Southwest Airways has formally set the date for its large changeover to assigned seats and has laid out precisely how its all-new boarding course of will work.
The airline’s long-standing open seating coverage will formally finish Jan. 27, 2026, the Dallas-based service introduced Monday. Passengers booked on all flights from that day ahead will obtain particular seat assignments.
Prospects reserving 2026 flights will begin to discover the modifications even earlier: Beginning subsequent week, on July 29, passengers reserving a flight for Jan. 27 of subsequent yr (or past) can have the choice to decide on their seat.
This can embody the choice for the service’s first-ever further legroom seats, which can formally debut as a brand new “premium” seating choice in January, as nicely.
“Assigned seating unlocks new alternatives for our clients—together with the flexibility to pick Further Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not realizing the place they are going to sit within the cabin. This is a vital step in our evolution,” Southwest govt vp of buyer and model Tony Roach mentioned in an announcement Monday.
Here is what you must learn about Southwest’s newest modifications and what they are going to imply for reserving journeys on the airline over the approaching weeks and months.
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When will Southwest begin assigning seats?
Assigned seating on Southwest Airways will formally launch on flights departing on and after Jan. 27, 2026. Further legroom seats will technically make their debut that very same day, too (although some Southwest planes have already, quietly, been outfitted with the brand new extra-space rows).
Southwest will start providing seat choice July 29 — although consider, clients who decide the airline’s new primary economic system fare will not be eligible for complimentary seat choice.
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Who can choose a seat free of charge on Southwest?
As a part of Southwest’s large shift away from its half-century open seating coverage, the service is revamping its fare decisions with new names — and new seating advantages.
As a reminder:
- Wanna Get Away already turned “Fundamental” and does not embody complimentary seat choice, much like different airways’ primary economic system choices.
- Wanna Get Away will turn out to be “Selection,” and can embody commonplace seat choice
- Anytime will turn out to be “Selection Most well-liked,” and passengers can have the selection to pick a standard seat nearer to the entrance of the plane.
- Enterprise Choose will turn out to be “Selection Further” and provide the choice to pick a free further legroom seat.
Particular perks for A-Checklist, bank card holders
Vacationers with Speedy Rewards elite standing and sure Southwest bank cards will get extra favorable seat choice perks.
Pending availability:
- A-Checklist members might be allowed to pick a most well-liked seat at reserving and an additional legroom seat inside 48 hours of departure.
- A-Checklist Most well-liked members might be allowed to pick any seat, together with further legroom, at reserving.
- All Southwest bank card holders might be allowed to pick a seat inside 48 hours of departure, even when they’re flying on a primary economic system fare.
- Prospects with sure bank cards might be allowed to improve to an additional legroom seat inside 48 hours of departure, when out there. All cardholders might be allowed to pick a seat, of some variety, inside 48 hours of departure.
New boarding course of detailed
As a part of Monday’s announcement, the airline additionally unveiled the small print of its reimagined boarding course of. As TPG reported this spring, gone would be the days of lining up, single-file, to get on the airplane.
The brand new nine-group course of will look much more just like the boarding setup different carriers use.
Teams 1 and a pair of might be reserved for A-Checklist Most well-liked members and for passengers who e-book a high-priced Selection Further fare or improve to an additional legroom seat.
Selection Most well-liked vacationers, A-Checklist members who do not rating an extra-space seat, and Southwest bank card holders will board no later than Group 5.
Teams 6 by 8 will embody passengers flying on Selection or Fundamental fare, with primary economic system passengers final to board.
Backside line
Mixed with the airline’s implementation of checked bag charges in late Might, it is a time of main change on the airline.
Southwest executives have mentioned these modifications will drive extra income and cater to clients’ evolving preferences.
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