Southwest Airlines is currently undergoing a major transformation to improve profitability at the airline and, now we have more information on what these enhancements will entail including assigned seating.
In a message from CEO Bob Jordan, the airline outlines the changes that are coming to its onboard product and what elite members can expect when travelling with Southwest going forward. The biggest change is the fact that the airline will now have assigned seating, no more getting stuck in a middle seat if you check-in late.
The airline will begin selling flights with seat assignments in the second half of 2025 for flights scheduled to operate in 2026. While seats will be assigned, expect to see a familiar boarding process as passengers will line up using position numbers at stanchions in the gate area.
I’d be interested to see how this works in practice as passengers will be boarding all over the aircraft at once. Also, regardless of the ticket type, Southwest will still offer two free checked bags for every passenger.
Southwest Elite Status Upgraded Perks
With the introduction of assigned seating and extra legroom seats, Southwest has also made adjustments to its A-List, A-List Preferred, and Companion Pass status tiers. Many of these perks won’t go into effect until the assigned seating is made available for booking in late 2025. As the airline describes it:
A-List
- COMING SOON Select up front standard seats at the time of booking.
- COMING SOON The option to choose an extra legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, if available, at no additional cost.
- COMING SOON Same-day change comes with even better seat options
- Boarding benefit
- 25% earning bonus on qualifying flights
- Same-day standby
- Priority check-in and security lane access
- Dedicated Member phone line
A-List Preferred
- COMING SOON Select all available seats, including extra legroom, if available, at no additional cost.
- COMING SOON Same-day change comes with even better seat options
- Boarding benefit
- 100% earning bonus on qualifying flights
- Same-day standby
- Priority check-in and security lane access
- Dedicated Member phone line
- Free inflight internet
- Up to two premium drinks
Companion Pass
- COMING SOON Ability to select an available seat for your designated Companion.
- COMING SOON Tier Member seating benefits will extend to both you and your Companion.
- Choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way)
- Companion Pass qualifying points can be earned when you use your Rapid Rewards Credit Card.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Cardmembers will earn one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.
The major item still yet to be determined are the benefit changes coming to co-branded Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. The airline is expected to make an announcement regarding these changes in Spring 2025.
As a Southwest Rapid Rewards cardholder, I’m hopeful that the airline will at least let me assign seats for free at the time of booking. Being based in Austin, where the airline has a large focus city, I can’t wait for assigned seating to arrive as the free-for-all was my biggest gripe about flying with the airline.
Summary
Southwest is rolling out assigned seating beginning in 2026 and now we have a better idea of what that will mean for passengers with elite status. There are still some questions out there regarding what Southwest Rapid Rewards cardholders can expect but overall I’m happy to see us moving closer to a world where Southwest has assigned seating.
