Recommended Check In Times (within US)
Arrival at Airport | 90 minutes before departure (exceptions below) |
Finish Check In | 30 minutes before departure (no check-in baggage) 60 minutes before departure (with check-in baggage) |
Be at the boarding gate | 30 minutes before departure Boarding pass shall be retrieved and be present in the gate area ten minutes prior to departure. |
Recommended Check In Times (non-US cities)
Arrival at Airport | 120 minutes before departure (exceptions below) |
Finish Check In | 60 minutes before departure (with or without check-in baggage) |
Be at the boarding gate | 30 minutes before departure Boarding pass shall be retrieved and be present in the gate area ten minutes prior to departure. |
Exceptions to general check-in times:
Depart City/Airport | Suggested Time of Arrival | |
Terminal & Gate | ||
Albany, NY – ALB | Domestic | Terminal C |
90 Minutes | Gates C:2,3 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Albuquerque, NM – ABQ | Domestic | Concourse A |
90 Minutes | Gates 5,7-11 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Amarillo, TX – AMA | Domestic | Main Terminal |
60 Minutes | Gates 6,7 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Aruba, AW – AUA | 180 Minutes | US Departures |
Gates change daily | ||
Atlanta, GA – ATL | Domestic | Concourse C |
Station Alert | 120 Minutes | Gates C: 1-7,9,10,12-17,20-22 |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Austin, TX – AUS | Domestic | Main Terminal |
120 Minutes | Gates 7-12 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Baltimore/Washington, MD – BWI | Domestic | Terminals A,B,&C |
Station Alert | 120 Minutes | Gates A:1-11 B:2-15 C:9-14 |
International | ||
180 Minutes | ||
Belize City, Belize – BZE | 180 Minutes | Terminal 1 |
Gate 2 | ||
Birmingham, AL – BHM | Domestic | Terminal C |
90 Minutes | Gates C:1,3,5 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Boise, ID – BOI | Domestic | Concourse B |
90 Minutes | Gates 15,17 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Boston Logan, MA – BOS | Domestic | Terminal A |
120 Minutes | Gates 18-22 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Buffalo/Niagara, NY – BUF | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates 15,16,18 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Burbank, CA – BUR | Domestic | Concourse A |
60 Minutes | Gates | |
A:1-4,6 | ||
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Cabo/Los Cabos, Baja California Sur – SJD | 120 Minutes | Terminal 2 |
Gates change daily | ||
Cancun, Quintana Roo – CUN | 120 Minutes | Terminal 2 |
Gates change daily | ||
Charleston, SC – CHS | Domestic | Main Concourse: |
90 Minutes | Gate B4 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Charlotte, NC – CLT | Domestic | Terminal A |
90 Minutes | Gate A: 6,8 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Chicago (Midway), IL – MDW | Domestic | Terminals A&B |
90 Minutes | Gates A:4a,4b, 9,11,12,14-19 B:1-3,5,7-12,14-26 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Cincinnati, OH – CVG | Domestic | Concourse A |
90 Minutes | Gates 3, 5 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Cleveland, OH – CLE | Domestic | Concourse B |
90 Minutes | Gates 7-11 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Columbus, OH – CMH | Domestic | Concourse A |
60 Minutes | Gates A:2-6 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Corpus Christi, TX – CRP | Domestic | Main Terminal |
60 Minutes | Gate 2 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Dallas (Love Field), TX – DAL | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates A: 1-10,12,14-20 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Denver, CO – DEN | Domestic | Concourse C |
120 Minutes | Gates C: 23-37,40-47,49,51 | |
International | ||
180 Minutes | ||
Des Moines, IA – DSM | Domestic | Terminal A |
90 Minutes | Gate A3 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Detroit, MI – DTW | Domestic | North Terminal |
120 Minutes | Gates D:19-21,23 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
El Paso, TX – ELP | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates B:3-6 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Flint, MI – FNT | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates 8,9 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Ft. Lauderdale, FL – FLL | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
60 Minutes | Gates A: 2-7, | |
Gates B: 2,4-9 | ||
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Ft. Myers, FL – RSW | Domestic | Terminal B |
120 Minutes | Gates B:2,4,6,8 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Grand Cayman Islands, KY – GCM | 180 minutes | Main Terminal |
Gate 8 | ||
Grand Rapids, MI – GRR | Domestic | Concourse B |
60 Minutes | Gates B4 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Greenville/Spartanburg, SC – GSP | Domestic | Main Terminal: |
60 Minutes | Gates A: 4 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Harlingen, TX – HRL | Domestic | Main Terminal |
60 Minutes | Gates 5, 6 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Hartford, CT – BDL | Domestic | Terminal A |
120 Minutes | Gates A:2,4,6 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Havana, Cuba – HAV | 180 Minutes | Terminal 2 |
Station Alert | ||
Houston (Hobby), TX – HOU | Domestic | Central Concourse |
120 Minutes | Gates 20-25,27,40-51 | |
International | ||
180 Minutes | ||
Indianapolis, IN – IND | Domestic | Terminal B |
90 Minutes | Gates B:17,20-24 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Jacksonville, FL – JAX | Domestic | Concourse C |
90 Minutes | Gates C: 1,2,4 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Kansas City, MO – MCI | Domestic | Terminal B |
90 Minutes | Gates B:32,33,37-41,43, 45 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Las Vegas, NV – LAS | Domestic | Concourse B&C |
90 Minutes | Gates B: 9-12,14,15 | |
C:1-5,7-9,11,12, | ||
International | 14,16,19,21-25 | |
90 Minutes | ||
Liberia, Costa Rica – LIR | 120 Minutes | Main Terminal |
Gates change daily | ||
Little Rock, AR – LIT | Domestic | Main Terminal |
120 Minutes | Gates 9,10 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Long Beach, CA – LGB | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gate 1 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Long Island, NY – ISP | Domestic | East Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates A:1-8 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Los Angeles, CA – LAX | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
Station Alert | Tues-Thur | Gates 9,10,11A, |
90 Minutes | 11B,12A,12B,13,14,15,16A,16B,17A, | |
Fri-Mon | 17B,18A,18B | |
120 Minutes | ||
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Louisville, KY – SDF | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
90 Minutes | Gates B:11,15,17 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Lubbock, TX – LBB | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates 6-8 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Manchester, NH – MHT | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates 11,12,14, 15,15a | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Memphis, TN – MEM | Domestic | Terminal A |
90 Minutes | Gate A: 25,27 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Mexico City/D.F., MX – MEX | 120 Minutes | Terminal 1 |
Gates change daily | ||
Midland/Odessa, TX – MAF | Domestic | Main Terminal |
60 Minutes | Gates 3,4 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Milwaukee, WI – MKE | Domestic | Terminal C |
90 Minutes | Gates C:14,15,18-25 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – MSP | Domestic | Terminal 2-Humphrey |
120 Minutes | Gate H: 7-10 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Montego Bay, JM – MBJ | 120 Minutes | Main Terminal |
Gates assigned daily | ||
Nashville, TN – BNA | Domestic | South Concourse C |
120 Minutes | Gates C:4,7,9,15-21,23,25 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Nassau/Paradise Island, BS – NAS | 180 Minutes | US Terminal |
C41-C45 | ||
Newark, NJ – EWR | Domestic | Terminal A |
90 Minutes | Gates A:10,14,15 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
New Orleans, LA – MSY | Domestic | Concourse B |
90 Minutes | Gates B: 2,4,5, 7-9 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
New York (LaGuardia), NY – LGA | Domestic | Central Terminal Building |
Station Alert | 120 Minutes | Gate B: 1,3,4,5,7,8 |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Norfolk, VA – ORF | Domestic | Concourse A |
90 Minutes | Gates 3, 5 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Oakland, CA – OAK | Domestic | Terminal 1 & 2 |
90 Minutes | Terminal 1 Gates: 4,6 Terminal 2 Gates: 20-32 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Oklahoma City, OK – OKC | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates 14,16,18 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Omaha, NE – OMA | Domestic | North Satellite |
90 Minutes | Gates 16-18 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Ontario/LA, CA – ONT | Domestic | Terminal 4 |
90 Minutes | Gates 401-407 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Orange County, CA – SNA | Domestic | Terminal C |
90 Minutes | Gates 14-21 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Orlando, FL – MCO | Domestic | Terminal A |
120 Minutes | Gates 101,103,105,107, 109,110,120-129 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Panama City Beach, FL – ECP | Domestic | Main Terminal |
60 Minutes | Gate 3 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Pensacola, FL – PNS | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates 8,10 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Philadelphia, PA – PHL | Domestic | Terminal E |
90 Minutes | Gates E:9,11-17 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Phoenix, AZ – PHX | Domestic | Terminal 4 |
120 Minutes | Gates C:1-4, 6-9,11-14,16-19, D:1-8 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Pittsburgh, PA – PIT | Domestic | Terminal A |
120 Minutes | Gates A:1,3,5,7,9 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Portland, ME – PWM | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gate 3 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Portland, OR – PDX | Domestic | Concourse C |
90 Minutes | Gates C:12-16 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Providence, RI – PVD | Domestic | North Concourse |
90 Minutes | Gates 15,17,19,21 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Puerto Vallarta, MX – PVR | 180 Minutes | Terminal B |
Gates change daily | ||
Punta Cana, DO – PUJ | 120 Minutes | International Terminal |
Gates change daily | ||
Raleigh/Durham, NC – RDU | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
90 Minutes | Gates A:5-8 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Reno/Tahoe, NV – RNO | Domestic | Concourse B |
90 Minutes | Gates 1,3,5,7 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Richmond, VA – RIC | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates B:7,9 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Rochester, NY – ROC | Domestic | Terminal A |
90 Minutes | Gates A: 2,4 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Sacramento, CA – SMF | Domestic | Terminal B |
90 Minutes | Gates B:14-20 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Salt Lake City, UT – SLC | Domestic | Concourse B |
90 Minutes | Gates B:15,17, 19-22 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
San Antonio, TX – SAT | Domestic | Terminal A |
Station Alert | 90 Minutes | Gates A:9-14 |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
San Diego, CA – SAN | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
90 Minutes | Gates 1,1a, 2-10 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
San Francisco, CA – SFO | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
90 Minutes | Gates 23-28 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
San Jose, CA – SJC | Domestic | Concourse B |
90 Minutes | Gates 19-25 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
San Jose, Costa Rica – SJO | International | Main terminal |
Station Alert | 120 Minutes | Gates change daily |
San Juan, PR – SJU | 180 Minutes | Concourse C |
Station Alert | Gates B: 3,5,7 | |
Seattle/Tacoma, WA – SEA | Domestic | Main Terminal |
120 Minutes | Gates B:6,8, 10,12,14,15 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Spokane, WA – GEG | Domestic | Concourse A |
105 Minutes | Gates A:11,13 | |
International | ||
105 Minutes | ||
St. Louis, MO – STL | Domestic | Terminal 2 |
90 Minutes | Gates 4,6,8,10,12 | |
14,16,18,20,22 | ||
International | 24,29,31,33,34,38 | |
90 Minutes | ||
Tampa Bay, FL – TPA | Domestic | Airside C |
90 Minutes | Gates 30-40,42-44 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Tucson, AZ – TUS | Domestic | Concourse A |
90 Minutes | Gates 2-4,6 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Tulsa, OK – TUL | Domestic | Concourse B |
60 Minutes | Gates B:3,5 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos – PLS | 180 Minutes | Main Terminal |
Gates 1-9 | ||
Washington (Dulles), DC – IAD | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gates B:50,62,64 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Washington (Reagan), DC – DCA | Domestic | Terminal A |
90 Minutes | Gates A:2,4,5,6,8,9 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes | ||
West Palm Beach, FL – PBI | Domestic | Terminal B |
60 Minutes | Gates B: 1, 3, 5 | |
International | ||
120 Minutes | ||
Wichita, KS – ICT | Domestic | Main Terminal |
90 Minutes | Gate 4 | |
International | ||
90 Minutes |
Ways to Check In on Southwest Airlines
Online Check In (Web check in) | Opens 24 hrs and upto 60 minutes before departure of flight. |
Early Bird Check In | Automatic check in on payment of fee. Avail reserved boarding position at least 36 hrs before flight departure. |
Mobile Check In | Opens 24 hrs and upto 60 minutes before departure of flight. |
Curbside Check In | Only for Domestic flights. Time varies from airport to airport- 60 minutes to 3 hours. |
Self-service kiosk Check In | Time varies from airport to airport- 60 minutes to 3 hours. |
FAQs on boarding procedure and eboarding pass
- Southwest follows an Open Seat policy and does not assign seats. So, check-in procedure does not involve selection of seats.
- You are assigned a boarding group (A,B or C) and a position (1 to 60 and more) while checking in. These are also mentioned on your boarding pass.
- Boarding positions are distributed on first-come first-serve basis.
- To get “A” boarding pass (A1-A15), you need to buy a Business Select fare. Please note that Rapid Rewards A- List Preferred or A-List members or Earlybird check in buyers are not guaranteed A boarding pass. However, they do get the facility of early check in and automatic assigning of boarding positions at the earliest possible positions.
- Southwest provides the facility of Family Boarding. Family Boarding permits boarding after A group and before B group boards. This is available for adults travelling with a child of up to 6 years of age.
- Preboarding is allowed for people with special needs, disabled and those travelling with pets.