your boarding position 36 hours before you flight's departure.
If you need your carry-on bag during a long layover or prefer not to wait at a late-night baggage claim after a long day of flying, then purchasing a priority boarding upgrade may be well worth it. In essence, purchasing priority boarding is staking claim to readily accessible overhead bin space.
Upgraded Boarding gives Customers the ability to upgrade their boarding position to A1-A15 24 hours before the flight depending on availability. This allows our Customers the opportunity to be among the first to board the aircraft, pick their preferred available seat, and access the overhead bin space.
As an EarlyBird Check-In Customer, you'll have the benefit of an earlier boarding position, a better opportunity to select your preferred available seat, and earlier access to overhead bin storage for your carryon luggage.
Southwest Airline's boarding method – no assigned seats, no assigned order – proved to be the fastest, at 14.07 minutes, which was a whopping 47 percent faster than back-to-front.
At the check in or gate, you simply state that you need to pre-board for medical reasons and need a specific seat, and show your ID. They cannot ask specifics of why you need to pre-board, but this covers enough to be able to pre-board on Southwest.
Just let them know you would like to request preboarding due to a disability that requires a specific seat. They aren't supposed to ask what your disability is. They're only supposed to ask if you need assistance during boarding, a specific seat, or extra time to board.
When a Customer requests to preboard, our Employees will ask 1) do you need assistance boarding the aircraft? and/or 2) do you have a specific seating need to accommodate your disability?
At Southwest, we let you sit where you like. We don't assign seats on our flights, so feel free to sit in any available seat once you board the plane. We have a quick, easy, and efficient boarding process. Look at your boarding pass to find your assigned boarding group (A, B, or C) and boarding position (1 - 60).
Depending on the requirements of airport authorities, you will need to present a mobile boarding pass, a paper boarding pass printed out by you or a paper boarding pass picked up from the check-in desk.
The change, which went into effect Aug. 15, will take place as the airline works on “product enhancements.” The airline said the overhaul is part of several company initiatives meant to modernize the customer experience and strengthen their customer base.
Re: Saving SeatsUnfortunately, 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.