Southwest Airlines reveals new seat and boarding policy details

For decades, southwest airlines This policy has enabled us to differentiate ourselves in the market. “Open seating”: Passengers boarded the plane according to the boarding order and selected their desired available seats.

That flexibility was one of the airline industry’s biggest draws and an expression of its identity. But everything is about to change. The company just announced New seat allocation policy Boarding system by group or zone.

In addition, the airline announced that new rates This determines how and when seats are assigned, who boards first, and what benefits loyalty program members or credit card holders receive. This novelty combination causes both enthusiasm and suspicion among ordinary passengers.

The transformation is complete: Southwest abolish the free seat system From January 27, 2026, reserved seats will be introduced on all flights.

New tickets issued for travel after that date will include: Possibility to choose seats depending on purchased fare and Rapid Rewards program status.

With this change, the following will be introduced: Boarding system with numbered groups Current models of letters A, B, or C with numeric positions (1 through 8) are left. Passengers on premium fares, who have purchased an “extra legroom” seat, or who have the elite level of a loyalty program. first person to board. Travelers who purchase a “basic” fare will board last.

The price also has new features. A bundle similar to the following will be created: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra. Each offers different levels of flexibility, seat selection or not, priority boarding, and perks associated with airline credit cards.

For example, members with Southwest-branded cards will be able to take advantage of free seat selection and early boarding benefits, depending on the card type.

When it comes to seating, the cabin has been reorganized into three categories. Standard, Preferred, Extra Legroom. Passengers can choose one of these types when booking if the fare allows. Priority seats are located near the front of the cabin. If space allows, they can be placed in the front row or next to the emergency exits to provide more legroom.

Another important change concerns users who previously requested additional seats based on size. New policies for ‘plus-size’ people will be tougher.

From January 2026 onwards, passengers who are unable to remain within one seat between the armrests: Purchase additional seats when booking. It’s no longer enough to order at the counter. Refunds are subject to availability within the same fare class and requests must be made within 90 days of the flight.

During the transition period, Southwest Airlines will continue with its old model (open seating). The transition includes advance sales of tickets with reserved seats for flights after that date, giving passengers time to adapt to the new logic.

Motivations behind the changes include survey responses that indicated: Many travelers prefer to know in advance where to sitEliminate uncertainty when dealing with industry standards and align with industry standards.

The changes mean keeping one of Southwest Airlines’ most iconic features, but the airline emphasizes that the improvements will be paired with “legendary customer service” to ensure travelers don’t feel devalued.

For our frequent and loyal passengers, Impact varies by regular price and membership level.. If you’re traveling on a ‘Choice Extra’ fare, or have the A-List or A-List Preferred level of the Rapid Rewards program, you’ll take full advantage of early seat selection and priority boarding.