

As you’ll see in the diagrams below, Southwest currently operates two versions of the Boeing 737. It really helps to know a little something about Southwest’s plane configurations when deciding which seat is best. But since it’s a lot of pressure to decide on the fly where you’ll spend your entire flight, you’ll want to read on so you know what seats to plan for ahead of time.
#Southwest southwest airlines boarding pass free
As a general rule, nobody particularly enjoys sitting in the middle seat, so those tend to be left over to the end of the boarding process, for stragglers in Group C.Īs soon as you walk onto the plane, you’re free to select any seat you want. Since there are no assigned seats on Southwest flights, whoever walks onto the plane first gets his or her pick of seats. Just make polite eye contact with the gate agent and show your boarding pass. If you happen to be running late, don’t fret. The same is true of anyone whose boarding assignment has already passed: You can cut in at any time if your boarding assignment has already come and gone. Other family members are asked to board according to the assignment on their boarding passes.Īctive military personnel are also permitted to board at this time.Ī-List and A-list Preferred members are said to receive the “best available boarding pass number,” but occasionally end up with a Group B or C boarding designation, but as a nod to their elite status, they are allowed to “cut the line” anytime after Group A boarding is complete. Family boarding takes place immediately after Group A boarding is complete and qualifying family groups include up to two adults per child age 6 and under. Young families are also given special boarding privileges, but not until a little later in the process. Passengers who are given preboarding priority are allowed to board with one travel companion for assistance and cannot sit in an exit row. Preboarding is based on need and is determined by the gate agent before boarding begins. These are travelers who have a specific seating need to accommodate a disability or who need assistance getting to their seats or stowing an assistive device. Passengers authorized to preboard go before everyone else, including Group A. Three categories of passengers supersede the standard Group A–C boarding process: Preboard travelers, families and A-list members. Finally, Group C can get in line as Group B boards the plane. Group A lines up first, from 1–60, next to the columns designating where to stand in groups of five.Īs Group A travelers move forward to scan their boarding passes, Group B passengers can begin lining themselves up to facilitate the boarding process. And yes, you do have to line up where your number falls. The unique boarding code, such as A45 or B52, is printed directly on the boarding pass and represent your place in line at the gate. Southwest assigns each passenger a boarding group letter - A, B or C - and a position between 1–60 when that traveler checks in for their flight. Family Boarding, Active Military and A-List/A-List Preferred.If you can pick any available seat you want, who gets to board the plane first? The boarding order goes as follows: If there’s already someone else in the seat you want, you’ll have to pick a new spot. And this should go without saying, but you can’t sit in someone else’s lap unless you’re under the age of 2. There are a few exceptions, of course: If you want to sit in an exit row, you still have to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s age and physical requirements. There are no assigned seats, not even at the very front of the plane. The airline has an “open boarding” policy, which means that you can sit just about anywhere you want: Up front, way in the back or right in the middle. But the similarities largely end there because Southwest’s boarding process is truly unlike that of any other airline. Gift of Southwest Airlines Credit Line Donated by Southwest Airlines Circa 2000 Inventory Number A20010070000 Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply Type MEMORABILIA Materials Plastic Ink Dimensions 2-D - Unframed (H x W): 20.3 x 7.6cm (8 x 3 in.Like many other airlines, Southwest begins boarding about 30 minutes before a flight is scheduled to depart. This encouraged early arrivals and speeded up seating, thus allowing Southwest to return an aircraft to service quickly. Passengers boarded in groups in the order in which they checked in. The passes were sequentially numbered and color-coded for each flight. Summary Boarding Passes One way Southwest cut costs was by issuing reusable plastic boarding passes and eliminating assigned seating. Object Details Physical Description Southwest Airlines mustard yellow plastic boarding pass with "Second Boarding Group" and number 37 printed in red on both sides. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art.
