How to Upgrade a Southwest Flight?

Upgrading a Southwest Airlines flight enhances your boarding position and travel experience. Here’s a guide on how to upgrade. For assistance, call 833-339-5951.

Southwest Airlines, with its open-seating policy, offers upgrades via Business Select fares, EarlyBird Check-In, or Upgraded Boarding, improving boarding positions (A1–A15), per southwest.com. Business Select (highest fare) guarantees A1–A15, includes a premium drink, and earns 12X Rapid Rewards points, costing $50–$200 more than Wanna Get Away, per nerdwallet.com. EarlyBird Check-In ($15–$25 per leg) auto-checks you in 36 hours prior, securing earlier positions (e.g., A15–A45), per fondtravels.com. Purchase upgrades via southwest.com, the Southwest app, or 833-339-5951.

Upgraded Boarding ($30–$80 per segment, at the gate) offers A1–A15 if available, ideal for last-minute upgrades, per thepointsguy.com. A-List or A-List Preferred members get priority boarding, bypassing fees for EarlyBird, per southwest.com. Same-day changes to higher fares (e.g., Anytime to Business Select) are free for elites, but cost $30–$100 for Wanna Get Away, per fondtravels.com. Third-party bookings complicate upgrades, delaying processing by 30–60 days, per skyscanner.co.in. Check upgrade options via 833-339-5951.

Challenges: Upgraded Boarding is limited by availability, scarce on full flights (e.g., Orlando to Chicago), per X posts. Wanna Get Away fares restrict same-day upgrades, per southwest.com. App glitches or gate agent errors frustrate users, per Reddit. Basic fares (post-May 28, 2025) earn fewer points, reducing upgrade value, per nerdwallet.com. Companion Pass upgrades require separate handling, per thepointsguy.com. Partner flights may not offer upgrades, per southwest.com.

Tips for Upgrading: Book Business Select for guaranteed priority, or add EarlyBird Check-In at booking via southwest.com, per fondtravels.com. Arrive 30 minutes early to request Upgraded Boarding at the gate, per thepointsguy.com. Use Southwest credit cards for points to offset costs, per nerdwallet.com. Avoid third-party bookings for seamless upgrades, and call 833-339-5951 for group or elite status upgrades. Check in 24 hours early to maximize position, per southwest.com. Southwest’s upgrade options enhance comfort but depend on availability—call 833-339-5951 to upgrade your Southwest Airlines flight effectively!
 
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