Southwest Airways to begin promoting assigned seats on July 29

Metro Loud
7 Min Read


Southwest Airways has formally set the date for its massive 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 on Jan. 26, 2026, the Dallas-based service introduced Monday. Passengers booked on all flights from that day ahead shall be given a selected seat task.

Prospects reserving 2026 flights will begin to discover the adjustments even earlier: Beginning subsequent week, on July 29, passengers reserving a flight for Jan. 26 of subsequent yr (or past) could have the choice to select their seat

That can embrace the choice for the service’s first-ever further legroom seats, which is able to formally debut as a brand new “premium” seating possibility in January, as properly.

Southwest Airways plane at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS).

“Assigned seating unlocks new alternatives for our clients—together with the flexibility to pick Further Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not understanding the place they’ll sit within the cabin. This is a vital step in our evolution,” Southwest government vp of buyer and model Tony Roach stated in an announcement Monday.

Here is what to know in regards to the newest adjustments introduced by Southwest, and what it is 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. 26, 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 starting on July 29 — although consider, clients who choose the airline’s new primary financial system fare will not be eligible for complimentary seat choice.

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Southwest New Seats Boarding Policy
A freshly-updated Southwest Airways cabin.

Who can choose a seat at no cost on Southwest?

As a part of Southwest’s massive shift away from its half-century open seating coverage, the service is revamping its fare selections with new names — and new seating advantages.

As a reminder:

  • Wanna Get Away already grew to become “Primary” and does not embrace complimentary seat choice, much like different airways’ primary financial system choices.
  • Wanna Get Away will grow to be “Alternative,” and can embrace normal seat choice
  • Anytime will grow to be “Alternative Most popular,” and can include the selection to pick a traditional seat that is located nearer to the entrance of the plane.
  • Enterprise Choose will grow to be “Alternative Further” and can include the choice to pick a free further legroom seat.

Particular perks for A-Record, credit score cardholders

Vacationers with Fast Rewards elite standing and sure Southwest bank cards will get extra favorable seat choice perks.

Pending availability:

  • A-Record members shall be allowed to pick a most well-liked seat at reserving, and an additional legroom seat inside 48 hours of departure.
  • A-Record Most popular members shall be allowed to pick any seat, together with further legroom, at reserving.
  • All Southwest credit score cardholders shall be allowed to pick a seat inside 48 hours of departure, even when they’re flying on a primary financial system fare.
  • Prospects with sure bank cards shall be allowed to improve to an additional legroom seat inside 48 hours of departure, when accessible.

New boarding course of detailed

As a part of Monday’s announcement, the airline additionally unveiled the main points 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 aircraft.

The brand new nine-group course of will look much more just like the boarding setup used at different carriers.

Southwest Airways’ heart-shaped emblem.

Teams 1 and a pair of shall be reserved for A-Record Most popular members, and for passengers who ebook a high-priced Alternative Further fare or improve to an additional legroom seat.

Alternative Most popular vacationers, A-Record members who do not rating an extra-space seat, and Southwest credit score cardholders will board no later than Group 5.

Teams 6 via 8 will embrace passengers flying on Alternative or Primary fare, with primary financial system passengers final to board.

Backside line

Southwest first introduced its shift to assigned and further legroom seats almost a yr in the past, in July 2024, arguing {that a} majority of shoppers most well-liked a seat task to the service’s 50-year open seating coverage.

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 stated these adjustments will drive extra income and cater to clients’ evolving preferences.

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