Never say never. Empty flights and no one is in the exit row, I will sit there. (not in uniform).

I had no idea people paid extra to do that. I just recently have started to JS on Southwest. Our agents at AA usually give us the exit row if it’s open, but we have assigned seats. I guess I wasn’t thinking about the open seating concept. Thanks for the heads up so I do t screw up again.

There’s a ton of unwritten rules and tribal knowledge when it comes to the etiquette of jumpseating and nonrevving on SWA. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know it. Some of it is pretty ridiculous.

Sat in the exit row quite a bit in the last few months. If I board after A group I’ll sit there if available.

Preboard for JS is actually in their manual. They are supposed to do it every time.

yep, so you can go talk to the captain without jamming up the boarding process.

Passengers pay the highest fare for Business Select on SWA which gives them boarding positions A1-A15 so that is why preboarders aren't allowed in the exit rows.

I always assumed preboarders weren’t allowed to sit in exit rows because they are usually preboarding because of a disability or in need of special assistance (i.e, not qualified to sit in the exit). The jumpseaters, deadheaders and other company folks that preboard don’t as a courtesy to the paying pax. That’s what I figured anyway.

Thanks! I didn't know that. I know deadheads are preboards by contract. I didn't know that a jumpseat pass was a preboard.

Also if you’re an FFDO you are supposed to preboard whether you’re jumpseating or just plain nonrevving.