Upgraded Boarding gives Customers the ability to upgrade their boarding position to A1-A15 24 hours before the flight depending on availability. This allows our Customers the opportunity to be among the first to board the aircraft, pick their preferred available seat, and access the overhead bin space.
Watch the video below to learn more about Upgraded Boarding.
Upgraded Boarding pricing starts at $30 per segment, per Customer, based on the popularity and length of each flight segment. A credit card must be used for the purchase of Upgraded Boarding. Please review our optional travel charges for more details.
Upgraded Boarding purchases are nonrefundable. Customers who cancel their flight will forfeit the previously purchased Upgraded Boarding option for that particular flight.
In the event that a flight is canceled by Southwest, we recognize that the decision was not within the Customer’s control and will process a refund of the Upgraded Boarding purchase for that particular flight in the Customer’s itinerary upon request. Customers must contact usto receive a refund.
Upgraded Boarding is available for purchase 24 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time depending on availability. Upgraded Boarding sales will end 30 minutes before departure.
Customers who have purchased Anytime, Wanna Get Away®, or Wanna Get Away Plus™ fares are permitted to purchase Upgraded Boarding. A1-A15 boarding positions are already included with the purchase of Business Select.
NOTE: Upgraded Boarding should not be purchased for Unaccompanied Minors since they will pre-board the flight. Please review our Unaccompanied Minor Policies for more details.
There are a few ways to get a guaranteed “A” boarding position before your flight:
1. Purchase Upgraded Boarding: This option is available starting 24 hours before the flight’s local departure time and allows Customers to upgrade their boarding position to A1-A15 depending on availability.
2. Purchase a Business Select fare or upgrade to Business Select: Customers who purchase a Business Select fare will get guaranteed A1-A15 boarding. If a Customer did not originally purchase a Business Select fare but wants guaranteed A1-A15 boarding, they can upgrade their flight to Business Select.
Upgrade flight to Business Select
Note: Customers who purchase Business Select fares will be ahead of Customers who purchase Upgraded Boarding. If Business Select is sold out on a flight segment, Upgraded Boarding will not be available.
When available, Upgraded Boarding can easily be added to a reservation when checking in for a flight via the Southwest® app or Southwest.com®.
Open the Southwest app and select the “Check-In” icon at the bottom of the screen. Enter the confirmation number and verify the flight information displayed is correct. When available, the Upgraded Boarding position option is located below “View Boarding Pass.” Once selected and as available, Upgraded Boarding can be added to one or more flight segments in the itinerary.
On Southwest.com, navigate to the “Check-In” window and enter the confirmation number. The Upgraded Boarding option is displayed below the flight’s itinerary.
NOTE: Upgraded Boarding can only be purchased within 24 hours of the flight’s departure time depending on availability. Upgraded Boarding sales will end 30 minutes before departure.
If you are unable to access the Southwest app or Southwest.com, ask a Customer Service Agent at the departure gate or ticket counter for availability.
EarlyBird Check-In offers automatic check-in before our traditional 24-hour check-in. Customers can add EarlyBird Check-In to their reservation up to 36 hours prior to a flight’s scheduled departure.
Upgraded Boarding guarantees an A1-A15 boarding position and, when available, can be added to a reservation up to 30 minutes before a flight's scheduled departure.
Yes! If an EarlyBird Check-In Customer would prefer an A1-A15 boarding position within 24 hours of departure, they would be eligible to purchase Upgraded Boarding.
No, Business Select Customers receive A1-A15 boarding positions as a benefit of the purchase of that fare. There is no need to add Upgraded Boarding.
Yes, Upgraded Boarding is limited to A1-A15 boarding positions. If all A1-A15 boarding positions are sold (either as Business Select or Upgraded Boarding), Upgraded Boarding will no longer be available for that flight.
Yes, CSAs can process the Upgraded Boarding purchase either at the ticket counter or gate.
No, Upgraded Boarding is sold separately per Customer per segment. Since Upgraded Boarding is sold by segment, if a Customer has a connecting itinerary (two or more flights with different flight numbers on their outbound or return), the Customer can choose to purchase Upgraded Boarding for one or all flights in their itinerary. Depending on which flight(s) are chosen, the total Upgraded Boarding charges will vary.
Yes, Upgraded Boarding can be purchased for some Customers on a reservation and not others.
In the event that a flight is canceled by Southwest, we recognize that the decision was not within the Customer’s control and will process a refund of the Upgraded Boarding purchase for that particular flight in the Customer’s itinerary upon request. Customers must contact us to receive a refund.
Yes, the Customer will receive a separate Upgraded Boarding receipt at the billing email address listed in the itinerary.
No. After adding Upgraded Boarding, the existing confirmation number and travel details remain the same.
No, Upgraded Boarding is non-transferable and non-refundable.
When purchased through the Southwest app, boarding documents will automatically update to reflect the new boarding position.
If purchased through Southwest.com, Customers will have the option to receive their new boarding documents by email or text.
No, all travelers will board the flight in the order of the boarding position reflected on their individual itinerary. If other travelers would like to upgrade their boarding position, they must purchase Upgraded Boarding as well.
Each anniversary year of the Cardmember’s eligible Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card, they will be reimbursed for the purchase of up to four Upgraded Boardings, which are positions A1-A15. Use the eligible Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card to purchase Upgraded Boarding and after making the purchase, the Cardmember will receive a statement credit for the price of the Upgraded Boarding, up to four times per calendar year. Statement Credit and purchase of Upgraded Boarding may not post on the same statement, so the Cardmember must allow up to eight weeks for the statement credit to post to their account. Statement Credit is only eligible if Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is used for Upgraded Boarding purchase.
FAQs
Is Upgraded boarding always available? ›
Upgraded Boarding is a first-come, first-served option that isn't always available. But when it is, if you're willing you spend the extra money, you'll be one of the first to board as it provides an A1 to A15 boarding position.
Is early bird check-in the same as upgraded boarding? ›Yes! If an EarlyBird Check-In Customer would prefer an A1-A15 boarding position within 24 hours of departure, they would be eligible to purchase Upgraded Boarding.
What are upgraded boardings? ›What is Upgraded Boarding? With the best available A1-A15 boarding position, you'll get earliest access to seats and overhead bins on eligible flight segments. When should I purchase it? Flight segments within 24 hours of departure are eligible for upgrade.
Is B30 a good boarding position on Southwest? ›The Earlier You Board, The Better Your Seat
This might seem obvious but it's still good to touch on. I've found that an A group or early B group (B1-B30) is always sufficient to provide me with several good open seats and plenty of overhead bin space.
But the days of airlines randomly upgrading passengers for arbitrary reasons are long gone. Airlines upgrade passengers who pay for that privilege, as well as frequent flyers, regardless of how those people are dressed.
How do I ask my flight attendant for a free upgrade? ›Talk to a gate agent and let them know that you're interested in moving up. "Once onboard there isn't anything we can do as a flight attendant," Kamalani said of her airline. Gate agents will typically have a list of frequent fliers who are first eligible for upgrades.