Good news: You can now upgrade your Southwest boarding group online
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Today, Southwest Airlines "flipped the switch to turn on" its Digital Self Service Upgraded Boarding system, according to a company post on FlyerTalk. Passengers can now upgrade their tickets online to one Southwest's coveted A1-A15 boarding positions.
If you want to make sure you have overhead space for your carry-on or have a chance to snag your favorite seat, then this will be a great new feature for you. Previously, upgraded boarding could only be purchased at the airport.
Passengers can purchase these upgrades at $30 per segment, subject to availability. The price can increase based on the popularity and length of any given flight.
Upgrades can be purchased 24 hours prior to departure, and will be sold until 30 minutes prior to departure, according to Southwest's FAQ page on boarding upgrades.
For details of the new upgrade system and benefits to Southwest Airlines credit card holders, read on.
Southwest's new online boarding upgrade system
All Southwest passengers who have purchased their tickets in the fare classes of Anytime, Wanna Get Away, or Wanna Get Away Plus categories are eligible for the online upgrade program.
Upgrades can be purchased through the Southwest app or on the airline's website. Prices for the upgrade begin at $30 but are subject to dynamic pricing based on flight length and popularity.
If you've purchased a Business Select Fare, you're already in the A1-A15 boarding section and would not need to purchase the upgrade. Passengers booked in a Business Select fare have priority over those with upgrades in terms of boarding zone. Should all 15 Business Select Fares per flight be sold out, then no upgrades will be available for purchase for regular flight classes on that segment.
If the flight for which you have purchased an upgrade is canceled, the upgrade charge will be refunded (but you have to contact Southwest to ask for the refund, which seems like an unnecessary hassle).
Also note that should you change your flight after purchasing an upgrade, it will not work for your next flight, as it is non-transferable and non-refundable for any customer-based itinerary changes.
The upgrade system is separate from Southwest's EarlyBird Check-in program, which allows passengers to check in more than 24 hours in advance, as EarlyBird customers would still be restricted from getting one of the A1-A15 seats (but can still pay for the upgrade if they choose).
Finally, this is in addition to (rather than replacing) the existing system. You can still purchase upgrades to the A1-A15 boarding section at the airport, subject to availability.
Related: Southwest Airlines flight credits will no longer expire, an industry first
Benefits for Southwest cardholders
This change to online boarding upgrades should be cheered by some Southwest credit cardholders. And it may also inspire those frequent Southwest flyers to get one.
Both the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card include four upgraded boarding benefits per year. In the past, a cardmember would have to request to upgrade their boarding group at the airport, pay for the upgrade with an eligible card and be reimbursed in the form of a statement credit.
As of Nov. 1, 2022, these two cards' terms and conditions have been upgraded to explicitly state that upgraded boardings can be purchased both online and at the airport:
"Each anniversary year you will be reimbursed for the purchase of up to four Upgraded Boardings which are positions A1-A15. Upgraded Boarding may be purchased via the Southwest app or Southwest.com beginning 24 hours before departure and ending 30 minutes prior to departure or at the departure gate or ticket counter on the day of travel only, when available. Price of Upgraded Boarding is based on your itinerary. Anniversary year means the year beginning with your account open date through the first statement date after your account open date anniversary, and the 12 monthly billing cycles after that each year. For accounts that switch to this product, account open date is the date the switch is official in the Chase system. After you make your purchase with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Card, you will receive a statement credit for the price of the Upgraded Boarding. Statement credit and purchase of Upgraded Boarding may not post on the same statement; please allow up to eight weeks for the statement credit(s) to post to your account. You may purchase all four Upgraded Boardings at one time or on separate flights; you will only be reimbursed via statement credit for the first four Upgraded Boardings you purchase on the overall business card account during your anniversary year. Account must be open and not in default at the time the statement credit is posted to your account."
Bottom line
Southwest is finally selling upgraded boarding spots online rather than limiting them to the airport. This is great for frequent Southwest flyers, as it gives a new way to secure a better seat on the only major U.S. airline with an open seating policy. Plus, if you have a premium Southwest credit card, your boarding upgrade benefit may have just become easier to use.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh.