E
elen
Guest
What are the benefits of upgraded boarding on Southwest Airlines?
I didn’t fully appreciate the benefits of upgraded boarding on Southwest until I had one of those travel days where everything felt slightly off. It was a Friday afternoon flight from Denver to San Diego, the plane was completely full, and I had already been rebooked once due to a delay. By the time I saw my boarding pass, I was sitting at C47, and my patience was already wearing thin.
That’s when I decided to try upgraded boarding for the first time. On Southwest, you’re not upgrading your seat — you’re upgrading when you board. I paid for one of the available A1–A15 spots, and instantly my boarding pass updated to A9. The relief was immediate.
The biggest benefit, hands down, was choice. Boarding early meant I could actually choose where I wanted to sit instead of taking whatever was left. I grabbed an aisle seat near the front, which made a huge difference when we landed because I was off the plane quickly. That mattered a lot since I had a tight connection.
Another underrated benefit was overhead bin space. I had a carry-on with work equipment, and boarding early meant I didn’t have to gate-check it or shove it three rows behind me. On a packed flight, that alone felt worth the upgrade.
Upgraded boarding also reduces stress more than I expected. Instead of standing in a long line worrying about seat availability, I boarded calmly, settled in, and had time to get organized before the rush. It made the whole flight feel smoother, even though nothing about the actual seat changed.
I’ve since used upgraded boarding on flights where my plans changed last minute. One time, my original flight was canceled and I got rebooked with a terrible boarding position. Upgraded boarding gave me back some control over the situation, which really helped my mood after a long day.
Is it necessary for every trip? Definitely not. On empty flights or short hops, I skip it. But on busy routes, holiday weekends, or when I’m traveling with a carry-on I don’t want to check, upgraded boarding is a small investment that pays off.
The biggest benefit, for me, is flexibility and peace of mind. On Southwest, where seats are first-come, first-served, upgraded boarding can completely change how the flight feels — even though you’re sitting in the same type of seat as everyone else.