Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Southwest Airlines spent more than 50 years building its reputation around low fares, open seating, and a relatively simple flying experience, but the airline travelers knew for decades changed significantly in 2026. On January 27, 2026, Southwest ended open seating, introduced assigned seats, and began flying with its four current fare bundles: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Here is what those changes mean, what counts as the closest thing to Southwest first class, and how to get the most comfortable seat for your trip.
Quick Answer
Southwest does not have a traditional first-class cabin. Its top fare is Choice Extra, which includes an available Extra Legroom seat, Group 1 boarding, two free checked bags, a refundable ticket, 14x Rapid Rewards points per dollar on qualifying fares, and one complimentary premium drink on eligible flights.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest replaced open seating with assigned seating on January 27, 2026.
- The four fares are Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra, replacing Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select.
- Choice Extra is Southwest’s closest alternative to first class, but it remains part of a single cabin rather than a separate premium cabin.
- Choice Extra passengers currently board in Group 1. A-List Preferred Members board before Group 1, while an Extra Legroom passenger on Choice or Choice Preferred normally boards in Group 2.
- Buying an Extra Legroom seat by itself does not automatically give you Choice Extra’s baggage, refundability, or Rapid Rewards benefits.
Understanding Southwest Airlines’ Seating Options
Southwest now uses assigned seating on its flights. Most travelers can choose a seat before departure, although the exact selection rights depend on fare type, Rapid Rewards status, and eligible Southwest credit-card benefits. Basic passengers normally receive a Standard seat assignment at check-in unless they qualify for a seating benefit or purchase another available seat.
The cabin has three seat categories:
- Standard: Standard-legroom seats generally located toward the back of the cabin.
- Preferred: Standard-legroom seats closer to the front of the cabin.
- Extra Legroom: Seats at the front and around exit rows with additional seat pitch. Southwest says these seats provide 5 additional inches on the Boeing 737-700 and 3 additional inches on the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 compared with Standard seats.
You can review the current seat system on Southwest’s assigned-seating page. The airline describes all three products as part of one cabin, so Extra Legroom is a roomier economy-style seat rather than a separate first-class product.
Southwest fare comparison
| Benefit | Basic | Choice | Choice Preferred | Choice Extra |
| Included seat | Standard assigned at check-in | Standard selected at booking | Preferred or Standard selected at booking | Extra Legroom or any available seat at booking |
| Boarding | Group 8 | Groups 3–7 | Groups 3–4 | Group 1 |
| Rapid Rewards earn rate | 2x per dollar | 6x per dollar | 10x per dollar | 14x per dollar |
| Cancellation value | Nonrefundable; qualifying flight credit generally expires after 6 months | Nonrefundable; eligible Transferable Flight Credit generally expires after 12 months | Refundable under Southwest’s fare rules | Refundable under Southwest’s fare rules |
| Checked bags | Fees normally apply | Fees normally apply | Fees normally apply | First 2 checked bags free, subject to limits |
Note: Southwest’s current optional-charge schedule lists a $45 first-bag fee and $55 second-bag fee for qualifying U.S. Mainland travel booked, ticketed, or changed on or after April 9, 2026. Routes, ticket dates, loyalty benefits, credit cards, partner flights, bag size, and bag weight can change what you pay, so confirm the current fee for your itinerary on Southwest’s Optional Travel Charges page.
The Difference Between First Class and Choice Extra (Formerly Business Select) on Southwest Airlines
Southwest still does not operate a traditional first-class cabin. What used to be called Business Select is now Choice Extra, Southwest’s highest fare bundle.
Choice Extra lets you select an available Extra Legroom seat—or another available seat—when booking. It also includes Group 1 boarding, two checked bags free within Southwest’s size and weight limits, a refundable fare under the applicable rules, same-day travel benefits, Priority and Express Lane access where available, and the airline’s highest standard fare earn rate of 14 Rapid Rewards points per dollar on qualifying flights.
Choice Extra travelers also receive one complimentary premium drink on eligible flights of 251 miles or more. If you actually sit in an Extra Legroom seat, Southwest offers the Extra Legroom service package, including an enhanced snack on eligible flights of 301 miles or more.
What you do not get is a separate first-class cabin, a dedicated first-class flight attendant, or the type of wider premium seat associated with traditional domestic first class. Southwest markets Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom as different seating choices within one cabin.
Note: Choice Extra includes the right to choose an available Extra Legroom seat, but availability still matters. If all Extra Legroom seats have already been selected, paying for Choice Extra does not create another premium seat.
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Buying an Extra Legroom Seat Is Not the Same as Buying Choice Extra
This is one of the most important distinctions in Southwest’s new system. Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred travelers may be able to purchase an Extra Legroom seat separately when one is available. That changes your seat, but it does not automatically turn the underlying ticket into a Choice Extra fare.
For example, a Choice traveler who pays for an Extra Legroom seat can receive the Extra Legroom seating experience and its associated boarding benefit, but the traveler still has a Choice fare for matters such as checked bags, refundability, and Rapid Rewards earning.
Southwest currently allows eligible paid seat changes until 60 minutes before the original scheduled departure of a domestic flight and 90 minutes before an international flight, subject to availability. You can review the current rules on Southwest’s assigned-seat selection page.
Pro Tip: Compare the total price, not just the fare label. If you need two checked bags, an Extra Legroom seat, and flexibility, the Choice Extra fare difference may be better value than buying those pieces separately. If you already receive free bags or premium seats through status or a credit card, a lower fare may be the better deal.
Southwest Airlines’ Boarding Process
Current Southwest Boarding Order
| Preboarding | Eligible passengers with disabilities who need additional time or assistance, plus unaccompanied minors. |
| Priority Boarding | Eligible purchased Priority Boarding and active-duty U.S. military with qualifying identification. |
| A-List Preferred | Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members board before Group 1. |
| Group 1 | Choice Extra passengers and Rapid Rewards A-List Members. |
| Group 2 | Passengers holding an Extra Legroom seat on Choice or Choice Preferred fares. |
| Groups 3–4 | Choice Preferred passengers in Preferred or Standard seats. |
| Group 5 | Eligible primary Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers when they do not already qualify for an earlier group. |
| Groups 3–7 | Choice passengers in Standard or Preferred seats, depending on applicable seat and boarding benefits. |
| Group 8 | Basic fare passengers who do not qualify for an earlier boarding benefit. |
The former A/B/C groups and numbered positions such as A1–60, B1–60, and C1–60 are gone. Your boarding group is now based on factors including fare, seat type and location, Rapid Rewards status, and eligible credit-card benefits. The old race to check in exactly 24 hours before departure no longer determines an A/B/C position, although Basic passengers still normally receive their seat assignment when check-in opens.
Southwest says passengers on the same reservation generally receive the same boarding group, with an exception for Group travel reservations. For families on Basic fares, Southwest says it will work to seat children age 12 and younger next to at least one accompanying adult. If adjacent seats are unavailable before boarding, its fare rules state that the family can be offered the next available flight with adjacent seating at no additional cost.
Southwest also removed the old A/B/C boarding stanchions. You can verify the current order on the airline’s boarding-process page.
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The Amenities Offered on Southwest’s Premium Fare
Because Southwest still uses one cabin rather than a traditional first-class section, premium benefits come from your fare, seat, loyalty status, and card benefits.
Choice Extra includes Group 1 boarding, which gives you earlier access to overhead-bin space, plus one complimentary premium drink on qualifying flights of 251 miles or more. Extra Legroom seat holders receive the Extra Legroom onboard benefits, including an enhanced snack on qualifying flights of 301 miles or more.
Rapid Rewards Members also receive free Wi-Fi where available on designated Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft. Membership is free. Travelers who are not Rapid Rewards Members can currently purchase Wi-Fi for $8 per device per flight where the paid option is available.
Southwest’s connectivity is also changing during 2026. The airline’s first Starlink-equipped aircraft entered passenger service on June 22, 2026, and Southwest says it plans to rapidly expand Starlink across its fleet. Free Wi-Fi continues to be available to Rapid Rewards Members on eligible aircraft. See Southwest’s current Wi-Fi instructions and its June 2026 Starlink announcement for current details.
Free inflight entertainment also remains available where supported, although the exact entertainment experience can vary by aircraft and connectivity system.
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How to Get Southwest’s Premium Seating
Southwest has no dedicated first-class cabin to upgrade into, but there are several ways to get an Extra Legroom seat or many of Choice Extra’s practical advantages.
Book Choice Extra
The simplest method is to buy Choice Extra from the start. You can select an available Extra Legroom, Preferred, or Standard seat at booking. Choice Extra also provides Group 1 boarding, two free checked bags within applicable limits, refundability under the fare rules, 14x Rapid Rewards earning on qualifying fares, and the premium-drink benefit.
Buy a premium seat separately
Travelers on lower fare bundles may be able to pay for an Extra Legroom or Preferred seat without changing their fare. This can be useful when your only priority is extra space or a better location, but remember that a paid seat does not automatically add Choice Extra’s two-bag allowance, 14x earn rate, or refundability.
Upgrade the fare after booking
If you already hold a lower fare, Southwest generally allows eligible travelers to move to a higher fare by paying the applicable fare difference when inventory is available. Rapid Rewards points can also be used to book eligible Southwest fares.
Use A-List or A-List Preferred status
A-List Preferred Members can select an available Extra Legroom, Preferred, or Standard seat at booking, board before Group 1, and receive two checked bags free. A-List Members can select an available Preferred or Standard seat at booking, move to an available Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure at no additional charge, board in Group 1, and receive the first checked bag free. Southwest extends many of these benefits to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, subject to its rules.
Use an eligible Southwest credit card
Current seating benefits vary by card:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus and Plus Business: Eligible primary cardmembers can select an available Standard seat within 48 hours of departure.
- Premier and Premier Business: Eligible primary cardmembers can select an available Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours.
- Priority and Performance Business: Eligible primary cardmembers can select an available Standard or Preferred seat at booking and may move to an available Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours.
Eligible Southwest primary cardmembers also receive a Group 5 boarding benefit when they are not already entitled to an earlier group, plus a first checked bag free under the applicable card rules. Many seating and boarding benefits can extend to as many as eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
Purchase Priority Boarding if boarding is your main goal
Southwest also sells Priority Boarding separately when available. It can be purchased beginning 24 hours before the original scheduled departure and, when still available, up to 30 minutes before departure. Priority Boarding is ahead of Group 1, so Choice Extra is not necessarily the very first paid boarding option.
Comparing Southwest’s Premium Fare with First Class on Other Airlines
Even with assigned seating and Extra Legroom, Southwest Choice Extra is different from a traditional first-class cabin on carriers such as American and Delta. American describes its domestic First cabin as offering wider seats, more legroom, priority airport services, and premium dining. Delta’s Delta First similarly offers a distinct premium experience with a wider seat, dedicated service, priority ground benefits, and upgraded food on eligible routes.
Choice Extra does not create that kind of separate onboard cabin. Its value comes from an Extra Legroom seat when available, better boarding, two free checked bags, fare flexibility, higher Rapid Rewards earning, and selected beverage and snack perks. Travelers looking for a physically wider premium seat, dedicated cabin service, or full meal service on longer routes should not assume Choice Extra is equivalent to domestic first class on a legacy airline.
Is Southwest’s Premium Fare Worth It?
Choice Extra can be worth the price when you value several of its benefits at the same time. It is especially easy to justify when you want an Extra Legroom seat, expect to check two bags, need a refundable ticket, value Group 1 boarding, and will benefit from the 14x Rapid Rewards earn rate.
The baggage benefit alone can make a meaningful difference. Under Southwest’s current qualifying U.S. Mainland fee schedule for tickets booked, ticketed, or changed on or after April 9, 2026, a traveler without another baggage benefit can pay $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second. That is $100 each way for two checked bags, or $200 on a round trip, before considering the other Choice Extra benefits.
Choice Extra may be less attractive if you travel with only a carry-on, do not need refundability, or already receive free bags and better seats through A-List status or an eligible Southwest credit card. In that case, compare the price of Choice or Choice Preferred plus any seat upgrade you actually want against the full Choice Extra fare.
Basic remains the lowest-cost option but comes with the most restrictions. It normally provides a Standard seat at check-in, Group 8 boarding, a nonrefundable fare, a shorter flight-credit period, and checked-bag charges unless another benefit applies. Choice gives you Standard seat selection and more flexibility, while Choice Preferred adds Preferred seating, earlier boarding, refundability, and airport priority benefits without including the two free bags that come with Choice Extra.
Pro Tip: On the booking screen, compare three numbers: the lower fare, the price of the seat you would add, and any bag fees you would otherwise pay. That gives you a much better picture of Choice Extra’s real value than comparing base fares alone.
Once your flight and seat are sorted, your broader travel setup may matter too. Frequent travelers can compare lightweight laptops for travel, while outdoor trips may call for compact binoculars for hiking or an ultralight backpacking tent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southwest Airlines offer first-class seating?
No. Southwest operates one cabin with Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seat choices. Choice Extra is its highest fare bundle and closest alternative to first class, but it is not a separate first-class cabin.
What seating options does Southwest Airlines offer?
Southwest offers Standard seats, Preferred seats near the front with standard legroom, and Extra Legroom seats at the front and around exit rows. Extra Legroom provides 5 additional inches on the 737-700 and 3 additional inches on the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 compared with Standard seats.
What is Choice Extra on Southwest Airlines?
Choice Extra, formerly Business Select, is Southwest’s highest fare bundle. It includes selection of an available Extra Legroom or other seat at booking, Group 1 boarding, two free checked bags within applicable limits, a refundable ticket under the fare rules, 14x Rapid Rewards points per dollar on qualifying fares, and one complimentary premium drink on eligible flights.
What is the difference between Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice, and Basic fares?
Basic normally assigns a Standard seat at check-in and boards last. Choice lets you select a Standard seat. Choice Preferred includes a Preferred or Standard seat, earlier boarding, and refundability. Choice Extra adds an available Extra Legroom seat, Group 1 boarding, two free checked bags, the highest standard fare earn rate, and a premium-drink benefit.
When did Southwest Airlines switch from open seating to assigned seating?
Southwest began operating its new assigned-seating system on January 27, 2026, ending the open-seating system that had defined the airline for more than five decades.
Does Southwest still offer free checked bags?
Not with every fare. Choice Extra includes the first two checked bags free within applicable limits. A-List Preferred also includes two free checked bags, while A-List Members and eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards primary Credit Cardmembers receive the first checked bag free. Bag fees normally apply to Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred when another benefit does not apply.
Does buying an Extra Legroom seat upgrade you to Choice Extra?
No. You can sometimes buy an Extra Legroom seat while keeping a Basic, Choice, or Choice Preferred fare. The seat purchase changes your seating and associated seat-based benefits, but your underlying fare rules, baggage allowance, refundability, and Rapid Rewards earn rate remain tied to the fare you purchased.
What boarding group does Choice Extra get on Southwest?
Choice Extra currently boards in Group 1. A-List Preferred Members board before Group 1. Passengers who hold an Extra Legroom seat while traveling on Choice or Choice Preferred normally board in Group 2 unless another benefit gives them an earlier position.
Sources
- Southwest Airlines — Assigned Seating — current seat types, fare seating benefits, elite and cardmember benefits, and assigned-seating rules
- Southwest Airlines — Fare Information and Rules — refundability, Rapid Rewards earning, baggage benefits, family seating, and fare-specific policies
- Southwest Airlines — Boarding Process — current preboarding, Priority Boarding, elite, and Groups 1–8 order
- Southwest Airlines — Optional Travel Charges — current checked-bag charges and applicable exceptions
- Southwest Airlines — Connecting to Wi-Fi — Rapid Rewards free Wi-Fi eligibility and current non-member Wi-Fi pricing
- Southwest Airlines Newsroom — First Starlink Aircraft Takes Flight — June 2026 Starlink launch and ongoing connectivity rollout