Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of Southwest Rapid Rewards hub
GUIDE
How to use Southwest Upgraded Boarding
Southwest Upgraded Boarding is about boarding position rather than cabin: Southwest Airlines sets each passenger's boarding group from the fare bundle bought, Rapid Rewards tier and/or Credit Cardmember status, seat type and location in the cabin, and sells a per-passenger "Priority Boarding" purchase that applies only to the passenger who buys it. [4] [7]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Southwest builds a boarding group from four inputs: fare bundle, tier and/or Credit Cardmember status, seat type, and location in the cabin. [4]
- A-List Preferred Members board before Group 1, A-List Members board in Group 1, and Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers board no later than Group 5. [4]
- A seat or "Priority Boarding" purchase applies only to the passenger for whom it is purchased. [7]
- Boarding benefits are subject to availability and depend on the programme in effect when the benefit is used. [4]
How is your Southwest boarding group decided?
Southwest sets boarding by combining four things: the fare bundle, Rapid Rewards tier and/or Credit Cardmember status, the seat type, and the passenger's location in the cabin. [4] Seats included in the fare bundle are based on availability. [4] The airline's points-earning page sets out earning rates for four fare products — Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra. [6] On the seating side, Southwest's A-List terms describe Extra Legroom, Preferred and Standard seats. [4]
Because the group is worked out per passenger rather than per booking, two people on the same reservation can end up in different boarding groups if their fare, status or seat type differs. [4] [7]
Where do A-List and A-List Preferred members board?
Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members board before Group 1 and A-List Members board in Group 1, while Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers board no later than Group 5. [4] A-List status is earned by flying 20 qualifying one-way flight segments or earning 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year; A-List Preferred requires 40 qualifying one-way segments or 70,000 tier qualifying points. [7] Once earned, either tier applies for the remainder of that calendar year and for the whole of the next calendar year, and has to be re-earned annually. [7] The tiers and their other benefits are set out in the Rapid Rewards elite status guide.
For flights on or before 26 January 2026, Southwest's programme terms say it automatically reserved a boarding position 36 hours before each confirmed flight for an A-List or A-List Preferred Member and all passengers on the same reservation. [7] Every passenger on that reservation still had to check in within 24 hours of the originally scheduled departure to retrieve a boarding pass. [7]
Can you buy a better boarding position?
Southwest's programme terms refer to a "Priority Boarding" purchase and state that a seat or Priority Boarding purchase applies only to the passenger for whom it is purchased. [7] The same terms require a Companion Pass Member and their Companion to board with their assigned groups. [7] Boarding benefits are subject to availability and depend on the member's status and the programme benefits in effect when the benefit is awarded, selected or used, which may differ from and be less favourable than those available at booking or travel. [4] Boarding benefits may also not apply on itineraries booked with partner airlines. [4]
Southwest's Rapid Rewards page says a new Rapid Rewards programme starts on 1 January 2027 [2], and the airline reserves the right to amend, suspend or change the programme and its rules at any time without notice. [7] Costs connected with Rapid Rewards activity are covered in the Rapid Rewards fees guide.
Exceptions and limits
- When the automatic boarding position did not apply. For flights on or before 26 January 2026, Southwest's terms list the situations where it would not pre-reserve a position: the reservation was booked or changed less than 36 hours before the originally scheduled departure; the member's Rapid Rewards number was not saved to the reservation at least 36 hours before check-in; the reservation was a group travel itinerary, where only the A-List or A-List Preferred Member received priority boarding; a passenger travelled standby on a different flight than originally confirmed; the flight was taken after the member's status expired; or irregular operations affected the benefit. [7]
- Availability. Tier benefits are subject to availability and are based on the programme in effect when the benefit is awarded, selected or used. [4]
- Partner itineraries. Benefits may not apply on itineraries booked with partner airlines. [4]
- Companions. A member and a Companion Pass Companion board with their assigned groups, and a boarding purchase covers only the passenger who bought it. [7]
- Boarding is not a seat. Southwest treats seating separately: when available, A-List Members can select a Preferred or Standard seat at booking or up to 60 minutes before scheduled departure, and can move to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure. [4]
- Programme changes. Southwest may amend, suspend or change the programme and its rules at any time without notice, and may end the programme on six months' notice. [7]
- Scope. This guide covers boarding position on Southwest Airlines flights only; cabin and seat upgrades are separate products.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone on the same Southwest reservation get the same boarding group?
Not necessarily. Boarding group is based on the fare bundle, tier and/or Credit Cardmember status, seat type and cabin location [4], and a seat or Priority Boarding purchase applies only to the passenger for whom it is purchased. [7]
Where does A-List Preferred board compared with A-List?
A-List Preferred Members board before Group 1, and A-List Members board in Group 1. [4]
Do Rapid Rewards credit card holders board earlier?
Southwest says Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers board no later than Group 5. [4]
Is a better boarding position guaranteed once it is bought or earned?
No. Boarding benefits are subject to availability and to the programme terms in effect when the benefit is used, which may be less favourable than those in place at booking or travel, and they may not apply on itineraries booked with partner airlines. [4]
What happens to boarding rules from 1 January 2027?
Southwest says a new Rapid Rewards programme starts on that date [2], and the airline can change benefits and programme rules at any time, with benefits determined by the programme in effect when they are provided. [4] [7]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. This guide covers Southwest Airlines and Southwest Rapid Rewards only; boarding rules at American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus and Alaska Mileage Plan are not covered here.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards programme overview, checked 18 October 2026
- Rapid Rewards Status Match terms, including A-List tier benefits, checked 18 October 2026
- How to earn Rapid Rewards points, checked 18 October 2026
- Rapid Rewards terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026