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Southwest Airlines has been busy shaking things up over the last few years, including making changes to its fares and the benefits customers receive. As of January 2026, customers have new ways to take advantage of Southwest flight upgrades, including assigned seating and extra legroom seats. Let’s take a look at what to expect when upgrading your Southwest flight once these changes take place.
Southwest ticket options at a glance
There are four fare classes on Southwest flights:
- Basic.
- Choice (formerly known as Wanna Get Away Plus).
- Choice Preferred (formerly known as Anytime).
- Choice Extra (formerly known as Business Select).
| Benefits | Basic | Choice | Choice Preferred | Choice Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Rewards points earned per $1 spent | 2. | 6. | 10. | 14. |
| Flight changes | Requires fare upgrade. | Fare difference applies. | Fare difference applies. | Fare difference applies. |
| Refundable | Six-month flight credit. | 12-month transferable flight credit. | Refundable. | Refundable. |
| Same-day flight changes | - | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Free checked bags | - | - | - | Two free checked bags. |
| Free in-flight internet | - | - | - | Yes. |
| Free premium drink | - | - | - | Yes. |
| Seat selection | Standard, assigned at check-in. | Standard, choose at booking. | Preferred or Standard, choose at booking. | Extra Legroom, Preferred or Standard, choose at booking. |
| Boarding | Last. | General. | Early general. | Early. |
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
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How to upgrade your Southwest Airlines flight
While you may want to save money on your ticket, it may not be worth the risk of getting a bad seat. This is especially true for longer flights, where being stuck in the middle seat can be a truly awful experience.
Instead, consider upgrading your Southwest Airlines flight using any of these methods.
Buy a more expensive ticket
The first, and most obvious, option for those looking to upgrade a Southwest Airlines flight is to buy a more expensive ticket. Those who invest in a Choice Extra ticket will have the best of everything Southwest has to offer.
Not only will they receive a seat with extra legroom — and have the ability to choose window, middle or aisle — they’ll also get premium perks. These include a complimentary premium drink and free in-flight Wi-Fi. (Keep in mind that all Rapid Rewards members have access to free Wi-Fi, so don't make that the reason you book Choice Extra.)
Earn Southwest Airlines elite status
Like other airlines, Southwest is granting its most loyal customers elite benefits for better in-flight experiences. There are two major tiers of Southwest Airlines elite status:
| Benefits | A-List | A-List Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Seat | Extra Legroom 48 hours before departure, Preferred available at booking. | Extra Legroom available at booking. |
| Checked bag | One free checked bag. | Two free checked bags. |
| Earning bonus | 25%. | 100%. |
| Boarding | Early general (no later than Group 5). | Early (Groups 1-2). |
| Priority and Express Lane | Yes. | Yes. |
| Up to two premium drinks | No. | Yes. |
Southwest also offers the Companion Pass, which allows one person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees.
As you can see, having Southwest Airlines elite status goes a long way toward upgrading your experience. To earn Southwest elite status, you must have the following:
- A-List: 20 one-way flights or 35,000 tier-qualifying points (TQPs) in a calendar year.
- A-List Preferred: 40 one-way flights or 70,000 TQPs.
- Companion Pass: 100 one-way flights or 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points.
» Learn more: Where does Southwest fly?
Open a Southwest Airlines credit card
If you don’t want to pay more money and don’t fly enough to earn Southwest elite status, you can also choose to open a Southwest Airlines credit card. As a cardholder, you’ll receive elevated seat and baggage benefits.
| Benefit | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Plus Business | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat selection | Standard seat 48 hours prior to departure. | Preferred seat 48 hours prior to departure. | Preferred seat at booking, Extra Legroom 48 hours prior to departure. |
| Early boarding | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Checked bag | First checked bag free for cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same booking. | First checked bag free for cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same booking. | First checked bag free for cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same booking. |
» Learn more: 12 things to know before flying Southwest
Is a Southwest Airlines upgrade worth it?
Is it worth it to upgrade your Southwest Airlines flight? In the past, the benefits you’d receive were incremental. This was due to the fact that Southwest operates an all-economy class cabin — and its boarding process was fairly democratic, meaning nearly anyone could get a good seat without spending a lot.
However, in January 2026, Southwest debuted a new type of seating and a new standard for seat assignments. This means that those willing to fork over more money, open a Southwest credit card or earn Southwest elite status will have a substantially better experience. Depending on how much this will cost you, it’s absolutely worth it to upgrade.
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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