I attempted Southwest’s new extra-legroom seats: This is what to anticipate

When Southwest Airways pivots to assigned seating Jan. 27, 2026, it will not simply mark the tip of its 50-year-old open-seating coverage.

It will additionally usher within the official launch of its extra-legroom seats — the extra spacious rows that Southwest is advertising and marketing as its new, extra premium product.

Going ahead, these seats shall be accessible to Southwest’s highest-paying clients. And so they’ll be an improve possibility, of types, for A-Checklist elite standing flyers and sure Fast Rewards bank card holders.

Southwest’s hope is that these roomier rows will herald further money from a client who’s been extra keen, in recent times, to pay extra for higher-end experiences.

“What they wished us to alter and evolve to was developing with extra facilities that they are used to getting with different plane,” Tony Roach, Southest’s chief buyer and model officer, stated whereas talking earlier this month in Phoenix.

The query now: Are the extra-legroom seats price the additional splurge?

Learn extra: Southwest’s ‘main milestone’: First aircraft with new, trendy cabin makes huge debut

What it is like flying in Southwest’s extra-legroom seat

I had the prospect to check out Southwest’s new extra-legroom expertise on a latest ceremonial flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX) to the airline’s Dallas Love Subject (DAL) dwelling base.

What to anticipate? It is definitely not firstclass; do not count on an upscale reclining seat, a sizzling meal or a curtain separating these seats from the remainder of the cabin.

Southwest designed this to easily be an elevated providing over its normal coach product.

Comfortable-product upgrades

That stated, the airline has thrown in just a few “smooth product” upgrades for its extra-legroom part.

On board, these passengers shall be handled to free premium drinks — together with alcohol.

Southwest can even serve its extra-legroom clients Fantastic pistachios, a snack alternative that will not be accessible in the remainder of its cabins.

Plus, these passengers will get precedence boarding as a part of the service’s revamped boarding procedures that may launch in January alongside assigned seating. Further-legroom clients will board no later than Group 2.

An elevated coach expertise

Altogether, the entire expertise might be most similar to what you’d discover in sections like American Airways’ Predominant Cabin Further or Alaska Airways’ Premium — a extra premium coach providing that Southwest, till now, hasn’t had in its repertoire.

Personally, that further area makes an enormous distinction for me in the case of consolation on an extended flight, particularly once I’m attempting to get work achieved — which I did with all the benefit I might count on in, say, a United Airways Financial system Plus seat.

Discovering your seat

By Jan. 27, you will discover extra-legroom seats within the first 5 rows of all Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737-800 planes, and within the three rows surrounding the midcabin emergency exit.

On its smaller Boeing 737-700s, it’s going to supply further legroom within the first six rows and within the emergency-exit row.

Aboard many planes, you will discover distinctive striping on the service’s elevated seats, distinguishing them from normal seats. That features these mild blue highlights on the most recent jets in Southwest’s fleet, like this brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 I flew on this month.

Find out how to e-book Southwest’s extra-legroom seat

There are just a few methods you may e-book extra-legroom seats on Southwest.

Purchase a Selection Further fare

The “normal” technique is to buy its new Selection Further fare product, which comes with an extra-legroom seat choice — together with another advantages like precedence boarding and free checked baggage (the latter, after all, is not a blanket perk with the airline).

Tickets that embrace extra-legroom seat assignments went on sale in late July for flights departing on or after Jan. 27 — so you may e-book them now, whether or not you are paying money or redeeming Fast Rewards factors.

Associated: Southwest Airways’ ‘variable’ Fast Rewards redemption charges take impact

Elite standing and bank card upgrades

These seats can even be accessible as an improve possibility for A-Checklist elite members and sure bank card holders.

This is a full rundown:

By late January, Southwest expects that extra-legroom seats shall be accessible on every of its roughly 800 plane.

The airline is at the moment greater than midway achieved reconfiguring every of its jets with the brand new seating setup.

A trick to get further area now

Nevertheless, Southwest has already completed including extra-legroom seats to all the planes it makes use of on its longest routes, like flights to Hawaii.

Meaning, between now and January, you would possibly have the ability to rating certainly one of these seats at no added price, throughout the closing months of first-come, first-served seating.

You may simply have to get on board early sufficient to snag one. Your greatest likelihood of that’s probably buying the airline’s add-on Upgraded Boarding possibility, bought inside 24 hours of takeoff.

TPG tip: Southwest extra-legroom seats are smooth launching, and you may rating one now when you get an early boarding place

Backside line

Southwest executives imagine that between providing a higher-end seating product and different onboard enhancements like its just-deployed free inflight Wi-Fi, it’s going to compete higher — instantly — with different airways.

“It isn’t like an airline the place you are like, ‘If I do not get upgraded, I am caught,” Southwest Chief Working Officer Andrew Watterson stated in Phoenix this month.

On the similar time, the service continues to drop hints about maybe launching a good higher-end seating possibility sometime sooner or later.

So, whereas Southwest’s new extra-legroom seats definitely should not be confused with a real firstclass, it is price staying tuned to see what else is perhaps on the horizon.

For now? These seats are a definite notch above what the airline has provided its clients up to now. And so they’re an attractive new perk of incomes Fast Rewards elite standing, or carrying one of many airline’s cobranded bank cards.

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