Flying Southwest used to involve a routine that many regular travelers knew by heart. Simply put, they’d check in exactly 24 hours before their flight & line up at their gate, then pick any open seat as soon as they stepped on the plane. But not anymore. Recent changes to Southwest’s rules mean that the airline has begun enforcing assigned seating and a new boarding structure. While the airline claims it’s meant to give customers more choice in where they sit, not everyone’s on board with the changes. Let’s find out more.
The changes to open seating began on January 27, 2026, following an announcement in July 2025. Anybody boarding a plane run by the airline after that date will have to sit in the location connected to their reservation, regardless of whether they want that seat or not.
Previously, passengers had far more freedom. They could spread out or move to an empty row, perhaps even get a window seat at the very last minute. The old setup also put more importance on boarding position because the earlier that people boarded, the better the chances they had of getting the seat that they wanted.
But not anymore.
Under the new rules, passengers have to select their seat while they’re booking their ticket and can’t simply choose where they want to sit when they board. Some passengers are unhappy about this since they’re used to choosing when they get on the plane. Now, they’ve got to make a decision days or even weeks before the flight, so there’s a lot less freedom for them to choose after they start boarding. However, these aren’t the only seat changes involved.
Those who purchase the cheapest ticket category, known as the Basic fare, won’t be able to pick their seat, leaving it up to the airline to choose a seat during check-in. Only passengers with elite status or a Rapid Rewards credit card can choose their seat under the Basic fare.
Why does that matter to some passengers? Because two people on the same flight may experience seat selection quite differently from each other, simply because of the ticket that they’ve purchased. Only those with a more expensive fare or certain rewards can see where they’re sitting.
There are also some new seat categories on Southwest aircraft, which you can either buy separately or as part of a fare bundle. You either have a choice of purchasing Extra Legroom, Preferred, or Standard seats, with the Extra Legroom seats being near the front of the plane & having additional space between rows. The Preferred seats are close to the front but don’t have any extra space. Everything else is Standard.
However, beyond the seat itself, your seat type will also affect when you board. The previous system involved boarding posts reading numbers like A1-A60 or B30, but now, these are going to be replaced with boarding positions from Group 1 to Group 8.
What does that mean? Well, you’ll have to board according to your group, and the order of when you board will depend on your seat type & ticket type. Those sitting in Extra Legroom seats will usually board earlier as part of Group 1 or 2. Anyone with a premium fare or those on the frequent-flyer tier will also get to board at the same time.
But the rules are slightly different for Rapid Rewards credit card members, as those who don’t qualify for earlier boarding will board with Group 5. They can do so with up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation, and some cardholders may be able to choose their seats during booking or within 48 hours of departure.
It all depends on what type of card you have.
There does seem to be research backing up these changes, though. Aviation researcher Dr. Jason Steffen has published studies on airline boarding, and he claims that boarding order & seat location can greatly affect how people move through the aisle. These factors also change how people store luggage.
Sadly, with all the changes come some removals. You will no longer be able to purchase EarlyBird Check-In or Upgraded Boarding. EarlyBird used to allow you to automatically check in early and get a better boarding position, while Upgraded Boarding allowed travelers to pay at the gate to move to an earlier boarding group, as long as there were available spots.
But assigned seating means these features no longer exist. The only paid boarding option to remain is Priority Boarding, allowing travelers to enter the aircraft earlier than their assigned group, although they won’t be able to choose their seat. They’ll simply get access to overhead bin space.
Families are the main group of people who feel annoyed by the changes. Previously, many families would board together early and find seats once they got onto the plane, but assigned seating means they can no longer do that. They’ll need to arrange seats ahead of time. A lot of them feel that it’s unfair, especially since they’ll need to plan quite far ahead to make sure they’re able to sit together. They have no other option.
