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Southwest Airlines' current open seating policy and unique boarding process require strategic navigation. Ideally, you can check in to your flight exactly 24 hours ahead of time to secure an early boarding number. Boarding early lets you choose from the best seats and ensures there will be space to store your bag in the overhead bin. For now, Southwest allows you to purchase Upgraded Boarding, guaranteeing an early boarding number.
However, starting January 27, 2026, Southwest will fall in line with all other airlines' seating policies and move to assigned seats and standard boarding groups.
So what does this mean for Upgraded Boarding? It's shifting to a new feature called Priority Boarding. This will still allow you to board the plane early and secure an overhead bin for your bag, but you will then sit in your assigned seat.
In this post, we're going to cover both types of boarding — Upgraded Boarding for those flying Southwest through January 26, 2026, and Priority Boarding for those flying Southwest on or after January 27, 2026. Whichever group you fall into, we're going to make sure you know how to board Southwest flights early and how to do it for free.
Page Contents
How Southwest Upgraded Boarding Works (Through January 26, 2026)
Let's start with information about Upgraded Boarding, which is still an option for flights through January 26, 2026.
When you check in for your Southwest Airlines flight, you'll be assigned boarding group A, B, or C. You'll also receive a designated number within your boarding group, ending up with a letter and number assignment (for instance, B24).
If you don't get assigned a position between A1–A15, purchasing Southwest Upgraded Boarding might help you move up to those first 15 boarding slots. If there are any A1-A15 spots available for your flight, Upgraded Boarding will be available for purchase 24 hours before flight departure. Sales for Upgraded Boarding stop 30 minutes before flight departure.
Why does this matter? Since Southwest uses a “first come, first served” boarding process, getting as close as possible to the front of the boarding order means better options for available seats once you're inside the plane.
How Much Is Southwest Upgraded Boarding?
Upgraded Boarding starts at $30 per person per flight segment, “based on the popularity and length of each flight segment.” The fee table shows that the price can go as high as $149 per person. Purchases are non-refundable if you cancel your flight. The good news is that Southwest will refund you for Upgraded Boarding if the airline cancels your flight, but you do have to contact customer service to request a reimbursement.
Southwest Credit Card Upgraded Boarding Benefits
Upgraded Boarding can only be purchased with a credit card. Some Southwest Airlines credit cards offer Upgraded Boarding credits as built-in benefits:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Four Upgraded Boardings annually
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Four Upgraded Boardings annually
After purchasing Upgraded Boarding on participating cards, you'll receive a statement credit offsetting the cost.
- 4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
How to purchase Southwest Upgraded Boarding
You can purchase Upgraded Boarding when checking in for your flight at Southwest.com, in the Southwest Airlines app, or at the gate. To purchase online or in the app, follow these steps.
First, check into your Southwest Airlines flight online or in the app.
Next, select “Upgrade Boarding Position to A1-A15” (you'll see eligible flight segments).
Finally, choose your payment method and complete your purchase.
Customers purchasing Upgraded Boarding will receive a separate, additional receipt for the purchase. Your flight's existing confirmation number will remain the same. If purchased in the Southwest app, your boarding pass will automatically update with your upgraded boarding position. If you purchase through Southwest.com, you can choose to receive your new boarding information by email or text.
How Southwest Priority Boarding Works (After January 27, 2026)
For flights on or after January 27, 2026, passengers will be able to purchase Priority Boarding. Priority Boarding lets you board ahead of Group 1, ensuring wide-open overhead bin space and extra time to settle in your seat. It can be purchased starting 24 hours before the scheduled departure time and up to 60 minutes before takeoff, subject to availability.
Priority Boarding can be purchased per person per flight, and it must be paid for with a credit card.
Related: An Overview of Southwest Airlines' Planned Changes
How much is Southwest Priority Boarding and how do you purchase it?
Because Priority Boarding isn't available until January 27, 2026, we don't know the prices or exactly how it will work to purchase it. However, we think it's safe to assume that the cost and purchasing process will look very similar to Upgraded Boarding. We'll be sure to update this article once the change is live.
Southwest credit card boarding benefits
Along with all the boarding upheaval, Southwest has also been making big changes to its credit card benefits. As of writing, there is still a mix of old benefits that relate to its open seating policy, and new benefits that are helpful in January 2026 and beyond.
When it comes to early boarding for flights on or after January 27, 2026, all five Southwest credit cards will offer what's called a Boarding Benefit. This means that cardholders will be able to board in Group 5, which is right in the middle of the boarding process — behind Priority Boarding, but before the majority of general boarding.
If this benefit intrigues you, here are your Southwest card options:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Priority Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Who Shouldn't Pay Extra for Early Boarding?
No matter when your ticket is dated, some people don't need to secure early boarding.
Travelers with Southwest A-List or A-List Preferred elite status will automatically receive Upgraded/Priority Boarding on all flights. Unaccompanied minors, families with young children, and those with certain disabilities also qualify for pre-boarding, so there's no need to purchase one of the early boarding options.
Depending on your travel date, Choice Extra fares (formerly Business Select) automatically include either a boarding position between A1 and A15 (for flights before January 27, 2026) or Early Boarding (for flights on or after January 27, 2026).
For Choice Preferred fares (formerly Anytime), if your flight is before January 27, 2026, your ticket comes with Early-Bird Check-In, which automatically checks you in before the standard 24-hour check-in window, guaranteeing you a better boarding position. For flights on or after January 27, 2026, your Choice Preferred ticket comes with Early General Boarding.
Bottom Line
Southwest has really shaken things up recently. There are tons of new policies (like no more free checked bags for everyone), boosted credit card benefits, and an entirely new boarding process. Thankfully, even with the learning curve that comes with change, there are ways to ensure you have an easy time boarding your flights early, securing space for your luggage, and getting settled in your seat. Both Upgraded Boarding and Priority Boarding make this possible. Even better, you now know how to get them for free.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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