Southwest Moves Crew Reporting Earlier on Most Large 737s
The five-minute shift covers 524 aircraft, while customer boarding schedules remain unchanged.
Southwest Airlines now asks cabin crews on domestic Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 flights to arrive 35 minutes before departure, up from 30 minutes. The policy began August 1 and affects nearly 65% of the carrier’s 814-aircraft fleet. Passenger boarding times have not changed; depending on the aircraft and route, boarding still starts 30 to 45 minutes before departure.
The adjustment follows Southwest’s decision to begin charging for checked bags in May 2025. The new $35 first-bag and $45 second-bag fees give more travelers a reason to bring luggage into the cabin, where crowded overhead bins can make boarding and gate checks take longer. Southwest plans to install larger bins on 70% of its aircraft, but the airline is still managing limited storage on some flights.
The reporting change does not apply to 737-700 flights, which retain the 30-minute requirement. International flights and Hawaii services continue using a 45-minute crew reporting time. Southwest’s on-time performance dropped from 79.75% in January to 64.94% in June, then recovered to 70.73% in August.
- The affected aircraft include 334 MAX 8s and 190 Boeing 737-800s.
- Southwest expects checked-bag fees to produce about $1.5 billion annually.
- Larger overhead bins are planned for 70% of the fleet.
- 737-700 flights keep the 30-minute crew reporting requirement.
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