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Open seating is on its way out.
Southwest Airlines just announced that, starting on July 29, 2025, passengers will have the option to select (or not select) a seat during the booking process.
Seat assignments will be available for flights departing on and after Jan. 27, 2026. The same day, Southwest will also introduce a group-based boarding process similar to other airlines. Currently, Southwest has an open seating protocol, where passengers choose a seat based on availability after boarding.
The change could be good news for Southwest credit cardholders and those with Rapid Rewards elite status, who will get access to early seat selection, seat upgrades and preferred boarding. But if you don’t fall into one of those categories, you’ll likely be paying more for those benefits.
These changes, part of a larger brand overhaul, were initially announced by Southwest in April.
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What should you expect from the “new” Southwest?
Boarding process
For flights beginning on Jan. 27, 2026, Southwest will no longer assign a group letter and position number for boarding at check-in. Rather, you’ll receive a boarding group number between 1 and 8 that’s tied to your loyalty status or the fare class of your ticket, similar to other airlines. When you arrive at the gate, you’ll then queue for boarding when your group number is called, along with everyone else in that group.
Seat selection
New seat types
Historically, nearly every seat on a Southwest plane was the same size, with no first class or business cabin. But Southwest is retrofitting their planes with different seat types. Those new seats are associated with new fare classes:
- Standard seats with standard legroom located near the back of the plane. These seats have 1 inch less pitch than Southwest’s old seats (pitch is the distance between your seat and the seat in front of it).
- Preferred seats with standard legroom located between the middle and front of the plane, also with less pitch than the old seats.
- Extra legroom seats with five extra inches of seat pitch located near the front of the plane and in exit rows.
New fare types and what you get
The seats available at booking will depend on the fare class you select:
- Basic (replacing Wanna Get Away): Seat assigned at check-in; boards in Groups 6–8, toward the back of the plane.
- Choice (replacing Wanna Get Away Plus): Select Standard seat at booking; boards in Groups 6–8.
- Choice Preferred (replacing Anytime): Select a Preferred or Standard seat at booking; boards no later than Group 5.
- Choice Extra (replacing Business Select): Select an Extra Legroom, Preferred or Standard seat at booking; boards no later than Groups 1–2.
More benefits for Rapid Rewards elites
In the new system, elites in Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program will get access to complimentary upgrades and preferred boarding. The benefits vary by status:
| Elite status | Seat upgrade access | When is the upgrade available? | Boarding group |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-List |
|
|
|
| A-List Preferred | Preferred and extra legroom seats. | At booking. | No later than Group 2. |
More benefits for Southwest cardholders
All Southwest credit cardholders will receive preferred boarding in Group 5 and a seat-selection benefit during booking, even with Basic fares. In some cases, they’ll also be able to choose a seat ahead of time and get a Preferred seat.
| Card name | Seat selection type | When is seat selection available? | Fare class requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard seat. | Within 48 hours of departure. | Any fare class. | |
| Standard or Preferred seat. | Within 48 hours of departure. | Any fare class. | |
| Standard or Preferred seat. | At booking. | Any fare class. |
What about the Companion Pass?
The popular Southwest Companion Pass program remains largely the same as before, with a few new details that explain how the pass works with recent changes.
Starting July 29, 2025, travelers using a Companion Pass can book their companion into the same fare class as their primary ticket for flights beginning Jan. 27, 2026. Companions will also receive the same tier member seating and checked bag benefits as the primary traveler. (More on that below.)
Southwest hasn't announced any major changes to the Companion Pass, which you receive by earning 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. As before, the fastest way to earn points toward a Companion Pass is with a Southwest credit card sign-up bonus.
What these changes mean for travelers
While a lot of this news was previously announced, we now have a defined date when the changes will be implemented.
Similar to other airlines, Southwest’s new model is built around perks for elites and credit card holders, providing those passengers not only with seat selection and boarding benefits, but also a free checked bag for up to eight passengers on a reservation made by the elite member or primary cardholder. Those travelers might see Southwest’s new model as a win.
But if you don’t have status or a Southwest credit card, you’ll probably now see Southwest for what it has become: just another airline.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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