Southwest Airlines takes a rather unconventional approach to its boarding procedures by not assigning seats, which at first glance might cause confusion and chaos.

However, it’s designed to do the opposite of that. Instead of seat numbers, the airline assigns every passenger a boarding position number that determines their boarding order.

Let’s take a look at how Southwest boarding works and how to get on a Southwest priority boarding list.

How does the Southwest boarding process work?

When you check in for a Southwest flight, you’re assigned a boarding group (A, B or C) and a boarding position (from 1 to 60-plus). This is the alphanumerical order in which you’ll board an aircraft.

The earlier you check in, the better boarding position you’ll get, and the higher chance you’ll have to store a bag in the overhead bin. Typically, window and aisle seats get taken first, which is why having an early boarding position is conducive to avoiding the dreaded middle seat.