Southwest seat selection works unlike any other major U.S. airline — historically there has been no assigned seating at all. Instead, Southwest has used open seating, where your boarding position, not a seat number, decides how good a seat you can grab. This guide explains how that system works and how to improve your odds of a great seat.
We're an independent travel agency — not Southwest Airlines and not affiliated with or endorsed by them — but our agents help travelers with Southwest seat selection and boarding strategy every day and can sort it for you by phone. Call +1 (855) 302-0422 (24/7).
How Southwest open seating works
On Southwest's traditional model, you don't choose a seat when you book. Instead you're assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a position number (1–60+). You line up in that order and pick any open seat once you board. The earlier your position, the more seats are still available.
- Boarding group — A boards first, then B, then C.
- Position number — your spot within the group; A16 boards before A45.
- Open seating — sit in any unoccupied seat once aboard.
How to get a better boarding position
Since position drives seat choice, the goal is to board as early as possible. Options vary and pricing changes, so treat the table as a guide — call to confirm what applies to your trip.
| Option | What it does | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Check in at 24 hours | Earlier check-in = earlier position | Free |
| EarlyBird Check-In | Auto-assigns position before others | Paid — varies |
| Upgraded Boarding | Buy an A1–A15 spot if available | Paid — varies |
| Higher fare tiers | Some include earlier boarding perks | Fare-dependent |
Tips for grabbing a good seat
- Check in exactly at 24 hours. Position is assigned in check-in order, so seconds count.
- Consider EarlyBird. It secures your spot automatically so you don't have to race the clock.
- Board efficiently. Once aboard, the front and exit-row seats go fastest.
- Family boarding. Families with young children often board between A and B groups.
Where to sit once you board
With open seating, the seat you end up in depends on how early you board and how fast you decide. A few patterns are worth knowing:
- Front of the cabin — fills first; great for a quick exit but boards earliest, so you need an A position.
- Exit rows — extra legroom and popular, so they go quickly; grab one if you board early.
- Window vs aisle — window seats tend to fill from the front, aisles from anywhere; middles fill last.
- Rear of the cabin — often the last open seats, but boarding late may leave you only middles.
Because nothing is reserved, the single biggest lever is your boarding position — everything else follows from it. If sitting together as a group is the goal, early boarding through EarlyBird or upgraded boarding is the reliable path, and we can set that up for you.
How Southwest compares to assigned-seat airlines
If you're used to picking a seat number in advance, Southwest's system feels different — there's nothing to choose, just a position to earn. Many travelers love the flexibility; others prefer the certainty of a reserved seat. For comparison, see how it works on carriers like Delta seat selection or JetBlue seat selection, where you pick an actual seat number ahead of time. If your dates shift, our guide to changing your flight date without a fee can help, and if plans fall through entirely, here's how to cancel a flight and get a refund.
Southwest's boarding rules reward early action, and the simplest way to lock in a strong position is to let a person handle it. Call +1 (855) 302-0422 for Southwest seat selection and boarding help, available 24/7.