How to Get Boarding Pass Southwest Again
Are you lot wondering how exactly Southwest boarding groups work?
This article will show yous everything you need to know about the Southwest boarding procedure.
I'll as well show you different ways that you can get priority boarding and cover things similar family boarding and war machine boarding. I'll also give you some details near Southwest seating (charts, maps, etc.) and some tips for getting the best seats.
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How many boarding groups does Southwest have?
Southwest has three main boarding groups:
- Boarding group A
- Boarding grouping B
- Boarding grouping C
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How does Southwest boarding work?
When you check-in for your flight, you'll be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and within that boarding group you'll be assigned a number (1 through 60).
Then for example, you lot might be assigned A50, which means you'll be the 50th person to board within Group A.
Information technology could vary depending on the drome, only generally, yous'll run across monitors or signs showing yous where to represent your group. The signs will typically say something like "A one-thirty" or "A 31-60." An "A 1-thirty" sign would mean that if you accept an A boarding laissez passer and your boarding number is xxx or under (e.m., A25), that is where you need to get to line upward.
You lot should also see some silvery posts marked with numbers which will tell you where to stand. These numbers are usually marked in increments of 5. So if you lot take A50, you'll locate the post that might accept something like "50 to 55" marked and that is where yous will need to go.
You lot will then stand in that infinite and as the other four passengers start to accumulate in that surface area y'all will usually sort yourselves out by asking each other what boarding spot they accept. If you lot have A50, you will be in front of that little "50 to 55" section simply if you had something like A53 y'all would exist in the middle. Not all passengers care about getting in the exact order simply some do.
Once you find where you need to stand, you'll simply expect for them to beginning boarding and proceed to make your way to the aeroplane. Once you're inside the plane, you tin choose any seat since seats are not assigned with Southwest.
As unconventional as information technology might audio from other airlines like United, the boarding procedures are usually pretty shine.
What order does Southwest board its planes?
Although there are only three boarding groups, the actual boarding pass issuance procedure is actually more complex. Below is the order that boarding passes volition exist issued, which also determines the lodge that you will lath the plane.
Note that Southwest will usually not call for people to lath by these categories. For example, they are not going to ask for all the A-Listing or EarlyBird members to board. Instead, they will call groups upwards by boarding pass group number. You will hear something similar, "now boarding all passengers with Group A boarding passes numbered one through thirty."
And then below is the order that yous can await boarding passes to exist issued/the order boarding volition go.
Passengers already on the plane
Some passengers may already be on the aeroplane depending on the origin of the flight. But if some passengers got off the airplane for a layover, they might exist among the offset to board.
This means that yous could accept a Business Select ticket, and still have several people board before you depending on the size of the crowds.
Pre-boarding
Pre-boarding will consist of those passengers who demand extra fourth dimension or aid to lath (those with disabilities and people with service animals volition usually exist included in this grouping likewise). This is as well when unaccompanied minors board the plane.
Other passengers who might board at this time are those with large camera equipment, instruments, and certain other select people. This group will be able to board before anybody else despite whatever boarding grouping or boarding number they are issued.
Business Select
The next individuals to board are those who purchased Business Select fares. (This will be the start grouping to exist issued boarding passes commencement with Grouping A.)
Southwest doesn't offer a traditional showtime course but they do offer Business Select fares, which offer y'all the highest earning rate for Rapid Rewards. (More on those tickets below).
Afterward passengers who have purchased Business organization Select fares, those who were upgraded to Business Select will be issued boarding passes.
A-list Preferred
The next to get boarding passes will be A-List Preferred, which is the peak-tier elite status offered by Southwest.
You can qualify for A-List Preferred by flying 50 one-way qualifying segments or earning 70,000 qualifying points. In one case y'all qualify for A-Listing Preferred, yous'll receive a 100% bonus on Rapid Rewards earned, priority bank check-in, and security lane admission. Y'all'll also get gratuitous in-flight wifi (on planes equipped with wifi) and the ability to get on before flights for free.
A-list
A-listing is the bottom-tier elite status only beneath A-List Preferred and so they get boarding passes right after A-List Preferred.
A-List can be achieved past flying 25 i-mode qualifying segments or earning 35,000 qualifying points. In one case you qualify for A-List, you'll receive a 25% bonus on Rapid Rewards earned, priority check-in, and security lane admission.
EarlyBird
The next passengers to go boarding passes will be those with EarlyBird. Southwest EarlyBird automatically checks you in 36 hours prior to departure and while it does not guarantee an A boarding spot, information technology volition offering you a much meliorate chance of getting a window or aisle seat.
Read more than beneath on whether or not it's worth information technology.
Boarding Grouping A/B
After EarlyBird passengers are issued boarding passes so boarding passes are issued based on the number of slots left over for Group A. As mentioned, information technology is possible that in that location are no Group A boarding spots left for some EarlyBird passengers so the side by side boarding passes issued could be for Group B.
Some people might always be able to board right later Grouping A.
Family boarding
If you are traveling with a kid 6 or nether, y'all should be able to board in between Group A and Group B (this is the family boarding time).
A-List
Also, if you're A-Listing and y'all purchased a final minute ticket you'll be able to board betwixt Group A and Group B.
Military
And finally, military members (normally in compatible but not always) tin board between Group A and Group B. If you lot're not traveling in your uniform, consider showing your military ID to a gate agent and inquiring virtually priority boarding.
Boarding Group B
Once boarding Group A is filled upwardly, then boarding Grouping B boarding passes will be issued.
If you're in boarding Group B, you tin still get a decent seat if you're in B1 to B30, but the closer you get to boarding Grouping C, the tougher it'southward going to exist to get your desired seat.
However, if you lot're okay with sitting in the rear of the plane, it will be easier to find desirable seats or seats together.
Boarding Group C
Once boarding Group B is filled upwards, then boarding Group C boarding passes will be issued.
Most of the time if you're in Group C, it'due south going to be very hard to get a window seat or aisle seat. Caput towards the back for your best odds.
Standbys
Standbys will be the last to board.
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Companion Pass Boarding
The Southwest Companion Pass allows a partner to fly for gratuitous with y'all for up to 2 full agenda years and information technology's 1 of the most valuable travel perks sought by many.
When you utilize the Companion Pass you and your partner will non necessarily go boarding passes correct next to each other. Southwest did run a trial allowing companions to board next to each other only I'm unaware of the results of the trial.
Why practise boarding groups matter?
Besides only existence able to board the airplane quicker and choose your desired seat (window or alley), there are ii specific reasons why you'd want a higher boarding pass.
Baggage
Southwest has a generous baggage policy where they allow you to check two bags for free.
Equally for comport-ons, information technology'due south the aforementioned baggage policy that most other major airlines have for their standard tickets: i personal item and 1 comport-on.
So by getting a improve boarding position, you'll be able to guarantee that you'll have overhead storage for your numberless.
Emergency row seats
Emergency exit rows on Southwest planes have extra legroom and/or accept rows with only two seats which are swell for couples.
By securing a higher boarding pass, your flight tin can become a lot more enjoyable equally you'll take more room.
Southwest usually flies 737-700s and 737-800s and the 737-800s have more emergency exit rows with only two seats, then it'due south a adept idea to check ahead of time (if possible) to see which blazon of aircraft yous are flying on.
Southwest seating details (seating nautical chart)
If you're flying Southwest, chances are you'll be flying on a 737-700 or a 737-800. You might exist wondering about how much room you'll have with your Southwest seating and hither'due south what yous can await:
- 737-700 — Pitch (leg room): 31 inches; width 17 inches
- 737-800 — Pitch (leg room): 32 to 33 inches; width 17 inches
- 737-800MAX — Pitch (leg room): 32 to 33 inches; width 17.viii inches
Then as you lot can see, when it comes to Southwest seating, you'll get more leg room with the 737-800 co-ordinate to SeatGuru and y'all'll have a wider seat with the 737-800 Max. .viii inches might at present sound like that much but every little fleck helps when y'all're flying. You tin view the Southwest seating charts here.
Get the best seat option (Southwest priority boarding)
There are a few ways that yous can secure "priority boarding" with Southwest. I put that in quotations considering there aren't true priority boarding groups but there are some ways you can effectively go priority boarding and get the best seat selection.
Business organisation Select
If you lot purchase a Business Select fare, you'll be guaranteed a boarding position A1 to A15.
Business Select fares are commonly but a little bit more expensive than Anytime fares but they allow you to earn more points and also offer the following benefits:
- Guaranteed A1-A15 boarding
- Wing Past lane access
- Gratuitous premium drink
- 12 Rapid Rewards per dollar spent
- Fully refundable fare
You lot tin can read more on whether or not Business Select fares are worth information technology here.
Upgrade to Business organization Select
Instead of purchasing Business Select fares you can also upgrade.
The cost to upgrade to Business Select varies from$30 to $50 per segment, depending on the route.
To upgrade, simply approach the ticket counter or desk-bound at the departure gate and ask about the upgrade. Sometimes they make you upgrade at the gate reserved for your flying but other times you lot can do it at check-in or at another Southwest gate. Southwest should be able to tell you exactly what boarding number you'd receive before you upgrade and then you can run into if it's worth it.
The new Southwest Priority Credit Menu now offers upwardly to iv upgrades to priority boarding (A1 to A15) based on availability per year.
Among other benefits, it besides offers a $75 annual credit,20% back on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies, and 20% dorsum on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies. Information technology's non a bad way to embrace those upgrades to Business Select if you only need to cover a few of those a year.
Southwest EarlyBird
Another choice to secure a priority boarding position is to go with Southwest EarlyBird.
This will automatically check you in 36 hours prior to departure. EarlyBird does not guarantee an A boarding pass but information technology volition near always get you lot a boarding pass that will let you to get an alley or window seat.
For the about part, you should exist able to go a window seat or aisle seat merely by checking in yourself 24 hours before your flight. (It'due south ofttimes possible to get an A boarding pass checking in on your own.)
Yet, if y'all won't be available to cheque in 24 hours prior or you don't think that you'll think and so EarlyBird could be worth information technology.
EarlyBid used to cost $10 each way and so it was increased to $fifteen each manner. But recently, the pricing was changed to dynamic pricing and then information technology could toll upward to $25.
You lot can read more than most whether or not Southwest EarlyBird is worth information technology here.
Tin can you save seats on Southwest?
In that location's a lot of debate equally to whether or not its acceptable to save seats on Southwest flights.
For the most function it does seem to be frowned upon but you can usually save seats within reason.
More often than not, saving seats at the rear of the plane is not an consequence, especially if y'all're trying to keep your family unit together.
With that said, if you have a very big group, you lot might be inviting some issues since saving multiple rows can get a little messy at times.
As well, you don't desire to save seats in the front of the plane, as that might atomic number 82 to confrontations. In addition, it's usually not a good idea to save seats in the emergency leave rows as those are commonly in high need.
Tip: One trick I've done in the past is to become the flying attendant to occupy a seat as people board and people volition usually laissez passer over that seat.
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Can groups board together?
Southwest will permit y'all to board in groups even if your boarding passes are not directly before or after each other.
The catch is that they want you to board with the fellow member who has the lowest boarding pass.
So for example, permit'due south say in that location are 3 of you and yous have the following boarding passes:
- A25
- A60
- B30
Southwest will ask that A25 and A60 board with B30. This is to preserve the "integrity" of the boarding process since it actually doesn't affect the boarding waiting time of whatsoever of the other passengers.
How to print southwest boarding laissez passer?
Y'all tin can easily print your boarding pass past checking in online.
You tin print your boarding laissez passer online at Southwest.com or at the airport using a self-service kiosk on the solar day of deviation.
Southwest also allows you lot to board with a electronic or mobile boarding passes. You can asking a mobile boarding pass at the time of check-in on Southwest.com, the Southwest.com mobile site, or the Southwest mobile app for iPhone or Android.
Just notation that mobile boarding passes are non currently available to passengers traveling on international flights.
Southwest Tips
If you want to learn more tips about flying for Southwest click hither.
Also, if you want to earn more Rapid Rewards, be sure to check out the Southwest Shopping Portal.
Southwest boarding FAQ
How can I become the all-time boarding group?
You tin get the best boarding grouping on Southwest by purchasing or upgrading to Concern Select. Upgrading volition cost yous $thirty-$l per segment.
You tin too get a better boarding position by having A-Listing status.
By purchasing EarlyBird, you can also increase your odds of getting in the first boarding group although it is not guaranteed.
How practice I choose my seat before the flying?
Southwest does not permit you to select your seat prior to the flight.
Is it okay to save seats on Southwest?
Opinions are mixed on saving seats with Southwest Airlines. The best advice is to relieve seats in the back of the plane if y'all must and attempt to avoid saving multiple rows at a time when flying with a big group.
When does A-list board?
A-List will lath direct after Business Select. Showtime, A-List Preferred will board and and then post-obit them A-List will board.
When do families board?
Family boarding (which is offered to families traveling with a kid vi or nether), allows you to lath between Group A and Grouping B.
What boarding grouping do I need for a window or aisle seat?
Typically, if y'all have a boarding position under B30 you should be able to find a window or aisle seat. The further back in the airplane yous decide to sit down, the more likely yous will find a window or aisle seat.
When exercise standbys board?
Standby passengers volition exist the last to lath.
How much legroom practice you have on Southwest?
You mostly volition have 31 to 32 inches of legroom.
Does Southwest accept a special boarding policy for coronavirus?
No, Southwest stopped doing the special boarding process in March 2021.
Last give-and-take
Southwest boarding policies are pretty straight forward.
There are a few ways that you can get priority boarding though they all come up with different degrees of assurance.
Cover photo by BriYYZ via Flickr.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former chaser turned full-time credit card rewards/travel adept and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Concern Insider. Find his full bio here.
Source: https://www.uponarriving.com/southwest-boarding-groups/
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