How the Southwest Airlines Boarding Process Works
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- Опубліковано 25 лют 2023
- I have flown quite a bit, but I recently flew Southwest Airlines for the first time. They have a unique boarding process, which I explain here at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Filmed on February 25, 2023.
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I'm fixing to fly by myself for the first time and when I tell you im ANXIOUS 😂
Me to going to Kenya In july and I’m scared
I understand being anxious the first time! Just always use those signs in the airport to guide you. Once I did a couple flights, now it's so easy.
You'll be fine I promise! Have a margarita and enjoy the flight
How was it ?
Planes shake the wings are like transforming and open close and fold.....that's what fly is just a shaky car in thr air it's all normal I worked for American Airline for years 🙃 it's fun roller coaster with trained professionals
this was super helpful!
Helpful. Thanks for sharing! 👍
Thank you. This was really helpful.
Another great video!!
Thanks for the video! Flying SW soon .
Thank you.
Gosh, I just found out about this process. Thanks for the video - it explains it very well. Sadly, it is the only plane w/o stops available right now… I hate not assigned sits.
Damn.. Now I have anxiety about getting my window seat😵💫
Seems like a nice experience 🎉
If plane is not overbooked.
Wish I found this video before I flew with southwest on my first ever plane ride lol. But I'll be flying with them again next year
I've flown a ton growing up, but my last flight was 2yrs ago, and now I'll be flying with my service dog, and this was a great mind refresh of what to expect! I leave in 4 days, so I'm trying to take in as much info as I can, since this will be my first flight that I drive myself and am completely alone from the second I leave home 😅
Great information…thank you!! I’ll be flying for the first time in over 20 years and first time on Southwest. This video helped tremendously on what to expect.
No problem! 20 years is a long time between flights; I hope it goes smoothly for you.
If I ever visit the US and Southwest is not too expensive I will Fly with them to experience this unique way seating passengers.
Btw, great instructions for those who are new to SW. We just ask someone near our number, what number they have. Everyone has always been nice, and all SW airport gates lineup like this now. I've been in twenty different Southwest airports and the silver columns are numbered do you can gage where to stand. If someone has a number that would mean they stand in front of you, and board sooner, we all just back up. It's no biggie. We have found travelers on Southwest to be respectful and friendly, while we're all waiting to board. Attendants on the planes, are in good humor, help out and it's enjoyable to fly SW
Thanks for sharing your experience with the boarding process! That's good to know that it works that way in all airports for Southwest.
It goes very smoothly. Get in line according to your boarding pass number. Everyone is very respectful and I fly SW all the time. 20 years ago it was first come first on the plane with a crowd inching through to get on first. It was horrible. The only thing to watch for is somebody that boards in a wheelchair only to get the exit row and then saves a seat for their friend who's boarding later.
Nope - not on my flight. The flight attendant will move them if they boarded as a handicapped and her sitting in the exit row, who can't hardly help us get out of the plane in an emergency.
Really wish Southwest would let you pick your seat when you buy your ticket. That's what the other low fare airlines do. You pay a little more for the seats up front and early boarding, and the bargain seats are in the back. That way you know where you and your loved ones are sitting ahead of time. No worries about who jumps up in line. Less stress that way.
I wonder if they do it to differentiate themselves, or if it leads to quicker boarding? I only took two flights (there and back), and both times, the flight was not full, so everyone pretty much had either a window or aisle seat as they pleased.
Every seat has its benefits:
Window = best view
Aisle = easy exit/bathroom
Middle = choice of who to socialize with, window partial view, 2nd easiest exit/bathroom
Roman, just buy early boarding and that’s it 🤦🏽♂️
It is part of how they operate. Yes it can be a faster boarding process plus it ensures passengers will be there on time to secure a better seat. It is also cheaper for them to not have to deal with assigning and changing people’s seats as the only thing they have to focus on is the boarding sequence.
They have free family boarding between the A and B groups to allow families to sit together.
That makes too much sense. They can’t have that.
Got the sno-cone window 🤣
How could anyone be upset for a no frill airline. Southwest is a great airline and this is part of the process
super helpful! i'm a 17 year okd who is going to be traveling alone for the first time using southwest, and everywhere i looked (especially online) made it super confusing. thank you so much! by the way, you can put a small carry on underneath the seat in front of you, correct?
I'm glad it was helpful! Every airline allows you to take one "personal item" on board for free that fits under your seat. It does have to meet size restrictions, but typically a smaller backpack (i.e. a normal school backpack) is fine. Southwest also allows you to bring a second bag, referred to as a carry on bag, for free, I believe. That second bag would have to be put in the upper compartment on board; but sometimes those compartments fill up if you're in the later seats, in which case airlines typically offer to "gate check" your bag for free.
Thats one of their perks, no assigned seats
How hard is it to get group “A” and how early before the flight leaves are you in line ? TIA
Do I have to check in twice, on a round trip?
If it's roundtrip, you check in twice. For example, if your travel begins June 2 and ends June 8, you can check in 24 hours before your first flight on each day (i.e. on June 1, and then again on June 7).
They should make it easier to sit with ur loved ones. I hate when they split us up.
That's what the other airlines are for though.
Pay for early check in. Or fly on another flight. The perk is that it’s no assigned seats. I never had a C boarding with southeast
You have to check in early on the app. You can check in 24hrs before your flight. The earlier you check in with your family the better seats
And there is always 2-3 people who line up near the front but their ticket doesn’t match up. 😂
Haha, what happens to the customers in those cases? Do they have to wait or does Southwest just let them go through?
A way around the boarding order process is when you have a group of people preboard due to disabilities. Since where you sit is a big preference. It would be nice if you could lock in your seat online. The boarding process becomes a bit stressful bc I don't want to be in the dreaded C group. And if I buy early bird I am often in the late A group. So then your other option is business select. But then everyone is looking at you when your A1. I guess other ppl don't book business select?
@@PokoTraveler no cuts allowed. They'll be told to get back in the proper order.
If I buy tickets for a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children, does this mean we all could be boarding in different groups?
If the tickets are on the same reservation, you'll get consecutive boarding numbers.
@@melissahayes4166if you children are under 6 years of age, If you didn't get in the A group . You can board the family group which is right after A group.
@@mysterfan7649we have a 3 year old with a get away fare ticket. Should we get early bird check in to be able to sit together?
Do people with disabilities get to board before everyone else? Thanks.
Yes
According to the website, yes.
Why don’t people like to sit in the back of the plane ?
Because it takes longer to get off the plane once it lands. Sitting in front versus the back saves you about 10 minutes. When your on the ground, you want to get off that flying tube.
I never mind it, unless I have a really tight connection.
So u just pick ur own seats
Yes
The real answer is... this boarding process does not work! I never fly Southwest.
well most other airlines do in fact board by groups but SWA does it like this because they dont have assigned seating. if you had an assigned seat like say 16D then you would be in the 16th row from the front, seat D which is an aisle seat. if you fly on others airlines then you would be in like boarding group B but still would have your assigned seat and it would only be when someone feels they are entitled to your seat like someone who wants to sit with a person they are traveling with but got assigned different seats then you might have an issue and need to call a flight attendant.
i suggest watching this guy on different flying related things, www.youtube.com/@flywithgarrett
Why not put numbers on the floor?? That way, people can stand on their spot and avoid asking everyone what number they have.