Southwest Airlines increases early boarding fee to $15

Southwest Airlines has quietly increased the fee it charges for early boarding.

The airline’s EarlyBird Check-In option is now $15 per person each way, up from $12.50. The 20 percent increase took effect in mid-March.

The airline has one of its busiest operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with more than 170 daily non-stop flights, and is the largest passenger carrier out of Tucson International Airport.

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Travelers who pay the fee get a better position in Southwest’s open-boarding system. The airline does not assign seats.

Paying the fee does not guarantee an “A” boarding pass, however. There are two groups of passengers ahead of EarlyBird travelers in the boarding line: those who buy the airline’s priciest tickets (Business Select) and frequent fliers who have earned A List Preferred or A List status in the airline’s Rapid Rewards program.