Southwest Just Raised Early Check-In and Upgraded Boarding Fees

If you fly with Southwest Airlines, you'll want to know about a recent fee increase that could impact your wallet. While the airline is known for allowing all flyers to check two bags for free and not charging change or cancellation fees, other optional fees exist.

If you've ever paid a fee for Upgraded Boarding or EarlyBird Check-In when flying Southwest, you should know that these fees have recently increased. Find out how much more you could spend before your next flight.

Here's how the Southwest boarding process works

If you're new to Southwest, you may not know how the airline handles boarding.

Here's a quick overview: Southwest doesn't assign seats or allow travelers to choose their seats before departure.

Instead, passengers are assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a boarding position (1-60+) at check-in. The boarding group and number listed on your boarding pass determine your place in line at the gate and, in turn, the order in which you board the plane.

Passengers board in order from A through C based on the group and position listed on their boarding passes. Once on the plane, travelers can sit in any remaining seats.

Because of this setup, checking in for your flight as soon as possible is advantageous if you want more choices regarding where you sit on the plane. Otherwise, you'll be stuck with whatever seats are left, and the offerings may be less than ideal.

Upgraded Boarding costs $30 to $149 per segment, per person

Don't like being one of the last passengers on the plane? Southwest offers Upgraded Boarding for a fee. When available, this optional service allows flyers to upgrade their boarding position to A-1 through A-15, 24 hours before their flight departs.

The exact fee varies by route and demand. The Southwest Airlines website notes that these fees now range from $30 to $149 per segment, per person, up from $30 to $80. That means you could pay more if you opt for Upgraded Boarding.

EarlyBird Check-In costs $15 to $99 per segment, per person

Paying for upgraded boarding isn't the only way to increase your chances of boarding the plane sooner. Southwest also offers EarlyBird Check-In, which allows customers to enroll in automatic check-in before the traditional 24-hour check-in period when available.

This could earn you an earlier boarding position than if you checked in manually starting 24 hours before departure. However, this optional service has a fee, which varies by route and demand.

EarlyBird Check-In now costs $15 to $99 per segment, per person. You could pay up to $199 per round-trip journey to use this service. Previously, the fee ranged from $15 to $25 per segment, per person. That's a significant price difference.

A Southwest Airlines credit card could prove useful

Are you a Southwest loyalist? Before paying these optional fees, consider adding a Southwest credit card to your wallet. You can earn valuable rewards when you book Southwest flights and make other purchases with your credit card.

You can also unlock additional perks that improve your flight experience. For example, some cards include a limited number of free EarlyBird Check-Ins each year. While others include a limited number of complimentary Upgraded Boardings annually.

Credit card benefits like these could help you keep more money in your checking account. Review our list of the best Southwest credit cards to explore your options before your next flight.