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elen
Guest
Can I upgrade my seat on Southwest Airlines?
I actually went through this exact situation a few months ago, so yes — you can upgrade your seat on Southwest, but the process is a little different from airlines that assign seats. Since Southwest uses open seating, what you're really upgrading is your boarding position, not a specific seat.
When I was flying from Phoenix to San Diego for a last-minute work trip, I originally booked the cheapest Wanna Get Away fare without thinking much about boarding order. But the night before my flight, I realized the plane was nearly full, and I really didn’t want to end up in a middle seat at the very back (I’m tall, and my knees definitely prefer the front half of the cabin!). So I pulled up my reservation to see what I could do.
Southwest gave me two realistic options:
- Upgrade to EarlyBird Check-In (if still available)
- Buy an “Upgraded Boarding” slot (A1–A15), which opens up within 24 hours of departure
EarlyBird wasn’t available anymore, but Upgraded Boarding was. I hesitated because the price varies depending on the route, but I figured comfort was worth it—especially on a tight work trip. I paid for the upgrade, got an A12 position, and ended up with a great aisle seat in the first few rows.
Honestly, the upgrade saved the day because I had a tight connection and being near the front helped me get off quickly. Plus, boarding early meant I didn’t have to stress about overhead space.
Another time, on a Denver trip with my sister, I didn’t upgrade early enough. When we checked in, we ended up in the C group, which felt like an eternity in line. We got decent seats eventually, but that experience taught me that if boarding position matters—especially if you want to sit with someone—upgrading can be a sanity saver.
A small tip: if you’ve already checked in, you can still upgrade at the gate if there are leftover A1–A15 spots. Southwest agents usually announce it, but you can also ask—they’re used to last-minute upgrade requests.
So yes, upgrading is definitely possible, and for me it's been worth it on busy routes or days when I'm trying to make sure I don’t get stuck in the last row next to the bathroom!
