Southwest assigned seats are coming soon: Boarding groups explained

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Southwest Airlines announced July 21 that it will move to assigned seating on Jan. 27, 2026. The airline is not currently accepting reservations past Jan. 26. Reservations with assigned seats will go on sale beginning July 29.

Previously, the airline operated on a first-come, first-seated model, where passengers could select any open seat once they boarded the airplane.

Southwest has been undergoing a transformation over the last year or so, becoming more similar to other airlines in the U.S. with bundled fares, checked bag fees, a plan for more premium seating and other changes.

“Our customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience,” Tony Roach, executive vice president of customer and brand at Southwest Airlines said in a statement. “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.”

Once the swap happens, Southwest will also move to group-based boarding, with Rapid Rewards elites and premium ticketholders boarding earliest in the process.

Southwest's new fare bundles will include a basic economy option that does not allow customers to choose their seats before check-in.

The airline moved away from its previous two free checked bags policy in May, and now charges a fee to check luggage on new reservations, beginning at $35 for the first suitcase.

Southwest Airlines' new boarding groups

As part of the assigned seating plan, Southwest will move from position-based boarding to group-based boarding. According to the airline, there will be up to eight boarding groups on every flight, and passengers will be assigned a group based on the ticket they purchased and their frequent flyer status with the airline.

Here's a breakdown of what Southwest passengers can expect at the boarding gate beginning next year:

▶ Groups 1 and 2 will be for passengers holding Choice Extra tickets and those seated in extra legroom seats, even if they purchased a cheaper ticket bundle. The Choice Extra bundle is the most inclusive in Southwest's new matrix and includes access to extra legroom and preferred seats, along with two free checked bags. Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members will board no later than Group 2, regardless of their seat assignment.

▶ Groups 3-5 will be for passengers who purchased a Choice Preferred ticket bundle. The Choice Preferred bundle includes access to standard seats closer to the front of the plane, as well as the perk of earlier boarding. Choice Preferred tickets do not include complimentary checked bags. Rapid Rewards A-List members also will board no later than Group 5, and Southwest Airlines credit cardholders will board with Group 5 if their seats or ticket bundle do not entitle them to earlier boarding.

▶ Groups 6-8 will be for passengers who purchased Choice and Basic ticket bundles. Choice tickets include a standard seat selected at booking and no complimentary checked bags. Basic tickets include a seat assignment given at check-in and no complimentary checked bags. According to Southwest, Choice and Basic ticketholders may board earlier in the process on some flights.

The airline also said priority boarding will be available for purchase separately starting 24 hours before departure.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for Paste BN. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.