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elen
Guest
How do I upgrade my Southwest boarding position before check-in?
I used to think the only way to get a good boarding position on Southwest was to sit there refreshing the app right at the 24-hour check-in mark. That changed after a trip from Las Vegas to Dallas when I finally learned how to upgrade my boarding position before check-in even opens.
For that trip, I had booked a cheap Wanna Get Away fare because I wasn’t too concerned about seats at the time. But a week before the flight, I realized I really needed to board early so I could grab an aisle seat near the front. I was traveling with a bulky carry-on and didn’t want to risk having to gate-check it. That’s when I remembered something a friend had told me: Southwest actually lets you secure a better boarding position long before check-in if you use the right upgrade option.
The one that saved me was EarlyBird Check-In. I opened my reservation in the app, added EarlyBird for a small fee, and that was it — no stressing about the 24-hour countdown. Southwest automatically checked me in exactly 36 hours before departure, which placed me in A-Group on that Vegas flight. I ended up with A27 and scored a great aisle seat in the first few rows.
What surprised me is that EarlyBird gets more valuable on busy routes. On a later trip to Orlando, I added it only three days before the flight and still landed in B12, which was early enough to sit with my cousin. If I had waited until the 24-hour check-in, we would’ve been scattered all over the plane.
There’s also a more premium route: booking a Business Select fare. It’s pricier, but it guarantees A1–A15 every time, no check-in stress at all. I’ve only done this once — for a work trip — but walking straight into the first boarding group felt like magic.
And honestly, if you fly Southwest often, their A-List status works like a built-in upgrade before check-in. A friend of mine gets priority boarding automatically, even on the cheapest fares.
My biggest tip? If boarding early matters for luggage, seat choice, or sitting with someone, upgrading before check-in with EarlyBird or a higher fare class is absolutely worth it. It