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Southwest ended open seating on January 27, 2026. Passengers now have assigned seats and board through numbered groups rather than choosing any available seat as they enter the cabin. Your group can depend on your fare, seat location, Rapid Rewards status and eligible credit-card benefits.
What changed on January 27, 2026?
The transition is complete: Southwest passengers receive a seat assignment and a boarding group before boarding. The old A, B and C groups with numbered positions have been replaced by Groups 1–8. You can no longer board and choose any open seat.
Southwest announced the change on July 21, 2025, and said bookings for travel under the new system would open July 29, 2025. The new seating and boarding process took effect January 27, 2026. Southwest’s current assigned-seating policy is the best place to confirm operational details, which can change.
How Southwest assigns boarding groups
Southwest’s current policy places customers in numbered groups according to a combination of fare, seat type and location, status, and qualifying card benefits. The categories can overlap; a fare does not always determine a single group regardless of the passenger’s other eligibility.
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| Boarding position | Who may qualify under Southwest’s current policy |
|---|---|
| Preboard | Customers with disabilities who meet Southwest’s criteria, and unaccompanied minors. |
| Priority Boarding | May be available for purchase within 24 hours of departure when offered; active-duty U.S. military with valid ID is also listed. |
| Before Group 1 | A-List Preferred members. |
| Group 1 | A-List members and customers traveling on Choice Extra fares. |
| Group 2 | Customers in Extra Legroom seats on eligible Choice or Choice Preferred fares. |
| Groups 3–4 | Customers on Choice Preferred fares in Standard or Preferred seats. |
| Group 5 | Eligible Rapid Rewards credit-card members who have not already received an earlier group through fare, status or seat eligibility. |
| Groups 3–7 | Customers on Choice fares in Standard or Preferred seats. |
| Group 8 | Customers on Basic fares. |
A-List Preferred members board before Group 1, while A-List members and Choice Extra customers are in Group 1. A seat or fare may place a traveler in another group, and qualifying status or card benefits can also affect placement. Companion Pass holders and their companions receive the highest applicable individual status, card or seat-location benefit; sequential boarding is not guaranteed.
When you choose a seat—and whether it costs extra
Most customers can select a seat when booking, subject to the fare’s inclusions and seat availability. Southwest identifies three broad seat categories: Extra Legroom, Preferred and Standard. If a preferred seat is not included in your fare, you may be able to buy one. The policy does not establish one universal seat-selection cost.
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Basic fare travelers generally receive a seat assignment at check-in, though some qualifying tier and credit-card members have seat-selection exceptions. Check the terms shown for your fare and eligibility when booking; the timing and options available to you depend on those details.
What families should expect
People on the same reservation, including families, are assigned to the same boarding group. That does not mean every passenger is guaranteed a seat beside every other passenger. With Basic fares, seats may be assigned at check-in or at the gate. Southwest says it will work to seat children age 12 and younger beside at least one adult when seats are limited; that is an effort, not a guarantee. See Southwest’s assigned-seating information for its current family guidance.
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Preboarding and disability-related accommodations
Southwest lists preboarding for customers with disabilities who meet its criteria. Eligibility and the process for requesting an accommodation are not fully detailed on the assigned-seating page, so consult the airline’s current disability assistance information and contact instructions before travel if you need preboarding or a specific seat. Do not assume that a particular accommodation will be granted without checking the airline’s rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Southwest says it made the change
In its July 21, 2025 announcement, Southwest said assigned seating would give customers more choice and control, allow them to select Extra Legroom seats, and remove uncertainty about where they would sit. Those are the company’s stated reasons, not independently established findings that the new system is faster, simpler or more satisfying. The announcement does not provide an outcome study demonstrating those effects. Southwest’s July 2025 announcement includes the company’s explanation.
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What to check before booking or flying
- When your fare allows seat selection and which seat categories are included or available for purchase.
- How your seat location, fare, Rapid Rewards status and eligible card benefits may affect your boarding group.
- Whether everyone on the reservation has a seat arrangement that works for your group, especially on Basic fares.
- Any disability-related preboarding or seating needs, using Southwest’s current eligibility and contact guidance.
- The airline’s live policy before departure, since group eligibility and operational rules are subject to change.
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