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elen
Guest
How does Southwest credit card upgraded boarding work?
I didn’t really understand how Southwest credit card upgraded boarding worked until I actually needed it. Before that, I just assumed it was some automatic perk that magically kicked in when you checked in. Turns out, it’s simple—but not obvious—until you go through it once.
My “aha” moment happened on a packed flight from Tampa to Baltimore. I had booked weeks earlier, but life happened and I completely forgot to check in at the 24-hour mark. When I finally opened the app, I saw C38 and immediately knew I was in trouble. I was traveling with a carry-on I didn’t want to gate-check, and the idea of boarding that late stressed me out.
I have the Southwest Priority credit card, and I remembered it came with upgraded boarding credits, but I wasn’t sure how to use them. I asked the gate agent, and she explained it in the simplest way possible: you buy Upgraded Boarding (A1–A15) like normal, using your Southwest credit card, and the card reimburses you afterward. That’s it. No coupon. No code. No special request.
I went ahead and purchased an A-group upgrade at the gate. My boarding pass instantly changed from C38 to A10, which felt like winning a small lottery. I boarded early, found an aisle seat near the front, and had zero issues with overhead space. The flight itself was uneventful, but the boarding experience was night and day compared to what it would’ve been.
A few days later, I checked my credit card statement and saw a statement credit for the upgraded boarding charge. That’s when it finally clicked how the benefit works. You pay first, then the reimbursement happens automatically—up to the number of upgrades your card includes each year.
Since then, I’ve used the credit both at the gate and directly in the Southwest app within 24 hours of departure. The process is always the same. Buy the upgrade, board early, get reimbursed later. I’ve found it’s best to save these credits for really busy flights or holidays, when boarding position makes a huge difference.
One thing I learned the hard way: you must use the eligible Southwest credit card for the purchase, or the credit won’t trigger. I almost used a different card once and caught myself just in time.
Now that I understand it, upgraded boarding is easily one of my favorite Southwest card perks. It’s not flashy, but when you need it, it’s a lifesaver.