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Southwest now uses assigned seats and boarding Groups 1–8, and most customers no longer get two free checked bags. The changes took effect in stages: checked-bag fees began applying to many tickets in May 2025, while assigned seating and the new boarding groups began January 27, 2026. For travelers, the practical shift is to compare the full trip cost—including fare, seat, and baggage—rather than assuming an inexpensive fare includes Southwest’s former open-seating and bag policies.
What changed, and when?
| Change | What travelers should know |
|---|---|
| Checked bags | Southwest began charging for checked bags on most fare products for tickets booked, ticketed, or changed on or after May 28, 2025. Exceptions remain for qualifying fares and customers. |
| Seats and boarding | Assigned seating and Groups 1–8 took effect January 27, 2026. The old A/B/C groups and numbered positions are gone. |
| Fare bundles | The current names are Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Each combines different seat, baggage, boarding, and flexibility terms. |
The dates and policy descriptions above come from Southwest Airlines’ current customer information and announcements. Individual ticket terms, benefits, and fees can vary; check the live rules for the itinerary and traveler before buying or changing a ticket.
How assigned seating works now
Open seating has ended. On most fares, customers select from available seats when booking. Basic-fare customers generally receive a Standard seat assignment at check-in, though status and eligible card benefits can affect seat-selection access. Southwest says seat selection is no longer determined by boarding order.
Three seat categories
- Standard: generally toward the back of the aircraft.
- Preferred: standard-legroom seats nearer the front.
- Extra Legroom: seats at the front and near exit rows. Southwest says these provide up to five additional inches of seat pitch, varying by aircraft; that maximum does not apply uniformly across the fleet.
Fare bundle and seat access
| Current fare | Former fare name it replaces | Seat-selection terms described by Southwest |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Wanna Get Away | Generally assigned a Standard seat at check-in; eligibility can affect access. |
| Choice | Wanna Get Away Plus | Standard seat selection. |
| Choice Preferred | Anytime | Preferred or Standard seat selection. |
| Choice Extra | Business Select | Includes an Extra Legroom seat when available. |
These are the seat terms summarized by Southwest; inventory and eligibility rules apply. Check the airline’s current fare information for the exact itinerary. A chosen seat category should not be confused with a guaranteed seat location if the relevant inventory is unavailable.
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What happened to the free checked bags?
The broad “two free checked bags” expectation no longer applies to most customers. Southwest introduced checked-bag charges for most fare products when a ticket was booked, ticketed, or changed on or after May 28, 2025. The airline retains free-bag benefits for specified groups, including Choice Extra travelers, A-List Preferred and A-List members, and eligible co-brand cardholders. The number of included bags depends on the customer category, and baggage size and weight limits still apply.
There is no single fee or allowance that applies to every traveler: the ticket date, fare, status, card eligibility, and bag limits matter. Check Southwest’s current baggage-fee and allowance rules before budgeting; the live fee page is the source for charges and exceptions. If you are estimating a trip, add any applicable checked-bag charge to the displayed fare rather than assuming bags are included.
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How to compare the real cost of a Southwest fare
The lowest displayed fare may not be the lowest-cost choice once seat and baggage needs are included. Compare like with like for every traveler on the reservation, and include flexibility if plans could change.
- Start with the ticket terms. Compare Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra on the itinerary you want. The bundles differ in refundability, flight-credit treatment, same-day travel options, boarding, points earning, and baggage, but the exact terms depend on the fare and current rules.
- Add the seat you actually want. If you care about sitting together, being nearer the front, or Extra Legroom, check whether that category is selectable with each fare and what it costs or includes. Don’t treat boarding group as a substitute for seat selection.
- Include checked bags. Apply the allowance that matches the ticket, traveler status, and eligible card benefits. A companion or another person on the same booking may not necessarily have the same entitlement unless the terms say so.
- Value flexibility only if you need it. Compare the relevant refund, credit, same-day change, or standby terms against your likelihood of changing plans. Do not assume the former fare names’ rules carried over unchanged.
- Check each traveler’s eligibility. Rapid Rewards status and Southwest card benefits can change seat, boarding, and baggage access. Confirm benefits for the specific card, fare, traveler, and departure rather than extending one person’s benefit to everyone.
The useful comparison is the total for the same itinerary and passenger count, with the same seat and bag needs—not just the base fare. Southwest’s live fare and policy pages control when their terms differ from a general description.
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Rapid Rewards status and eligible Southwest co-brand cards now interact with the assigned-seat and baggage systems. Depending on the benefit and eligibility, they can affect seat-selection access, boarding, or free checked bags. The precise result depends on the traveler’s status, card product, fare, available seats, and travel date; a membership or card alone is not a blanket promise of a particular seat or number of bags.
Before booking, compare the benefit terms for each traveler against the fare rules. If a benefit is central to the decision, verify it in Southwest’s current assigned-seating and baggage terms for that booking rather than relying on a general description of card or tier benefits.
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What else is part of Southwest’s transformation?
Southwest has also described changes beyond fares, seats, and bags. These offerings have different availability, so an initiative should not be taken to mean every route, booking, or aircraft has it.
- Redeye flights: Southwest says it has added overnight service, including transcontinental and Hawaii routes. Check the schedule for a particular city pair and date.
- International airline partnerships: Southwest’s 2026 filing summarizes announced partnerships with Icelandair, EVA Air, China Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Condor, and Turkish Airlines. Partnership announcements do not establish that every partner route is bookable for every date; confirm the actual itinerary and operating arrangements.
- Getaways by Southwest: the package experience combines flights, hotels, and rental cars. Compare its terms and inclusions with booking those elements separately.
- Wi-Fi: Southwest lists free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members through its T-Mobile partnership. Check the current terms and availability for the specific flight.
- Cabin and digital upgrades: Southwest has discussed refreshed cabin design, in-seat power, larger overhead bins, RECARO seats, and digital improvements. The company describes this as ongoing work; the available announcements do not establish that every aircraft has every feature.
Why did Southwest move away from open seating?
Southwest cited customer preference for assigned seats. At its 2024 Investor Day, the airline reported that 80% of its own customers preferred assigned seating and that 86% of passengers who chose other airlines preferred assigned seats. These are Southwest-published company research figures; the cited announcement does not provide survey methodology or sample size, so they should not be read as independently established results for all travelers.
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Southwest Executive Vice President, Customer & Brand Tony Roach described the fare-bundle approach this way: “With new choices like seat selection and Extra Legroom, our enhanced fare bundles let Customers customize their trip while still enjoying our industry-leading reliability and hospitality.” That is the company’s rationale and positioning; the fare terms and total price are what a traveler should use to assess whether a bundle fits.
What this means for your next booking
Use the current fare, baggage, and seating rules for the exact ticket date and traveler. If you used to choose Southwest for open seating or two included checked bags, revisit that assumption before buying: seating is assigned, while bag charges and exceptions depend on eligibility and ticket details. For a fair comparison with another airline, price the same itinerary, seat type, passenger count, baggage, and flexibility.
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