Southwest Airways is gearing up for assigned seating. Beginning early subsequent 12 months, all Southwest passengers will get an assigned seat — and so they’ll have the choice to fly within the airline’s all-new further legroom rows.
Flights with the brand new seating setup go on sale July 29 for flights departing on or after Jan. 27, 2026.
As a part of that shift, Southwest will even make a serious change to its boarding course of, ending the distinctive, single-file setup it is used for years. That announcement got here after TPG reported earlier this 12 months that Southwest had determined to go together with new boarding procedures that look much more like those utilized by its high opponents.
Discount searching: When is the very best time to e book flights for the most cost effective airfare?
Sure, that may imply an finish to the times of setting a check-in alarm to safe a boarding place — and it will additionally finish the Southwest preflight ritual of lining up alongside silver posts on the gate.
The provider may have new methods handy out preferential boarding entry to prospects who pay extra for its further legroom seats, carry one among its bank cards or have A-Listing elite standing.
How one can get a superb boarding group on Southwest
In all, Southwest plans to make use of a complete of eight boarding teams.
The boarding group you get might be decided by a couple of components, together with:
- What fare product you select: As a part of the shift, Southwest will rename its fare lessons. They’re going to be known as: Primary, Alternative, Alternative Most well-liked and Alternative Additional (the latter of which is able to include an additional legroom seat). Greater-priced fares include an earlier boarding group.
- Elite standing: Southwest will give precedence boarding to its Fast Rewards A-Listing and A-Listing Most well-liked flyers
- Credit score cardholders: Fast Rewards members with a Southwest bank card will get earlier boarding.
Each day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
The 8 boarding teams on Southwest Airways
This is how Southwest’s new boarding teams will shake out, efficient Jan. 27, 2026.
| Teams | Passengers allowed to board |
|---|---|
| Teams 1 and a couple of |
|
| Teams 3 by way of 5 |
|
| Teams 6 by way of 8 |
|
Precedence boarding add-on possibility
There’s a further option to shortcut the boarding line: Southwest mentioned prospects will have the ability to buy precedence boarding 24 hours previous to departure.
Which group will most prospects use?
In case you do not carry a Southwest bank card, haven’t got elite standing, and do not pay to improve to an additional legroom seat, I anticipate you will doubtless land in:
- Group 6 or 7, when you go for one among its “Alternative” fares
- Group 7 or 8, if you choose a “Primary” fare
Nearer to subsequent January, the provider plans to elaborate additional on its boarding course of, gate expertise and preboard coverage, Southwest mentioned this week.
Backside line
As anticipated, Southwest’s new boarding setup certain seems to be much more just like the grouped format utilized by different main airways. Nonetheless, for the reason that Dallas-based provider does not even have a first-class cabin, scoring an additional legroom seats is the important thing to a precedence boarding group.
Take into accout, you may get a spot in a kind of extra-space rows by:
- Buying a Alternative Additional fare
- Paying to improve your seat
- Choosing it totally free at reserving as an A-Listing Most well-liked member
- Choosing it totally free inside 48 hours of departure as an A-Listing member or an eligible credit score cardholder
Boarding early will not include fairly the stakes because it does at present on Southwest, because it will not be your ticket to getting a superb seat. Quite a lot of that might be labored out now while you e book your flight.
Nonetheless, getting on board early might nonetheless be key to getting access to the overhead bins, for the reason that airline now prices most prospects for checked luggage.
Associated studying:
