Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Southwest Airlines was incorporated in 1967 and began passenger service in 1971. The airline became well known for open seating, but that long-standing policy has changed. Travelers now receive an assigned seat, and the type of seat they can select depends on their fare, Rapid Rewards status, eligible credit-card benefits, and seat availability.
Quick Answer
Yes. Southwest Airlines now assigns seats on every flight. The change took effect January 27, 2026. Most travelers can select a seat during booking, while Basic-fare customers usually receive a Standard seat at check-in or at the gate. Southwest also replaced A/B/C positions with boarding Groups 1 through 8.
Key Takeaways
- All Southwest flights now use assigned seating.
- Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares include different levels of seat selection.
- Basic customers normally receive a Standard seat at check-in or at the departure gate.
- Southwest now boards passengers in Groups 1 through 8 instead of A, B, and C positions.
- EarlyBird Check-In and the former Upgraded Boarding product are no longer offered.
- Families and travelers with qualifying disabilities have separate seating and assistance policies.
Does Southwest Airlines Assign Seats?
Yes. Southwest transitioned from open seating to assigned seating on January 27, 2026. Passengers no longer enter the cabin and choose any unoccupied seat. Each traveler now has a seat number shown on the boarding pass.
For most fares, passengers can select an available seat during booking. Basic-fare customers usually have a Standard seat assigned when check-in opens. If Southwest cannot provide the assignment during online check-in, the passenger receives a security document and must obtain the seat assignment from a customer service agent at the departure gate.
The current rules are explained on Southwest’s assigned-seating page.
Southwest’s boarding order no longer determines which seat you get. Your assigned seat remains yours even if you board later than other passengers.
How Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating Works
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 5–10 minutes to review the seat map and select a seat |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Southwest website or app and your reservation details |
| Cost | An included seat depends on the fare. Optional seat upgrades and Priority Boarding cost extra and vary by flight. |
Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom Seats
Southwest divides its cabin into three main seat categories:
- Standard seats: Standard-legroom seats generally located toward the back of the cabin.
- Preferred seats: Standard-legroom seats located closer to the front.
- Extra Legroom seats: Seats with additional pitch located near the front of the cabin and in eligible exit rows.
Exit-row seats remain subject to federal safety requirements. A passenger must be willing and able to perform the required emergency functions before occupying one.
Seat Selection by Fare
| Fare | Included Seat Benefit | Typical Boarding Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | A Standard seat is normally assigned at check-in or at the gate. Other seats may be available for purchase. | Group 8 unless another status or benefit applies |
| Choice | Select an available Standard seat during booking. | Generally Groups 3–7, depending on seat location and other benefits |
| Choice Preferred | Select an available Preferred or Standard seat during booking. | Generally Groups 3–4 |
| Choice Extra | Select an available Extra Legroom, Preferred, or Standard seat during booking. | Group 1 |
Rapid Rewards tier members and eligible Southwest credit-card members may receive a better seat-selection or boarding benefit than their fare would normally provide. All benefits remain subject to availability and the applicable program terms.
What Happens During Check-In?
Online check-in generally opens 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Passengers who selected seats earlier can confirm their seat and boarding group on the boarding pass.
Basic-fare customers should check in when the 24-hour window opens so they can review the automatically assigned seat. Checking in early does not restore the former open-seating system, but it gives the traveler time to review the assignment and purchase another available seat when permitted.
Pro Tip: After booking, check the seat map periodically. Other passengers may change flights or seats, making a more suitable location available before the seat-selection cutoff.
How the New Southwest Boarding Process Works
Southwest replaced A/B/C boarding positions with Groups 1 through 8. Your boarding group appears on your boarding pass and is based on factors such as your fare, assigned seat, seat location, Rapid Rewards tier, and eligible credit-card benefits.
The current sequence is summarized below. Availability and individual benefits can affect the final group shown on a passenger’s boarding pass.
| Boarding Stage | Who May Board |
|---|---|
| Preboarding | Qualifying passengers with disabilities who need extra time or assistance, plus unaccompanied minors |
| Priority Boarding | Customers who purchase Priority Boarding, when available, and active-duty U.S. military members with valid identification |
| A-List Preferred | Eligible A-List Preferred members |
| Group 1 | A-List members and Choice Extra customers |
| Group 2 | Customers in eligible Extra Legroom seats who are not already in an earlier group |
| Groups 3–4 | Many Choice Preferred customers |
| Group 5 | Eligible primary Southwest Rapid Rewards credit-card members who do not already have an earlier group |
| Groups 3–7 | Choice customers, depending on seat location and other benefits |
| Group 8 | Basic customers who do not qualify for an earlier group |
Southwest’s official boarding-process guide provides the latest eligibility details.
Warning: Priority Boarding can provide earlier access to overhead-bin space, but it does not change your assigned seat. Buying it will not move you to a window, aisle, Preferred, or Extra Legroom seat.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Southwest Assigned Seating
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Travelers know their seat before boarding. | Basic fares do not normally include advance seat selection. |
| Families and groups can select adjacent seats when available. | Preferred locations or extra legroom may require a higher fare or separate purchase. |
| Passengers no longer need to compete for an aisle or window seat after boarding. | Adjacent seats may be limited on crowded flights or when booking late. |
| Earlier boarding can be used mainly for overhead-bin access and settling in. | A better boarding group does not automatically include a better seat. |
Assigned seating removes much of the uncertainty that came with Southwest’s former system. A passenger who selects 14A, for example, does not lose that seat because another traveler boarded first.
The tradeoff is that the lowest fare may provide less control. Basic travelers who want a particular row, window, aisle, or adjacent seat may need to purchase a seat or choose a fare that includes selection.
Tips for Getting the Seat You Want
Choose the Right Fare Before Paying
Compare the total cost rather than looking only at the lowest displayed fare. A Choice fare may provide better value than Basic when selecting a Standard seat in advance is important.
Select Seats During Booking
If your fare includes seat selection, choose seats before completing the reservation. This is especially important for couples, families, and groups that want adjacent seats.
Review Your Basic Seat at Check-In
Basic passengers should check in when the 24-hour window opens. If the assigned location is unsuitable, review any seats available for purchase or speak with Southwest when a disability-related accommodation is needed.
Understand What Priority Boarding Does
Priority Boarding is offered for purchase beginning 24 hours before the original scheduled departure, when available. It allows the traveler to board before Group 1, but the assigned seat remains unchanged.
Do Not Look for EarlyBird Check-In
EarlyBird Check-In and the former Upgraded Boarding option ended when Southwest introduced assigned seats. Travelers who want earlier boarding should review the current Priority Boarding product instead.
Southwest Family Seating
Passengers on the same reservation generally receive the same boarding group, except for certain group-travel reservations. However, sharing a boarding group does not automatically mean everyone has adjacent seats.
Families using Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra can select included seats during booking, subject to availability. Basic seats are normally assigned at check-in or at the gate.
Southwest says it will work to seat children age 12 or younger next to at least one adult in the party when seats are limited. This does not necessarily place every family member in the same row.
Note: Keep all family members on the same confirmation number when possible. If adjacent seats are important, select them during booking rather than relying on an airport reassignment.
Review Southwest’s current family-seating policy before departure.
Seat Assignments for Passengers With Disabilities
Requesting a Seating Accommodation
Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, airlines must provide certain seating accommodations to passengers who self-identify as having a qualifying disability-related need. Examples may include a movable aisle-armrest seat, an adjoining seat for a companion providing disability-related assistance, or an appropriate seat for a traveler with a fused or immobilized leg.
Contact Southwest as early as practical if you need a specific accommodation. Advance notice is not required for every form of assistance, but providing details before travel can help the airline prepare.
Preboarding
A passenger with a disability who needs additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated may request preboarding at the gate. The traveler should self-identify and explain the assistance needed to the gate agent.
Confirming the Request at the Airport
Confirm the accommodation at check-in and again at the gate, especially after an aircraft or schedule change. If a disability-related issue cannot be resolved, ask to speak with the airline’s Complaints Resolution Official.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s seating-accommodation guide explains eligibility and passenger rights in more detail.
How Southwest Compares With Other Airlines
Southwest now follows the same basic assigned-seating model used by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and many other U.S. carriers. The main differences are which seats are included with each fare and how boarding priority is calculated.
Low-cost airlines also use assigned seats. For example, Spirit’s lowest product can include a Standard seat assigned at check-in, while travelers may purchase seat selection separately. Frontier also assigns a seat at check-in when a Basic customer does not purchase one in advance.
This means the important comparison is no longer assigned seating versus open seating. Travelers should instead compare:
- The total fare after adding a preferred seat
- Whether advance seat selection is included
- Family-seating rules
- Extra-legroom availability
- Boarding priority and carry-on policies
- Change, cancellation, and credit restrictions
Is Southwest’s Assigned-Seating Policy a Deal-Breaker?
For travelers who disliked open seating, Southwest’s current policy provides more certainty. Passengers can know where they will sit before boarding, and most fares allow some form of seat selection during booking.
Basic fares may be less appealing to travelers who need a specific location or want a full group seated together. In that case, selecting a Choice or higher fare, or purchasing an available seat, may be worth the added cost.
The best option depends on the final trip price and the importance of seat location, legroom, boarding priority, and flexibility. Southwest’s former open-seating process should no longer be a deciding factor because it is not used on current flights.
Seat planning is only one part of preparing for a trip. Travelers can also review these guides to universal travel adapters, the best ultralight tents for backpacking, and the best travel fishing rods when planning a longer adventure.
Sources
- Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating — current seat types, fare benefits, and assigned-seating policy
- Southwest Airlines Boarding Process — Groups 1 through 8 and boarding eligibility
- Southwest Airlines Family Seating Policy — seating rules for adults traveling with children
- U.S. Department of Transportation Seating Accommodation Guide — disability-related seating and preboarding rights
- Spirit Airlines Onboard Experience — current Spirit seat-assignment and selection options
- Frontier Airlines Seat Assignment Policy — purchased and automatically assigned seats
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southwest Airlines have assigned seats?
Yes. Southwest has used assigned seating on all flights since January 27, 2026. Each passenger receives a specific seat that appears on the boarding pass.
Can I choose my seat on Southwest?
Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares include different levels of seat selection. Basic customers normally receive a Standard seat at check-in or at the gate, although they may be able to purchase another available seat.
What happens if I buy a Basic fare?
Southwest normally assigns a Standard seat when check-in opens 24 hours before departure. If the seat cannot be assigned online, you must obtain the assignment from an agent at the departure gate.
Does checking in early give me a better seat?
Not in the way it did under open seating. Your assigned seat is not claimed during boarding. Basic passengers should still check in promptly so they can review their assignment and consider other available options.
Does Southwest still offer EarlyBird Check-In?
No. EarlyBird Check-In and the former Upgraded Boarding product ended when assigned seating began. Southwest now offers Priority Boarding for purchase beginning 24 hours before departure, when available.
Will Southwest seat my family together?
Families with fares that include selection should choose adjacent seats during booking. Basic seats are assigned at check-in or at the gate. When seats are limited, Southwest says it will work to place children age 12 or younger next to at least one adult in the party.
Can passengers with disabilities request a specific seat or preboarding?
Passengers with qualifying disability-related needs may request an appropriate seating accommodation. A traveler who needs extra time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated may also request preboarding at the gate.
