Southwest Seating

Does anyone know if you can select your seats when you pre board/check in on line like you can on Air Tran. Multiple people have told me that seats are first come first serve on Southwest. However, I am not sure if these people checked in at the airport and got what was left or if they really are first come first serve as you board the plane.

I have not flown southwest in sometime. I recently bought one way tickets for my daughters flying home from Vegas. They are arriving in Vegas on Air Tran.

Thanks for any help.

It is first come first served. You will actually get a boarding letter and number and then you all get in line according to what letter and number you have. Once you get on you can take any open seat. The best group to be in would be the A boarding group. Your daughters should check in exactly 24 hours in advance to get the best boarding letter and number or buy early bird - where they check in for you. I've had good luck with early bird.

On Southwest, no pre-selction of seats.

They'll line up according to group and number on their boarding passes.
Group and number is assigned when they "check in", computer or airport.
A's go in first, then B's then C's.

If your daughters will "check in" via computer exactly 24 hours before their scheduled flight they should get A or B and have a decent choice of seats. They can do this from i-phone/computer, hotel computer, etc.
Many hotels have a kiosk where they can do it for a small fee.
They pick up the boarding pass at the airport, but they've already checked in.
Or you can check them in, I think. Mind the time difference.

Or you can pay for Early Bird seating, $10 each, in which case they don't need to check in at all...Southwest does it for them and they are pretty much guaranteed an A or B group boarding pass.

Even in B group they should be able to get seats together.

Thanks so much for all your help. One more question.

Is the early bird fee charged per confirmation number (there are two on this confirmation) or is it per person regardless of confirmation number.

Seven more days and counting!

It's $10 per person even if on the same confirmation #

Pay for one early bird and have that person save seats.