Help Center | Southwest Airlines (2024)

FAQs

What disabilities qualify for pre-boarding on Southwest? ›

Preboarding is available for Customers with disabilities who need a specific seat to accommodate a disability, need assistance boarding the aircraft, or need to stow an assistive device.

You can pay extra for Southwest's Upgraded Boarding service. If available, this service will give you an A1 to A15 boarding position, which allows you to get on the plane much sooner. Pricing for this service varies but generally costs $30 to $80 per person, each way.

Southwest allows preboarding only for customers who 1) need a specific seat on the plane, or 2) need assistance boarding the plane. If you find that having a specific seat helps with your anxiety, that would be a way for you to preboard.

Senior Fares apply only to those in the traveling party who are age 65 or over. Southwest Airlines has other discounted fares for those not meeting the above age requirements. Some restrictions and seating limitations may apply.

Can the air carrier require me to provide proof of my disability? An air carrier must not require any kind of proof as a condition for the provision of transportation, except in some very limited circ*mstances.

At the check in or gate, you simply state that you need to pre-board for medical reasons and need a specific seat, and show your ID.

Upgraded Boarding pricing starts at $30 per segment, per Customer, based on the popularity and length of each flight segment. A credit card must be used for the purchase of Upgraded Boarding.

Although Southwest priority boarding isn't based on the cabin class you fly, you can get the perk by: Purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or Upgraded Boarding. Carrying a credit card that offers priority boarding benefits. Purchasing a higher fare ticket.

Anyone, regardless of status, can purchase Business Select fares and get an A1-15 boarding position. Without purchasing Business Select the best boarding position anyone can get is A16. Automatic assignment of A boarding position requires the flight be purchased more than 36 hours before departure.

"As a carrier, you must offer preboarding to passengers with a disability who self-identify at the gate as needing additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated."

Can I get priority boarding for anxiety? ›

Early boarding is available if you need more time or assistance boarding. You must identify yourself to the gate agent to request early boarding.

Sometimes distraction can be an effective way to cope with claustrophobia. So make sure you carry things that help you take your mind off anxious feelings. You can use anything that helps you distract yourself, like reading books, listening to music, solving a puzzle, gaming on the phone, or watching a movie.

Seniors do not get priority boarding on Southwest. There is priority boarding for customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability, who need assistance in boarding the aircraft or who need help stowing an assistive device.

United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and many others have similar policies for domestic flights, with a cutoff age of 2 years old. On international flights, there is no fare for lap infants, but fees may apply. In most cases, you'll need to add the infant to the adult's ticket.

Preboarding is reserved mainly for travelers needing special assistance and passengers with a child under age 2. Members of the airline's invitation-only, top-tier ConciergeKey elite status also get to preboard.

purchasing a higher fare class (first class, business class, etc.); having a co-branded credit card with the airline that offers priority boarding as a perk; being a corporate traveler with an eligible travel agreement with the airline, etc.

If I have a disability, am I allowed to board the airplane before passengers without disabilities? Yes. If you self-identify as a passenger with a disability who needs additional time or assistance to board the airplane, the airline must allow you to board the airplane before other passengers.