You're ready to fly with Southwest, but how do you secure your spot? Unlike most airlines, Southwest Airlines operates with an open seating policy, which means there are no assigned seats when you book your ticket. Instead, your ability to pick your preferred seat on the plane depends entirely on your boarding position. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from booking to boarding, to maximize your chances of getting the seat you want!
Your Ultimate Guide to Booking a Seat on Southwest Airlines
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| How Do I Book A Seat On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Getting Started - Your First Click (or Call)!
So, you've decided to fly Southwest – excellent choice for their flexible policies and friendly service! Now, the big question: how do you kick off this booking adventure?
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Option 1: The Official Website (Recommended for Most Users)
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Open your web browser and navigate to the official Southwest Airlines website:
www.southwest.com
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Option 2: The Southwest Airlines Mobile App
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If you're on the go, download the Southwest Airlines app from your device's app store (available for iOS and Android). The app offers a seamless booking experience and is incredibly useful for managing your trip later.
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Option 3: Calling Southwest Reservations
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Prefer a human touch? You can call Southwest Airlines directly to book your flight. Their customer service representatives can assist you with finding flights, making reservations, and answering any questions you may have. You can usually find their reservation number on their website under "Contact Us."
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Step 2: Finding Your Flight and Understanding Fare Types
Once you're on the website or app, it's time to find your ideal flight!
2.1 Entering Your Travel Details
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Departure and Arrival Cities: Input where you're flying from and to.
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Travel Dates: Select your desired departure and return dates. Southwest offers a handy low fare calendar if you have flexibility.
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Number of Passengers: Specify how many adults, children, and infants will be traveling.
2.2 Exploring Southwest's Fare Options
Southwest offers a few different fare types, and understanding them is crucial for your boarding position! Each fare type comes with different perks, particularly concerning check-in and boarding.
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Wanna Get Away® Basic (Most Restrictive): This is generally the lowest fare but comes with limitations. Flight changes require a fare upgrade, and there are no same-day changes or standby allowed. You'll earn fewer Rapid Rewards points.
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Wanna Get Away Plus®: Offers more flexibility than Basic. You'll get a transferable flight credit if you cancel, and same-day confirmed changes are allowed (though taxes and fees may apply). You earn more Rapid Rewards points.
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Anytime®: A more flexible fare type. It's refundable if you cancel, includes EarlyBird Check-In, and offers priority and express lanes. You earn even more Rapid Rewards points.
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Business Select®: This is Southwest's highest fare tier and offers the most benefits. It includes refundable tickets, a guaranteed A1-A15 boarding position (which means you'll be among the first to board), free premium drinks, and more Rapid Rewards points.
Choose the fare that best suits your budget and your desire for an early boarding position. If securing a specific seat is paramount, Business Select is your best bet, but it comes at a higher price.
Step 3: Passenger Information and Payment
QuickTip: Skim first, then reread for depth.
After selecting your flight, you'll enter passenger details and complete the payment.
3.1 Inputting Passenger Details
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Full Name: Enter the full name of each passenger exactly as it appears on their government-issued ID.
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Date of Birth: Provide the correct date of birth for each passenger.
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Rapid Rewards Number (Optional but Recommended): If you're a Rapid Rewards member, enter your number to earn points on your flight. If you're not a member, you can easily sign up for free! Earning points can lead to free flights down the road.
3.2 Adding Extras and Paying
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EarlyBird Check-In (Highly Recommended for Better Boarding): This is where you can significantly influence your boarding position without buying a Business Select fare. For an additional fee per person, per flight segment, Southwest will automatically check you in starting 36 hours before your flight's scheduled departure. This gives you a much better chance of securing an "A" or early "B" boarding position.
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Consider this carefully! If you want to avoid the middle seat, EarlyBird Check-In is often worth the investment.
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Other Add-ons: You might see options for travel insurance or rental cars at this stage.
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Payment: Enter your credit card details to complete the purchase. Review all information carefully before confirming your booking.
Step 4: Confirmation and Managing Your Booking
Once your payment is processed, you'll receive a confirmation.
4.1 Your Confirmation Number
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You will receive a confirmation email with your itinerary and a unique confirmation number. Keep this number safe! It's essential for managing your booking, checking in, and retrieving your boarding pass.
4.2 Using "Manage Reservations"
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On the Southwest website or app, you can use the "Manage Reservations" section to:
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View your itinerary
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Change or cancel your flight (subject to fare rules and potential fare differences)
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Add EarlyBird Check-In (if you didn't do so during booking)
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Step 5: Check-In - The Key to Your Seat (and Boarding Position)!
This is the most critical step for Southwest's open seating policy. Your check-in time determines your boarding position.
Tip: Reading in short bursts can keep focus high.
5.1 When to Check In
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General Check-In: Online check-in opens exactly 24 hours prior to your flight's scheduled departure time.
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Set an alarm! The earlier you check in within this 24-hour window, the better your boarding position will be. This is particularly important if you didn't purchase EarlyBird.
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EarlyBird Check-In: If you purchased EarlyBird Check-In, Southwest automatically checks you in beginning 36 hours prior to departure. You still need to retrieve your boarding pass within the 24-hour window, but your boarding position is secured earlier.
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Business Select: If you booked a Business Select fare, your A1-A15 boarding position is guaranteed, and you'll be automatically checked in.
5.2 How to Check In
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Online: Go to southwest.com or use the Southwest app. Click on "Check In," enter your confirmation number and last name, and follow the prompts.
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Airport Kiosk/Ticket Counter: You can also check in at the airport at a self-service kiosk or the Southwest ticket counter, but you'll likely receive a later boarding position compared to checking in online at the 24-hour mark.
5.3 Understanding Boarding Groups (A, B, C) and Positions (1-60)
Southwest uses a unique boarding process:
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Groups: Passengers are assigned one of three boarding groups: A, B, or C.
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Positions: Within each group, you're assigned a numerical position from 1 to 60.
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Boarding Order: Boarding occurs in this order: A1-A60, then B1-B60, and finally C1-C60.
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Your boarding pass will clearly state your assigned group and position. For example, "A35" means you're in Group A, position 35.
5.4 Preboarding and Family Boarding
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Preboarding: Southwest offers preboarding for passengers with disabilities who need assistance or extra time to board. Speak to a Southwest Customer Service Agent at the gate to request this.
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Family Boarding: This allows families traveling with a child aged six or younger to board between the A and B groups. This is a fantastic benefit for families who want to sit together without purchasing EarlyBird for everyone. Up to two adults traveling with the child can board during Family Boarding.
Step 6: Boarding the Aircraft and Selecting Your Seat
This is where the rubber meets the runway (literally!).
6.1 Lining Up at the Gate
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Southwest gates have numbered poles or signs indicating where passengers should line up based on their boarding position (e.g., A 1-15, A 16-30, etc.).
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When your group and position range are called, find your spot in line.
6.2 The Open Seating Advantage (and Challenge)
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Once you board, you can choose any available seat on the aircraft. There are no pre-assigned seats.
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The earlier your boarding position, the more choices you'll have.
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A group: You'll likely have your pick of window or aisle seats, and often multiple seats together if traveling with companions.
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B group: You'll still have a decent selection, but prime window and aisle seats might be taken. You should still be able to find seats together.
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C group: This is where seat selection becomes more challenging. You might be left with middle seats, or seats far apart if traveling with others.
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Pro Tip: If you're in the B or C group and traveling with someone, board together and look for two empty rows to try and snag a window and aisle, leaving the middle open. Sometimes, people won't take the middle seat if there are other options available.
Tip: Watch for summary phrases — they give the gist.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to get a better boarding position on Southwest Airlines?
The best ways to get a better boarding position are to purchase a Business Select fare (guarantees A1-A15), buy EarlyBird Check-In (automatically checks you in 36 hours prior), or check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight departs.
How to check in online for a Southwest flight?
Go to southwest.com or use the Southwest mobile app, click "Check In," and enter your confirmation number and last name. You can do this starting 24 hours before your flight.
How to add EarlyBird Check-In to an existing Southwest reservation?
Log into your Southwest account or retrieve your reservation on southwest.com or the app using your confirmation number. Look for the option to "Add EarlyBird Check-In" and follow the prompts to purchase it.
How to know your boarding group and position for Southwest?
Your boarding group (A, B, or C) and numerical position (1-60) will be clearly printed on your boarding pass after you check in.
How to use Family Boarding on Southwest?
QuickTip: Don’t just consume — reflect.
If you're traveling with a child age six or younger, you and up to one other adult can board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the A group has boarded but before the B group. Just listen for the announcement at the gate.
How to change a Southwest flight after booking?
Most Southwest flights (except Basic fares) can be changed online via "Manage Reservations" on southwest.com or the app up to 10 minutes before departure. A fare difference may apply, but Southwest does not charge change fees.
How to cancel a Southwest flight?
You can cancel a Southwest flight online through "Manage Reservations." Depending on your fare type, you'll receive a refund to your original payment method (for refundable fares) or a flight credit for future use.
How to book group travel on Southwest Airlines?
For groups of 10 or more, you can call Southwest's Group Travel Services at 1-800-433-5368. For business groups, they offer a self-service tool called Southwest® Groups via Southwest Business Assist®.
How to use Rapid Rewards points to book a Southwest flight?
Log into your Rapid Rewards account on southwest.com, enter your flight information, and select "Points" as your payment method. You'll see the fare displayed in points.
How to retrieve a mobile boarding pass for Southwest?
After checking in via the Southwest app or mobile website, tap on the "boarding pass" button. You can then save it to Apple Wallet (iOS) or Google Pay (Android) for easy access.
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