Southwest Airlines details plan for assigned seating, extra legroom
Southwest Airlines’ new assigned seating model — complete with its first-ever extra legroom seats — is set for takeoff in early 2026.
Meanwhile, big changes are in the works for Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program, including new benefits for A-List and A-List preferred elite status members and opportunities for international redemptions as the Dallas-based carrier prepares to launch partnerships with international airlines.
Together, these changes will mark perhaps the biggest commercial overhaul for Southwest in a half-century as the carrier faces mounting concerns about its financial performance.
This news comes two months after Southwest executives first unveiled plans in late July to add extra legroom seats and ditch its trademark seating policy, a unique arrangement that’s been a hallmark of the airline for the last half-century.
Both are part of a comprehensive plan by executives to boost revenue as the airline has far trailed its larger U.S. competitors like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in profitability since the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, one key Southwest policy will remain in place, as TPG reported last week: the carrier is not ditching its popular “two bags fly free policy.”
But far more details are expected Thursday about major changes in the works at Southwest as the company prepares to host its annual investor day.
Here’s what we know so far.
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When will Southwest assigned seating begin?
Southwest will begin selling assigned seats in late 2025.
The airline will begin flying with its assigned seating model In the first half of 2026, the carrier said Thursday.
This summer, the carrier cited exhaustive customer research in deciding to shift to a new assigned model. Survey data, CEO Bob Jordan said in July, found that 80% of Southwest flyers would preferred assigned seating, and that a whopping 86% of customers who don’t fly Southwest preferred the model.
“Customers travel different following the pandemic,” Jordan told investors in Dallas on Thursday. “Customer preferences have changed.”
“Southwest flies farther than ever, and seat assignments are a higher priority on long-haul flights,” the carrier added in a broader Thursday statement summing up its overhaul plan.
Southwest extra legroom seats
The airline’s first-ever extra legroom seats will roll out on aircraft in conjunction with its addition of assigned seats, with tickets on sale in the back half of 2025 and flights taking off in the first half of 2026.
Southwest’s “premium” seats will offer up to five additional inches of pitch, the carrier said Thursday. (Pitch is the distance from a fixed point on one seat to the same spot on the seat in front of it, often viewed as a proxy measurement for legroom).
About a third of the seats on board Southwest’s planes will offer the extra legroom, the airline said Thursday, while noting it will maintain “a Standard economy seat pitch among the best in the industry.”
Extra legroom seats will cost extra, but executives in July noted that the airline will likely offer the seats as some sort of a perk as part of revamped A-List and A-List preferred status benefits.
New international partner
To boost interest in its Rapid Rewards loyalty program and offer more global connectivity to its frequent flyers, Southwest is now formalizing partnership with international airlines, the carrier said Thursday.
Southwest’s first partner will be Icelandair, with an initial launch of the link-up expected in 2025.
The two airlines will use Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) as their initial joint gateway, but expand their offerings next year.
It appears Southwest Rapid Rewards members will be able to use their points to book partner flights about Icelandair.
And, Southwest expects to add at least one international partner next year.
Rapid Rewards changes expected
Earning and redeeming Rapid Rewards points will remain unchanged — with no blackout dates for redemptions — even as the carrier prepares to make changes to its benefits, including the perks for elite status.
Assigned seats and premium seating will certainly play prominently into those tier benefits, leaders have insinuated — as will the airline’s new partnerships.
A-List and A-List preferred seating benefits
As part of the changes, A-List elite status members will be able to select standard legroom seats at booking, and extra legroom seats within 48 hours of departure at no cost.
A-List Preferred members will be able to select all seats, including extra legroom seats, at booking for free.
Credit card program updates
The airline also said to expect forthcoming updates to its cobranded credit card program.
Those details are expected in early 2025.
Current credit card perks, terms and policies will remain in place in the meantime, Southwest said Thursday.
Bags will still fly free
Southwest last week assured TPG no changes to its lenient policy on baggage were on the horizon, and reiterated that stance Thursday.
Unlike U.S. competitors that charge for checked bags, Southwest offers all passengers two free checked bags. The airline also does not charge for a full-size carry-on bag.
“Based on Southwest’s research, the company believes that any change in the current policy … would drive down demand and far outweigh any revenue gains,” Southwest said Thursday.
Bottom line
We’re expecting to learn more about Southwest’s changes over the course of the day. Check back for more updates on how Southwest flyers can expect the on-board experience to change in the coming years.
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