If you ever fly Southwest, you know the agony and ecstasy of their boarding policy. With no assigned seats, it’s every person for themselves once you board the plane. There’s a bit of a shortcut, though, if you’re flying out of the right airport. While most airports have a single entry point onto the aircraft, some smaller airports still have you walk onto the tarmac to board. If that’s the case (it is in Burbank, Long Beach, Sacramento, and San Jose), head to the back of the plane and you might just beat the crowds up front. You won’t be able to wheel your carry-on up a ramp like you can at the forward entrance, but that jaunt up the back staircase may help you snag a much more desirable seat in the long run.

 

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