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elen
Guest
How do I upgrade a Southwest flight after booking?
I’ve had to upgrade a Southwest flight after booking more times than I’d like to admit, mostly because I book in a rush and only realize later that I actually care about boarding early or sitting toward the front. The first time I tried to upgrade was on a trip from Sacramento to Phoenix — I checked in late, landed a terrible boarding spot, and suddenly found myself scrambling for options.
The good news? Southwest actually makes upgrading after you book pretty simple. What you’re really upgrading isn’t a seat (since they don’t assign seats) but the fare type or boarding position. I learned this the hard way the night before my Phoenix flight when I logged into the app and saw that I was in the C group… practically guaranteed a middle seat in row 28.
Here’s what I did:
I opened my reservation, tapped the “Upgrade Boarding” option, and it showed available A1–A15 slots. The price varies by route, but that day it wasn’t too bad, so I went for it. Instantly, my boarding pass updated from C52 to A12, and the stress vanished. I boarded early, grabbed a comfy aisle seat near the front, and even had time to settle in before the cabin got crowded.
I’ve also upgraded by changing my fare type. On a trip to Denver, I initially booked Wanna Get Away but later realized I needed a refundable ticket for work reimbursement. I went back into my reservation, selected “Change Flight,” and upgraded to Business Select by paying the fare difference. It was seamless, and I got the bonus perk of A1–A15 boarding without having to buy it separately.
Another trick I didn’t know at first: ask at the airport. Sometimes the gate agents have leftover A-group slots that didn’t sell online. On a flight to Houston, the app showed no upgrades, but the agent had two spots available. I paid at the counter and got bumped into A5.
A couple of friends use credit card perks that reimburse Upgraded Boarding, which technically counts as a free upgrade after booking. I finally got the card myself and save the credits for busy travel days.
So yes — whether you upgrade through the app, change your fare, or grab a last-minute gate upgrade, Southwest makes it really easy to improve your experience even after you’ve booked. I’ve done it enough times now that it’s part of my pre-flight routine!