When you buy your ticket online: You'll have the option to add Early Bird Check-In to your reservation.There are three ways to buy Early Bird Check-In: Business Select Fare passengers can also purchase it, though it's not worth their money (more on that below). Who Can Get Early Bird Check-In and How to PurchaseĬan purchase Early Bird Check-In along with their ticket. Refunds typically process within seven days of the flight cancellation. In these cases, you'll receive a full refund for your Early Bird Check-In purchase. The only exception is when Southwest cancels a flight. If you cancel your flight, you'll forfeit the Early Bird benefits. Keep it handy just in case you encounter problems with the Early Bird Check-In process.Įarly Bird Check-In purchases are non-refundable. These can be for each leg of your trip or just one or two. You can only purchase Early Birds with a credit card. This cost is per passenger, per leg of the flight. The cost of Early Bird Check-In varies from $15 to $25, depending on the length of the flight and the demand for that route. Some passengers stay on the plane because they have a stopover but don't have to change planes. You'll also want to take through-passengers into consideration. This gives some lucky passenger without priority boarding or Early Bird a higher boarding position without paying a premium. If a passenger with priority boarding or Early Bird Check-In cancels their flight, that boarding position goes to the masses. Sometimes, checking in right at the 24-hour mark can snag you a higher position by pure luck. Those needing extra assistance or have mobility issues can also board at this time. You Should Know: Families traveling with children under the age of six can board after the A group regardless of the grouping on their boarding pass. The first one on the plane gets first choice and everyone who boards after picks from the remaining open seats. Southwest divvies out seats on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once your group has lined up, the gate agent starts the boarding process. You can also check the monitors to see the current boarding group. When the gate agent calls your boarding group, you'll line up under the number that corresponds with the position number on your boarding pass. Both statuses receive priority boarding benefits.Įach Southwest gate has numbered signs. You can gain A-List Preferred status after 50 one-way flights and 70,000 tier-qualifying points. Upgrading to Business Select the day of the flight will NOT get amenities like a free premium drink or extra Rapid Rewards points for the trip.Īfter Business Select passengers have been assigned an A boarding position, the next A boarding slots go to any Rapid Rewards A-List members.Ī-List members must complete 25 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 tier-qualifying points in a calendar year. Talk to the ticket or gate agent to see if these upgrades are available for your flight. The price varies from $30 to $50, depending on the flight length and final destination. You can also upgrade the day of your flight to get one of these priority spots. These generally cost more but give the passenger guaranteed boarding group A, positions 1 through 15. Southwest does not offer First or Business class, but they do sell Business Select fares. How do I get priority boarding on Southwest? So, for example, if your boarding pass shows B24, that means you're in boarding group B, position 24. You are assigned a number within that group from 1 to 60. Southwest divides incoming passengers into three different boarding groups: A, B, and C. They then receive their boarding group and position. Understanding Southwest's Boarding GroupsĪt exactly 24 hours before departure, every Southwest ticketed passenger can check in online through the Southwest website or app. Keep reading to see how Southwest handles the boarding process. Paying for Early Bird Check-In does not guarantee that you'll receive the first A boarding slot. Or, you can have a ticket agent print it for you at an airport check-in kiosk or Skycap counter. You can print their boarding pass at home up to 24 hours before departure. Early Bird passengers receive an email with their boarding position 36 hours before the flight Your ticket is instantly upgraded after you purchase Early Bird Check-In.Īutomatic Check-In means you don't need to check in for your flight 24 hours before departure. Passengers who purchase the Early Bird Check-In receive several benefits, including automatic check-in and a better boarding position. Read on to see if Southwest's Early Bird Check-In is worth the cost. With Early Bird Check-In, however, you can boost your odds of getting the seat you want. Who Benefits Most from Early Bird Check-In.
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