Southwest Airways is gearing up for assigned seating. Starting early next year, all Southwest passengers will get an assigned seat — they usually’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 yr that Southwest had determined to go together with new boarding procedures that look much more like those utilized by its high rivals.
Discount searching: When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
Sure, that can 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 service may have new methods at hand out preferential boarding entry to prospects who pay extra for its further legroom seats, carry considered one of its bank cards or have A-Listing elite standing.
Easy methods to get an excellent 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 classes. They will be known as: Fundamental, Alternative, Alternative Most popular and Alternative Additional (the latter of which is able to include an additional legroom seat). Increased-priced fares include an earlier boarding group.
- Elite standing: Southwest will give precedence boarding to its Fast Rewards A-Listing and A-Listing Most popular flyers
- Credit score cardholders: Fast Rewards members with a Southwest bank card will get earlier boarding.
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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 pair 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 stated prospects will have the ability to buy precedence boarding 24 hours previous to departure.
Which group will most prospects use?
Should you do not carry a Southwest bank card, do not have elite standing, and do not pay to improve to an additional legroom seat, I anticipate you will doubtless land in:
- Group 6 or 7, should you go for considered one of its “Alternative” fares
- Group 7 or 8, if you choose a “Fundamental” fare
Nearer to subsequent January, the service plans to elaborate additional on its boarding course of, gate expertise and preboard coverage, Southwest stated this week.
Backside line
As anticipated, Southwest’s new boarding setup positive seems to be much more just like the grouped format utilized by different main airways. Nevertheless, because the Dallas-based service does not even have a first-class cabin, scoring an additional legroom seats is the important thing to a precedence boarding group.
Remember, you may get a spot in a type of extra-space rows by:
- Buying a Alternative Additional fare
- Paying to improve your seat
- Choosing it without cost at reserving as an A-Listing Most popular member
- Choosing it without cost 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 right now on Southwest, because it will not be your ticket to getting an excellent seat. Numerous that might be labored out now while you e book your flight.
Nevertheless, getting on board early may nonetheless be key to having access to the overhead bins, because the airline now costs most prospects for checked luggage.
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