Flying with Southwest Airlines and looking for a seat upgrade? Well, Southwest Airlines is widely known for its quirky seating policy; hence, you might not get a traditional Southwest Airlines seat upgrade like other airlines.
However, they still offer Upgraded Boarding so you can board the plane faster and select your preferred seat. Want to learn more about Southwest Upgraded Boarding and how you can utilize its benefits? Keep scrolling through the guide and learn about all the details of the airline’s seat upgrade and its price.
Does Southwest Airlines offer a Seat Upgrade?
No. Southwest doesn’t offer a traditional seat upgrade option to passengers. This air carrier is known to follow the first-come, first-served seat policy, in which passengers boarding the plane first can select their preferred seat. Therefore, there’s no scope for a seat upgrade at all on Southwest flights.
However, Southwest offers upgraded boarding to passengers, allowing them to improve their boarding position and select their preferred seat on the flight. The upgraded boarding allows passengers to purchase a position in the A1 to A15 boarding group, thus giving them quick access to seats and overhead bins.
How to Make a Southwest Airlines Seat Upgrade?
Upgrading your Southwest Airlines ticket is easy. You can simply opt for the Southwest Boarding Upgrade by visiting the official website of the airline. Follow the steps below to get started.
- Go to the Southwest Airlines seat upgrade tool on the official website.
- Here, you can enter your Confirmation Number, Name, and Last Name.
- Click “Continue” to access your itinerary details.
- Once done, you can look for the available boarding upgrade.
- Passengers can purchase the Southwest Airlines Upgraded Boarding within 24 hours of departure.
- Pay the extra charges and upgrade your boarding position instantly.
Understanding the Southwest Upgraded Boarding
Now that you know the steps to enjoy the upgraded boarding on Southwest flights, it’s time to understand some of its key details to avoid any hassle later on. Check out the details below.
- Upgraded boarding is all about improving your boarding position to A1 – A15.
- You can initiate the Southwest Airlines Upgrade Boarding process within 24 hours of departure. However, it is subject to availability.
- Upgraded boarding sales on Southwest end 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.
- Southwest upgraded boarding is available for purchase per person, per flight.
- Passengers might need a credit card to purchase Southwest Airlines Upgraded Boarding.
- Be mindful that Upgraded Boarding might not be available to passengers traveling on partner itineraries.
- Since this upgraded boarding is available by segment, you can choose to purchase it for one or all flights in your itinerary (in case you have a connected itinerary).
- Remember that upgraded boarding purchases are non-refundable, so be careful when opting for this facility.
How Much Does Southwest Airlines’ Upgraded Boarding Cost?
If you are flying on Southwest Airlines and planning to upgrade a boarding position, then you must be aware of the charges first to avoid any hassle later on. The cost of upgraded boarding on Southwest generally varies based on the flight and applies per person in the itinerary.
While you can find the exact cost of the Southwest Upgraded Boarding when you actually execute the process, you can still expect to pay somewhere between $30 and $149 per segment.
What are the Other Methods to Upgrade Your Seat on Southwest Airlines?
In addition to Upgraded Boarding, there are other methods to upgrade on Southwest Airlines flights, including EarlyBird check-in or utilizing A-list member benefits. Scroll down to find out the benefits here.
EarlyBird Check-in
- Passengers can opt for EarlyBird check-in to get a better boarding position for their Southwest flights.
- This facility automatically checks you in for your flight before the standard 24-hour window, thus offering a better boarding position.
- However, be mindful that EarlyBird check-in doesn’t guarantee a specific seat or position between A1 and A15.
Upgraded Fare Class
- You can also get Southwest Airlines upgrades by upgrading your fare class to Business Select.
- It simply offers you priority boarding between A1 and A15 and allows you to bring two free checked bags.
- Besides, you can enjoy a same-day waitlist change/ seat and free internet on board if you are flying on Southwest Airlines and upgrade to Business Select.
Customers of Size
- Southwest Airlines has a dedicated policy for passengers who want an extra seat on the flight.
- It includes the option to purchase an additional seat for customers of size. You can easily visit the Manage Booking tab, enter your itinerary details, and choose an additional seat if you meet certain eligibility conditions.
Is Southwest Airlines’ Upgrade Worth it?
So, you are flying with Southwest Airlines and know how to upgrade boarding, it’s time to understand whether your upgrade is worth it or not. Well, whether your upgrade is worth it or not, or whether you should spend on a Southwest upgrade, depends on your travel preferences.
For example, the upgrade is worth it for passengers who are looking for better seats on the flight. Here’s a quick rundown of benefits you might get with a Southwest Airlines seat upgrade.
- The upgrade lets you secure a better boarding position on Southwest Airlines.
- If you have upgraded to the Business Select on Southwest, then it’s worth it, especially if you want to get better boarding position and same-day change or standby benefits.
- The airline’s upgrades also makes you eligible for priority check-in and priority security lane perks.
Summing Up
That’s all about Southwest Airlines seat upgrade. We hope our guide has helped you understand the airline’s seat upgrade policy and how you can get better seats on the flight. Be mindful that the Southwest doesn’t offer a traditional upgrade like other airlines; however, it allows you to upgrade to a better boarding position so you can easily board the flight prior to other passengers and get a chance to choose your preferred seat. These upgrades often come with a cost, so check the price beforehand and enjoy Southwest upgrades without any hassle. So, don’t wait further and upgrade your boarding position right away. For more details, contact our experts at Flyviatrip and get all the answers to your questions.
