Southwest Airlines is preparing for the assigned seats. Starting early next year, all Southwest passengers will receive an assigned seat – they will have the option to fly in the airline’s brand new extra legroom row.
Flights with new seat settings will be available on July 29 for flights departing on or after January 27, 2026.
As part of this shift, Southwest will also make major changes to the boarding process, ending the unique single-file setup that has been used over the years. The news comes after TPG reported earlier this year that Southwest Airlines decided to adopt a new boarding program that looks more like the boarding program used by its top competitors.
Bargain: When is the best time to book the cheapest flights?
Yes, this will mean the end of the day when setting up a boarding alert to ensure the boarding position – it will also end the ceremony of the silver pillars arranged along the gates of Southwest Airlines.
The operator will have new ways to distribute boarding access to the discount, where these customers pay more for extra leg seats, carry one of the credit cards or have a Class A Elite identity.
How to get a good boarding group in the Southwest
The Southwest plans to use a total of eight boarding groups.
The boarding group you get will be determined by a number of factors, including:
- Which fare product do you choose: Southwest will rename its fare class as part of the transition. They will be called: Basic, Choice, Choice Priority and Choice Additional Choice (the latter will come with additional leg seats). Prices increased fares include an earlier boarding group.
- Elite identity: Southwest will prioritize its fast reward A-list and A-list preferred flyers
- Credit cardholder: Fast reward members with Southwest credit cards will board earlier.
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Southwest Airlines’ 8 boarding groups
This is the development of the new boarding group in Southwest, starting from January 27, 2026.
| Group | Passengers are allowed to board the plane |
|---|---|
| Group 1 and Group 2 |
|
| Groups 3 to 5 |
|
| Groups 6 to 8 |
|
Priority boarding additional options
There is another way to shortcut boarding lines: Southwest means customers will be able to purchase priority boarding 24 hours before departure.
Which group do most customers use?
If you don’t carry a Southwest credit card, don’t have an elite identity, and don’t pay to upgrade to an extra leg seat, I hope you might log in:
- Group 6 or Group 7, if you choose one of the “Select” fares
- Group 7 or Group 8, if you choose “Basic” fare
Southwest said this week that as January approaches, the airline plans to further detail its boarding process, door experience and cargo policy.
Bottom line
Unsurprisingly, Southwest’s new boarding setup certainly looks more like the grouping format used by other major airlines. But, since Dallas-based airlines don’t actually have a top-notch cabin, getting extra leg seats is key to priority boarding.
Remember that you can use:
- Purchase option for extra fares
- Paid upgrade to your seat
- Select it for free as the preferred member of the A list when booking
- As a Class A member or qualified credit card holder, select it for free within 48 hours of departure
Early boarding won’t be as stakes as it is today in the Southwest, as this is not your ticket to get a good seat. When you book a flight, many issues will now be solved.
However, early joining may still be the key to accessing overhead bins, as the airline now charges most customers for checked baggage.
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