Open seating is on its manner out.
Southwest Airways simply introduced that, beginning on July 29, 2025, passengers could have the choice to pick out (or not choose) a seat in the course of the reserving course of.
Seat assignments shall be out there for flights departing on and after Jan. 27, 2026. The identical day, Southwest will even introduce a group-based boarding course of just like different airways. At the moment, Southwest has an open seating protocol, the place passengers select a seat primarily based on availability after boarding.
The change may very well be excellent news for Southwest credit score cardholders and people with Speedy Rewards elite standing, who will get entry to early seat choice, seat upgrades and most well-liked boarding. However if you happen to don’t fall into a kind of classes, you’ll seemingly be paying extra for these advantages.
What do you have to anticipate from the “new” Southwest?
Boarding course of
For flights starting on Jan. 27, 2026, Southwest will now not assign a bunch letter and place quantity for boarding at check-in. Relatively, you’ll obtain a boarding group quantity between 1 and eight that’s tied to your loyalty standing or the fare class of your ticket, just like different airways. If you arrive on the gate, you’ll then queue for boarding when your group quantity known as, together with everybody else in that group.
Seat choice
New seat varieties
Traditionally, almost each seat on a Southwest aircraft was the identical measurement, with no first-class or enterprise cabin. However Southwest is retrofitting their planes with completely different seat varieties. These new seats are related to new fare courses:
Normal seats with customary legroom situated close to the again of the aircraft. These seats have 1 inch much less pitch than Southwest’s outdated seats (pitch is the space between your seat and the seat in entrance of it).
Most well-liked seats with customary legroom situated between the center and entrance of the aircraft, additionally with much less pitch than the outdated seats.
Additional legroom seats with 5 further inches of seat pitch situated close to the entrance of the aircraft and in exit rows.
New fare varieties and what you get
The seats out there at reserving will rely on the fare class you choose:
Fundamental (changing Wanna Get Away): Seat assigned at check-in; boards in Teams 6–8, towards the again of the aircraft.
Selection (changing Wanna Get Away Plus): Choose Normal seat at reserving; boards in Teams 6–8.
Selection Most well-liked (changing Anytime): Choose a Most well-liked or Normal seat at reserving; boards no later than Group 5.
Selection Additional (changing Enterprise Choose): Choose an Additional Legroom, Most well-liked or Normal seat at reserving; boards no later than Teams 1–2.
Extra advantages for Speedy Rewards elites
Within the new system, elites in Southwest’s Speedy Rewards program will get entry to complimentary upgrades and most well-liked boarding. The advantages fluctuate by standing:
When is the improve out there?
Most well-liked seats at reserving.
Additional legroom seats (if out there).
Most well-liked seats at reserving.
Additional legroom seats 48 hours earlier than departure, if out there.
Most well-liked and Normal seats: Group 5 or earlier.
Additional legroom seats: Group 1 or 2.
Most well-liked and further legroom seats.
Extra advantages for Southwest cardholders
All Southwest credit score cardholders will obtain most well-liked boarding in Group 5 and a seat-selection profit throughout reserving, even with Fundamental fares. In some circumstances, they’ll additionally be capable of select a seat forward of time and get a Most well-liked seat.
What in regards to the Companion Go?
The favored Southwest Companion Go program stays largely the identical as earlier than, with a couple of new particulars that specify how the cross works with current adjustments.
Beginning July 29, 2025, vacationers utilizing a Companion Go can e book their companion into the identical fare class as their major ticket for flights starting Jan. 27, 2026. Companions will even obtain the identical tier member seating and checked bag advantages as the first traveler. (Extra on that under.)
Southwest hasn’t introduced any main adjustments to the Companion Go, which you obtain by incomes 135,000 Speedy Rewards factors in a calendar 12 months. As earlier than, the quickest solution to earn factors towards a Companion Go is with a Southwest bank card sign-up bonus.
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card
Charges & Charges
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card
Charges & Charges
Welcome provide
Earn 50,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 50,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
What these adjustments imply for vacationers
Whereas lots of this information was beforehand introduced, we now have an outlined date when the adjustments shall be carried out.
Just like different airways, Southwest’s new mannequin is constructed round perks for elites and bank card holders, offering these passengers not solely with seat choice and boarding advantages, but in addition a free checked bag for as much as eight passengers on a reservation made by the elite member or major cardholder. These vacationers may see Southwest’s new mannequin as a win.
However if you happen to don’t have standing or a Southwest bank card, you’ll in all probability now see Southwest for what it has develop into: simply one other airline.
The details about the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been offered or reviewed by the cardboard issuer.
