When Southwest Airlines shifts to assigned seating about a year from now, its elite status members will be able to select an extra legroom for free. And, those members won’t be subject to some of the tightest seating restrictions set to be imposed on its Wanna Get Away fares in the future.
The Dallas-based carrier quietly updated its website that lays out extensive changes planned at the airline — and in the process offered a sneak peak at what 2026 will bring for its Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred members.
As a reminder, Southwest earlier this year announced it would begin selling assigned and extra-legroom seats in late 2025, for flights departing in early 2026. The move will be a dramatic departure from the carrier’s signature open seating policy that’s been around for half a century.
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Executives at the airline offered a big-picture overview of its commercial overhaul in September, but held off on sharing too many details about how the shift to assigned and extra legroom seating would affect its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, elite status or its Companion Pass.
Now, we’re getting a (slightly) better sense — as View from the Wing was first to spot.
Seating perks for A-List members
Once assigned seating goes live, members who hold entry-level Southwest A-List elite status will be granted a few perks related to seating.
Free preferred seats at booking
For starters, A-Listers will be able to select standard “up front” seats for free.
A little context: Southwest in September shared that it plans to eventually charge extra for some seats on its planes — not just extra legroom seats, but also standard ones situated closer to the front of the aircraft; think the “preferred” seats for which many of the largest U.S. carriers currently charge a premium.
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This benefit will apply even to A-List members flying on Southwest’s lowest-level Wanna Get Away fare. In September, Southwest said that Wanna Get Away fares will not include complimentary seat selection in the future — but, we now know, all elite status members will be able to skirt this restriction.
Extra-legroom seats closer to departure
Perhaps more significantly, A-List members will also be allowed to select extra legroom seats at no added cost within 48 hours of departure — pending availability, of course.
Seating perks for A-List Preferred members
Meanwhile, higher-level A-List Preferred members will be able to select any seat on Southwest flights for free at booking. That includes extra-legroom seats.
Plus, Companion Pass members will be allowed to select a seat for their designated traveling companion. And, their elite status seating benefits will extend to that passenger, as well.
Changes abound at southwest
These seating benefits weren’t entirely surprising. Southwest executives in September hinted its commercial overhaul could unlock new potential seating benefits for certain Rapid Rewards members, from A-List elites to its credit cardholders.
To that end, the carrier has not yet shared what’s in store for its card members; its website notes that those customers “can look forward to information in Spring 2025 regarding upcoming card travel benefits.”
With respect to seating, how Southwest is handling its new extra legroom seats for elites is reminiscent of several other U.S. carriers’ policies.
For instance, American Airlines AAdvantage Gold members can select Main Cabin Extra seats for free within 24 hours of departure; higher-level elites can select those extra-legroom rows at booking. Other airlines have similar, laddered policies in place.
What about boarding?
Southwest’s website that lays out its forthcoming changes still describes its hallmark numbered boarding process, with elite status members earning the right to have their spot in line reserved 36 hours before departure.
It’s not clear what additional changes, if any, might be on the horizon for Southwest’s boarding process. This fall, executives said the airline expected to keep the essence of its unique boarding procedures intact even as it shifts to assigned seating, with customers lining up, single-file, alongside its signature boarding area posts.
However, it seems a likely bet some tweaks to the process could come amid an assigned seating and extra-legroom landscape.
“We look forward to sharing more in Spring 2025,” a Southwest spokesperson told TPG Monday when asked about the changes shared on the carrier’s website.
What’s not changing?
Southwest says all Rapid Rewards members will continue to earn and redeem points at the same rate as today. The airline also made clear, in September, that its policy allowing two free checked bags for every passenger will continue.
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