Southwest Check In can feel confusing at first, especially for travelers used to assigned seats, but once you understand the system it’s actually pretty straightforward. Southwest uses open seating, so your boarding position matters more than anything—checking in right at the 24-hour mark usually gets you a better spot. Many frequent flyers recommend setting an alarm, while others swear by EarlyBird if they don’t want the stress. Family boarding, preboarding rules, and fare types can also affect the experience, so it really pays to know the basics before you fly.