Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Southwest Airlines check-in changed when assigned seating began for flights on January 27, 2026. You still check in 24 hours before the flight, but your fare now affects when you choose a seat and when you board. Basic travelers receive a seat assignment at check-in or at the gate, while most other fares include seat selection before travel. This guide explains the current website, app, kiosk, boarding, baggage, TSA PreCheck, and international check-in rules.
Quick Answer
Southwest check-in opens 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure. Use Southwest.com, the mobile app, an airport kiosk, a Skycap podium where available, or the ticket counter. Basic fares receive a Standard seat at check-in or the gate. Other fares generally include seat selection before departure.
Key Takeaways
- Check-in opens 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure, but domestic check-in closes 30 minutes before departure.
- Southwest uses assigned seats and boarding Groups 1 through 8. Basic travelers normally board in Group 8 unless another benefit applies.
- EarlyBird Check-In and Upgraded Boarding ended with open seating. Priority Boarding is the current paid option for boarding ahead of Group 1, when available.
- For U.S. mainland travel ticketed or voluntarily changed on or after April 9, 2026, the first checked bag is $45 and the second is $55 on Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares.
- International travelers may be able to scan a passport in the app, but some routes require airport check-in, and all international checked bags must be handled at the ticket counter.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 5 to 10 minutes online; allow extra airport time for bags, document checks, and security |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Confirmation number, passenger name, phone or computer, acceptable ID, and a passport book for international air travel |
| Cost | Check-in is free. Seat upgrades, Priority Boarding, and checked bag fees may apply. |
What’s in This Article
Online Check-In Options
Southwest online check-in opens 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure time. You can check in on Southwest.com or through the app.
How to check in online
- Open Southwest.com or the Southwest app and select Check in.
- Enter the six-character confirmation number and the first and last name of a passenger on the reservation.
- Review the flight, passenger details, assigned seat, and boarding group.
- Add checked bags and pay standard bag fees online if your reservation is eligible.
- Open, save, email, or print the boarding pass for each flight segment.
Under the current assigned seating system, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra travelers can select an included seat during booking, subject to availability. Basic travelers receive a Standard seat at check-in or at the departure gate. A Basic passenger may be able to buy a Preferred or Extra Legroom seat if one is available.
Pro Tip: Check in when the 24-hour window opens, especially on a Basic fare. Early check-in lets you see your seat and boarding group sooner and leaves more time to solve document, payment, or boarding-pass problems.
Mobile Check-In
The Southwest mobile app lets you check in, view flight status, manage eligible reservations, and retrieve a mobile boarding pass. After check-in, save the pass to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet so you can open it even when the airport connection is slow.
Check-in begins 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure, not 24 hours before a changed or delayed departure time.
Not every traveler can use a mobile boarding pass. Southwest lists lap children, unaccompanied minors, some international travelers, passengers on partner reservations, and passengers using certain military or government fares among the groups that may need a paper pass or airport assistance.
Kiosk Check-In at the Airport
| Airport Option | What You Can Do |
|---|---|
| Self-service kiosk | Print a boarding pass, review the seat assignment, add a Rapid Rewards number or KTN, check and tag bags where available, pay bag fees, and access eligible seat or fare changes. |
| Ticket counter | Get agent help, complete required document checks, check international bags, handle unaccompanied-minor or large group procedures, and resolve check-in errors. |
| Skycap podium | Check in or check bags at select airports when the service is available. |
At a kiosk, retrieve the reservation with a confirmation number, Rapid Rewards number, mobile boarding pass, passport, or a major credit card bearing your name. Most airports also offer self-tagging. Print the tag, attach it as shown, and take the bag to the designated drop area with your ID ready.
Note: Unaccompanied minors and customers on group reservations of 10 or more passengers must check in at the Southwest ticket counter rather than a kiosk.
Priority Boarding Options and Boarding Groups
Warning: EarlyBird Check-In and Upgraded Boarding were tied to the former open-seating process and are no longer sold for current assigned-seat flights. Avoid third-party pages that still describe them as current Southwest options.
Southwest now boards by assigned seat, fare, status, and eligible benefits. The old A, B, and C groups are gone. Your boarding pass shows a number from Group 1 through Group 8, or a boarding category that comes before Group 1.
| Boarding Order | Typical Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Preboarding | Eligible passengers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors |
| Priority Boarding | Customers who buy Priority Boarding, active-duty U.S. military with valid ID, and A-List Preferred members |
| Group 1 | A-List members and Choice Extra fares |
| Group 2 | Eligible Extra Legroom seat passengers |
| Groups 3-4 | Choice Preferred fares in Preferred or Standard seats |
| Group 5 | Eligible Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers who do not already have an earlier group |
| Groups 3-7 | Choice fares, depending on seat and other benefits |
| Group 8 | Basic fares without an earlier status, card, seat, or boarding benefit |
How Priority Boarding works
Priority Boarding is sold per passenger and per flight segment, subject to availability. Sales open 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure and close 30 minutes before departure. Southwest currently lists a price range of $10 to $75 per segment. The purchase is generally nonrefundable, although Southwest provides refunds for qualifying airline-caused cancellations or significant schedule disruptions.
How family seating works
Families on the same confirmation number receive the same boarding group. Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares allow included seat selection during booking. For Basic fares, Southwest assigns seats at check-in or at the gate and says it will work to seat children age 12 or younger beside at least one adult in the party when seats are limited.
Baggage Check-In Process
Note: Southwest raised its standard U.S. mainland checked bag fees on April 9, 2026. Different rules can apply to older unchanged tickets, interisland Hawaii trips, vacation packages, and partner-airline itineraries.
For U.S. mainland travel booked, ticketed, or voluntarily changed on or after April 9, 2026, Southwest’s standard checked bag fees are:
- Basic: $45 first bag, $55 second bag
- Choice: $45 first bag, $55 second bag
- Choice Preferred: $45 first bag, $55 second bag
- Choice Extra: first and second bags free
Who may receive free checked bags?
- A-List Preferred: first and second standard bags free for the member and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation
- A-List: first standard bag free for the member and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation; the second bag has a reduced fee under the current mainland table
- Primary Rapid Rewards credit cardmember: first standard bag free for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation when the cardmember’s Rapid Rewards number is included and all terms are met
- Active-duty military: free checked bag benefits under Southwest’s military policy
You cannot add checked bags during booking. For eligible reservations, add and pay for standard checked bags during or after online check-in on Southwest.com or in the app. Online payment accepts credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. At the airport, print tags at a kiosk where available or get them at the ticket counter, attach them, and use the bag-drop line.
Weight, size, and timing limits
- A standard checked bag can weigh up to 50 pounds and measure up to 62 total linear inches, including wheels and handles.
- A bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds has a $100 overweight charge in addition to any standard bag fee on U.S. mainland travel.
- Oversize, heavier, third, specialty, and international bags can have different fees or restrictions.
- Digital bag check is available up to 60 minutes before a domestic flight and 90 minutes before an international flight, but you must still meet the airport bag-drop deadline.
- Airport bag-drop deadlines are at least 45 minutes before a domestic flight, 60 minutes before an international flight, and 75 minutes before a flight departing Aruba.
Review Southwest’s full baggage guidance before leaving home, especially if you have an overweight, oversize, sports, military, or partner-airline itinerary.
Boarding Pass Options
After check-in, you can use a mobile boarding pass, print a pass at home, print one at an airport kiosk, or ask a Southwest agent for a paper pass. The pass displays your assigned seat and boarding group.
A mobile pass works at security and the gate when your itinerary is eligible. Save it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for faster access. If you have a connection, Southwest provides a pass for each segment. Travelers who are not eligible for a mobile pass should collect a paper boarding pass or security document at the airport.
Pro Tip: Confirm that the passenger name, flight date, seat, boarding group, and TSA PreCheck indicator are correct before you leave for the airport.
TSA PreCheck and Southwest Airlines Check-In
TSA PreCheck can provide expedited screening on eligible U.S. departures. Travelers with the TSA PreCheck indicator usually keep on shoes, belts, and light jackets and leave compliant liquids and laptops in their bags. Screening is never guaranteed because TSA can apply random or additional security measures.
How to add your Known Traveler Number
- Sign in to your Rapid Rewards account.
- Open your profile or traveler information.
- Add the Known Traveler Number and save it.
- Confirm that the reservation name and date of birth match the trusted traveler record.
- Refresh or reprint the boarding pass after any change.
Southwest says a KTN added to the Rapid Rewards profile updates linked reservations and auto-populates new reservations booked while signed in. If the indicator is missing, add or correct the KTN through Manage Reservation at least 60 minutes before departure, then refresh or reprint the pass. Review the airline’s TSA PreCheck guidance for current troubleshooting steps.
Identification for domestic travel
Passengers age 18 or older need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, an Enhanced Driver’s License, or another TSA-accepted form of identification for domestic air travel. The name on the reservation should match the ID you plan to show.
Check-In Deadlines and Common Problems
Warning: Southwest can rebook you if you try to check in after the cutoff. You must also have a boarding pass and be in the gate area at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure, or the reservation may be canceled.
- Domestic check-in cutoff: 30 minutes before original scheduled departure
- International check-in cutoff: 60 minutes before original scheduled departure
- Aruba departure cutoff: 75 minutes before original scheduled departure
- Gate deadline: Be in the gate area with a boarding pass at least 10 minutes before original scheduled departure
If the website or app will not check you in
- Confirm that you are within the 24-hour window and before the cutoff.
- Use the original scheduled departure time, not a delayed departure time.
- Check the confirmation number and passenger name exactly as booked.
- Try the other channel, such as the app instead of the website.
- Go to a kiosk or ticket counter if the trip involves a document check, partner airline, unaccompanied minor, large group, or another restriction.
Partner-airline itineraries
Check in with the airline operating the first flight. If Southwest operates the first segment and online check-in is available, you can start on Southwest.com. If a partner airline operates the first segment, use that airline’s website or app. Partner baggage and boarding-pass rules may differ.
Tips for a Smooth Check-In Experience
- Set a reminder for 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure.
- Keep the confirmation number, passenger name, and acceptable ID easy to reach.
- Charge your phone and save the mobile pass to a wallet app.
- Check your assigned seat and boarding group before arriving at the gate.
- Add the KTN and Rapid Rewards number before check-in.
- Weigh and measure checked bags at home.
- Use Southwest’s airport information page to confirm local arrival guidance, kiosk availability, and baggage deadlines.
What matters at the 24-hour mark is different from the old open-seating system. Most travelers already have a chosen seat, while Basic travelers receive their Standard seat assignment during check-in or at the gate. Checking in promptly is still smart because it gives you time to address seat, payment, document, or pass problems before the cutoff.
Checking In for International Flights
Every passenger, including a child, needs a valid passport book for Southwest international air travel. A passport card is not accepted for international travel by air. Depending on the destination and the traveler’s citizenship or residency, a visa, permanent resident card, entry form, or other document may also be required.
Travelers who do not require a visa may be able to use the Southwest app to scan a passport or U.S. I-551 Permanent Resident Card during check-in. You can also complete verification with a kiosk or a Southwest agent at the ticket counter. A boarding pass becomes available after the required travel document is verified.
Note: Travelers to or from Aruba, Havana, and Punta Cana cannot check in online under Southwest’s current guidance. Complete check-in at the airport and allow extra time.
If any part of the itinerary is international, checked baggage must be presented at the ticket counter. Meet the 60-minute international check-in and bag deadline, or the 75-minute deadline when departing Aruba. Airport conditions vary, so review Southwest’s airport-specific arrival guidance and arrive early enough for document verification, bag drop, security, and the walk to the gate.
What to Know Before Your Next Southwest Flight
Southwest check-in still begins 24 hours before departure, but assigned seating changed what happens next. Most fares include seat selection before travel. Basic travelers receive a Standard seat at check-in or at the gate and normally board last unless another benefit applies.
Check the exact baggage table for your itinerary before paying. The current $45 first-bag and $55 second-bag rates apply to many U.S. mainland Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred tickets issued or voluntarily changed on or after April 9, 2026. Choice Extra, tier status, eligible credit cards, military travel, Hawaii itineraries, vacation packages, and partner flights can follow different rules.
Before leaving home, save the boarding pass, verify the seat and boarding group, confirm the KTN, and know the check-in and bag-drop deadlines. Those steps prevent most last-minute check-in problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to check in to Southwest Airlines?
You need the six-character confirmation number and the first and last name of a passenger on the reservation. At the airport, adults need acceptable identification. International travelers also need a valid passport book and any other documents required for the destination.
When can I check in to Southwest Airlines?
Check-in opens 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure. The cutoff is 30 minutes before a domestic flight, 60 minutes before an international flight, and 75 minutes before a flight departing Aruba.
Does Southwest still use A, B, and C boarding groups?
No. Southwest now uses assigned seats and boarding Groups 1 through 8. Preboarding and Priority Boarding occur before Group 1 for eligible travelers.
Is EarlyBird Check-In still available?
No. EarlyBird Check-In and Upgraded Boarding ended with Southwest’s open-seating system. Priority Boarding is the current paid option for boarding ahead of Group 1, when available.
What are the current Southwest baggage fees?
For U.S. mainland Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred travel booked, ticketed, or voluntarily changed on or after April 9, 2026, the first standard checked bag is $45 and the second is $55. Choice Extra includes two standard checked bags. Status, card, military, Hawaii, vacation, and partner rules can differ.
What happens if I miss the online check-in window?
You can use a kiosk or the ticket counter only if you are still before the applicable cutoff. After the cutoff, Southwest says you will need to be rebooked on the next available flight.
Can I check in to Southwest Airlines at the airport?
Yes. Use a self-service kiosk where available, a Skycap podium at select airports, or the Southwest ticket counter. Some travelers, including unaccompanied minors and groups of 10 or more, must use the ticket counter.
Can I change my Southwest seat after check-in?
You may be able to change or upgrade the seat if another eligible seat is available. A kiosk can display a QR code that links to the seat-change page. A price difference or upgrade fee may apply.
Why is TSA PreCheck missing from my boarding pass?
Check that the KTN, name, and date of birth are correct and that the membership has not expired. Add or fix the KTN at least 60 minutes before departure, then refresh or reprint the boarding pass. TSA PreCheck screening is not guaranteed on every trip.
Can I check in online for a Southwest international flight?
Often, yes. Travelers who do not require a visa may be able to scan a passport or permanent resident card in the app. Travelers to or from Aruba, Havana, and Punta Cana cannot check in online under current Southwest guidance. International checked bags must be presented at the ticket counter.
Sources
- Southwest Airlines Online Check-In – check-in channels, opening time, cutoffs, and gate deadline
- Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating – fare seating rules, family seating, and Groups 1 through 8
- Southwest Airlines Boarding Process – current boarding order and eligibility
- Southwest Airlines Optional Travel Charges – checked bag, overweight bag, seat upgrade, and Priority Boarding fees
- Southwest Airlines TSA PreCheck Information – KTN requirements and missing-indicator troubleshooting
- Southwest International Mobile Check-In – passport scanning, airport verification, and online check-in exceptions