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Few airlines command the kind of customers Southwest promotes. According to our survey, America's most family-friendly airline is getting things right in a number of ways that other airlines don't, from offering two free checked bags per person to making it easier for parents to stay with young children without paying a fee. Special status, specific credit card or advance booking method.

Southwest Military Boarding

Southwest Military Boarding

But Southwest's unique boarding process doesn't assign passengers to specific seats — a process that can be confusing for first-time travelers, frequent travelers, or those new to Southwest. Fear not, our comprehensive guide will answer all your questions about the best seat on your next Southwest Airlines flight.

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Like many other airlines, Southwest starts boarding about 30 minutes before the scheduled flight. But the similarities end there, as the boarding process on Southwest is truly different from any other airline. The airline has an "open boarding" policy, which means you can sit almost anywhere you want: front, back, or middle. There are no dedicated seats, not even at the front of the plane. First come, first served.

There are a few exceptions, though: If you want to sit in the exit row, you still have to meet the Federal Aviation Administration's age and physical requirements. And it should go without saying, but you can't sit on someone else's lap unless you're under 2 years old. If there is someone else in the seat you want, you must choose a new seat.

If you could choose any available seat, who would get on the plane first? The flight order is as follows:

Southwest assigns each passenger a boarding group book - A, B or C - and a location between 1 and 60 when the passenger checks into their flight. A unique boarding code, such as A45 or B52, is printed directly at the boarding point and indicates your place in line at the gate. And yes, you have to queue when your numbers are low.

Things To Know Before Flying Southwest

Group A lists the first rows, from 1 to 60, next to the columns showing where to stand in groups of five.

As Group A passengers proceed to check their boarding passes, Group B passengers can queue to facilitate the boarding process. Finally, group C can be in line for group B to board the plane.

Passengers who are allowed to board first will go before anyone else, including Group A. These are passengers who need a special seat to accommodate a disability or who need assistance to reach their seat or place an assistive device.

Southwest Military Boarding

Boarding is on an as-needed basis and is determined by the gate agent prior to boarding. Passengers in the front row before boarding are allowed to ride with a companion for assistance and cannot sit in the exit row.

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Small families are also given special privileges overnight, but until later. Family Boarding is done immediately after Group A boarding is completed, and eligible families include two adults and each child 6 and under. Other family members are asked to board as assigned on their boarding pass.

List A and list A Preferred members are said to receive "the best pass number available", but sometimes they end up with a flight name in group B or C, but as a nod to their high status, they are allowed "of". line" at any time after you have finished boarding Group A. The same applies to anyone whose boarding work is already completed: you can stop at any time if your night work has already come and gone. . If you happen to be late, don't worry. Just make polite eye contact with the gate agent and show your boarding pass.

Since there are no reserved seats on Southwest flights, whoever gets on the plane starts selecting their seats. As a general rule, no one particularly enjoys sitting in the middle seat, so these are usually reserved for people in Group C until the end of the boarding process.

As soon as you get on the plane, you can choose any seat you want. But since deciding where to spend the rest of your flight is a lot of stress, you should read on to find out which seats you can book ahead of time.

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When deciding which seat is best, a little knowledge about Southwest's flight configuration really helps. As you can see in the charts below, Southwest currently operates two versions of the Boeing 737.

Southwest has 512 Boeing 737-700 aircraft, more than two-thirds of its fleet. Each Southwest 737-700 has 143 seats in the following configurations:

Southwest has 207 Boeing 737-800 aircraft in its fleet. Each Southwest 737-800 has 175 seats in the following configurations:

Southwest Military Boarding

Now that you know how planes are set up, what's the best seat on Southwest? The answer is, yes, it really depends. TPG's Loyalty and Engagement Editor Richard Kerr is a big fan of the last line on Southwest flights, especially for juniors. But many other people think that the back row is the worst seat.

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So let's say you're on team A and your oyster flies. where should you go Here are some options.

... aim for 12A, the right window seat in row 12 facing the back of the plane. Row 11 is the "planning" row with only two seats on the right, meaning seat 11A is "not available". So, the lucky passenger in the 12A has two leg seats to stretch out - a godsend for tall passengers.

If you fly a Boeing 737-800, you have a second chance to win a legroom award, as this flight configuration has a second two-legged seat in seat 12F. But 737-800s make up about a quarter of Southwest's fleet, so your best bet is to shoot 12A.

Choose row 1. You won't have any storage space available under the seat in front of you, but you will be among the first people to get off the plane. So if you want extra legroom as a bonus for packing light, make a beeline to your left or right as soon as you board.

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... Choose row 1, 9 or 17. Southwest flight attendants divide cabin service into three sections, and these are usually the rows where beverage and snack service begins.

...row 11, aim for seats B and C. On Southwest's Boeing 737-700s, this row has two seats, so you don't have to worry about sharing the space with a third person.

... select the last line and the front line of the output line. Although the right to sit is a very competitive right for economy travelers, there are travelers who don't mind sitting mid-flight.

Southwest Military Boarding

If you're new to Southwest, you may be wondering how to find the best seat (first boarding position). Here are some tricks:

What It's Like Flying On Southwest Airlines

The best way to get the seat you want is to board early. But having a group A flight ticket doesn't always mean you'll get the seat you want.

If every dollar counts and you shop for the cheapest Southwest "Wanna Get Away" fares, the easiest way to get the first available fare share is to check 24 hours in advance for your Southwest flight. This is important: Set an alarm to go off one minute before it's time to check in, or ask your mom to call you right then—whatever it takes.

For $15 to $25 per person, Southwest's computers can automatically check you in 36 hours before departure instead of 24 hours. This means that you will usually get a better rank than when you logged in 24 hours ago. Here are some ideas on whether EarlyBird entry is worth the investment.

Even if you remember correctly, checking the points doesn't guarantee you'll get a Team A name—or, in the worst cases, even a Team B job. Essential rides marked A 1-15 will pay a premium.

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After that, priority is given to Southwest frequent flyers who have earned A-list or A-list Preferred Elite status, which includes the "best available boarding pass number."

If you don't like your assigned number, sometimes on the day of departure, Upgraded Boarding is available at the airport for $30-$50 one way, per person when slots A1 - A15 are still available. Even if you don't want to spend that money, know both

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