There usually is a lot of questions about Southwest and how they board. I thought I would create this to help out. I hope it does answer questions for those flying southwest for the first time and those who buy early bird check in.
Southwest does not have assigned seats, you board according to your boarding pass number. A1 is the best C60 is last.
How do you get your boarding pass:
Option 1: 24 hours before your flight:
5 minutes before the 24 hour mark, 10 minutes for first timers, go to the www.southwest.com website.
Click the button that says check in on the bar.
Have your name and confirmation number prefilled in the boxes
At exactly 24 hours before your flight, use the check in button.
On the next screen check where is says get boarding pass, click this as fast as you can, this will check in all of those under the confirmation number.
You are assigned a boarding pass number.
Now Print it at home, your hotel, or at the airport, of maybe have it sent to your phone.
You have what you need for security and to board your plane.
Option 2: Early Bird Check In
Purchase early bird check in. Best to do this at the time you purchase your tickets, but you can do this at any time before the 24 hour window for boarding passes.
Within the 24 hour window:
Go to the www.southwest.com website.
Click the button that says check in on the bar.
Enter your name and confirmation number in the boxes
On the next screen check where is says get boarding pass
Your boarding pass number has been automatically assigned.
Now Print it at home, your hotel, or at the airport, of maybe have it sent to your phone.
You have what you need for security and to board your plane.
More on Early bird check in later.
Boarding the plane:
Pre-boards will enter the plane first, those who need assistance or have other special needs
A1-A15 Business Class then get to board
A16-30, followed by A31-60
At this point family boarding MAY occur, it is up to the gate agents, and this is for families with children 5 and under
B1-B30, followed by B31-B60
C1-30, followed by C31-C60
And your plane is fully boarded.
Early Bird Check In:
The early bird is assigned according to when the passes were purchased. If you bought the day they were released you would be near the front of the line. If you buy them tomorrow you will be ahead of anyone who buys passes after you do. It does not matter how many are in the party, just how many early birds you have and when they were purchased.
From Southwest’s website:
Customers who have purchased Anytime Fares will receive priority over other fare types that are assigned their position based on the time stamp of the EarlyBird Check-In purchase.