{"id":33984,"date":"2023-08-24T21:00:09","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T21:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/24\/how-to-snag-the-best-seats-on-southwest-airlines-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2023-08-24T21:00:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T21:00:09","slug":"how-to-snag-the-best-seats-on-southwest-airlines-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/24\/how-to-snag-the-best-seats-on-southwest-airlines-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to snag the best seats on Southwest Airlines – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Few airlines command the customer devotion of Southwest Airlines<\/a>, considered one of America’s most family-friendly aviation brands. The airline does things right in many ways that other airlines do not: offering two free checked bags per person, making it easy for families to sit together<\/a> without charging onerous fees, having a simple way to earn elite status, offering a family of credit cards, and giving passengers four<\/a> booking fares.<\/p>\n

However, Southwest’s unique boarding process<\/a> does not assign specific seats to travelers \u2014 a process that can be baffling for first-time travelers, infrequent flyers or those new to the airline.<\/p>\n

As of Aug. 15, the Dallas-based carrier announced changes to its boarding process, including reducing the availability of its EarlyBird Check-In<\/a> to select flights, routes and days, meaning EarlyBird Check-In will be unavailable for some customers.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Southwest will permit same-day standby for all passengers, including those who book the cheapest Wanna Get Away fares<\/a>, allowing passengers in Southwest’s lowest fare classes to waitlist for a different flight on the same day without paying a fare difference, helpful for passengers flying on routes with multiple daily frequencies.<\/p>\n

With those changes in mind, this comprehensive guide will answer all your questions on how to get the best seat on your next Southwest Airlines flight.<\/p>\n

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How Southwest boarding works<\/h2>\n

Like many other airlines, Southwest begins boarding about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. The similarities largely end there, though, because Southwest’s boarding process is unlike any other airline thanks to its open seating policy, which means you can sit just about anywhere you want without assigned seats.<\/p>\n

It’s first-come, first-seated, with just a few exceptions standard for all airlines, including passengers who choose to sit in an exit row<\/a> and must meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s age and physical requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On Southwest flights, the boarding order is as follows:<\/p>\n