Does Southwest Airlines offer seat assignments before boarding?

One of the most common questions that pop up whenever a customer books a flight with Southwest Airlines is usually whether the person gets their seat assignment prior to boarding. The system of seating used by Southwest Airlines differs from the competition, and understanding this will allow you to make your experience a lot easier. In this post, we are going to get inside and out about Southwest Airlines seating, how it all works, and all that you’ll want to know before your next flight.

Southwest Airlines Seating: A Different Approach to Seat Assignments

Unlike so many others, which often allot a seat the moment you book your flight or arrive at the gate for check-in, Southwest takes a completely open seating policy. Which basically makes it that passengers will board without a designated seat, and Southwest has allowed passengers to seat themselves on flights by utilizing a boarding group system based on check-in time.

When booking with Southwest Airlines, you’re given a boarding position. You might be A or B or C and then in each of these, you are a number-so, for example, A25, B12, and so on. That will tell you when you get to board the plane. The boarding position is very important on Southwest Airlines because it means how long into the boarding you get to pick your seat.

How Does Southwest Airlines Seating Work Without Pre-Assigned Seats?

In open seating, without any seat assignments, passengers are allowed to pick any available seat at boarding. The boarding sequence includes Group A first, then to Group B and finally Group C. Passengers holding earlier boarding positions get an opportunity to pick seats, so those holding later ones will have fewer choices to choose from. The system allows for faster and flexible open seating but requires a bit of organization.

The Southwest Airlines EarlyBird Check-In allows the passenger to check in automatically 36 hours before the flight, which guarantees him a priority boarding position, further increasing his chances of being seated toward the front end of the aircraft.

What Are the Benefits of Southwest Airlines Seating?

Although seats are not pre-assigned, there are a few advantages to the Southwest Airlines seating policy:

• Flexibility: With open seating, passengers can sit anywhere, allowing greater ability to be close or farther apart from family members or to utilize available legroom.
• No fees: There is no fee to choose your seat on Southwest Airlines, saving you money compared with other carriers charging for seat assignment.
• First Come, First Served: The early bird will get the better seat on the bus and ensure that people boarding the earliest have a better experience.

Do You Need to Pay for Southwest Airlines Seating?

As mentioned earlier, Southwest Airlines charges nothing for seat assignments because they do not offer pre-boarding seat assignments to begin with. The airline provides Upgraded Boarding to those passengers who wish to board first. Using this service, you can ensure a better pick in seats by getting upgraded into the A1-A15 boarding group. The Upgraded Boarding can be taken by the passenger on an added fee basis. The passagers can get it at the airport on availability basis.

Is Southwest Airlines Seating Comfortable?

Although the seat on Southwest Airlines might not be much different than on other airlines, many passengers value the more generous amount of legroom. Seat width and pitch for Southwest Airlines are generally consistent with most domestic carriers. Additionally, its Boeing 737 fleet generally features relatively modern cabins with plentiful overhead bin space, so the experience is comfortable for most passengers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Southwest Airlines Seating

How can I get a good seat on Southwest Airlines? 

Buying EarlyBird Check-In or Upgraded Boarding puts you ahead of the pack to get a better seat.

Can I sit with my family on Southwest Airlines? 

Yes. Though there are no seat assignments, families can board together if they have a similar boarding position, making it easy to be seated together.

How do I fare if I board last in Southwest Airlines? 

If you board later (Group C), fewer seats might be available for you by the time you board, but you get to sit in any of the available seats.

Does the airline charge to choose your seats?

 Southwest Airlines never charges anything to select seats. It does not pre-assign seats anyway.

Could I select my seat ahead of time on Southwest Airlines?

 No, I could not pre-select a seat. I just get whatever seat is available when I board the aircraft based on my boarding group.

Final Thoughts on Southwest Airlines Seating

The free seating policy of Southwest Airlines-one does not receive a special seat number before boarding-means flexibility and value but requires some planning to optimize the experience. Knowing the boarding process and options available, such as EarlyBird Check-In or Upgraded Boarding, will maximize the chances of getting a seat that you need. Flying alone, flying with family, or flying with a group, Southwest Airlines seating accommodates them all.

For more travel advice, assistance with booking, and up-to-date information on Southwest Airline seating, please visit Fly Travel Board or reach us at +1 (844) 539-5787. We want to make your travel as efficient and comfortable as possible.