no seat assignment southwest

Watch CBS News

Here's why Southwest is assigning seats — and what it means for customers

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi

Updated on: July 25, 2024 / 5:04 PM EDT / CBS News

Southwest will start selling assigned seats , marking a major shakeup of a signature policy that has set the low-cost carrier apart from airlines for half a century. The new policy, announced Thursday, will make flying Southwest look and feel remarkably different for customers. 

The shift will affect how customers of the discount carrier select seats and board planes. Southwest passengers, including longtime fans of the open seating policy,   will also be able to choose different types of seats for a price, including those offering more legroom. These changes could affect ticket costs across the board, according to experts, although Southwest has not addressed pricing or indicated that regular seat costs will change. 

Some experts are cheering the move, saying it amounts to an improvement for both passengers and the airline. 

" Southwest's decision to start assigning seats and plan to add extra-legroom seats prove an old dog can learn new tricks," Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, told CBS News. "It will make their flights more orderly and comfortable. And it should also improve the airline's bottom line as well."

Southwest will begin selling tickets with assigned seats beginning in 2025. The airline will reveal additional details around changes to the flight boarding process in September. Here are three ways flying Southwest could change. 

Assigned seats

Southwest is ending its open seating policy, in which customers find a cabin seat on a first-come, first-serve basis. When the changes go into effect next year, customers will purchase tickets with assigned seating, eliminating some of the stress associated with the current boarding process. 

"It's a pretty big change for Southwest, which always had an open seating system, and you had to run into the cabin and try to find the seat you want," Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy, told CBS MoneyWatch. 

Henderson said this turned off some business travelers like himself from choosing to fly Southwest, and he predicted the change could attract a new crop of customers to the airline.

"Many business travelers don't want to fight for a seat and deal with the drama that sometimes entails," Henderson said. 

Tensions can run high on airplanes too, with testy passengers quibbling over limited and sometimes shared real estate.

"Since the pandemic, airline passengers may be less cordial and less amicable," said airline customer experience analyst Marbue Brown. "There are certainly benefits to environments where there is no ambiguity about who owns a seat."

Some seats will have more leg room

In addition to assigned seats, Southwest will introduce premium seating, offering passengers extended legroom on one-third of a cabin's seats. 

Southwest already lets customers pay to be first in line to board aircraft, "but this is a much bigger change now, with premium seats available for purchase," Going.com's Keyes said.  

The airline is likely responding to travelers' penchant for more premium travel experiences following the pandemic, according to Keyes. "The demand is for premium economy, business class and better seats, which Southwest doesn't have to offer," he said. 

Southwest's seats already offer more legroom than traditional carriers', which has been a selling point for the airline. They come with 32 inches of space, versus the industry standard of 30-31 inches. It's possible Southwest's new cabin configuration could shrink its current standard of 32 inches of space, some experts said.

"They haven't announced the new cabin design, but the most likely outcome is we're going to see that 32 inches of legroom to start to shrink for main cabin, and for it to be more like 31 or 30," Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, told CBS MoneyWatch. "That's normal for people who are used to flying American or United, but cramped for people who fly Southwest." 

Price changes

The new cabin configurations could drive up ticket prices across the board because Southwest's aircraft might contain fewer number of total seats, industry analysts said. On the other hand, the dramatic policy changes could be price-neutral, depending on how Southwest redesigns its plane cabins. 

"Some folks will pay more for extra legroom, and, based on how you reconfigure planes, you might not have to raise prices on other seats," Brown said. 

What remains to be seen is whether Southwest will introduce a bare-bones, basic economy-type offering. 

Currently, all tickets come with free checked bags and free   changes. "But might they start to offer an economy package that includes more restrictions on baggage? That's something we'll have to wait and see," Keyes said. 

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

More from CBS News

Subway joins the value meal battle with a new price on its footlongs

USPS says some rural mail delivery could get slower amid cost cuts

Here's what Powell's Jackson Hole comments mean for mortgage rates

Fed Chair Jerome Powell signals "time has come" for interest rate cuts

When will Southwest start assigning seats? What to know after airline announces big change

Southwest airlines has been known for its unique "open boarding" model for more than 50 years., published july 25, 2024 • updated on july 25, 2024 at 4:12 pm.

One of the most famous features of Southwest Airlines is about to change.

In an announcement Thursday, the company said it will "redesign the boarding model" by eliminating open seating and instead move forward with assigned seats and premium seating options. The airline also plans to add overnight redeye flight routes, the announcement said.

📺 24/7 Chicago news stream: Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are

"After listening carefully to customers and conducting extensive research, Southwest decided it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights," the announcement said. "The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred."

Officials began studying customer preferences and expectations around the onboarding process in April, the announcement said, with the new changes designed to "elevate the customer experience, improve financial performance, and drive Shareholder value."

The airline said it will release more details about the plan, including a timeline, during an investor meeting in September.

Following the announcement, here's what we know right now.

Why is Southwest making this change?

Man charged in theft of laptops from Cook County state's attorney's office

When does Six Flags Great America end its season? It might be later than you think

The decision was based on customer preference, the airline said.

"The research is clear and indicates that 80% of Southwest Customers, and 86% of potential Customers, prefer an assigned seat," the announcement said.

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter .

The announcement went on to say that customers who stopped flying Southwest and instead chose to fly with a competitor citied open seating as the top reason for the change.

"By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers," the announcement added.

The company also said the changes were part of "modernization efforts" part of already implemented improvements, including faster Wi-Fi, in-seat power chargers and larger overhead bins.

Will any Southwest flights have open seating?

According to the announcement, Southwest Airlines will move forward with assigning seats "on all flights."

The airline will also begin offering "premium extended legroom" in some parts of the cabin, the announcement said, though cabin layout details were still in design.

Officials in the announcement said a "refreshed" cabin design was underway, with "new, more comfortable RECARO seats ."

When will Southwest start assigning seats?

More details about the changes regarding product designs, cabin layout, timing and more will be announced in late September, the airline said, adding that the move to assigned seating will be "significant."

"In addition to incorporating new technologies and procedures for a seamless transition, the new cabin layout will require approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration," the airline said.

According to the announcement, Southwest expects to make bookings available on the new layouts in 2025.

When will Southwest start flying redeyes?

Booking on initial routes for overnight flights begins Thursday, the announcement said, with the first overnight flight set to land on Valentine's Day of 2025 in five markets: Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore.

The plan is to phase in additional overnight flights in the coming schedule's officials said.

This article tagged under:

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Hack Southwest’s Boarding Groups

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

How does Southwest boarding work?

What is the southwest boarding order, how to get a better southwest boarding position, southwest family boarding: how to sit together, how to get the best seat on southwest airlines (group a), other ways to get a good seat on southwest, southwest seating chart, when you're not happy with your southwest boarding number, southwest boarding groups, recapped.

Update: Southwest Airlines announced in July several upcoming changes to its boarding system, seat assignments and cabin configuration. Red-eye flights are also now bookable on certain routes. Read more of the news here .

The Southwest Airlines boarding process is perhaps more polarizing than whether pineapple belongs on pizza. But one thing’s for sure: The Southwest boarding process is certainly unique.

So how does Southwest boarding work? For starters, there are no assigned seats. There’s no guarantee you’ll get that coveted window seat behind the exit row (which means no seat directly in front of you). There’s no guarantee you’ll end up seated next to your travel buddy.

Yet it also means you get to pick your seat from whatever is available once you board the plane. If the guy in Row 3 has already whipped out his tuna sandwich, maybe you opt for a seat at least a few rows back.

The Southwest boarding process is also theoretically more efficient (at least according to MythBusters ) than most boarding systems with assigned seats.

For some, Southwest's open seating and boarding process creates a thrilling race for the best seats. For others, it can feel chaotic. So with that, let's unpack Southwest’s boarding method to help you get the best seat on your flight.

SOUTHWEST CREDIT CARDS WITH BOARDING BENEFITS

Unlike some credit cards offered by other major airlines, Southwest cards don't automatically get you priority boarding. But they do cover some of your costs when you pay to get a better boarding position:

on Chase's website

Reimbursement for 4 upgraded boardings, when available, each anniversary year.

Reimbursement for 2 EarlyBird check-ins each anniversary year.

To receive reimbursement for an upgraded boarding or EarlyBird Check-In, you must pay for it with the card . Reimbursement will appear as a credit on your statement within one to two billing cycles.

» Learn more: Best Southwest Airlines credit cards

Rather than assigning seats to passengers, Southwest has an open seating style. Here's how Southwest determines who gets to pick their seats in which order:

Know your Southwest boarding position

There are typically three Southwest boarding groups (plus a few in-between groups of sorts, like family boarding).

The standard boarding groups are either: A, B, or C.

With that, there are typically positions 1-60.

Your boarding group is printed on your boarding pass. Group A boards first, then group B, and afterwards group C.

Positions are assigned at check-in, which opens exactly 24 hours before departure. Though, you can hack the system and check-in earlier than that (but more on how to get a better Southwest boarding position later).

If you get A1, then it’s your lucky day — you’ll likely be the plane's first passenger. (Though there may be some exceptions for people with certain disabilities, pre-boarders or people connecting from an earlier flight.) If you get C60, well, hopefully, you’re fine with the middle seat near the bathroom.

Here’s what a paper Southwest boarding pass with the boarding position looks like. This boarding pass indicates Group A and boarding position 40.​​ This means the passenger can board the aircraft after Group A positions 1-39 have boarded.

Listen up for your boarding group to be called

As the gate agent prepares the plane for boarding, they’ll call boarding groups (e.g., Group A, 1-30). From there, you’ll head to one of the numbered posts at the gate area, broken up into smaller blocks (e.g., position 1-5). Stand between the corresponding posts based on your boarding position.

Embrace the Southwest open seating policy

Once onboard, pick any open seat, stow your stuff in the overhead bin or under the seat and get ready for takeoff.

Everyone has their favorite seat, but of course the benefits of a good boarding position mean increased likelihood that you'll nab your seat of choice. That could include getting that coveted window seat, having more overhead bin space, or simply deplaning faster.

Here’s the order of how early Southwest's boarding groups get to enter the plane, from first to last:

1. Preboarding

Southwest allows people who need boarding help or extra time, or folks with specific seating needs to accommodate their disability, to board first. To join that group, request preboarding from a Southwest customer service agent at the ticket desk or departure gate.

Southwest employees will ask "fact-finding questions" to decide if you meet the pre-boarding qualifications. If you do, you’ll receive a boarding pass with a specific preboarding designation, allowing you 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.

People who are preboarding are not allowed to occupy an exit row seat.

Next up? People with seats in A1-A15 — which is typically filled with Southwest elite flyers, people who purchased Southwest Business Select fares and those who paid extra for their tickets before boarding.

Southwest sells any leftover A1-A15 boarding positions either online through Southwest's upgraded boarding portal within 24 hours of departure, or at the gate.

The rest of Group A follows with A16-60.

3. Other people with disabilities

If you don’t qualify for preboarding but need extra boarding time, you can board after the A group but before Family Boarding and B groups. You’ll still need to speak to a Southwest customer service agent, who will print you a new boarding pass with an extra time designation, indicating that you can board with this group.

4. Families and active-duty military in uniform

If you’re traveling with a child 6 years old or younger, you and up to one other adult can board during Family Boarding, which occurs before the B group. Active military traveling in uniform may also board during this time.

» Learn more: Bookmark these military travel discounts

5. Groups B and C

Next up is B group. For large and full flights, there’s also C group. Both groups board in numerical order from position 1 to position 60.

There are a few ways to get an early (which means better) Southwest boarding position. But many of them come at an extra cost.

If you don’t want to pay anything more than what the Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus or Anytime fares already cost, your boarding position is decided based on your check-in order.

Check in online at Southwest.com or on the app beginning 24 hours before your flight's scheduled departure time. Or, check in at the airport.

But, the longer you wait, the worse the boarding position you’ll have.

Set an alarm for that 24-hour mark (maybe even a few minutes early to get logged in) to make sure you get the best Southwest boarding position possible.

Families (two adults traveling with a child 6 years of age or younger) can board after Group A but before Group B. If the child and adult both have Group A assigned on their boarding pass, they can board along with Group A in their allocated boarding position.

However, this still doesn’t guarantee you’ll sit together, especially if your boarding position is A50. The best way to ensure you sit together (and where you want) is to buy a Business Select fare, upgrade your boarding pass or have the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card or the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card .

Everyone has a different favorite seat on an airplane, but the easiest way to get the best seat on Southwest is via an A1-15 boarding group position. Since this is the first boarding group, you’ll have your pick of nearly any seat.

Here are three ways to guarantee an A1-15 group position on Southwest, but it’s going to cost you:

1. Buy a Business Select fare

Business Select fares come with many perks including Fly By priority lane access, a complimentary premium drink, and yes, guaranteed receipt of an A1-15 boarding position.

Business Select fares are not cheap. They can often be multiple times more expensive than Wanna Get Away fares, but they tend to be a better deal than Southwest’s middle tier called Anytime fares.

If you’re willing to pay for a seat upgrade, it’s almost always better to opt for Business Select over Anytime fares because you’ll get benefits like elevated points earning and the guarantee of a good seat.

2. Buy upgraded boarding (when available)

While not a guarantee, Southwest sells the remaining A1-A15 boarding positions for an extra fee. You can purchase that either on the day of travel at the ticket desk or gate, or within 24 hours of takeoff on Southwest's website .

It’s $30 to $80 per segment depending on your itinerary. These positions are not assigned to regular ticket customers once the 24-hour check-in window begins, so if the flight is low on elite flyers or Business Select passengers, there may be some available for purchase.

Some cards, such as the The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , can offset the cost of upgraded boarding by offering a $200 airline incidental credit . These annual statement credits cover incidental air travel fees with one qualifying airline of your choice.

3. Use a Southwest credit card to get complimentary upgraded boarding (when available)

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card , reimburse cardholders for up to four upgraded boardings to positions A1-A15 every anniversary year.

The process is the same as anyone else purchasing upgraded boarding. You’ll have to buy it on the day of travel at the ticket desk or gate, and it’s only for sale if seats are available. But no matter the cost — whether $30 or $50 — you’ll get that four times a year in the form of a credit reimbursement.

Those boardings can be purchased all at once or for different flights, so you could opt to upgrade your posse once or give yourself the VIP treatment a few times throughout the year.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards

These two options won’t guarantee an A boarding position, but they’ll still put you ahead of others who try to check in online 24 hours out or at the airport ahead of their flight:

1. Have Southwest elite status

Customers with Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred or A-List Member status get their boarding position automatically reserved 36 hours before departure. That's before normal check-in begins, putting them ahead of everyone else who has to wait for that 24-hour window. The benefit also applies to other travelers on the same reservation as A-List Preferred or A-List Members.

While holding Southwest status doesn't guarantee an A position (e.g., if everyone else on the flight also had A-List Preferred or A-List status), it will get you the earliest position available (and sometimes lands you in the A1-A15 positions).

2. Buy EarlyBird Check-In

EarlyBird Check-In is an add-on to your ticket that automatically checks you in 36 hours before the flight's scheduled departure time. That puts you in the running for the best boarding position next to folks with Southwest status, Anytime and Business Select fares, and ahead of everyone else who has to wait for the 24-hour window.

EarlyBird Check-In typically costs $15-$25 one-way per passenger on top of your fare price.

How is EarlyBird Check-In order decided? Boarding positions are assigned based on the time that EarlyBird Check-In was bought relative to passengers within the same fare class. So Wanna Get Away Plus passengers will be checked in ahead of Wanna Get Away passengers with EarlyBird.

EarlyBird does not guarantee a boarding position, but it does increase your odds of getting in a better boarding position. EarlyBird check-in generally means Southwest A group.

What’s a good seat on your Southwest flight? Head over to Seatguru. Once there, type in your travel date and flight number to choose your flight.

Oftentimes, Seatguru shows several aircraft configurations for a specific flight. For Southwest, Seatguru features three aircraft seating charts: Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 737-800. Make sure your aircraft matches the Seatguru result.

From there, read the seat reviews. The plane seats will either be green, yellow, red or white. Green means it's a great seat (usually with extra legroom) and yellow means there is some drawback (like limited recline). Red means several drawbacks (such as a misaligned window and near the bathroom).

White seats are just regular cabin seats

If you’re cool with checking your luggage if the overhead bins run out of space or don't mind the middle seat for a few hours, then getting assigned Group C will be manageable.

But if you want to be among the first to board and accidentally ended up with a bad boarding position, your best bet to jump the line is to pay the $30-$50 for an A1-15 boarding position. You can do this either in-person at the airport or online.

If Business Select is sold out, you’re probably out of luck on purchasing upgraded boarding. Next time, consider purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or booking a higher fare class to begin with.

» Learn more: Is there a right way to exit an airplane?

Southwest offers three boarding groups (A, B or C), and a position 1-60+, which get assigned at check-in. While the Southwest boarding process can be confusing, remember this: Check in exactly 24 hours before your flight, and you'll generally be OK.

Otherwise, you can pony up extra cash for expensive tickets or upgraded boarding passes. Know which of your credit cards may offer airline credits to offset these fees, as they can get you out of a jam when you miss the check-in deadline.

If you’re traveling with a larger group with multiple reservation numbers, everyone needs to handle their business and check in separately if you want any shot at getting boarding positions near each other.

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.

However, Southwest has a solution to better ensure families can sit together. If you’re traveling with a child 6 years old or younger, up to two adults may board during Southwest’s Family Boarding period, between Group A and Group B boarding (unless both the child and adults have A boarding passes and can board in that earlier group).

For an additional fee, EarlyBird Check-In automatically checks you in 12 hours ahead of the traditional 24-hour check-in window. While it’s not a guarantee of the coveted A boarding group, you’ll end up in an earlier boarding position than if you had not paid for it.

Families with children 6 and under can board before Group B free of charge, so for these travelers, paying for EarlyBird Check-In is usually not worth it.

However, if you have children older than 6 and don’t want to risk sitting apart on the plane, it can make sense to pay for EarlyBird Check-In.

Your Southwest boarding group is determined upon check-in. The earlier you check in, the earlier your boarding group.

Typically, you’ll check in for your flight online beginning 24 hours before the scheduled departure time or anytime thereafter. If you don’t, you can check in and get your boarding pass at the airport through the Southwest ticket counter or, if available, a self-service kiosk.

However, you can secure an earlier boarding position by purchasing a Business Select fare, purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or by purchasing an upgraded boarding pass from the counter on the day of travel (when available).

Generally, yes, you can sit anywhere on Southwest. Since the airline's flights have open seating, you simply choose any available seat once on board.

There are a few exceptions. For example, passengers who preboard may not occupy an exit seat.

Seniors do not get priority boarding on Southwest.

There is priority boarding for customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability, who need assistance in boarding the aircraft or who need help stowing an assistive device. These passengers board before Family Boarding, between the A and B groups.

No, Southwest does not have assigned seats. Instead, passengers can select their seat upon boarding. Passengers board in alpha-numerical order, and your boarding position is determined by your fare, if you purchased EarlyBird Check-In, whether you're part of certain preboarding groups and how quickly you check in for the flight 24 hours ahead of departure.

If you are assigned to boarding group C on Southwest, expect to have fewer window and aisle seat options, and less overhead bin space. You may, however, secure a middle seat towards the front of the plane, which can mean earlier disembarkation. Though boarding Group C on Southwest isn't great, there are some possible upsides.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Earn 3% cash back when you choose online shopping plus earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Forgot password

Southwest Airlines’ Unique Boarding Process Explained

• Ben Schlappig
• Published: December 26, 2022
• Updated: July 25, 2024

• December 19, 2022

• December 20, 2022

• December 22, 2022

• December 26, 2022

• December 28, 2022
• Introduction: The Trip Of A Lifetime To Austin
• I Finally Earned Lifetime Hyatt Globalist Status!
• Spirit Airlines: 9 Tips For Having A Good Experience
• Review: Spirit Airlines A321 Big Front Seat (FLL-AUS)
• Review: Thompson Hotel Austin
• Southwest Airlines’ Unique Boarding Process Explained
• Review: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 (AUS-FLL)

Southwest Airlines does things very differently than other airlines in the United States. Arguably the most distinctive aspect of the Southwest travel experience is how the airline boards planes. Some people love it, while others hate it.

During my recent trip to Austin , I flew Southwest for the first time in years, so I wanted to write a post about the carrier’s boarding process. In the next installment I’ll be reviewing the flight as such .

In this post:

How boarding works on Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is the only major airline in the world that doesn’t assign seats . Rather the airline has a very different boarding process — the order of passenger boarding is determined by the “position” someone is in, and as a result that’s also the order in which people can pick seats once on the plane.

If you ask me, Southwest’s boarding process is quite polarizing. On the one hand, it’s often referred to as a “cattle call,” and at times it can get a bit frantic, especially toward the end of the boarding process. On the other hand, it’s surprisingly orderly, much more so than on many other airlines.

Southwest assigns boarding positions rather than seats

Southwest Airlines passengers are assigned specific boarding positions, consisting of a letter and then a number:

• 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

In other words, the person with boarding position A1 can board first, while the person with boarding position C60 can board last (if the number gets that high on a particular flight). While other airlines board passengers based on larger zones, on Southwest there’s quite literally a person-by-person priority for boarding.

The logistics of boarding Southwest flights

With most airlines, you kind of just have a mob that storms the gate when boarding is about to start. By comparison, Southwest’s boarding process is quite civilized. Southwest’s gates typically have six big “markers,” each of which lists numbers. On the left side you’ll see numbers 1-30, and on the right side you’ll see numbers 31-60. Each sign indicates where you should stand based on your boarding position, with ranges of five numbers.

As you can tell, at each given point this setup can accommodate up to 60 people, with 30 on each side. There are then monitors at the very front of this line, which indicate whether groups A, B, or C are boarding. In other words, once group C is boarding, the up to 60 people will be able to line up.

You’ll want to line up in the exact area where your number is. In other words, if group C boarding starts, and you’re assigned position C2, you’d want to stand in the 1-5 section. It’s customary to ask those around you what their position is, so you can be sure you’re in the right order (in other words, you’d want to make sure you’re behind C1 and in front of C3).

While everyone does have to line up with this system, there’s not really a rush or panic, unlike on some other airlines. There’s no need to get in line a long time before boarding. Rather you can line up just a couple of minutes before boarding starts, and get in the appropriate line. Just make sure that you don’t line up until your general group is being boarded. In other words, if you’re in group C, don’t get in line until group A and group B are totally boarded.

Southwest Airlines family boarding & more

We’re used to airlines offering to pre-board families, those needing extra time, military, etc. How does that work on Southwest Airlines?

• Southwest allows family boarding between groups A and B; this allows up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger to board at this time, assuming they’re not already in group A
• Southwest allows active duty US military (with a valid ID) to board between groups A and B, assuming they’re not already in group A
• Southwest allows those requiring extra time to board between groups A and B, ahead of family boarding, assuming they’re not already in group A

As you can tell, the intent is to provide these passengers the opportunity to sit together, though only after the first set of passengers board, and are able to get the best seats (bulkheads, exit rows, etc.).

Note that the only passengers who can board before group A are those in wheelchairs. On some routes there are quite a few wheelchair passengers, so often many of the best seats will be occupied by those travelers.

How Southwest boarding positions are determined

Southwest Airlines boarding priority is determined based on when you check-in. To secure the best possible boarding position, you’ll want to check-in online exactly 24 hours out. The closer to departure you check-in, the worse your boarding priority will be.

Below I’ll talk about some of the ways to get upgraded boarding, but checking in early is generally going to be your best bet. Now, I’d note that just because you check-in exactly 24 hours out doesn’t mean you’ll have a great boarding position. For example, I checked in 24 hours in advance (to the second), and I was assigned position B16. In other words, 75 people (A1-60 and B1-15) had higher priority for boarding than I did.

Still, if you check in exactly 24 hours out, you’ll almost certainly be able to avoid a middle seat, if that’s your goal.

I should also mention that if you’re traveling with others but don’t have consecutive boarding groups, you can either board separately, or can board with the lower priority. However, you can’t have someone else board with your higher priority. Southwest also doesn’t allow reserving seats for others once onboard.

How to secure early boarding on Southwest

As mentioned above, checking in 24 hours out is the best way to secure a decent boarding position. However, how do you secure the best boarding positions, if the goal is to get a bulkhead seat or an exit row? There are a few things to consider:

• If you purchase a Business Select fare (Southwest’s most premium fares), this automatically comes with A1-15 boarding
• If you have Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List status, you’ll receive a boarding position immediately behind Business Select, so you can expect it to generally be in the A16-A30 range
• You can pay for EarlyBird Check-In, where Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours before departure; while this should get you a good boarding position (almost always in zone A), note that it doesn’t guarantee a specific boarding priority, as you’re behind Business Select customers and A-List members
• The day of departure you can purchase upgraded boardings in positions A1-15, subject to availability; note that this will only be available if all the Business Select fares weren’t purchased

Having co-branded Southwest Airlines credit cards can potentially help you secure early boarding as well:

• The  Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card ( review ) and  Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card ( review ) each offer four priority boardings per anniversary year, where you can be reimbursed when you purchase upgraded boarding in positions A1-15 on the day of departure
• The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ( review ), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ( review ), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card  ( review ), each offer two EarlyBird Check-Ins per anniversary year, which can get you a better boarding position

Is Southwest’s boarding process awesome or awful?

People seem to either love or hate Southwest Airlines’ boarding process. Let me share my take on that based on a couple of different factors.

Southwest’s boarding is surprisingly orderly

While some people like to refer to Southwest’s boarding process as a “cattle call,” in my experience this offers one of the most organized boarding processes in terms of how people line up in the gate area.

On other airlines, people tend to crowd the gate area even when it isn’t their turn to board. Meanwhile at Southwest, everyone has an exact spot where they’re supposed to be, and that also minimizes the unnecessary crowding.

Personally I’m a bit surprised by how consistently orderly the Southwest boarding process seems to be, since there’s a bit of a learning curve to understanding this, compared to other airlines. I guess it shows you that Southwest has quite a few loyal customers who are used to this system.

I don’t like not having an assigned seat

While the boarding process is pretty organized in the gate area, I find it to be a different story once onboard, at least on a full flight. I know in theory the open seating concept is supposed to speed up boarding, but that doesn’t necessarily match my experience, at least based on the flight that I took.

There were all kinds of people going to the back of the plane trying to sit together, only to later be coming back “upstream” to find seats. Toward the end of the boarding process, the crew was offering free drinks to anyone willing to move, in order to have a mother and daughter sit together. You had several people trying to reserve seats for others, only to be told they couldn’t do that.

So while I can appreciate that being able to sit anywhere is theoretically efficient, it can become a game of musical chairs if a flight is full.

I do think this process is pretty fair, in the sense that everyone has the same chance of getting at least an aisle or a window seat, by just checking in early. I prefer that to how other airlines like to charge even for regular economy seats.

However, as an elite member and frequent flyer, personally I prefer knowing exactly where I’ll be sitting, so that I can plan my flight accordingly. For example, if I’m going to be in a middle seat, I’ll probably just load entertainment on a personal device, while otherwise I might plan on trying to work the entire flight.

Bottom line

Southwest Airlines takes a different approach to boarding than other airlines. Rather than assigning seats, the airline has open seating, and allows passengers to board in a specific order.

Some people love Southwest’s boarding process, as it’s a rather fair way to go about boarding, and it’s also quite organized. However, many don’t like not having an assigned seat, and find it to be kind of chaotic once onboard.

What do you make of Southwest’s boarding process? Do you love it or hate it? Any tips I missed?

• Most Recent
• Oldest First
• Most Helpful

What a bullshit system. I had two passengers on the same ticket, and though I checked in together, they gave us different positions. How is this even justified. Same ticket, same reservation, checked in together and yet separated willfully for some unknown reason. Pretty insensitive and brutal. All I can say is I am shocked and disgusted.

How much is the extra price to get early seating?

$15-$25 depending on the length of the flight,l flew from Pitt-Houston and paid $25 for early board seating.

@Linda: wheelchair users can be ambulatory. That means they may be able to walk short distances. This doesn’t mean they don’t need a wheelchair. Unfortunately we don’t do Angela great job on educating about disabilities in the US.

The wheelchair issue is out of control! People are falsely claiming a need for the wheelchair or they put one disabled family member in the chair and the rest of the family is allowed to board with them. This is so very wrong. I pay extra every trip even though I could legally claim a medical pre-board. To have one wheelchair passenger and the rest of the family group board ahead at no extra cost is WRONG! Southwest must correct this situation immediately!!!

Hate the seating process. We switching to Delta. Too many wheelchairs checking in and abusing the process. And if you get on a bus to the plane, this order is A COMPLETE FAILURE. IE...CABO

It's a trip how people act like WN's boarding process is rocket science. You have a letter and a number. Is your letter or number called? Get up and stand at the clearly-marked posts and signs. It wasn't called? Just stay seated.

Literally the only difference between this and other carriers (and I'm a TOTAL AvGeek) is that there's no assigned seating. Never have I seen a confrontation ensue. But I'm also aware that the general public even can't read maps...

Agree with other commenters: my preference is to select a seat in advance. Don’t have the time to go online 24 hours in advance to get a boarding position. I’ve paid for the position, then have to deal with all the games people play to block seats with their sweaters, saving for friends, etc. For long flights, I go business class, and there’s no similar option on SW.

Other airlines want some SW customers,...

Other airlines want some SW customers, so they created Basic Economy. With my status, I wouldn’t loose much with BE, except I’d get fewer points. The whole “point” of the loyalty point system is to lure you into doing something you wouldn’t do otherwise, such as take one airline over another, use a different credit card, reserve a car or hotel through a certain website, or just fly to top off your status. And, I’ll admit that it works on me, so I don’t fly Southwest or Basic Economy and I stick with preferred airlines to earn status, and occasionally take mileage runs. Perhaps I’m a pawn doing my master’s bidding, but I’m happy and I get the seat that I want. Hey American, you’ve been dangling Concierge Key in front of me for too long, just tell me what to do. Your wish is my command.

Those who have priority boarding (wheelchair etc.) should not be allowed to sit in the 1sr row (bulkhead) thus allowing those traveling business select to sit there if desired.

Are you joking Tom? Do you know how difficult it is for we disabled people to even get dressed, go to and through the airport and hopefully arrive at our destination for medical care? Be happy you have the privilege of having the ability to work and travel freely. We hope this never happens to you. You must be a narcissistic sociopath. We feel sorry for your family to be afflicted with such a selfish person in their lives. Shame on you.

I am not young. I have had to sit on the floor or on my suitcase in line to have a chance of getting a decent seat. I travel alone. It would be even a worse problem if I was traveling with others. Crazy system meant for agressive youngsters.

Ive only flown Southwest once because a company was flying me out for a conference. I absolutely hated the entire experience and will never willingly fly them again, its just not for me.

Happy for those that are loyal and love flying Southwest but its a no from me dawg.

The $30. (one-way) early-bird check-in is a terrible scam by Southwest. It is an all or nothing proposition. What I mean by this is no matter what happens Southwest steals your money even if they do not provide the service you think your buying. Case in point say you've purchased a ticket with automatic check-in if that flight changes for any reason you lose your status for early check-in and must pay again. Under no...

The $30. (one-way) early-bird check-in is a terrible scam by Southwest. It is an all or nothing proposition. What I mean by this is no matter what happens Southwest steals your money even if they do not provide the service you think your buying. Case in point say you've purchased a ticket with automatic check-in if that flight changes for any reason you lose your status for early check-in and must pay again. Under no circumstances will your $30 be refunded or applied to another flight. I said never again fly Southworst when the airline changed my flight and refused to honor my early-bird status on the new flight they had changed. I was told sorry we're keeping that money your welcome to pay us again if you want early-bird check-in. This is nothing short of stealing.

I have tried it and hate it. If it was so great other airlines would have adopted it. I have no issues queueing up in a particular spot but it's always chaos I'm onboard as everyone tries to save seats and bend the rules. It is so much easier when a computer does the assignments for you.

The boarding process is actually to turn around and go back home because your flight is cancelled.

The big problem with this system is that it punishes people who have difficulty checking in online or who have a delayed connecting flight. So if your flight doesn't let you check in online for some reason and you have to wait until you are at the airport, you are at the end of the queue. And if you are connecting, and your connecting flight is delayed, even if you paid for priority boarding, you...

The big problem with this system is that it punishes people who have difficulty checking in online or who have a delayed connecting flight. So if your flight doesn't let you check in online for some reason and you have to wait until you are at the airport, you are at the end of the queue. And if you are connecting, and your connecting flight is delayed, even if you paid for priority boarding, you don't get any benefit because if you aren't there in time, you can't get a decent seat choice.

I don't like it my husband was in B group with a low number and I was in C group last person to board the plane I was lucky that I still got to sit with him other wise I would of been pissed

Perhaps there is a bit of both that could be good. The Southwest boarding procedure with an assigned seat. Regarding the comments about people not really being disabled, why can't they require proof? This reminds me of the service animals where airlines finally had to implement and enforce stricter rules due to people taking advantage of the system.

Am I imagining it, or is Ben's previously fractured bromance with AmericanAirlines now back on the rails, and his ire is now focussed on SouthWest's deficiencies?

The real issue for the unorganized boarding processing is caused by the outdated terminal structure. Meaning is are no waiting area for lines to be formed prior to each boarding to be called. If you look at big hubs in Asia , you will find huge empty space for each class to wait in line. Good examples (from my memories): HKG, HND, NRT.

SW airlines has become the bus station and buses for the U.S. I'd rather drive my own vehicle. I recently flew from Nashville to Heathrow on British Air and almost believed I was flying Southwest.

I would not say "love it or hate it", but Southwest boarding system is better than the mob scene 15 minutes before boarding on any other airline - domestic or international.

The only negative with this process, there are heaps of people that pretend to be disabled and get on before others without paying the extra price to get early boarding. And they get off the plane first as well. I have seen many miracles were people that use canes, fold them up and can walk faster than I can getting to baggage area. I have seen people use wheelchairs to get on the plane that...

The only negative with this process, there are heaps of people that pretend to be disabled and get on before others without paying the extra price to get early boarding. And they get off the plane first as well. I have seen many miracles were people that use canes, fold them up and can walk faster than I can getting to baggage area. I have seen people use wheelchairs to get on the plane that are totally cured and can walk on their own getting off the plane. I have written to Southwest about this situation on several occasions, but of course, they cannot ask you to prove you are disabled, and can't force you to stay on the plane until others disembark.

Linda, wheelchairs are used largely for the airline's convenience. I hope you do nor begrude the truly disabled that facility. There are also many who need assistance as they are unable to walk long distances through terminals with luggage who are eligible for assistance. The airlines one-size-fits-all solution is to put all these passengers into a wheelchair and deliver them to the boarging gate, or perhaps to the door of the aircraft. After that...

Linda, wheelchairs are used largely for the airline's convenience. I hope you do nor begrude the truly disabled that facility. There are also many who need assistance as they are unable to walk long distances through terminals with luggage who are eligible for assistance. The airlines one-size-fits-all solution is to put all these passengers into a wheelchair and deliver them to the boarging gate, or perhaps to the door of the aircraft. After that 99% are on their own. Crew (except in the US) will help with stowage of hand luggage. So the idea is to minimise the time it takes an employee to get a passenger from point A to B to fulfil their legal obligation; nothing more. Oh, and consider that that person in the wheelchair would give anything to be ablebodied enough to be able to breeze through without anyone's help. I think something like 99% need the assistance, contrary to what you seem to think.

Also some people have clotting issues and need specific aisle seats so they can move their legs while being seated. After the flight they need to stand and move to keep from getting blood clots. You can’t see all disabilities from the outside.

Couple of new thoughts to add to this thread. (Full disclosure -- I'm one of those who luv the Southwest boarding process). First SW has many continuing flights where the plane arrives, many but not all passengers disembark, and others stay on to a following stop. If you've flown Southwest and continuing on, you know the routine. Stay in your seat until the crew completes the count of through passengers, then you are free...

Couple of new thoughts to add to this thread. (Full disclosure -- I'm one of those who luv the Southwest boarding process). First SW has many continuing flights where the plane arrives, many but not all passengers disembark, and others stay on to a following stop. If you've flown Southwest and continuing on, you know the routine. Stay in your seat until the crew completes the count of through passengers, then you are free to change seats. Guess which seats become the favorites at that point. So if you are boarding a through flight, the A1-A15 passengers may not find their preferred seats up front. Something else that SW does to make the boarding process more efficient is to offer two free checked bags. That really reduces the blockages in the aisle as passengers as less likely to be stuffing oversize luggage into the overhead.

I totally agree with southwest's boarding progress to a point more and more people are using wheelchairs and hopefully rightfully to get pre-boarding so even if you upgrade to A1, you could still be in row 5 which is no big deal but when you sit back and watch you see abuse of the system that's what aggravates me. Anyhow it's still my airline been flying on them for 30 years and still here to talk about it!

What happens if you are late to the gate and boarding has already started? if you are A20 and they are lining up people for group B already ? Do you just go and stand in front of passenger B1?

Yes. You get to cut the line if your boarding group has already gone just like the other airlines.

Boarding Process?? With over 1700 cancellations today alone , boarding isnt anyone's focus if they are flying southwest!

It’s very annoying for a tall person to find a short person sitting in the exit seats, knowing that the tall person needs legroom. I blame the airlines for this.

I stopped reading Skytrax reviews because of non-stop comments about like "my husband is 6'5 and the economy seat was very cramped. We were not offered an exit row or an upgrade at check-in. Disgusting."

If you want the seats with leg room, you gotta pay the money to board first.

But on the clown car with wings that is WN, you don’t have that option.

I blame your parents.

I know someone that doesn't want to board first. He wants to choose his seatmate, choosing someone who is not obese.

The boarding process is consistently orderly because there's such a focus on exactly where you are in line. With the other airlines you just have a general boarding group, and the gate agents are hit or miss if they actually enforce someone trying to sneak through with an earlier group. Because everyone knows exactly where they need to be, it puts the onus on the gate agent AND the passengers to call out cheaters.

Personally, I love this system, and would like to see a variant implemented with assigned seats. Ideally this would be with front and back boarding, where Group A1-16 would be First Class, and then A17-A60 would be the seats immediately behind First and would board through the back of the plane which allows people to board quickly (because the line isn't halting every time someone is putting their bag up because the person in front of you in line is in front of you on the plane).

In my opinion, I feel that Southwest’s new boarding policy for families is discriminatory and unfair to all of us. Why are elderly or those without children being punished or treated as less important? If families want to sit together, they can book on an airline with assigned seats. I am offended by this discriminatory plan.

Same goes for you Carol, if you want an assigned seat, you can book another airline. Families are the bread and butter of Southwest. This is one of the main reasons (along with the companion pass, and free checked baggage) that my family flies southwest. When it is just me, I just check in 24 hours early, and I have never had to worry about not getting an Aisle seat or Window.

I think the previous versions of their boarding process were much more cattle call. Previously you didn't have an exact number just a letter and it got pretty chaotic. I don't hate the new process, don't love it. With all airlines not having change fees I don't fly Southwest much (ever) because they are generally quite a bit more expensive, at least out of Seattle) and I can't use their program for aspirational flights...

I thought that Southwest tried very hard to avoid taking any sort of official position on whether saving seats was permissible. Did that change at some point?

They don't have an official position on it. Flight attendants are basically left to enforce or not as they see fit. Most stay out of it. I've found it frustrating when boarding with a high A boarding card and find somebody planted in the exit row saying the other seats are reserved (for people who got on with C positions). Flight attendant just stood there and shrugged his shoulders.

That's the real issue. The flight attendants not enforcing the rules. So people get away with doing what they are not supposed to do and then will continue to do so.

That sounds annoying as hell. I'd rather find a different carrier and pick where I wanted to be.

Trust me - it is as annoying as hell. And this - and the lack of assigned seats - are two of the main reasons why I avoid WN like the plague.

Southwest's Boarding is wonderful except for the pre boards at times. Many need a wheelchair to get on the plane. They then take the front preferred seats. However, by some miracle their maladies are cured by the time the plane lands. Many often run off the plane. Southwest has tried to control this issue, but to no avail. It is maddening to see people game the system, yet that is the price for "cheap" flights.

I had A1 once and got on board and tried to take the bulkhead window to be told by the flight attendant that they were reserving the first 4 rows for those needing assistance and I needed to sit further aft.

I think Southwest is well intentioned with the boarding process and it is actually relatively organized and works quickly... from the gate perspective. The Ops agent boarding the flights tends to be more...

I think Southwest is well intentioned with the boarding process and it is actually relatively organized and works quickly... from the gate perspective. The Ops agent boarding the flights tends to be more apt to toe the line as far as rules go and doesn't seem to have an issue saying No from my observations. But they leave way too much open to interpretation after that point. The crews have free reign to handle it however they want once on board.

I will say I do really like the Southwest ground experience but I generally dislike the onboard experience. Airplanes that aren't really clean, crews making up their own rules, the annoying drink service process, etc.

Just don’t expect to get a front seat on a wintertime flight to Florida, even if you are A1. The 20+ wheelchair passengers plus their spouse and entourage all board before you.

Leff gets on the plane and throws his coat, briefcase, and shoes on seats around him to save them. He has no problem with it.

Anyone remember AirCal? (Founded in 1967 and bought by AA in 1987.) It had no seat assignments. There was no formalized boarding process. Just come on up. Southwest gave organization to the model . . . and monetized it.

I do and here’s a piece of trivia for you. Haven’t tested it recently but a few years ago I tried calling 800-4-AIRCAL and it was still a working number at AA. Somebody from group reservations answered.

Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe.

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

The big problem with this system is that it punishes people who have difficulty checking in online or who have a delayed connecting flight. So if your flight doesn't let you check in online for some reason and you have to wait until you are at the airport, you are at the end of the queue. And if you are connecting, and your connecting flight is delayed, even if you paid for priority boarding, you don't get any benefit because if you aren't there in time, you can't get a decent seat choice.

The only negative with this process, there are heaps of people that pretend to be disabled and get on before others without paying the extra price to get early boarding. And they get off the plane first as well. I have seen many miracles were people that use canes, fold them up and can walk faster than I can getting to baggage area. I have seen people use wheelchairs to get on the plane that are totally cured and can walk on their own getting off the plane. I have written to Southwest about this situation on several occasions, but of course, they cannot ask you to prove you are disabled, and can't force you to stay on the plane until others disembark.

Ive only flown Southwest once because a company was flying me out for a conference. I absolutely hated the entire experience and will never willingly fly them again, its just not for me. Happy for those that are loyal and love flying Southwest but its a no from me dawg.

• April 20, 2023

• June 18, 2021

• May 29, 2021

Simple Flying

How does the southwest airlines boarding process work.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

• Southwest Airlines' open seating policy improves boarding times, on-time departures, and cost savings.
• Passengers are assigned boarding positions based on fare status and check-in time.
• To get a better seat, consider purchasing a Business Select fare, buying upgraded boarding, or having Southwest Elite status.

Southwest Airlines adopts a unique approach to boarding that sets it apart from other carriers. Unlike traditional seat assignments, the Dallas-based airline employs an open seating policy, where passengers choose any available seat upon boarding the plane.

The open seating policy is credited with improving boarding times, contributing to on-time departures and cost savings, a benefit that Southwest claims translates into lower ticket prices for its customers . While boarding at the gate is organized, the process can become chaotic, with passengers moving back and forth on the aircraft, trying to find seats together. By understanding and leveraging this system, passengers can enjoy a more personalized and stress-free travel experience.

How Southwest assigns seats

On Southwest Airlines flights, people are assigned boarding positions in order of fare status and check-in. Higher fares and earlier check-in lead to better positions, and earlier boarding positions mean greater odds of getting their desired aircraft seat.

Every flight is organized into three boarding 'groups': A, B, and C. Each seat consists of a letter and number. Within these groups, passengers are assigned individual 'positions' numbered 1 through 60 (ranging from A1 to C60). When passengers board, they can choose any available seat remaining.

This usually means getting:

• Window seat closer to the front of the aircraft.
• Aisle seat closer to the front of the aircraft.

Pre-board is designated for passengers with disabilities or those requiring special assistance to board, which must be arranged before the boarding process.

If fewer than fifteen Business Select tickets are sold, the remaining spots from A1 to A15 become available twenty-four hours before departure for a nominal fee (Upgraded Boarding). Passengers provided they do so before boarding begins. Recently, Southwest Airlines has raised the price for its 'Upgraded Boarding' service . The fee has increased from up to $60 to a range between $30 and $80 per flight segment, effective May 15th, 2023.

What Is The Fastest Way To Get Everyone Onboard An Aircraft?

There are much faster boarding methods than current procedures.

This usually means:

• Window seat in the rear of the aircraft
• Aisle seat in the rear of the aircraft
• Center seat in the front of the aircraft.

Regarding Early Bird Check-In, for a fee starting at $15, Southwest automatically checks you in before the standard 24-hour window (automatic check-in thirty-six hours before departure). This service simplifies the check-in process and almost guarantees an "A" boarding group position. It applies to all flight segments on your travel day, including connecting flights.

However, holding this status does not guarantee an A-boarding position. Within this group, the order is determined by:

• Which fare was purchased (more expensive fare means better position)
• When Early Bird Check-In was purchased (earlier means better position)

Being in the B group usually means a good chance of securing a window or aisle seat or finding two seats together if traveling with a companion.

• Center seat near the rear of the aircraft.

While being in this group doesn't automatically mean you'll be stuck in the middle seat, the likelihood is higher.

Boarding order

Upon arriving at the gate, passengers are advised to locate the boarding group assignment on their boarding pass, determining their position in the queue. They are encouraged to watch the monitors for their boarding group and listen to the gate agent's announcement to start boarding.

When their group is called, passengers are expected to join the line. The boarding order is the following:

• Pre-board & Business Select passengers
• A-list members, along with passengers who need extra time but are not eligible for pre-boarding, families (traveling with children six years old or younger), and active-duty military personnel.
• B group passengers
• C group passengers

Passengers arriving late after their boarding group has been called can board any time after their group, but seat selection may be limited. Early boarders have the first pick of window and aisle seats and overhead bin space for luggage. The arrangement for families and military personnel does not require pre-boarding arrangements, but customers with disabilities should arrange this beforehand.

Southwest Airlines is reportedly considering changes to its family boarding process, moving to allow children under 13, up from the current six years, to board earlier. Based on traveler reports and not officially confirmed by Southwest, this potential adjustment suggests families with children six and under may board during pre-boarding , ahead of general boarding.

How to get a better seat

To secure the best seat on a Southwest flight, consider purchasing a Business Select fare for guaranteed A1-15 boarding, buying upgraded boarding on travel day, having Southwest Elite status, or using a Southwest credit card for complimentary upgrades.

However, unlike other airlines, Southwest credit cards don't automatically grant priority boarding but offer reimbursements for expenses on upgraded boarding positions or EarlyBird Check-In. Download the Southwest App and log in to your account for a convenient check-in process that requires just a few taps on your phone and allows you to check in early, aiming for a better boarding position.

Additionally, prioritizing seats towards the back of the plane can be beneficial, especially for those in the B or early C boarding groups, as front seats tend to fill up first. Solo travelers in the C group might find better window or aisle seats at the back.

How Do Boarding Processes Differ At Major US Airlines?

Boarding processes are different across the major US airlines. In this guide, we will discuss each individual airline's boarding procedure.

Furthermore, flight attendants can assist in finding seats, especially near the middle or exit rows. While some passengers may reserve seats with their bags, asking politely can lead to getting a preferred spot. Prime seats at the front are up for grabs and can be claimed by any passenger, offering a chance for a great seat even with a later boarding number.

Continuously innovating

Southwest Airlines is testing new boarding methods , experimenting with dual-boarding and de-planing techniques, and using data science to optimize the process. The aim is to enhance efficiency without compromising a low-cost approach, with successful strategies possibly becoming permanent.

Southwest continually evaluates its boarding procedure to enhance customer experience. Updates and changes are communicated through Southwest's official channels, ensuring passengers are well-informed of any adjustments affecting the boarding process.

Despite these challenges, we can acknowledge the fairness of this boarding process, where early check-in increases the chance of securing a preferred seat without additional charges, contrasting this with airlines that charge for regular economy seating.

Southwest's boarding procedure emphasizes the importance of checking in early, considering upgrades for better boarding positions, and employing strategic seat selection tactics once onboard to enhance your travel experience.

Boarding efficiency is crucial for Southwest, as delays can impact its on-time performance and operational costs, where it seeks to maintain competitiveness and customer loyalty in the low-cost airline market.

What do you think about Southwest Airlines' boarding process? Let us know in the comments below.

• North America

Hate Southwest's seating policy? Hear me out

Southwest Airlines ' seating policy is a love/hate situation, a man-eat-man bonanza that rewards the agile and punishes — harshly — the less nimble. I'm firmly in the camp of "love," and here's why.

You've got Equal opportunity seating at your fingertips

Look, I am all aboard the airline loyalty train , specifically in the pursuit of elite status . I love feeling like a top-tier big shot when my complimentary Premier upgrade clears on United, and nothing makes me smile like dining in the Polaris lounge. But nothing is harsher than when I'm forced to fly American Airlines as a no-name and I board the last of the pack, frantically refreshing my app to see if an aisle seat has opened up.

Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more travel tips!

While Southwest doesn't have the same geographical footprint as the Big Three — Delta, American and United — it also hasn't put into place some of the ridiculous (and expensive) charges that the legacy carriers have. This is especially true in regards to seats and seat assignments.

For the unaware, Southwest boards in groups of A-C and numbers of 1-60. Your ranking in line is dependent on a few different factors: when you check in, what fare type you've purchased, and your elite status with Southwest.

Everything you need to know about the best seats on Southwest Airlines

I know, I just said elite status doesn't matter on Southwest, but hear me out: Though A-list and A-list preferred members (top-tier elites with Southwest) get priority boarding, they're few and far between. And regardless of status, boarding spots A1-A15 are reserved for business select fares (even if they go unsold). Customers can also purchase early bird check-in, which allows check in 36 hours in advance instead of just 24, although the additional fees (between $15 and $25 one way) put many people off.

All this is to say that while you may not get A1-A15 (or even A15-30), you can still buy a ticket for your very first flight ever on Southwest, check in 24 hours prior to flying, and end up in the first row — or even better, in the exit row — for free. This is in stark contrast to the convoluted boarding scheme enacted by airlines that board based on mileage flown, dollars spent, credit cards held and fare class paid.

You can sit wherever you want.  No, really.

Southwest's boarding process is infamous in that it allows everyone to sit anywhere they wish, willy nilly. While many bemoan this feature, I appreciate it. Take, for example, my brother. He makes short hops all across the Western U.S., and Southwest is his main airline. Why? Because he buys last minute, doesn't care to check in until he gets to the airport (an hour before boarding), and ends up in the front five rows regardless because he's willing to take a middle seat. To him, it's more important to get off the plane early than to enjoy the view that a window seat would afford.

And that's what's great about Southwest. The airline's lack of seating plan allows everyone — absolutely everyone — to sit where they like. Me? I'd rather be 10 rows back in an aisle, so I'm going to try to check in as soon as I can. But Southwest affords flexibility to those who care about where they're sitting.

Bottom line

I know that Southwest's chaos isn't for everyone. But these days most airlines will charge you more for the privilege of choosing a seat anyway (unless you're paying for a higher class economy ticket). Southwest simply puts everyone on the same level, with a few people paying for the opportunity to guarantee their desired boarding position and the rest making a break for it at the 24-hour mark. Southwest's system makes room for all types, from the nervous flyer who pays for the 36-hour check-in to my brother, who strolls up to the counter an hour prior, so that everyone gets exactly what they want.

Thanks, Southwest.

Feature photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images

The Travel Sisters

Tips on how to get a good seat on southwest airlines.

by Matilda | Mar 24, 2021 | Family Travel , Southwest , Tips | 103 comments

Learn how the Southwest Airlines seating process works.

Southwest Airlines has a unique open seating policy – basically, seats are not assigned. When you check in for your Southwest flight, you are assigned a boarding group. Your boarding group and position determine the order in which you will be allowed to board the flight. Upon boarding the flight, you may choose any open seat.

Learn about Southwest Airlines boarding groups.

When you check in for your Southwest flight, you are assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a boarding position (1-60). During the Southwest boarding process , passengers are instructed to line up in order based on their boarding group and position.  So, passengers holding A group boarding passes board first, then B, then C. Within each group, passengers will line up based on their numbers.  For example, A1 will board before A20.

The key to getting a good seat on Southwest is, obviously, to board early.

I’ve found that an A group or early B group (B1-B30) is always sufficient to provide me with several good open seats and plenty of overhead bin space. B31-B60 can be okay too but it depends on how many people you are traveling with, how full the flight is and whether the flight is connecting from somewhere else. The C group usually means “center seat” and may require you to also gate check overhead bags.

Check in EXACTLY 24 hours before your flight.

If you would like to get a good seat on your next Southwest Airlines flight, follow this rule. Check in opens 24 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time. The earlier you check in, the earlier your spot in line will be. Many passengers will also be checking in 24 hours before the flight so a few minutes or seconds can make a big difference in your boarding group or position.  This is especially true on weekdays.  My strategy is to set an alarm or calendar entry five minutes before check in opens.  I pull up my reservation, enter all the necessary details (name, confirmation number) and wait.  As soon as the clock hits the time check-in opens, I hit that check in now button.

If you are unsure whether you will be able to check-in 24 hours prior to your flight, purchase Southwest EarlyBird Check-In.

I prefer not to spend any more money than I have to but found Southwest EarlyBird Check-In useful for those occasions I know I will not be able to manually check in.  The cost for Southwest Early Bird Check In is $15 – $25 one-way per passenger depending on the length of flight and popularity. When you purchase EarlyBird Check-In, Southwest automatically checks you in and assigns your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight’s departure. Southwest Early Bird Check In does not guarantee an A boarding position, but you most likely will be in the A or early B group. (See related post :  Is Southwest Early Bird Check In Worth It? ).

Pay even more money or fly more often to guarantee early boarding.

The only way to absolutely guarantee an A1-A15 boarding position on Southwest is to purchase a Business Select fare. This isn’t the most attractive option for leisure passengers though as the fare is more expensive.

If you still want a crack at that A1-A15 spot but don’t want to purchase a Business Select fare, you can try Upgraded Boarding .  Warning: this is not a guaranteed option as it may not be available.  On the day of travel, inquire at the gate or ticket counter before the boarding process begins.  If Upgraded Boarding is available, you can secure a boarding position in the A1-A15 group for $30, $40 or $50 per flight, depending on your itinerary.

Note: If you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business credit card (our referral links), you will be reimbursed for the purchase of up to 4 Upgraded Boardings each anniversary year .

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members with A-List and A-List Preferred elite status get priority boarding ahead of general boarding.

Traveling with a child? Familiarize yourself with Southwest family boarding.

Children age six years or younger and a guardian may board during Southwest Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If you have an A group boarding pass, go ahead and board with the A group instead of waiting for family boarding.

Don’t arrive late to the gate for your flight.

I repeat, don’t arrive late to the gate for your Southwest flight. There is no point in having an A or B boarding group if you will show up to your flight right before the airplane door closes. Sometimes that can’t be helped if your connecting flight was delayed so I guess at that point, just sit in your middle seat and be thankful you caught your flight.

If you have an early boarding group but by the time you arrive at your gate they are boarding a later group, don’t be shy. Immediately step to the front of the line to scan your boarding pass.  No one will think you are line cutting.

What is a best seat on Southwest?

The best seat on Southwest depends on your own personal needs.  Passengers with a connecting flight might need to sit in the front so they can deplane quicker.  Taller passengers might have an eye on snagging an exit row seat. Larger groups and families traveling with small children might want to make sure they can sit together. Personally, when traveling solo I like an aisle seat – especially one with an empty middle seat next to it. When traveling with my kids, I prefer sitting towards the back.

Find out how full the flight is before you board.

Sometimes Southwest gate agents make an announcement whether the flight is full. If not, I will ask. This is helpful in knowing whether I have a chance at my coveted aisle plus empty middle seat scenario.  On a completely full Southwest flight, I would choose an aisle seat with the middle seat already occupied by someone I wouldn’t mind sitting next to. Similarly, it would be helpful for someone traveling with a lap child to know whether an empty middle seat might be available.

Choose wisely what section of the plane you pick a seat.

Obviously not an exact science but often, older travelers and those with connecting flights seem to choose the front of the plane.  Families typically head towards the back, where they hope to find seats together and maybe an empty middle seat for a lap child.  My sweet spot on Southwest flights is from the middle of the plane to two-thirds of the way back.  The reasoning is that the front middle seats will fill up quickly with people resigned to their middle seat predicament or eager to disembark.  Also, people tend to pass up the middle section of the plane in hopes a random aisle or window seat can be found at the back.  Once they are at the back, they will likely just grab any seat there since it is so difficult to turn around.

Saving seats on Southwest Airlines is controversial and murky.

No one likes to spend any more money than they have to.  For some passengers, this means resorting to “seat saving”.  It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what Southwest’s policy is on saving seats as it is not uniformly enforced. Many people won’t necessarily mind if someone is saving a middle seat next to them for a traveling companion that is close behind but some passengers take it to the extreme.  I’ve witnessed one man board early and attempt to block off a number of seats (on a full flight) for multiple travel companions with a C group. The flight attendant intervened but that is not always the case.

Recognize sneaky and dishonest tactics.

Much like the extreme seat-savers, some people think getting a seat on a plane is a no-holds barred type of thing.  I’ve heard of passengers attempting to keep seats empty by pretending a nonexistent/imaginary travel companion is simply in the bathroom.  Not only is this dishonest but also silly- what happens if they sit nearby and clearly no one returns from the bathroom? Conflict with fellow passengers is never a good thing.

On the less extreme end, sometimes two people traveling together try to block off a middle seat.  This is great for late boarders.  If you spot one of these twosomes, make a beeline for their row and ask to sit in the middle. Most likely, they will offer up either their aisle or window seat.

103 Comments

Or you can sit in the middle of a couple and have them talk over you and pass things back and forth for four hours…my recent experience! But I guess sometimes you just get unlucky. But some of your other tips seem worth a try!

Ick, that sounds like a pretty bad flight!

Did you offer to switch seats with one of them?

My friend and I take an isle and a window, our personal preferences. If you take the middle we will not be moving which seems to surprise some passengers. If you are fun, join in our conversations

S Jumps I would join in on the conversation by asking why the two of you think you are worth three seats.

Best response ever

Did he say they’re worth two seats? Do they somehow make the third seat unavailable? NO! He said they both sit where they like and if someone comes to sit in the middle, that’s cool. They don’t swap seats just to be near their friends. Good God some people!

I would smack the shit out of your hands if you passed anything over me. I don’t mind getting apple juice all over me as long as it gets my point across.

You would then get your face smashed in and be on a breathing tube for the rest of your life… and yes, the jail time would be worth it

Internet warriors.

Are you and your friend portly people? You require that extra middle seat to share your snacks and arm rolls?

And I’d do a Taliban on your ass if you touched me

Yeah… That’s called “self-importance” and fits perfectly into how modern day people think of themselves and others. In a world of common decency, the person with the aisle seat would offer to switch with the person in the middle. It’s called “courtesy” but I’m guessing that doesn’t fit into your worldview, moron.

My girlfriend and I do this. Take the isle and window and hope no one comes. But if they do, the above is correct, we’ll offer them window. As I like Isle and my girlfriend will just move over.

Nobody is worth two seats. We just want to sit together. And we just try to pick who we’d prefer to sit with by offering them a seat. It’s no different than picking what middle seat you want to sit in by who’s already there.

Hey, you do what you have to do to be comfortable for a long flight.

You would think that because the passengers are doing all the work here, the tickets would be dirt cheap. Passengers also should be able to get their round trip tickets once and for all. This 24 hour nonsence is horrible, especially if you are away on vacation and 24 hours before you leave you have to remember to get your boarding pass arrangements done. Think about it,we go online, book our flight, go through the 24 hour process and get back online to arrange your own boarding passes. I have tried paying the extra $15 and ended up in Group C! What a ripoff! I did a lot of flying with Southwest, but have not because they do not try to improve any of this. It is a shame because they are a convenient airline for me with very little delays, free baggage, however, their prices have escalated which probably include baggage fees unknown to the passenger.

I guess you only fly SW and think the grass in greener, but SW often runs $100+ less than the competition Basic Economy. This is a new fare that is below economy. This doesn’t even included access to the overhead bin.

One more tips. Before you board, ask if flight is oversold. In lots of cases, the gate agent would let you preboard and sit in the first row so he/she could easily locate you if the flight is actually oversold and a volunteer is needed.

That’s a good one- thanks for sharing!

Unfortunately, I have seen many instances where one passenger purchases early-bird boarding and saves a seat for a traveling companion who boards later. The flight attendants do nothing.

Yeah, I’ve seen flight attendants let it slide too a few times but usually in those cases the second person wasn’t too far behind.

You should just tell them, “Oh, well where are they?” They should have been here if they wanted it.” That easy, seriously. If that is the case, tell them you had that seat they are in already saved before you got on the plane. If they complain or say I sat here first though, say, “Exactly” and just sit down. People are just too submissive.

Nice write up. One thing I’ve noticed is that the FA’S will keep preboarders from sitting in exit rows for obvious reasons. If the flight is super light just wait until everyone has boarded and then go toward the back. Most people want to sit up front. I’ve been on planes where it is totally full in the first 15 rows and nearly empty in the back. People are funny like that.

Thanks! You’re right, people are sometimes in a hurry just to get settled anywhere they grab the first open seat they find.

Thank – you so much for taking the time to write this excellent and complete guide. I’m sure many people, like me, have found very helpful

Who benefits from this idiotic seating policy? Wish Southwest would change this system. Boarding doesn’t move any faster.

Just fly elsewhere, this seating policy sucks.

I just wish southwest would make people with the those huge overstuffed over head bags sit in the back of the plane.I missed a connecting flight because I was seated further back and had to wait almost 30 minutes for families and people trying to maneuver those big bags.I never take extra bags.just a tote that fits under the seat.

I always just have one regulation size bag that goes in the overhead and is really easy to manage. If it takes that long to maneuver a bag it probably should just be checked in- bummer missing a connection.

I agree. Also one time I decided to put my computer bag up top and people kept trying to push their oversize baggage into it and when I got it out I found it was ripped from some idiot.

I also note the number of wheelchairs (all are pre-boarded along with family members traveling with the wheelchair passenger). These passengers take front seats. If a passenger requiring a wheelchair is traveling alone, however, I’ve noticed that the seats next to them are often open and available.

That’s a good one- especially if you need to be up front to catch a connection.

Some people don’t like the bulkhead seats because there are no trays so you have to hold drinks and or food. What i dont like is that those seats are not kept open for handicapped people who board when that flight was a continuing flight and those passengers are allowed to move to different seats. I had this happen when my handicapped mom and i were on a continuing flight and 2 other bigger guys moved to the bulkhead seats. Then there were handicapped passengers boarding who had to take further seats back. I think southwest needs to change that procedure. Another situation in which i voiced my opion mightily was when our flight was delayed and my mom, which they knew she was handicapped, didnt keep an open seat up front for her and i. We ended up way in the back with her in a middle seat and me in a middle seat further back. She is very hard of hearing so she kept looking at me everytime an announcement came over the pa. If the flight had had difficulty i would not b near her to help her. Its time southwest starts doing seat assignments. It takes just about the same amount of time or longer to board a southwest flight as other airlines. It would b so much easier particularly with all the stupid people who bring big duffles etc on board.

Southwest is Southwest. You really need to fly with someone else. Why would you want to change the only airline with unassigned seating? So many of us love their procedures. I’m partially handicapped. I don’t expect people to wait on me, just give me a little more time. As long as I can get on that plane and get a seat…I’m happy to be going. I love Southwest.

I agree. Southwest is southwest. Overall their my airline of choice domestically for short to mid-range flights. Each airline has different boarding procedures so it sounds like individuals that need customized travel options should go with another carrier. I sometimes do this when I travel. For example when I’m flying to coast to coast or a two to three convection I go with another carrier.

From these comments I think I will stick with United and know I have the seat I want

My son is handicapped and we usually take the first seats. Why? because he cannot walk very far and its easier. We don’t mind waiting to be the last off, as its much easier because they have the wheelchair waiting for us it lets all the others go ahead so there is no waiting. Yes we stay on the plane and do not change but we also stay in the same seats I cannot move to another seat as he is unable to communicate People have difference reasons for staying with the person that is handicapped. besides not able to walk very far he is also mentally chanallanged

I am handicapped and endured the same situation where people were already seated in the first row. I was confused cause there was no handicap first row. I asked the flight attendant where the handicap seating was and she flippantly gestured to the entire plane. I had to tell her that according to the law you must provide accomodations to the handicapped. She immediately changed her tune and asked for volunteers to move. I felt so empowered after that.

Great tips. I have seen many with an imaginary friend, some with two. They simply put all of their things on every seat in a row. Once an FA told somebody like that that they know all the tricks and made her move her stuff. Also encountered somebody with a high B ticket who said that she could stand at the very front of the B line. Even though several of us pointed out that she needs to find her number, she insisted on being in the front. I like Southwest because of their free luggage policy and the ability to bank money when changes are made.

It’s pretty funny when someone gets called out for sketchy behavior. Agree, Southwest’s change policy has come in handy more than a few times for me.

I could have really used these tips when I was selling travel! Great post!

Thanks glad you found them helpful!

The seating policy is the main reason I choose to not fly Southwest. Only time it’s beneficial for me is if I’m traveling with my toddler and get to take advantage of family boarding. Plus, I hate Midway.

I am kinda neutral on the seating policy but it does seem like most people either love or hate it.

I agree! Midway is a drag. I live close to ORD and I’m dreading that I had to book with Southwest out of Midway. Way cheaper and with my trip being in January I needed the flexibility to change if the weather was bad (cruise) and other airlines had little to no nonstop to Houston Hobby. Oh love the not nickel and dining you tho (bags,seats etc) that other airlines do.

its not so much the seating policy for me as it is the 3×3. Why not a 4 and a 2? id pay extra for the 2. would you?

Would love a 4 by 2 as well. I don’t particularly like sitting next to strangers as I require a lot of personal space.

Only fly 2-3 times per year; 3×3 ? Or 4×2 ? Hate the seating policy, love to sit with my wife. I must have an isle sit; I am extreame Claus-tro-pho-bic. The anxiety starts the day before the flight, and gets worse until the flight is over & then the return home!!! Most times the flight booking is done by someone else. When I am in control, I fly with other carriers. BTW, the horrible Clause -Tro-Pho-Bic Anxiety began 50 yrs ago by being pinned down in fire fights in war

Explain this; I check in to a flight the second it’s available and get B15. My friend checks in to the same flight hours later and gets A25. What’s up with that?

I am guessing your friend might have paid for EarlyBird check-in or maybe has A-List status.

I’m traveling for first time on Southwest with 5 family members (adults) and now worried this was bad decision. Nothing like getting stressed the first day of vacation! Suprised there haven’t been numerous altercations.

I don’t think it was necessarily a bad decision as there are a lot of positives about flying Southwest. You should be able to sit together as long as you can board early (in As or low Bs). I recommend putting an alarm and checking in exactly 24 hours before the flight time OR purchasing EarlyBird check-in. If you want to save money, 3 of you can pay for EarlyBird check-in and save the middle seats. I think seat saving is more an issue when 1 person is saving a lot of seats especially those in the aisle or window. On a positive note, I find that Southwest has more legroom than other airlines so you should have a more comfortable flight. Plus they don’t charge for checked bags.

Southwest planes are the DIRTIEST in the industry. Be sure to take disinfecting wipes with you and DON’T use the lavatory

Maybe that’s why the SW planes are so dirty. People aren’t using the bathrooms!

You should carry wipes no matter what plane you’re on. Some people are just nasty and the flight turn arounds aren’t enough time to clean up properly. This or they just don’t care enough.

I’ve written a guide (for myself) with assorted info for the first-time LUV flyer (again me). There’s lots of good tips here that I can add to my cheat-sheet. It’s helpful to be aware of all protocols before flying with them. By flying Southwest, I’m willing to relinquish an assigned seat (United) as long as I know how to get the best seat for me. Thanks!

How do you get on the A list or preferred list

A-list is for frequent flyers. You need to fly 25 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points in a calendar year.

I will be flying Southwest from Milwaukee to Los Angels – then American Airlines to Hawaii and return to CA. In your opinion, how important is the TSA pre-check program for this type of flight?

Hi Freeman, Sorry for the delay in responding. While it is always nice to have TSA Precheck its value depends on how often you fly. I would not sign up for it only to use it on one trip. How often do you think you will be flying in the next 5 years? Do you knave any children under 13?

Thanks for your reply. We have no children under 13 nor any under 30. And we are in the 75 to 80 plus range, so I don’t know how many more years we might be traveling our selves. So even though we might get caught in a long line this time, based on the dollars, it likely won’t pay off to have the TSA Pre-check?

Probably not worth it to pay for TSA Precheck if will only use it once or twice in 5 years. It is hard to predict the future but I would suggest that each person should divide the cost of TSA by your estimate of how many flights you think you will take in the next 5 years to see how much you would pay for each use.

If you have a credit card that gives you free TSA Precheck then you might as well sign up.

You might also get TSA Precheck randomly on your boarding pass. In the past, seniors were likely to get TSA Precheck without even signing up.

Even if you do not have TSA Precheck, the line might not necessarily be long-it depends on many factors including what time and day you are flying. I would recommend going to the airport early to be on the safe side. You would have to take off shoes, jackets and belts which some people find annoying.

Thanks for the information and your help.

Now I’m worried – I just purchased 8 tickets – for me and my husband and our 8 children. The youngest one is 10, and it would be HORRIBLE if she couldn’t sit with one of us! The others are older and would love not sit with us, but I’m worried about the 10 year old! Is it possible that she would get a boarding number not by mine????

If you are all on the same reservation I think you would get nearby boarding positions.

Even if your boarding groups were not next to each other you can still board together – but you would have to board with the family member that had the last boarding position. (For example, if two people were traveling together and one had A40 while the other had B12, they would both have to board at B12 to be able to walk on the plane together.)

The key to all sit together is to board early (A group or early B group). I would recommend setting an alarm and checking in exactly 24 hours before your flight’s departure time.

We just had this happen on a full flight to Florida. I explained that my 10 year old could not sit alone and the crew asked if anyone could make room. No one responded so crew upped their game and offered free movie or drinks if someone would move to allow 2 free seats. If this happens to anyone speak up. Crew will work with uou

That is great advice. The crew does not want young children sitting alone and will usually help you sit together.

will be traveling with granddaughter and lap baby will I be allowed to board with her during family boarding in order to help with baby? This will also be first time for granddaughter to fly.

I think you would be allowed to board during family boarding. According to southwest: “An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding.”

Traveing southeest airline with a 88 year old individual, that uses a non electric wheel chair and has difficulty walking. Will this person be given pre boardimg seat assignment,early boarding and/or any other preferential treatment. Thanks for your assistance.

My first time flying southwest:

I checked in exactly 24 hours before the flight. Got boarding pass b17

Second time completely forgot, and checked in about 3- 4hr before the flight. Got A17.

So, The “early you check in the better” theory is down the drain. What I did noticed was: My first B position I paid 64 bucks for that flight. My second A17 boarding position I paid over $100 for that flights. So I guess that’s what really matters. Not how early you checked in.

We have flown on many Southwest flights and do find that, in general, the earlier you check in the better boarding position you get. One factor that affects your position is how many other people are also checking in early for that flight. For example, I have noticed that on weekday flights, I have to check in right at 24 hours because most of the people on those flights are experienced business travelers that also check in at 24 hours. On the other hand, I have checked in later for Sunday morning flights and still got a good boarding position. I have noticed that most people on Sunday flights are traveling for leisure for the weekend, are less experienced and too busy on Saturday to check in at the 24 hour mark. I wonder if that was a factor on your flights?

People may have bought early bird with a reservation. And were automatically checked-in by SW, then less than 24 hours before (even up to 10 minutes before flight) the flight if they cancel their reservation – their ‘A’ boarding position gets put back into the system and whoever checks in next gets that boarding position.

Here is a step by step guide I put together to setup automatic check-in on your own computer at the 24 hr mark – http://www.theartoftravelhacking.com/automatic-check-southwest-flights/

If you sign up for early bird check in, do you still need to check in as well to make sure you have a good boarding position? Or will it automatically show you when you log in what your boarding position is?

early bird checks you in automatically to get a good boarding position – but you will still have to print a boarding pass, get one at the airport kiosk, or pull it up on your phone before you head through security.

We signed up for the Early Bird check in. Does anybody know when I will be able to see what boarding position we received? If I log in 24 hours before the flight to check, will it be there already? Thank you for all of the other great information in this post and in the comments!

I see it when I log in 24 hours before my flight to print my boarding pass.

You’ll be able to see your boarding position right away at the 24 hour mark before you depart. Get the southwest App and they’ll send ya a push alert of your boarding position with early bird.

If you have a connecting flight, and have paid for early bird seating on the first flight, does it also apply to the second flight? We will have to change planes too!

This is one of these rules that often can vary. It should check you in but I’ve had times when I’ve had early bird that it checks in a B assignment.

This might already be mentioned by exit rows also have language, age and mobility requirements. Plus if your on a B737-700 series the window exit seat is removed on some of the aircraft. When in doubt check seat guru!

My husband and I are traveling with 5 children, the youngest being 5 years old. Does that mean that we can all board during family boarding?

In my experience, you will probably be fine. The issue Southwest tries to eliminate in Family Boarding is the opposite…4 adults trying to board with one child/toddler. Just check with the gate agent and be friendly.

Are seniors (85 years old) permitted to board a flight early, and if so, are there certain restrictions as to where they sit?

Recent experience would indicate that most people are paying for the early check in and/or that there are many A+ travelers that automatically get higher boarding numbers. Bottom line if you are an occasional SW flyer be prepared to be at the back of the bus. Checking in early will do you little good. I just checked in and got B51. Started hitting the check in button 2 minutes before my phone showed the exact 24 hour before wheels up time.

I fly SWA exclusively and am A+Preferred meaning I usually board from A16-A21. Not sure I’d pay extra to board A1-A15 as sometimes the flight is a non-originating flight and still contains many passengers flying to the next destination so you don’t get the seat you really want, hence you may have wasted your money unless the goal is to just be able to get an aisle seat or room for your bag. If I don’t get the emergency aisle I’ll sit in row 9 or multiples of 9 as they receive drinks first. I’ve only had a couple bad experiences with miserable flight crews but the exceptional experiences far outweigh those. Great airline and once you learn the boarding process and use the aforementioned tips you’ll never want to fly other airlines. Did I mention free drinks for A+ and above and the Companion Pass Program?

I will protest to the flight attendant when an early boarder puts his personal items in the seat next to him and claims he is saving a seat. I have talked to the airline and this is against their policy. I feel someone doing this is more rude then my complaint!

Travel often with Southwest, and I get really steamed when I see” wheelchair’ passengers get to board early, but on the other end of the flight,often see these same passengers sprinting around the baggage carousels lugging big suitcases.

Southwest needs a better system to identify truly deserving pre-boarders who abuse the system and laugh at the rest of us.

Perhaps its time to require medical certificates signed by doctors?

The second paragraph heading, “The key to getting a good seat…,” made me ask myself, “what’s a good seat?” I appreciate that you addressed that later in the article. As with you, I do prefer an aisle seat if just for the sake of the feeling of extra room on one side of me (briefly tucking in when the service carts come thru), though if I intend to nap on a longer flight I prefer having a window to lean up against, which is also good when a very broad passenger takes the center seat. Despite where you pick to sit, a good seat is ultimately one with overhead storage! I know overhead bin space isn’t earmarked per seat, but there is a common sense factor that makes it somewhat of an unspoken guideline. I despise when a person puts their stuff in the first open bin spot then goes to the back of the plane. The later groups board and someone filling a hole near the front of the plane has no overhead storage and has to make their way to the back to find room in a bin, then make their way back to their seat. If that isn’t bad enough, now they have to get their stuff from the back when the plane deboards, all on the account of a jerk that puts their stuff in a bin space that would typically be for a passenger in that row, rather than putting in close to the seat they chose.

Seat savers are simply violating my right to sit in a seat I’ve paid for. After a trip to Aruba last year we will never, not for all the tea on China ever, fly SWA again. Paid for business Select, arrived very early (this scenario played out identically both inbound and out) and wat in rows 7 and 13 respectively. Outbout a group of 5 children preboarded with 1 adult, each kid took a middle seat and held the entire row for others in their group in later boarding groups. FA’s were useless. Disinterested and unresponsive. I am 6’1”+, 275 and thought that paying for BS (appreciate) seats we’d have options. The seat saving kid brigade took the bulkheads and wing exit rows…how can a child hold a wing exit seat? Bonus, one of the FA’s I had asked to assist us took the opportunity to be discourteous and unprofessional the entire AUA-ISP with stop in MCO trip. Written complaints (email) followed the flights with zero SWA response. I opened 2 Chase Visa cards and purchased BS to maximize points, now I’ve got 150,000 points I will not use. Oh, almost neglected to include that through the credit card spend bonuses I had achieved my Companion Pass. SWA did not honor it for the AUA trip…! Paid full fare for both wife and I, still have a never used Companion Pass. Yikes, SWA will never see another thin dime of my hard earned dollars.

I am concerned after reading everyone’s comments. I am traveling from New York to California with my elderly mom who will be using airport wheelchair assistance to/from the gate, but she cannot sit alone and must be with me as she is non-verbal due to aphasia from a stroke and needs assistance in other areas. It’s also hard for her to get up and down. I was hoping to get the bulkhead seat with her. I’m also nervous because we have a connecting flight changing planes and we need to disembark quickly, which is going to be very difficult. What are your recommendations. She’s already stressed and I feel terrible for her.

I have come to the conclusion that Southwest is the least predictable airline there is both from comments and from my own miserable experience with them. If you haven’t already traveled, can you get a refund on your tickets and book with another less “cattle car” airline? That bulkhead seat is highly coveted by a lot of people for a lot of reasons – claustrophobia, long legs, etc. and usually goes with the first person on the plane. A communication problem will not get you the bulkhead seat. Another airline may cost more but it might be worth it not to have the worries ruin your trip. Southwest may be cheap but there is an old saying: You get what you pay for. Best wishes on your trip.

Hi….I have flown many times with Southwest. People in wheelchairs and whoever is flying with them generally get on the plane first and have the bulkhead seats. The only advantage to flying with them is free baggage. Their tickets are not all that cheap anymore. It takes forever to get a free ticket and there are so many blackout dates. I would fly with them for airport convenience, however, I started to hate when a trip that takes 2-3 hours becomes an all day deal because they stop in Baltimore. I always hated the seating issue and having to stop what you are doing to get your boarding pass online and try to not end up being in C group. Good luck when flying with them.

Blackout dates? Are you kidding me? No such thing!

This policy sucks. Southwest is the walmart of airlines. They heard people in and let them fight for seats that don’t suck. You will not sit with friends/family most of the time. They provide no seating service, letting people fight over seats. If you like being treated like you’re in a third world country, fly Southwest! Dreadful policy.

Print this out and save it. It is from Southwest website. No one can really save a seat.

Pick a seat, any seat 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.

i pretend to be sick and start coughing. unless the flight is completely full, nobody wants to sit next to the guy that might be sick/ill.

may be deranged but it works!

Just completed a roundtrip from L.A. to Newark on Southwest with layovers in Denver and Chicago. Out of the three seating groups I know of (A, B & C), the best we managed for early check- in was B. There was always an offer for A group boarding at the gate for an additional $15-$16 when available. Boarding before the next group also makes overhead storage space easier to find. Southwest ends flights to Newark in November(?) 2019.

Postscript – I forgot to mention my shock when a guy with a full-size guitar case was allowed to take it aboard. There went two overhead storage spaces for the price of one…

Twice, or a flight from Phoenix to Baltimore and back in June I picked the middle seat in the front of the plane with more legroom because I had a small dog and was told it was occupied. I told him I didn’t Believe him ..call him an A hole and told him that If he wanted to mess with me for the rest of the flight which was five hours long. Go ahead. Never heard another word out of him for the rest of the flight. You don’t have these problems on other airlines because you get to pick your seat before your flight. Ruined my flight.

Active duty military board right after “A” (pretty much ~usually have to ~ have to have your CAC card or orders printed…). If you have uniform (which military kind of discourages unless returning from deployment) SW will also cut slack for slightly heavier bag (uniforms + boots etc…) military travel usually has deals with other carriers so frequently does seem to book with SW for some reason. TSA also seem to be nice to me when I use CAC for ID purposes in line. Only had to fly home from deployment once in uniform but number of people and other military people from almost every service were super nice (especially older heroes from ww2 etc…) military generally strongly strongly strongly discourages any alcohol drinks while in uniform so always best to decline drinks except pop or coffee. Families of other service members usually super nice too.

Mil travel *DOESNT* seem to like to use SW for some reason…

If I have 2 southwest planes within 2 hours of each other on one reservation to complete my trip, how many calls are necessary to get my boarding area for entry for both planes.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• Adventures in flying and personal space (or: The dude in the middle seat put his face in my lap) - […] pictured above drifted off to sleep. He was in the middle seat of our row; I took the window seat because…

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Recent posts.

• Airlines Giving Extra Bonus Miles for Online Shopping (Earn Up to 9,500 Bonus Miles)
• Earn Up to 9,500 Bonus Miles: 5 Airlines Giving Extra Bonus Miles for Online Shopping
• Best Amazon Prime Day Travel and Luggage Deals – Day 2
• Best Amazon Prime Day Travel and Luggage Deals -Day 1
• Chase Freedom Flex 2024 3rd Quarter 5% Bonus Categories

Follow us on Facebook

Pin It on Pinterest

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Travelers will no longer be able to choose open seats on Southwest Airlines flights

SOUTHWEST SEATING CHANGE

Southwest Airlines announced that it will drop the open seating model it's used since its founding more than 50 years ago. The airline is under pressure to boost profits.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Get the Reddit app

A place to discuss all things Southwest Airlines. Please read Sub-Reddit rules before posting. Not an official SWA forum.

Is Assigned Seating Inevitable?

I know assigned seating is a frequently discussed issue here, so I'm not here to advocate for or against it. I just want to know your perspective on whether it can be sustained given their business practice and the modern airline marketplace/regulatory climate.

It appears that Southwest is backing themselves into a corner with regards to seating. They recently began testing doing family boarding with the pre-boarders before the A group in response to DOT pressure on airlines to seat children with a family member, and quietly started allowing for out of uniform military members to board in between the A and B groups. All of these changes come at the expense of the business traveler, who, like it or not, pays the bills. I know a lot of business travelers like Southwest because of the flexibility and lack of assigned seating, but how many people can you stack in front of the A group before the seating benefit erodes. That potential erosion combined with the fact that they don't have a real premium hard product makes me wonder how many business travelers would jump ship for a legacy if the family boarding test became policy. The same goes for A listers who board at the latest in between A and B and who will now board with military members.

All of the people receiving priority boarding deserve it. Families have a right to sit together, disabled people need to board first, military members out of uniform should be allowed to board after A (Southwest's old policy on this was horrible. Nobody in the military travels in uniform anymore). The problem isn't whether these people deserve early boarding or not, it's how to ensure that the passenger who's paying for early boarding gets a perceived value from that purchase. For some passengers, perceived value means having the most seating options. All things considered, I think Southwest will start assigning seats within ten years. I know that the family boarding test is merely a test, and may never be implemented, but it shows that open seating is becoming a more complex issue than it was in the early days, with more groups needing early access to seats all while premium customers want the product they paid for.

Does anyone else feel that open seating is unsustainable?

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

Bye, A group. Here are the big changes Southwest Airlines just revealed

Soon, your seat on a Southwest Airlines flight won't depend on your boarding group.

Southwest revealed major changes to its boarding policy and flight schedule on Thursday, July 25, including phasing out its longstanding open seating policy in favor of assigned and premium seating.

Southwest also plans to introduce redeye flights. One of its first redeye flights will be from Phoenix.

The move comes as Southwest, which operates the second-largest flight capacity at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, is working to improve its profitability and the flying experience. In April , Southwest CEO Bob Jordan told investors in an earnings call that his staff was looking into whether ending open seating would satisfy customers' preferences.

Here's what to know about the end of open seating on Southwest Airlines and what other changes may be coming.

Is Southwest Airlines doing away with open seating?

Yes. Southwest will begin assigned seating on all flights in 2025.

In addition, Southwest will create a premium cabin section with extended-legroom seats. This premium section will encompass about one-third of the available seats.

The changes won't occur right away because the new cabin layouts require approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Southwest's announcement.

Southwest will reveal more details about how assigned and premium seats will work and what the cabin layouts will look like during the airline's Investor Day in late September.

When reached for comment by The Arizona Republic, Southwest did not say what the premium-seat legroom will be and whether standard legroom would change from the 32-inch average seat pitch in the current cabins.

Why is Southwest ending open seating?

It has to do with both customer preference and the airline's profitability.

Southwest said it conducted extensive research on passengers' seating preferences and found that 80% of its customers and 86% of potential customers prefer seat assignments. Customers cited the airline's open seating policy as the No. 1 reason why they chose to fly with a competing airline.

"We have been building purposefully to this change as part of a comprehensive upgrade to the Southwest experience as we focus on customer expectations – and it will unlock new sources of revenue consistent with our laser focus on delivering improved financial performance," Jordan said in the airline's announcement.

Southwest is working to improve its financial position. The airline reported a net loss of $231 million in the first three months of 2024.

The airline brought in $7.4 billion in operating revenues from April to June 2024, but the $367 million it took in in profits was more than 46% less than its profit during the same period in 2023, according to its second-quarter 2024 financial report .

Airline staff also expect its non-fuel operating costs, which include employees' salaries and aircraft maintenance, will increase around 11% to 13% in the next three months.

What is open seating on Southwest Airlines?

On a flight with open seating, passengers don't have assigned seats.

Where they sit largely depends on their place in the boarding queue: Those boarding in Group A get the best choice of seats. After Group B, those who board in Group C usually are limited to middle seats and little to no overhead space for carry-ons.

Southwest's open seating policy was introduced with the airline's founding in 1971. Back then, the seating was first come, first served. The boarding groups began after a 2006 experiment with assigned seating revealed customers' frustrations with the first come, first served approach.

Does Southwest do redeyes?

Besides ending open seating, Southwest announced Thursday that it would begin offering redeye flights that leave at night and arrive the next morning.

Southwest's first redeyes include a nonstop Phoenix-Baltimore flight, which will begin flying on Feb. 13, 2025. The flight leaves Sky Harbor at 11:05 p.m. Arizona time and arrives in Baltimore at 5:10 a.m. Eastern time. We found fares from $236 one way, comparable to or slightly cheaper than other Southwest fares between the two cities.

Southwest will introduce four other redeye routes in February 2025 — Las Vegas-Baltimore, Las Vegas-Orlando, Los Angeles-Baltimore and Los Angeles-Nashville — with more possible in the future.

Will Southwest change its Bags Fly Free policy?

Some travel industry analysts, such as Steve and Paul Glenn of the Nebraska-based travel management company Executive Travel , speculate that Southwest will eventually change its checked bag policy.

Right now, the airline allows each passenger to check their first two bags for free — a sharp contrast from competitors such as American Airlines, which recently changed its baggage policy to charge $40 for the first checked bag.

The Glenns forecasted in a June podcast that Southwest would reduce that to one free checked bag if its profitability doesn't improve.

When asked by The Republic if Southwest would change its baggage policy, a Southwest spokesperson said, "No additional changes forthcoming at this time."

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:  @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today.

Southwest Airlines is under attack—and it’s something founder Herb Kelleher always worried about

Southwest Airlines , the world’s all-time most successful airline, is under siege. The take-no-prisoners activist investor Paul Singer and his Elliott Management firm want to oust the top executives and most of the directors. That’s no surprise: The stock is where it was ten years ago. CEO Bob Jordan knows he’s on the hot seat. “Our overall results—they are not where they should be,” he told Wall Street analysts in July. “They are not reflective of what we are capable of delivering.” His response, appropriately large-scale, is “a strategic transformation of the business,” a phrase that elicits worry as much as reassurance.

Now customers, employees, alumni, competitors, shareholders, and admirers are all asking the same question: What would Herb do?

Herb Kelleher, who died five years ago, was the Southwest co-founder and longtime CEO who created the company’s singularly successful model. It has made Southwest the largest U.S. domestic airline, bigger than American Airlines , Delta Air Lines , or United Airlines . It was profitable for 47 consecutive years from the time it began operations until Covid broke the string, a record unmatched by any other airline in the world. In that same period, all three of its main competitors went bankrupt at least once.

But times have changed, and Jordan is undoing central elements of Kelleher’s model. Singer wants to go much further, yet their differences are matters of degree, not direction. Southwest became the world’s most successful airline by being radically unlike other airlines, and now Jordan and Singer, in their own ways, want to rescue it by going in the opposite direction—by making it more like other airlines.

The most important change, on which Jordan and Singer agree, is that Southwest must abandon two of the model’s most sacrosanct elements: just one class of service, and no assigned seats. They may well be right.

Other airlines earn most of their profit from extra-room coach, business class, and first class, so Southwest is missing out on a huge opportunity that wasn’t as lucrative back when airlines didn’t have today’ profit-maximizing algorithms for setting fares.

Without assigned seats, Southwest can board its planes fast, enabling planes to turn around faster than other airlines can do and thus fly more segments per day. But “customers are just taking fewer short-haul trips today,” Jordan says, “and when they fly longer, the importance of an assigned seat goes up.” In addition, research found that 80% of Southwest’s customers prefer an assigned seat, and customers who leave Southwest for a different airline cite open seating as their No. 1 reason.

The danger is that the Southwest model is an intricate machine, so tinkering with any element will affect the others.

Assigned seating? While Southwest doesn’t offer it, passengers can choose a seat in advance for a fee. Such “ancillary products around boarding,” as the company calls them, bring in close to $1 billion a year. Assigned seats will eliminate that revenue.

A premium class would require extra legroom, meaning fewer total seats, and the Southwest model requires lots of seats. That’s why the airline doesn’t serve meals; no meals means no galley, leaving room for another row of seats. JP Morgan Chase analyst Jamie Baker wonders if Southwest will also add more non-premium seats by reducing the distance between rows. If so, he writes in a recent report, “a more punitive product might drive lower yields than today. We simply don’t know.”

Which brings us back to what Herb would do. He was always in favor of change—fast—when necessary. “We reject the idea of long-range planning,” he told me years ago. “Have the alacrity of a puma. A plan about what we’re going to do ten years from now will almost certainly be invalidated in the next six months.”

But his passion above all was the most intangible element of the Southwest model, and in his view the most important by far. It was the Southwest culture. Interviewing him onstage at a Fortune conference, I deliberately provoked him by reciting the nuts-and-bolts elements of the Southwest model and then saying, “That’s the secret sauce. What does culture have to do with it?”

Steam did not actually shoot out of his ears, but it almost did. “Culture has everything to do with it,” he replied, “because my competitors can copy everything you just said, but they can’t copy our culture, and they know it.”

It wasn’t just feel-good talk. Through all of Southwest’s history, the culture was a crucial component of making the model work. Turning around a plane in 20 minutes—fueling, inspecting, off-loading and on-loading baggage, getting passengers off and on, dealing with glitches—is never easy and sometimes requires workers to do jobs they don’t usually do. The culture determines whether they do them. Passengers aren’t thrilled by other key components of the package – the lack of assigned seats, meals, and inter-line baggage transfer—but customer-facing employees in the Southwest culture can make it all seem okay. When a flight attendant hides in an overhead baggage bin during the turn-around and then says “Surprise!” when a boarding passenger opens it, or near the end of a flight sings a made-up song called “Landing in Tulsa On Time,” it’s hard not to smile. 

That’s the critical dollars-and-cents value of culture. So it’s notable that in Southwest’s recent earnings call, none of the company’s six executives mentioned it. Neither did any of the Wall Street analysts or media reporters on the call. Paul Singer’s 51-slide deck making his case for ousting Southwest’s top executives and most of the directors does not mention culture even once.

We can never know what Herb would do, but we can guess what his focus would be. “My biggest concern is that somehow, through maladroitness, through inattention, through misunderstanding, we lose the esprit de corps, the culture, the spirit,” he told me long ago. ”If we ever do lose that, we will have lost our most valuable competitive asset.”

As the Southwest saga advances, it will be worth remembering the element that the contenders seem to have forgotten.

Latest in Leadership

The ‘Viking Code’ leadership of Nicolai Tangen, a $1.7T wealth fund CEO unafraid to lock horns with Elon Musk

South Korea’s low fertility rate is ‘no joke’—and that’s pushing a Korean pizza startup to go global fast

Microsoft is organizing a special summit with CrowdStrike, government officials, and tech firms to prevent another global computer meltdown

Nvidia Q2 results will be ‘the most important tech earnings in years,’ predicts tech bull Ives

A week ago, Starbucks’ new CEO was a ‘messiah’…and then everyone found out about his 1,000-mile private-jet supercommute

Most popular.

The stranded Boeing Starliner astronauts planned to hitch a ride home with SpaceX, but their space suits aren’t compatible with Elon Musk’s spacecraft

After postage price hikes and $87 billion in losses, critics of the USPS leader say latest gambit could lead to death spiral

Mike Lynch was ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’—but the late tech millionaire would spend many of his final months under house arrest

Ship captain who saw Mike Lynch’s yacht sink blames ‘extreme mast’

Elon Musk was just forced to reveal who really owns X. Here’s the list

U.S. Olympic gold medalist went from $200,000-a-year sponsorship to $12-an-hour internship

• Log in/Log out (Opens in new window)
• All content
• Rural Alaska
• Crime & Courts
• Alaska Legislature
• ADN Politics Podcast
• National Opinions
• Letters to the Editor
• Nation/World
• Film and TV
• Outdoors/Adventure
• High School Sports
• UAA Athletics
• National Sports
• Food and Drink
• Visual Stories
• Alaska Journal of Commerce (Opens in new window)
• The Arctic Sounder
• The Bristol Bay Times
• Today's Paper (Opens in new window)
• Legal Notices (Opens in new window)
• Peak 2 Peak Events (Opens in new window)
• Educator of the Year (Opens in new window)
• Celebrating Nurses (Opens in new window)
• Top 40 Under 40 (Opens in new window)
• Alaska Spelling Bee (Opens in new window)
• Alaska Craft Brew Festival
• Best of Alaska
• Spring Career Fair (Opens in new window)
• Achievement in Business
• Youth Summit Awards
• Teacher of the Month
• 2024 Alaska Summer Camps Guide (Opens in new window)
• Holiday Bazaar Guide (Opens in new window)
• 2024 Back to School (Opens in new window)
• Alaska Visitors Guide 2024 (Opens in new window)
• Bear Paw Festival 2024 (Opens in new window)
• 2023 Best of Alaska (Opens in new window)
• Alaska Health Care (Opens in new window)
• On the Move AK (Opens in new window)
• Senior Living in Alaska (Opens in new window)
• Youth Summit Awards (Opens in new window)
• Alaska Visitors Guide
• ADN Store (Opens in new window)
• Classifieds (Opens in new window)
• Jobs (Opens in new window)
• Place an Ad (Opens in new window)
• Customer Service
• Sponsored Content

3 passengers suffer minor injuries in helicopter crash near Knik Glacier

Knik Glacier in April 2023. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

PALMER — Three passengers suffered minor injuries after a flightseeing helicopter crashed in the Chugach Mountains in windy conditions near Knik Glacier on Sunday, authorities say.

The helicopter was one of four carrying 12 passengers on a group tour to mountainous terrain south of Mount Goode, according to Alpha Aviation, the company operating the flight. The company bases tours out of Alaska Glacier Lodge at the end of Knik River Road near Butte.

The four-seat Robinson R44 took off with the three other helicopters at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, according to Clint Johnson, Alaska chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. The tour crossed Grasshopper Valley and overflew the glacier, he said.

The helicopter crashed just below a site at 2,800 feet where the pilot originally planned to set down, Johnson said. Passengers described high winds before the helicopter landed hard and rolled over, coming to rest with its tail in a small pond, he said.

A sudden wind shear caught the helicopter, according to Mike Neely, Alpha Aviation’s general manager. It was windy in Palmer but other helicopters flying tours up the Knik Valley experienced fairly calm conditions earlier that day, Neely said.

The lead pilot was just about to land when he experienced “at least a 30- to 40-knot wind shear,” he said, adding the other pilots were able to fly out of the immediate area.

The pilot in the first helicopter was too low to abort the landing, so he tried to follow the terrain to another site, Neely said. “If he would have continued to his spot it would have been much, much worse.”

Unable to get to the other site, he said, the pilot “elected to do a hard landing” and then the helicopter tipped on its side.

The pilot got the passengers out and sent out an emergency alert, Neely said. Another Alpha Aviation helicopter brought the passengers back to the lodge, he said.

They initially declined medical attention but later one was seen at a hospital as a precaution, Neely said.

An initial report posted Tuesday on a Federal Aviation Administration database described the incident as a hard landing that resulted in no injuries. The information had been updated as of Thursday to reflect three passengers with minor injuries.

There was no additional information available Thursday about the nature of their injuries.

The company was involved in a similar incident last winter when a helicopter carrying six passengers rolled near Knik Glacier in December 2023 , injuring two people who were treated and released at the hospital, officials said at the time. The crash happened during a “hard, unscheduled landing” in the southwest area of Lake George, the company said.

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at [email protected].