Want to select your seat on a Southwest Airlines flight? Well, the airline doesn’t allow its passengers to book their seats in advance. It has an open-seating pattern, which simply means that you can’t pick your seats in advance. The Southwest Airlines seat selection is simple, and it gives all flyers a fair chance to get the seats they want for an air trip.
With this airline, you can only select your seats once you are on the flight. It means that seats are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis. So get on the flight at the earliest to get the seat you want for an enjoyable time in the air.
Does Southwest Let You Pick Seats in Advance?
No, Southwest Airlines doesn’t let you choose your seats in advance as it has an open-seating pattern. Passengers who get on the flight earlier have higher chances of getting their preferred seats. The seat selection on Southwest Airlines is really simple, and you don’t need any expert’ assistance to understand the policy. To understand the airline’s seat selection rules in depth, read the complete blog.
How Does the Seat Selection Work on Southwest Airlines?
As mentioned, the seat selection on this airline is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. You must board the flight as soon as possible to have your desired seat. Southwest has multiple boarding groups. There is a proper sequence of which groups will board the flight at first and which group will board later. Passengers with earlier boarding groups get the best seats on the flight. To select a seat on Southwest Airlines, you must choose the earlier boarding group.
How Many Boarding Groups Does Southwest Have?
Southwest Airlines mainly has 3 boarding groups – A, B, and C. These boarding groups board the flight in a proper sequence. Furthermore, these boarding groups have different boarding positions that decide who will board the flight earlier. The airline has 1-60 boarding positions. Select the boarding group carefully to board the flight first.
The Southwest Airlines seating selection will depend upon your boarding group. So you must get the right boarding group to find the best seat for your journey. Your boarding group will be mentioned on your boarding pass, which you will get during the check-in procedure.
How Do I Choose Seats on Southwest Airlines?
There is no advance seat selection on Southwest Airlines. You can choose your seat after boarding the flight. However, you can check out the airline’s boarding order to get on the flight first. Once you have your boarding group, you will get on the flight accordingly and select your preferred seat. If your desired seat is occupied, you have to pick another seat for yourself.
If you wish to choose the airline’s Business Select seats, make sure to go through the Southwest Airlines Business Select seating plan. It will help you get the desired seat when on the flight.
What is the Southwest Boarding Order?
Southwest Airlines follows a different boarding process by assigning different boarding groups to passengers. These boarding groups have a proper order. Choose the first boarding group to choose your favorite seat.
Here is the boarding order of Southwest Airlines.
Preboarding
The first group that boards the Southwest flight is the Preboarding group. Passengers can easily make their desired Southwest Air seat selection if they are in this group. There are certain criteria for being in this group. If you need extra time to board the flight or have a specific requirement because of the disability, you can easily get into this group. To be in the preboarding group, you must speak to the airline representatives at the airport. After verifying your eligibility, you will get this group.
Group A
Once the passengers in the preboarding group board the flight, flyers with boarding positions A1-A15 will board the flight. In this group, most elite passengers come, such as Business Select travelers or those who paid extra for these boarding positions. If you are in this group, choose your desired Southwest Airlines Business Select seats for a comfortable travel experience. Go to the airline’s official site or use the airline’s upgraded boarding portal to get this boarding group.
Travelers with boarding positions A16-A60 will board the flight after that.
Other Flyers with Disabilities
However, passengers with a disability will board the flight in the preboarding group. But if you somehow missed being in that group, you can board the Southwest flight in this group. Passengers in this group will board the flight after group A. Connect with the Southwest Airlines agents at the airport to get this group, and take the required time to board the flight.
Families & Active-Duty Military Flyers in Uniforms
Active-duty military officials and families will board the flight in this group. If there is a family with 2 adults and a kid of 6 years or younger, they will get this group. This group ensures getting together seats as there are enough number of seats. However, if a family has an A group, they must board the flight in that group only. As per the Southwest Airlines seat selection rules, you must speak to the gate agent if you can’t find adjacent seats.
Group B and C
Groups B and C are the last boarding groups. Most Southwest flights only have group B. You will find group C on larger flights.
This is the boarding order on Southwest Airlines. Get the desired group to book your favorite seat for a delightful journey in the air.
Is There Any Fee for Choosing Your Seats on Southwest Airlines?
No, there is no fee to choose your seats on Southwest Airlines, as the airline doesn’t let you select your seats in advance. However, you can select your desired boarding group by paying an additional amount. Pay the required fee to get your boarding group, and reserve seats on Southwest Airlines to enhance your experience.
How to Get a Better Boarding Group on Southwest Airlines?
To get a better boarding position on Southwest Airlines, you can follow some simple tips. However, the boarding position you get will depend upon the time you are checking in for your flight. But you can use the following tips to get your desired boarding position.
Purchase EarlyBird Check-In
If you get the EarlyBird check-in for your flight, you will automatically be checked in. Passengers with EarlyBird check-in get priority boarding, and they board the flight among the first ones. Get on the flight earlier and select your preferred seat.
Get a Business Select Fare
Passengers with Business Select fares get A1-A15 boarding positions. As they are elite travelers, they will board the flight in the A group and have a better chance of choosing their desired seats.
Opt for Upgraded Boarding
If you want to make sure to get A1-A15 boarding positions, you must use the upgraded boarding facility. You can access upgraded boarding 24 hours before the flight departure. With this, you will be among the first ones to board the flight. The fee to get upgraded boarding starts from $30 per traveler per segment.
Earn Elite Status
If you have a Southwest elite status, you will get priority boarding on the airline. Join the airline’s loyalty program and be an elite Southwest passenger.
With these tips, you can get a better boarding position. Get on the flight and select your favorite seat for a delightful experience in the air.
Does Southwest Airlines Have Family Boarding?
Yes, Southwest Airlines allows family boarding so that passengers with kids can sit together. As per the Southwest Airlines seat selection rules, you must board in this group if you are flying with a family.
- The family boarding group boards the flight between boarding groups A and B.
- There must be at least 2 adults with a kid of 6 years of age or younger.
- Families can also board in group A if they are eligible for it.
What are the Best Seats on Southwest Airlines?
The best seats on Southwest Airlines depend upon your preferences. There are different seats on the airline, and you can choose the one that suits your liking.
- For more legroom, choose 12A seats.
- To deboard the flight early, select Row 1.
- If you want only 1 seatmate, opt for Row11, seats B and C.
- To get snacks and drink early, pick rows 1, 9, or 17.
- Choose the last row if you are OK with sitting straight without any recline.
You can connect with the Southwestairfly customer service team to get assistance regarding seat selection on the airline.
In Conclusion
To pick your seats on Southwest Airlines, board your flight, and get the seat you want. With an open-seating pattern, each passenger has an equal chance to get their favorite seats. However, you can get a better boarding position by paying some additional fees as per the Southwest Airlines seat selection policy. With the better boarding group, your chances of getting the preferred seats increase. So, get a boarding group to board the flight accordingly and choose a desired seat for an enjoyable travel experience.
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