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.