For loyal Southwest Airways flyers, it is the primary day of the remainder of their lives.
Tuesday kicks off a brand new period for the Dallas-based service: It is the day the airline formally bids farewell to its well-known first-come, first-served seating coverage and one-of–a-kind boarding course of.
From this present day ahead, Southwest may have assigned seats on each flight — no extra boarding after which looking round for the very best open seat.
And passengers will not line up alongside numbered posts on the gate to board. As a substitute, they will be referred to as up in teams, simply as with almost each different U.S. airline.
We have been talking about these changes for a superb 18 months now, which come as half of a bigger transformation at Southwest — one which final 12 months noticed the end of its long-standing “bags fly free” coverage and a refresh of its Rapid Rewards credit card lineup.
Oh, and did we point out extra-legroom seats? After last year’s “soft launch,” these extra-spacious rows will now be out there on each Southwest flight.
All informed, it is a main shift for the airline — welcomed by some prospects, bemoaned by others.
My take: I just tried Southwest’s new extra-legroom seats. Are they worth it?
Here is what to know in regards to the modifications going stay this week on Southwest planes, and what flying with the airline can be like sooner or later.
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From open seating to assigned seats
First issues first: Southwest on Tuesday went stay with its long-planned change from open seating to assigned seats.
It is a seismic shift for the airline, which for half a century let passengers select their seats after boarding its planes.
However in 2024, Southwest executives announced the airline would ditch its longtime coverage, one which was virtually synonymous with the airline — however one which it claimed a majority of shoppers have been able to see finish.
So, going ahead, while you ebook a flight on Southwest, you’ll choose your seat, too — though some vacationers could run into new add-on charges, relying on the fare they ebook.
Southwest seat choice by fare
Here is how seat choice insurance policies will work for every of the airline’s revamped fares it sells:
| Fare product | Seat choice allowed |
|---|---|
|
Seats assigned at check-in |
|
|
Customary seat choice |
|
|
Customary seat choice, together with “most popular” seats nearer to the entrance of the airplane |
|
|
Additional-legroom seat choice |
As famous, passengers who choose Southwest’s most cost-effective Primary fare — “Wanna Get Away” tickets ended final 12 months — won’t be able to choose their seat totally free.
That is a coverage largely in keeping with different airways’ fundamental economic system fares.
How do you keep away from seat charges on Southwest?
Nevertheless, there are methods to keep away from seat charges, even in the event you’re flying Primary.
Fast Rewards standing
Prospects who’ve Rapid Rewards elite status can be entitled to complimentary seat choice, regardless of the fare product. They usually’ll get entry to extra-legroom seat “upgrades,” too.
- A-Checklist members can transfer to extra-legroom seats inside 48 hours of departure, pending availability.
- A-Checklist Most popular flyers can choose extra-legroom seats at reserving, if out there.
Southwest bank card
In the meantime, Fast Rewards members with a cobranded bank card additionally get seating perks, as follows:
Take into accout, each A-Checklist standing members and bank card holders additionally get free baggage on all bookings — a perk the airline launched final summer season after introducing checked bag fees for the primary time.
*The knowledge for the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Learn extra: Best Southwest Airlines credit cards
Southwest boarding course of shake-up
Additionally launching Tuesday: Southwest’s new boarding teams.
Final 12 months, the service introduced the top of assigned seats would additionally bring the end of its unique process the place prospects line up, single-file, on the gate.
To any extent further, Southwest will use eight boarding teams in a course of that can be similar to how different carriers deal with boarding.
Here is a full rundown of who boards in every group, however I’ve listed a number of highlights beneath:
- A-Checklist Most popular members and prospects seated in extra-legroom seats will board no later than Group 2.
- A-Checklist members and different bank card holders will board no later than Group 5.
- Passengers flying on a Primary fare will board final.
The perfect information of all
Whether or not you liked or hated Southwest’s earlier boarding setup, this variation brings one bit of reports almost each buyer can be pleased about.
Frequent Southwest flyers’ ritual of setting an alarm at 24 hours on the dot to test in for a flight (with the intention to rating a great place within the boarding order) will now be a factor of the previous.
Different Southwest modifications to find out about
These aren’t the one modifications Southwest has revamped the previous 12 months.
On high of the aforementioned bag charges, which went stay in Could 2025:
Worldwide partnerships
The airline has launched a handful of partnerships with worldwide carriers, and hopes to begin Rapid Rewards partner award redemptions on worldwide flights later this 12 months. That might make Southwest factors a extra helpful foreign money to earn.
Take into accout, you possibly can switch each Chase Ultimate Rewards factors and Bilt Rewards Factors to the airline.
Fast Rewards goes (much more) dynamic
On the flipside, Southwest leaned extra closely into true dynamic award pricing final 12 months, introducing “variable” redemptions with mixed results for members.
That was after the service slashed points accruals on its most cost-effective tickets; in the event you ebook its Primary fare, you will solely earn 2 factors per greenback spent as a substitute of 6.
Free Wi-Fi for all members
In a giant win for flyers, the airline in October joined a giant airline business development and made Wi-Fi free for all loyalty members.
What could possibly be subsequent?
And assigned seats may not be the end.
The service has been none too cryptic about extra huge modifications that could possibly be on the horizon.
We have seen indicators that Southwest is mulling airport lounges, including in Hawaii.
And CEO Bob Jordan has brazenly contemplated true first-class seats and long-haul international flights — each strikes that after would have been unthinkable for the airline.
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