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Fortune
Fortune
Joseph Hostetler

Everything you need to know about Southwest’s unique boarding process (and how to hack it)

Passengers check in at an automated kiosk at a mostly empty Southwest Airlines counter area (Credit: Getty Images)

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The most popular (and cheapest) way to vie for a favorable pole position is by checking in as soon as possible. Southwest opens check-in to customers 24 hours before departure. It’s wise to set an alarm for this occasion and begin refreshing the Southwest site (or your app) as the seconds tick down. You can bet that other travelers on your flight are doing the same thing.

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