I used to always go back and forth trying to decide between Upgraded Boarding and EarlyBird Check-In when flying Southwest. I’ve flown with them for years, but it wasn’t until a trip from Austin to Los Angeles last year that I really understood the difference — and which one worked better for me.
For that trip, I paid for EarlyBird Check-In, which automatically checks you in 36 hours before your flight. It saved me from setting an alarm for the 24-hour mark, and I ended up in the A40 boarding group — not bad, but not great either. I still got a decent aisle seat, but I had to gate-check my bag since the overhead bins were already full by the time I boarded.
A few months later, I had a business flight to Denver and decided to try Upgraded Boarding instead. It cost me $50 at the gate, but I was placed in A7 — one of the first groups to board. I got a front-row seat, plenty of bin space, and even deplaned quickly when we landed. Totally worth it that time.
Now, I tell people it depends on your travel style. If you don’t mind waiting a bit and just want a better-than-average boarding spot, EarlyBird is great for the price. But if you want guaranteed early boarding and flexibility — especially on packed flights — Upgraded Boarding wins.
For me, I save EarlyBird for casual trips and splurge on Upgraded Boarding for business or long flights. It’s all about picking what fits the situation.
