What's verified about Southwest seats under the 2026 model
The essentials of the new assigned-seating system, availability and pricing still depend on route, aircraft and timing.
Southwest ended open seating entirely. For flights on or after January 27, 2026, every seat is assigned before you board, a fundamental break from the boarding-number system the airline was known for.
Standard toward the rear of the aircraft, Preferred forward with standard legroom, and Extra Legroom in forward or exit rows with additional seat pitch, up to about 5 extra inches on the 737-700, though it varies by aircraft type.
Basic gets a Standard seat assigned at check-in. Choice lets you pick a Standard seat at booking. Choice Preferred lets you pick a Preferred seat. Choice Extra includes an Extra Legroom seat.
You don't need Choice Extra to sit in Extra Legroom, anyone can buy it separately, on any fare, subject to availability.
Boarding now runs Groups 1 through 8, plus preboarding for passengers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors. Your group is tied to your fare and seat tier, not to how early you checked in.
Seat and upgrade prices vary by route, aircraft and timing and change constantly, so we don't list amounts here. Tell us your flight and we'll check what's open and reserve it for you.
Standard vs Preferred vs Extra Legroom
The three seat categories under assigned seating, where they sit and what they offer.
Standard
Rear of aircraft
- Included on Basic and Choice fares
- Choice lets you pick it at booking
- Basic assigns it at check-in instead, no choice
Preferred
Forward cabin, standard legroom
- Located toward the front of the aircraft
- Same legroom as Standard, the benefit is position
- Chosen on Choice Preferred and above
Extra Legroom
Forward/exit rows, up to 5 in. more pitch
- Up to about 5 extra inches of pitch on the 737-700
- Exact extra room varies by aircraft type
- Included on Choice Extra, purchasable separately on any fare
Fare bundles: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra
What each fare gets you under assigned seating, availability and pricing vary by route and timing.
Basic and the check-in assignment gap
Why Basic is the fare that most changes the seat conversation.
Basic is Southwest's cheapest, most restricted fare, and seating is where that shows most clearly. On Choice and above, you pick your seat as part of booking, you know your seat before you ever get to the airport. Basic breaks that pattern: you still get a Standard seat, but Southwest assigns it to you at check-in rather than letting you choose it in advance. That's a meaningful difference from the old open-seating system, where at least everyone had an equal shot at any open seat once boarding started. Under the new model, a Basic traveler doesn't get a boarding-number scramble to work with, the seat is simply handed to them, sight unseen, whenever they check in. If you're traveling with family or a group on a Basic fare, that check-in assignment doesn't account for who's traveling with whom, so a group of Basic travelers can easily end up split across the cabin rather than seated together. Upgrading to Choice or higher removes that uncertainty by letting you choose your seat, and your group's seats, the moment you book. Tell us your fare and travel party and we'll walk through what a higher tier would actually get you before you decide.
Boarding under assigned seating
Boarding changed along with seating, groups replaced the old A/B/C boarding-number system.
Boarding now runs in numbered Groups 1 through 8, with preboarding set aside for passengers with disabilities and for unaccompanied minors. Which group you're placed in is tied to your fare and seat tier, not to how early you checked in, the way the old system worked. Because assigned seating means your specific seat is already locked in before you board, the group number mostly determines how early you get to the gate and into the cabin, including how much overhead bin space is likely to still be open when you sit down. If your priority is boarding as early as possible, that now runs through your fare and seat tier rather than through checking in at the 24-hour mark. Confirm your exact boarding group on your boarding pass or in the Southwest app before you head to the gate.
How we help
Three steps, and nothing charged until you say yes.
Your flight, current fare bundle, and travel party, so we know what seat you already have and what's still open.
We pull up the actual seat map and current availability for your flight. Preferred, Extra Legroom, or getting your whole party seated together, not a chart that might be stale.
If we can help, our service fee is quoted before you're charged anything. If it's something you can do yourself for free at southwest.com, we'll tell you that too.
Traveling with family on a Basic fare? Select or upgrade seats as early as you can. Under assigned seating, adjacent seats can sell out on full flights, and check-in assignment doesn't account for who's traveling together. If you're not sure which fare makes sense for your trip, that's exactly what the call is for.
Frequently asked
Does Southwest still have open seating?+
What seat do I get on Southwest's cheapest fare?+
What's the difference between Preferred and Extra Legroom seats?+
Can I buy Extra Legroom on a Basic or Choice fare?+
How does Southwest boarding work now?+
Will my family sit together automatically on Southwest now?+
Contact options
Reach Southwest directly, or let us check your options.
Contact Southwest Airlines directly
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