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elen
Guest
How much does upgraded boarding cost on Southwest?
I wondered about the cost of upgraded boarding on Southwest for a long time before I finally paid for it myself. I always saw people boarding early and assumed it was either some elite perk or ridiculously expensive. Turns out, it’s neither — and I learned that during a packed flight from Atlanta to Houston.
I had booked a cheap Wanna Get Away fare and completely forgot to check in at the 24-hour mark. By the time I remembered, my boarding position was C44. If you’ve flown Southwest before, you know that’s not ideal, especially on a full flight. I was traveling with a carry-on and really didn’t want to gate-check it, so I decided to look into upgraded boarding.
When I opened the app, it showed the option to purchase Upgraded Boarding (A1–A15). The price surprised me — it wasn’t a flat fee. Instead, Southwest prices it by route and demand. On that Atlanta–Houston flight, the cost was around $40. I’ve since seen it as low as the low $30s on short routes and closer to $50 on busier or longer flights.
I hesitated for about two minutes, then decided the peace of mind was worth it. I paid, and my boarding position instantly changed from C44 to A11. That one change made the whole airport experience feel calmer. I boarded early, grabbed an aisle seat near the front, and had zero stress about overhead space.
Since then, I’ve paid for upgraded boarding a few more times, and the price has varied each time. On a quieter midweek flight to Kansas City, it was closer to $35. On a holiday weekend flight to Orlando, it was just under $60. In my experience, the fuller the flight, the higher the price — and sometimes the upgrades sell out completely.
One thing I didn’t know at first: you can also buy upgraded boarding at the airport gate, not just in the app, if A1–A15 spots are still available. The price is usually the same as what you’d see online.
Is it cheap? Not exactly. Is it sometimes worth it? Absolutely. If I’m flying solo on a short flight, I’ll usually skip it. But if it’s a busy route, a holiday, or I really want to avoid a middle seat, I don’t regret paying for it.
Now I think of upgraded boarding as a “comfort insurance” fee — optional, but sometimes very worth it.