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Southwest Airlines used to be much more unique. Previously, the airline used an open seating policy and a boarding process that required strategic navigation. Now, Southwest has fallen in line with all other airlines' seating policies and moved to assigned seats and standard boarding groups.
If you want to be one of the first on board, Southwest Priority Boarding has officially replaced Upgraded Boarding. Essentially, you'll still board early and have first crack at overhead bin space, but you'll head straight to your assigned seat. Here's how to board Southwest flights early — including how to do it for free.
How Southwest Priority Boarding Works
Southwest moved to assigned seats and implemented new boarding procedures for flights departing on or after January 27, 2026. Now, passengers board in Groups 1 through 8 based on the fare class purchased. If you book a Choice Extra fare, you're guaranteed to board in Group 1. However, if you want to board before Group 1, you can purchase Priority Boarding.
Priority Boarding can be purchased starting 24 hours before the scheduled departure time and up to 30 minutes before departure, subject to availability. It's purchased on a per-person, per-segment basis. So, if your itinerary includes a connection, you'll need to purchase it separately for each flight where you want to board early. Payment must be made with a credit card.
How much is Southwest Priority Boarding, and how do you purchase it?
According to the fee chart, Priority Boarding costs between $10 and $75 per person per segment. Purchases are nonrefundable if you cancel your flight. The good news is that Southwest will refund your Priority Boarding purchase if the airline cancels your flight or if your flight is significantly delayed or significantly changed.
To purchase Priority Boarding, you can go to the dedicated Priority Boarding page and enter your confirmation number, first name, and last name. If Priority Boarding is available, you can complete your purchase with a credit card, and your boarding pass should automatically update to reflect your purchase. You'll then be able to board immediately after preboarding and before Group 1.
Southwest credit card boarding benefits
Southwest also overhauled its Rapid Rewards credit card benefits. Select cardholders previously enjoyed Upgraded Boarding credits as built-in benefits. Now, all five Southwest credit cards offer Group 5 boarding, which is right in the middle of the boarding process — behind Priority Boarding but before most of the general boarding.
Some Southwest credit cards also include complimentary Standard, Preferred, or Extra Legroom seat selection. Since you'll already have an assigned seat, these benefits can make paying extra for Priority Boarding less worthwhile in most cases.
If these benefits intrigue you, here are your Southwest card options:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
$99Rates & Fees
- 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
$229Rates & Fees
- 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
$149Rates & Fees
- 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
Quick Tip: Southwest credit cards earn Rapid Rewards points that help you earn the valuable Southwest Companion Pass.
How Southwest Upgraded Boarding Worked Before Southwest’s Changes
Southwest has undergone more changes than we can count over the last few years. Prior to January 27, 2026, Southwest boarded using groups A, B, or C. When you checked in for your flight, you were assigned a boarding group and a number within it (for instance, B24). If you wanted to be the first on board, which was advantageous when Southwest had an open seating policy, you could purchase Southwest Upgraded Boarding to guarantee a boarding slot between A1 and A15.
Sales for Upgraded Boarding were available for purchase from 24 hours to 30 minutes before departure. You'd spend a pretty penny for this perk, with Upgraded Boarding prices “based on the popularity and length of each flight segment,” generally ranging from $30 to $149 per person per flight segment.
Who Shouldn't Pay Extra for Early Boarding?
Not everyone will need to pay extra to be one of the first on the plane. Here's a brief overview of the early boarding process. If you fall into any of these categories, you shouldn't pay extra for Priority Boarding:
- Preboarding (customers with qualifying disabilities and unaccompanied minors)
- Active-duty military
- A-List Preferred members
- Group 1 (A-List elite members and Choice Extra fares)
If you purchase Priority Boarding, you'll board after preboarding and before active-duty military and those with Southwest A-List Preferred elite status. In other words, if you plan to preboard, you are an elite member, or you book a Choice Extra fare, there's no reason to pay for Priority Boarding.
Now that Southwest uses assigned seating, Priority Boarding no longer helps you get a better seat — it just gets you on the aircraft earlier. Since your seat is already assigned, the advantage is having a better chance at overhead bin space and a little extra time to get settled in before departure.
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. Even better, you now know how to get early boarding for free.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
