Southwest to Board Most Domestic Flights 35 Minutes Before Departure Starting August 1

Effective August 1, 2026, Southwest Airlines will board Boeing 737-800 and MAX 8 aircraft 35 minutes before departure (up from 30) to accommodate longer boarding times due to new checked bag fees

What happened

Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 (Domestic, excl. Hawaii): Boarding starts 35 minutes before departure (previously 30 minutes).
Boeing 737-700 (Domestic, excl. Hawaii): Remains at 30 minutes before departure.
International and Hawaii flights: Remain at 45 minutes before departure. The change primarily impacts the majority of Southwest's fleet (737-800s and MAX 8s). The airline notes that while boarding windows are extending, Southwest still maintains the shortest boarding times among major US carriers

Southwest Airlines is updating its boarding procedures to allow more time for passengers to board, citing the operational impact of newly implemented checked bag fees which have led to increased carry-on usage and gate checks. Effective August 1, 2026: