The ‘No. 1 reason’ to buy the early boarding upgrade: travel expert

In 2024, a record number of passengers flew.
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Southwest AirlinesOn Tuesday, known for its first servant boarding and seating approach, once the first servant, he began to sell his first tickets with seats assigned. This change – and with it, New Boarding Groups – It comes into force for flights in late January.
The movement makes the southwest more compatible with other major carriers that passengers should weigh the payment value to raise the early board.
“The number one reason for purchasing an early boarding upgrade is the number one reason, if you have a transportation for the fire building, S
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Henry Harteveldt, the founder of a travel industry market research and consulting firm atmosphere Research Group, said “basically taking our transport suitcases in fire boxes”.
Understanding the boarding process
By law, Disabled Individuals Those who need special assistance should have the opportunity to take a flight first. Depending on the policy of an airline, early boarding can be presented to other groups such as active military members and families with young children.
Furthermore, while the boarding process varies according to the airline, your place between the ride groups will usually depend on your status by airline and the plane ticket you reserve.
Harteveldt said that individuals with elite airline are usually among the first boarding groups. If you do not have a situation and receive a discount or limited coach fee, wait to enter the last board.
If you match the early ride criteria of an airline, you may not have to pay for Perk.
Search for early wooden plug -in options
Travelers can sometimes purchase as an early boarding plug -in when you buy flights or as your travel date approaches. Sometimes it is packaged with other extras.
The cost of the plug -in is according to the airline and in some cases how long the flight lasts, according to Sally French, a travel expert in Nerdwallet.
For example, Priority boarding plug -in Through United Airlines cost A fixed ratio per person is $ 24.
“If the overrade is important to you, you need to pay for the priority boarding,” French said.
How can joint travel credit cards help?
There are different ways to move up the boarding group ladder up. Harteveldt can help you approach and use a airway for travel credit cards of a airway.
Keep in mind that having a card is often enough to get advantages with early board. When you use the card to reserve this ticket, you will take the steep.
You hit it with a premium flight ticket ‘
Another way to ride before is to book a first -class economy or the main economy flight ticket.
Doing this typically allows you to book a certain seat and said, “You also collide in the early boarding position.”
Premium economy is “one step from the economy”, but not as expensive as the first or business class, in accordance with To Skyscanner, a travel site. In addition to more leg gaps, wider seats, and more laws, these seats provide priority services for check-in and boarding.
But this is an expensive way to ride earlier on the plane. In terms of price, a first -class economy fee will be more than 50% cheaper than a business class fee, but it is at least 30% more expensive than the standard economy per sky.
If you have enough points or miles with an airline, you can upgrade from the economy to the premium economy per sky.
“Remember that you can’t get more than a courly per mile, although it’s not the worst use so far.
“Cash upgrades are the place where you get the most value.” He said. If not, evaluate where your points and miles will be the most valuable for you.
While paying to select a seat, you can help you get a better boarding group, especially if you want to pay for an extra leg seat, you can quit it. Nerdwallet’s French, passengers should not feel obliged to pay the additional cost for the early ride, he said.
If you just paid money for a flight – whether or without seat reservations – the airline will throw a seat for you.
The authority is more likely to be placed in the middle seat behind the aircraft, and at the same time you are among the last passengers.
Harteveldt said, “There is only space in the fire trash until you get on,” Harteveldt said.