#Southwest Airlines #Assigned Seating #Travel Upgrades

Exciting Changes Coming to Southwest Airlines' Seating Policy

In a significant move set to enhance the travel experience for its passengers, Southwest Airlines has announced that starting July 29, 2025, customers will be able to select their seats at the time of booking. This new policy will be effective for flights commencing on January 27, 2026.

Tony Roach, the Executive Vice President of Customer Brand at Southwest Airlines, expressed the airline's commitment to giving its customers more choice and control over their journeys. He stated, "Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers—including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin. This is an important step in our evolution, and we're excited to pair these enhancements with our legendary Customer Service."

Benefits of the New Seating Policy

In this revamped seating structure, Southwest® Customers will have a variety of fare bundles from which to choose, some of which will allow for seat selection during the booking process. These options will include different seat types like Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard. Furthermore, travelers will have the opportunity to purchase an upgrade to enhance their travel experience.

For those holding Rapid Rewards® Credit Cards, seating selection becomes even more advantageous. Depending on the type of card, members can choose their seats at the time of booking or within 48 hours of departure, regardless of the fare type, including Basic fares. Additionally, A-List and A-List Preferred Customers will also enjoy the privilege of selecting their seats at the time of booking, irrespective of their fare class.

A New Way to Board

As part of this transition to assigned seating, Southwest Airlines will implement a new boarding process beginning January 27, 2026. This group-based boarding strategy aims to streamline the customer experience across flights. The boarding will prioritize customers according to their seat location, starting with the Extra Legroom seats in the first two boarding groups. Moreover, Premium fare ticket holders, along with the most loyal customers—Tier Members and Credit Cardmembers—will have earlier boarding access.

To facilitate this new system, customers will soon be able to purchase Priority Boarding tickets within a 24-hour window leading up to their departures, positioning them among the first to board the plane.

This announcement comes alongside the launch of Southwest's playful advertising campaign titled