How does the Southwest Airlines boarding process work?

Southwest® Boarding Process. How does the boarding process work? You will be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check in. Your unique group and position combination (for example: A35) will be displayed on your boarding pass and represents a reserved spot in the boarding group at the gate.

1. Is Southwest boarding back to front?
2. How do I pick my seat on Southwest Airlines?
3. Do you have to wear a mask on Southwest Airlines?
4. When can I pick my seat on Southwest Airlines?
5. Do families board first on Southwest?
6. What does position mean on a Southwest boarding pass?
7. What are the best seats on Southwest Airlines?
8. Can you sit together on Southwest?
9. How many boarding positions are on Southwest Airlines?
10. What are the cheapest days to fly Southwest?
11. How can I tell how full a Southwest flight is?
12. Does Southwest Airlines block middle seats?

Is Southwest boarding back to front?

How Southwest boarding works. ... The airline has an “open boarding” policy, which means that you can sit just about anywhere you want: up front, way in the back or right in the middle. There are no assigned seats, not even at the very front of the plane. It's first come, first seated.

How do I pick my seat on Southwest Airlines?

Southwest Airlines has an open seating policy. Seats are not assigned ahead of time, rather passengers are assigned a boarding group, A, B, or C, and a boarding position, 1-60. The boarding group and position determine when you board the plane, and thus how many seats you will be able to choose from.

Do you have to wear a mask on Southwest Airlines?

Customers will be required to wear a mask over their nose and mouth at all times during their Southwest travel experience—while checking in, boarding, while in flight, deplaning, retrieving baggage; and any other time they may engage with a Southwest Employee or another Customer.

When can I pick my seat on Southwest Airlines?

This will automatically check you in 36 hours before your flight so you'll be one of the first to board and have earlier access to choose your seat. However, you can usually get a decent boarding position by just setting a reminder to check-in exactly 24 hours before departure.

Do families board first on Southwest?

Southwest offers Family Boarding after the A group, but before the B groups, for any families traveling with children 6 and under who are in the B or C groups. (Obviously, if you have an A boarding pass then you will board ahead of this offer.) Once you get on board, you can choose any seats that are still unoccupied.

What does position mean on a Southwest boarding pass?

Rather than assigning seats to passengers, Southwest has an open seating style. ... A Southwest boarding group (either A, B, or C) and position (1-60) will be assigned to you at check-in and it'll be printed on your boarding pass.

What are the best seats on Southwest Airlines?

The best seat on a Southwest 737-700

The best seat for extra legroom on a 737-700 is the coveted seat 12A, as it allows you to extend your legs more than any other seat on the aircraft. The reason you have so much room is that there is no passenger seat in front of you.

Can you sit together on Southwest?

Southwest allows all families with children ages 6 and under to board between the A & B groups no matter what their assigned boarding numbers. In my many dozens of flights with Southwest, I have always been able to secure three or four seats together for my family when we board during family boarding.

How many boarding positions are on Southwest Airlines?

On Southwest passengers are broken up into three groups — A, B, and C — and each passenger is given a number in that range, typically from 1 to 60. The plane is boarded in order of your priority, meaning that A1 boards first, and C60 boards last (assuming there are passengers with those numbers).

What are the cheapest days to fly Southwest?

Generally speaking, Saturday (for domestic travel), Monday, and Thursday are the cheapest days to fly next. The most expensive days to fly by plane are Sunday and Friday. Midweek flights are usually less expensive than weekend flights.

How can I tell how full a Southwest flight is?

Checking Your Flight Status

Scroll down to the bottom of the webpage to find a section titled "Other Flight Information". The number of people on the flight will appear as well as the number of seats available.

Does Southwest Airlines block middle seats?

The boarding changes follow most airlines' moves to stop blocking middle seats, a policy that was popular early in the pandemic. Southwest stopped blocking middle seats on Dec. 1. Delta Air Lines is the only carrier still limiting seat sales in economy class, a policy in effect through April 30.