Southwest Airways technically would not launch assigned seating for an additional 4 months. However beginning now, for those who’re flying with the airline to Hawaii, you may be on a airplane that already has its new extra-legroom seats.
And because the airline hasn’t ended its open seating coverage simply but, meaning a chief boarding place may land you a type of spacious seats at no added value.
As of this week, the Dallas-based provider has completed putting in extra-space rows on all of its Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets — the identical plane it makes use of on flights to and from the Aloha State. It is a milestone in Southwest’s push to get all of its planes reconfigured with extra-legroom lodging earlier than late January 2026, when it formally launches assigned seating and begins charging additional for these roomier rows.
So, consider this because the “smooth launch,” of types, through the last few months of first-come, first-served seating.
Practically half of Southwest planes now have additional legroom
It isn’t simply Southwest’s Hawaii flights which have its new extra-legroom seats, both. As of Sept. 8, the provider had retrofitted 380 of its planes with the brand new seating setup — about 47% of its fleet.
As a part of the cabin revamp, crews additionally put in in-seat energy shops and bigger overhead bins on all of Southwest’s MAX 8 planes that fly its longer routes.
Associated: Southwest’s ‘variable’ redemptions take impact
Southwest’s MAX 8 (and Boeing 737-800) planes which have been retrofitted now characteristic 5 extra-legroom rows on the entrance of the plane and three further rows of elevated seating close to the mid-cabin emergency exit.
We should always be aware that these are simply common coach seats with extra legroom. So for now, as you board a airplane that has these spacious rows, you might have to look carefully to see what kind of seat you are selecting.
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Southwest lately started putting in particular headrests indicators to make its extra-legroom seats stand out. (For now, you may solely discover these on a few quarter of the planes which have the brand new seating setup.
This is what the MAX 8 and 737-800 seat map will appear to be as soon as the plane is outfitted with the brand new configuration.
Retrofits for each airplane
Southwest started refitting its planes this spring after asserting its shift to assigned and extra-legroom seating in 2024.
The provider has already began promoting flights with assigned seating, which formally begins Jan. 27, 2026. At that time, clients who buy the airline’s newly named Selection Additional fare can have entry to additional legroom.
High-tier Fast Rewards A-Listing Most well-liked members will be capable to choose a type of seats at no cost inside 48 hours of a flight’s departure. Vacationers who carry the Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card (see charges and charges) the Southwest® Fast Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and charges) will be capable to do the identical.
Learn extra: Southwest unveils huge bank card refresh: 50% price hikes, however new seating and boarding perks
Finest methods to get a Southwest extra-legroom seat in 2025
Between now and January — whereas Southwest nonetheless has open seating in place — your finest guess for scoring one of many extra-legroom seats is to safe an early boarding place.
The airline sells Upgraded Boarding as an elective add-on inside 24 hours of departure. This ensures an A1-15 boarding place — and much better odds that an extra-legroom seat shall be out there once you get on the airplane.
Learn extra: What to find out about Southwest Airways’ 8 boarding teams beginning in January
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Southwest nonetheless has to complete retrofitting its Boeing 737-800 fleet with the brand new configuration. The airline now expects to start out updating its 737-700s in December, a spokesperson informed TPG.
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