Welcome to another flight review! I’m a budget traveler, and I love exploring new low-fare airlines. While my usual preferred airlines are Frontier and Spirit, I recently decided to try a different airline for my trip from Denver to Seattle.
Southwest Airlines is a renowned low-fare carrier in the USA known for its unique seating policy and hospitality. In this blog post, I will share my travel experience with Southwest, from boarding to landing. Additionally, if you are looking for fun things to do in Seattle, I have great recommendations for you to check out!
Booking experience
If you are booking Southwest for the first time, you might come across these four tiers. The good thing about these tiers is that you get all the perks except the flexibility to cancel or change your bookings. However, if you’re 100% sure about your trip, it’s a win-win as you get the lowest price and perks like two cabin bags (1 personal item & 1 carry-on), snacks & entertainment.
Pro Tip: Check their offers page while booking to grab attractive deals.
Understanding Southwest’s Open Seating Policy
The open seating policy is unique to Southwest Airlines, so it’s essential to understand before booking. While booking or doing a web check-in, passengers are not assigned seats. Instead, they get assigned to a boarding group. They have three boarding groups, A, B, and C, allocated based on when they check in for their flight. And you are only allowed to check in 24 hours before your flight.
But they also offer priority boarding facilities for veterans and families with children under six. Moreover, you can purchase priority boarding, which gives you a better chance of getting a seat in the front.
The only drawback to this arrangement is that there’s a chance that you might get different seats when traveling together, especially with kids. However, for solo travelers or couples, this is a great way to save money and get seats of your choice.
Web Check-in (online)
During our recent Southwest Airlines flight, we checked in a couple of hours after the check-in window opened, landing us in positions B60 and C1. With expectations of limited seating choices, we were pleasantly surprised to find a window and middle seat available for us. Additionally, the flight was not fully booked, resulting in us having the entire aisle seat to ourselves, giving us some extra space. (Who doesn’t love empty seats 🤪)
Pro Tip: Set a reminder to the exact start time of the 24-hour check-in window to get the best boarding group possible. Alternatively, if you prefer guaranteed early boarding, you can pay for an upgrade to an A1-A15 boarding position.
Baggage policy
Southwest Airlines’ generous baggage policy allows a carry-on, a personal item, and two checked bags per passenger. Thanks to this, you can travel light without worrying about extra luggage. I liked this the most because I love buying souvenirs that won’t fit my bag (guilty 🙈) or putting my camera and lenses with my clothes, risking damage. Plus, they allow putting items in the spacious overhead bins, resulting in more leg space.
In-flight experience
Another unique feature of Southwest is its complimentary snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and entertainment. Honestly, we were surprised and excited at the same time. Their beverage menu had a plethora of options to choose from. Moreover, they also offer alcoholic beverages that you can purchase at a minimal cost.
The mini snack bag was a great addition to our meal while watching our favorite TV show. You can download their app before the flight and enjoy a variety of the latest movies, live TV, and classic TV shows.
Last but not least, I wanted to mention their adjustable headrest, which added an extra layer of comfort. I was so happy waking up without neck pain and not having to carry an additional pillow.
Pro Tip: Southwest provides free entertainment to keep passengers engaged throughout the flight. You can also access in-flight Wi-Fi for a small fee of $8.
Overall Experience
Overall our first experience flying with Southwest Airlines was great. We loved their open seating, generous baggage policy, and free food and entertainment service. It allowed us to keep ourselves entertained throughout our journey.
But on the downside, the open seating can be an issue, especially when traveling in a large group and boarding in the last group. Moreover, the fares can be slightly higher than other low-fare airlines. But the convenience and benefits make it a solid choice for air travel.
Happy flying with Southwest Airlines!
