SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CHECK IN PROCEDURE HOW TO

If your flight is short and/or you don’t mind getting a middle seat and/or gate checking luggage, then you might not want to pay $15 to $25 for Southwest Early Bird Check In.

You are OK with the middle seat or checking luggage. You can always add Early Bird Check-In to a flight later up to 36 hours prior to a flight’s scheduled local departure time. If it is likely that you might cancel your flight, you probably do not want to purchase Early Bird at the same time you book your flight as Southwest Early Bird Check In is NOT refundable. One of the benefits of flying Southwest is the ability to cancel your flight without paying a fee. Southwest Early Bird Check In Is PROBABLY NOT WORTH IT If: You might cancel your flight. There is no need to purchase Southwest EarlyBird Check-In for unaccompanied minors since they preboard the flight. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members with A-List and A-List Preferred status are automatically assigned boarding positions ahead of general boarding. Priority boarding privileges are a benefit of being on the Rapid Rewards A-List. Passengers who purchase Business Select fares receive a boarding position before passengers who purchase Early Bird Check-In. The only way to guarantee an A1-A15 boarding position on Southwest is to purchase a Business Select fare. Even if you purchase Southwest Early Bird Check In quite early and receive an A position, it is not substantially better than just boarding at the end of the A group. Since you are not guaranteed an A group by purchasing Early Bird Check-In, you might want to just wait for family boarding. Family Boarding on Southwest occurs after the A group but before the B group.

Two adults traveling with a child six (6) years old or younger may board during Family Boarding. Is Southwest Early Bird Check In Worth It? You DO NOT Need Southwest Early Bird Check-In If: You are eligible for Southwest Family Boarding. Here is a bit more information about Early Bird Check In from. If you purchase EarlyBird Check-In later and add it to an existing itinerary, you can purchase EarlyBird Check-In even if others booked on the same reservation do not. If you purchase Southwest EarlyBird Check-In at the same time you purchase the flight, everyone on the reservation must purchase EarlyBird Check-In. This also determines whether all passengers part of the same reservation must also purchase Early Bird. You can buy Southwest EarlyBird Check-In either when you first make your flight reservation OR buy it later up to 36 hours prior to a flight’s scheduled local departure time. Southwest Early Bird Check In can be purchased at prices ranging from $15 – $25 one-way per passenger (cost was increased from $15.00 one way on August 29, 2018).

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CHECK IN PROCEDURE HOW TO

Southwest Early Bird Check-In doesn’t guarantee an A boarding position, but you most likely will be in the A or early B group. (If you are not familiar with Southwest’s boarding process, see this post for how the Southwest boarding process works and tips on how to get a good seat). Since check in opens 24 hours before a flight’s departure time, passengers who purchased EarlyBird Check-In receive a better boarding position than passengers without EarlyBird Check-In. When you purchase EarlyBird Check-In, Southwest automatically checks you in and assigns your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight’s departure. Southwest EarlyBird Check-In is an option available for purchase. Nobody likes to spend any more money than they need to, so read below to find out when I think Southwest Early Bird Check In is worth it and when it isn’t. One way to ensure a good seat on Southwest Airlines is to pay for Early Bird Check In. Since I frequently fly Southwest Airlines, I rely on my time-tested strategies to make sure I get a good seat on every flight.

Southwest airlines check in procedure