When we travel, we prefer to fly on Southwest Airlines. The ability to reschedule our flights without change fees is an awesome perk. And the two FREE bags per person is amazing as well! But, flying on Southwest doesn’t come without its confusion and challenges. Many people are confused by Southwest’s boarding process. Other people want to know what is early bird check in and how does it work? Keep reading below to answer all of those questions and more!
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The Southwest Boarding Process
Boarding Groups Are Assigned at Check In
Southwest Airlines offers open seating, which means there are no assigned seats. To regulate the flow onto the plane, passengers are assigned into three different boarding groups: A, B, and, C. Passengers are also given a number within that group.
When you check-in for your flight (starting at 24 hours before your scheduled takeoff time), you will be assigned a boarding group. For example, when checking in for a flight as a family of four, you may be assigned B25, B26, B27, and B28 as your boarding positions. The earlier you check-in for your flight, the better your boarding position.
The Southwest Boarding Process in the Airport
When Southwest starts the boarding process, they will announce for everyone from A group to line up first. Passengers will stand next to the post with their corresponding boarding position number. Positions A1-A15 are saved for passengers with A-list status or those flying Business Select. Otherwise, if you check-in early enough, or opt for the Early Bird Check In (see below), you may receive an A position. If you do, consider yourself blessed by the Southwest gods!
After the A group boards, Southwest allows passengers with disabilities and a companion to board the plane. Next, children under 7 years old and their parents or guardians may board the aircraft. This is to ensure that the passengers who need additional assistance during the flight are next to the people who will be able to help them. For passengers with disabilities, you must request to preboard at the ticket counter or departure gate.
Once the passengers with disabilities and families with young children board the plane, the remaining passengers will board the plane based on their assigned positions starting with group B and then C.
Open Seating
Open seating is precisely like it sounds. When you board the plane, any open seat is yours for the taking. Some passengers try to save seats for friends or family who have a later boarding position. However, they are not guaranteed that seat, and thus you can sit there if you are so inclined!
If you are particular about where you sit on an airplane, this may not be the best scenario for you. However, the earlier your boarding position, the more likely you will have a choice of an aisle or window seat. (Does anyone choose a middle seat?)
Typically I have found that passengers in the A and B boarding groups can find seats together, or at least near enough to each other. The passengers in the C group are picking from the leftovers and most likely will not find seats together, though you may get lucky.
My biggest piece of advice for flying Southwest if you are worried about sitting next to your kids is to check-in for your flight exactly at the 24-hour mark. The other option is to pay for Early Bird Check In (see below). Of course, nothing in life is guaranteed, especially an A group boarding for Southwest.
How Does Early Bird Check In Work on Southwest?
Early Bird Check In (EBCI) is a service offered by Southwest at the cost of $15-$25 per person/ per flight. Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours before your flight, a full 12 hours before any other passenger can check-in.
You can pay for EBCI at the time you book your flights, or you can add it to your reservation at any time.
Keep in mind, the fees that you pay for EBCI are non-refundable if you cancel your flight.
Is Early Bird Check In Worth Paying For?
There are a few reasons you would want to pay for this service:
1. You want a good boarding position.
Let me clarify. You are NOT guaranteed an A group boarding position with Early Bird Check In. You are given the best position Southwest has available after checking all of the EBCI passengers before you.
Every time I have paid for EBCI, I have been in the A group. But I know that if everyone on the plane pays for EBCI (or even half of the passengers do), logistically, not everyone can be in the A group. However, since Southwest checks you in a full 12 hours before everyone else who hasn’t paid for EBCI, you will most likely have a good boarding position.
2. You don’t want to worry about checking in at the 24-hour mark.
Depending on the flight time or where you will be when that 24-hour mark hits, you may not want to worry about checking in for your flight. The extra money spent on EBCI is worth not stressing about it. We typically use EBCI for our flight home. I don’t want to think about what time I need to check-in when I am on vacation. I want to enjoy our last day wherever we are! EBCI takes that stress away.
Southwest FREE Luggage and Other Perks
Two Free Bags with Every Ticket
In the days of airlines charging for passengers to check their bags, Southwest is the standout among the crowd. Each ticketed passenger can check two bags for FREE! Over-packers unite! That means if you are a family of four traveling on Southwest, theoretically you can check eight bags or other items. We don’t even own eight suitcases, but it’s nice to know the option is there, am I right?
Just to note, since many of you travel with kids, you can always check a car seat and stroller for FREE and not have it count against your two bags per passenger. Of course, if you do check your car seat or stroller, consider purchasing a bag to protect them! Gate check bags are one of my “must-have” items when traveling with kids.
No “Nickel and Diming”
Have ever been drawn in by the low cost of an advertised flight, only to realize you have to pay extra to pick your seat, check your luggage or bring a carry-on, or even have the airline print your boarding pass for you (yes, that’s is a real thing!). Well fear not! Southwest doesn’t trick you with low prices only to add an extra $100 or more in fees to your airfare. What you see is what you get with Southwest.
No Change Fees
One of my most favorite things about Southwest Airlines is the ability to change our minds! One time, on a legacy airline, I tried to change my flight to an earlier time. The fare was only $49 per person (I couldn’t believe it), and they wanted to charge me $200 per person to change!
Guess what? That doesn’t happen on Southwest. If I want to change our flight to a different time or even a different day, I can do that! The only “fee” paid is the difference in the price. And if the flight you want to change to costs less than your original fare, Southwest will give credit for the difference! Seriously!
The Southwest Airlines Employees
Some of the best viral videos on the internet featuring flight attendants are from Southwest Airlines. Overall, the employees of Southwest are funny, courteous, and generous. I’ve been on flights where the flight attendants were cracking the whole plane up. Most of the employees we’ve encountered have been nothing but pleasant and genuinely seem to enjoy their job.
On a recent flight, my daughter requested another bag of pretzels (her favorite snack). The flight attendant didn’t just bring one bag, but 40! We tried to return the extra, but he insisted they stay with us. It’s the little things like that that set Southwest apart from other airlines.
The Companion Pass
One of the best benefits of being a frequent flyer on Southwest Airlines, or earning Rapid Reward points by using a Southwest Airlines credit card, is the Companion Pass. A Companion Pass allows a designated person to fly for FREE with you an entire calendar year (as long as there are at least two seats available on whichever flight you are booking) and the remainder of the year in which you earned the pass.
You can earn a Companion Pass by completing 100 flights on Southwest Airlines within a calendar year OR by earning over 110,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. The Rapid Rewards can be earned from flying, using your Southwest Airlines credit card, or by shopping through the Rapid Rewards portal.
The best part is the Rapid Rewards points you receive as a sign-up bonus for the credit count towards the Companion Pass. So if you sign-up for one of the Southwest Credit cards, you will automatically have 40,000 points count towards the pass. The points earned on your business card also count towards the Companion Pass.
Downsides of Flying Southwest Airlines
Delayed Flight Releases
Unlike legacy carriers that release their flights about 11 months in advance, Southwest releases their flight schedules approximately 6-9 months in advance. For those who don’t plan their travel too far in advance, this won’t be a big deal. However, sometimes you are traveling during popular times (Christmas week, Spring Break), and you want to secure your flights as soon as possible. If you wait for Southwest to release their schedule, you are at risk of losing seats on a legacy carrier if Southwest’s schedule does not work for you.
The upside of the delayed schedule release is that Southwest rarely makes schedule changes. Legacy carriers may adjust their schedules multiple times before the actual flight date. I’ve had American Airlines move up our scheduled flight more than 4 hours after we booked the trip!
No Onboard Power
Southwest Airlines offers FREE in-flight entertainment. You can choose from various movies, television shows, and even stream television networks live. However, to enjoy all of this entertainment, you have to 1) have your own device to watch it on (think smartphone, tablet, etc.), and 2) have enough power for your device to last the entire flight.
Although they require you to use your own device, none of the airplanes that Southwest flies (at this time) has onboard power. So that means you’ll have to bring your own battery backup (you are allowed!). Or you’ll have to risk draining the battery on your device on longer flights.
Limited Food Options
Southwest Airlines offers complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks on all of their flights. You can also purchase alcohol while in flight. However, there are no other food options. If you are on a longer flight, you will have to bring your own meals on board with you. Of course, I always have candy or chewy snacks for the kids when we fly. It’s the “C” of my “ABCs of flying with kids”!
Flying Southwest Airlines Tips
Check Your Flight’s Price
After I book a trip, I occasionally check the price (or points cost) of the flight. Often times, the cost of the flight goes down. When that happens, I will re-book to the lower price and receive a credit!
Of course, like anything, there are a few things to keep in mind when doing this.
1. If you cancel your original flight that was booked with a credit/debit card: You will be issued a credit for all funds, including taxes and fees, to be used within one year of the initial purchase date (not the flight date).
2. If you change your original flight that was booked with a credit/debit card: You will be issued a credit for the fare difference to be used within one year of the initial purchase date (not the flight date).
3. If you cancel your original flight that was booked using Rapid Rewards points: You will be issued a refund of all the points used to book the flight and a refund of the taxes if this is the first time you have made changes to the flight. If you previously re-booked the flight, you will receive travel credit for the taxes towards a future purchase.
4. If you change your original flight that was booked using Rapid Rewards points: You will be issued a refund of points for the fare difference. Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as you have some sort of activity. Earning Rapid Rewards by using your Southwest Credit Card, shopping through the Southwest Portal, dining out with your linked credit card, or flying on Southwest are all ways to keep your account active.
Using Your Travel Credits
As noted above, one of the perks of flying Southwest is the ability to change or cancel your flights. If you have paid for the flight with a credit card or debit card, and cancel your flight, you will receive travel credit. If you end up canceling or re-booking for a cheaper flight, keep the following information in mind:
1. Your travel credit expires one year from the date of the initial booking. Not from the original flight date.
2. You will need your original confirmation number to apply the credits towards a future trip. Keep that information in a safe place!
3. If you change a flight more than once times due to multiple price drops, each change is a new credit. Make sure to note each confirmation number!
4. You can apply up to 4 methods of payment towards a flight. That means if you have multiple travel credits, you can use up to 3 of them to apply towards a new flight and the remainder on your credit card.
5. You can check your funds here. If you forget how much credit you received after rebooking your flight for a lower price, just enter you first and last name and confirmation number in the boxes. This link is only for travel funds acquired after December 3, 2019.
Does Your Family Fly With Southwest Airlines?
Although sometimes I have to book with another airline, Southwest is always my first choice for airlines. We’ve never had a bad experience with them. And after reading about Herb Kelleher and the way he developed and designed the airline, I’ve always had an affinity towards Southwest. I recommend this book if you want to learn more!
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