What You Can Expect on a Southwest Airlines Flight

When I need to travel and I am considering an airline, I find myself using Southwest Airlines. I have been a Southwest Airlines customer for over 15 years. I have come back to the airline time and time again mainly because of their low prices, reward program and normally on-time arrivals.

No Seating Assignments
If you have never flown Southwest Airlines, this airline does not have seat assignments. This is probably the main reason why the costs are much lower on this airline. Anyone who flies this airline is considered the same as everyone else. In order to get the seat you want, you will need to check in.

Checking In
You will need to check-in using one of the following methods:
1) On-Line (24 hours prior your flight using www.southwest.com)
2) Ticket counter – if you plan to check in luggage
3) Skycap (outside of the departing terminal) – if you want to check in luggage and avoid the long lines at the ticket counter
4) Rapid Check-In kiosk (if you do not have any luggage or a transfer from another Southwest Airlines flight
5) The gate counter is the last place to check-in; but I hardly ever use it unless I am a transfer from another flight.

As I mentioned earlier, there are no assigned seats on a Southwest Airlines flight. Basically, you are provided with boarding passes from one of the check-in locations. There are three boarding groups (A, B & C). A passenger is assigned a boarding pass in the group based on when you checked in. If you are part of the first 30 to check-in (either 24 hours before your flight online, airline counter, skycap or at the gate, you are group A, followed by the next 30 (group B), and then the rest (group C). When you are waiting for the flight, group A would board first followed by B and C.