Southwest boarding process: How to get Group A and more tips

The rules of flying like a decent human

Twitter is full of not-so-humble brags from vacationers who secured a coveted A-group boarding go, in addition to the grumblings of those that received caught in Group C, together with some who say they checked within the second they may.

Elements equivalent to whether or not you utilize the Southwest app to verify in, being a frequent-flier member (aside from elite members), the dimensions of your group and objective of journey usually are not factored into boarding place assignments, mentioned Laura Swift, a Southwest spokeswoman.

Nonetheless, moving into the A gaggle is not only in regards to the time you verify in: Boarding assignments on Southwest are decided by a mix of cash, timing, standing and pure probability.

“It’s surprisingly sophisticated,” mentioned Brett Snyder, who runs the Cranky Flier client air journey weblog, noting some points of the boarding assignments on Southwest stay a “black field,” even to journey specialists.

Right here’s why checking in 24 hours earlier than your flight may not get you the boarding place you need — and what you are able to do to safe an earlier spot.

The one solution to assure an early boarding place is to pay. Buying or upgrading to a Enterprise Choose ticket — Southwest’s most expensive fare class — ensures an A1-A15 boarding place.

If there are fewer than 15 Enterprise Choose passengers on the flight, the remaining slots within the A1-A15 group are bought starting 24 hours forward of the flight as Upgraded Boarding positions, beginning at $30 per flight. The worth varies based mostly on “recognition and size of every flight section,” in response to Southwest’s web site. Whereas beforehand out there solely on the gate, in August the corporate added the option to buy Upgraded Boarding upon check-in on its app and web site.

For frequent fliers with the Speedy Rewards Precedence or Speedy Rewards Efficiency Enterprise bank cards, the airline will reimburse as much as 4 Upgraded Boardings bought with the playing cards per yr.

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Take note, although, that being first to board doesn’t assure the very best seat as a result of Southwest operates “by means of” flights, that means passengers from a earlier leg may nonetheless be on board, and they’re allowed to vary seats (after flight attendants take a head depend).

“You might even have A1, and also you might not be the primary particular person on that airplane,” Snyder mentioned.

You may pay to be checked in early

Even should you verify in precisely 24 hours forward, it’s doubtless you gained’t be the primary passenger assigned a boarding place. That’s as a result of Southwest presents “EarlyBird” check-in, which routinely reserves a boarding place for the passenger 36 hours forward of departure for a charge. You’ll nonetheless must verify in to get your boarding go, however your boarding place — in all probability within the A gaggle — will already be secured.

Some fliers get EarlyBird check-in included with their buy: those that pay for an Anytime fare, and elite members in Southwest’s frequent-flier program (A-Record Most popular or A-Record standing), together with their companions. EarlyBird check-in will also be bought for $15 to $25, relying on the flight.

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Gary Leff, who runs the journey weblog View From the Wing, recommends that should you’re touring with others, one particular person should purchase EarlyBird check-in and save seats for the remainder of the celebration. Southwest doesn’t have a coverage towards saving seats, although it will probably spark battle between passengers.

A number of classes of passengers can board at designated instances, which generally ensures an excellent seat. Passengers with disabilities can preboard, whereas active-duty military personnel, elite members in Southwest’s frequent-flier program who don’t have already got EarlyBird check-in (in the event that they booked their flight on the final minute, for instance) and households with a baby below 6 can board between the A and B teams.

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“If in case you have little children, it’s in all probability not price it to purchase EarlyBird since you’ll actually not have a lot hassle discovering seats collectively,” Snyder mentioned.

Seconds matter should you don’t need to pay

Past these teams, boarding positions change into strictly first come, first served — all the way down to the second you verify in.

“So far as we all know, if you’re doing common check-in, it’s strictly so as of if you click on the button,” Snyder mentioned. “It does matter to the second — you simply should be forward of everybody else.”

Snyder mentioned he usually doesn’t purchase EarlyBird when he’s touring alone as a result of he can often safe a non-middle seat with common check-in.

“If I verify in myself proper at 24 hours, I’m in all probability going to get nothing above the low B space,” he mentioned.

Although he recommends checking in as near 24 hours out as attainable, Snyder mentioned passengers who can verify in nearer to the flight can often take the boarding place of one other passenger who canceled on the final minute.

“Typically you’ll be able to slide in there and get a surprisingly good quantity that you just don’t count on,” he mentioned. “However there’s no solution to know that upfront, so all the time attempt to verify in proper at 24 hours.”

Swift, the Southwest spokeswoman, mentioned that there are “a number of elements integrated throughout the boarding course of” and that the airline couldn’t assure a passenger would take the place of one other who canceled.

Leff mentioned there are web sites that automate the check-in course of at precisely 24 hours, however most have been shut down by the airline. Swift mentioned Southwest “doesn’t use third-party apps” and inspired passengers to make use of the airline’s web site or app to verify in.

discover the ‘golden seat’

So that you’ve been assigned a coveted A boarding place, and also you enter the airplane along with your decide of seats — which must you go for?

Leff mentioned his prime precedence is securing an empty center seat subsequent to him, so he’ll typically verify with the gate agent earlier than boarding to see if there can be any empty seats.

If the airplane just isn’t full, he skips the empty aisle seats close to the entrance that many passengers need and heads for an aisle seat about two-thirds of the best way down the airplane.

“No one’s essentially going to attempt to go all the best way to the again in search of a center — should you get caught with the center, you’re in all probability taking it near the entrance,” Leff mentioned.

On a full flight, nevertheless, each center seat can be stuffed, so Leff mentioned he goes straight for the “infinite legroom” seat, the window seat behind the exit row, which is lacking a seat in entrance of it. Snyder known as it Southwest’s “golden seat.”

Leff mentioned the one most essential consider securing your required seat is arriving on the gate half-hour earlier than your flight.

“If you happen to’re flying on one other airline that has assigned seating, and also you’re not attempting to combat for overhead bin house, it type of doesn’t matter if you board so long as you’re there earlier than they shut the boarding door,” he mentioned. “However Southwest turns that on its head — in case your boarding quantity is A20, properly, that doesn’t assist you to in the event that they’re already boarding the C’s if you present up on the gate.”