Southwest Airlines ushered in a brand new era on Tuesday, launching its new assigned seating policy.
The low-cost carrier's ongoing transformation aimed at enhancing profitability has featured many notable changes, including the elimination of Southwest's beloved bags fly free policy for two pieces of checked luggage.
However, the end of the airline's polarizing open seating policy is undoubtedly the most significant change impacting Southwest customers in 2026.
Here's what travelers need to know about it.
Changes to Check-In
Southwest passengers will no longer need to set an alarm to check in for their flight exactly 24 hours before departure to secure an earlier boarding group, since they'll have an assigned seat.
After checking in, customers can view their boarding pass with their seat assignment and boarding group.
Southwest Airlines plane at William P Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas. (Photo Credit: Patrick Clarke)
Travelers who book together on the same reservation, including families, will board together in the same group.
Meanwhile, passengers requiring special accommodations will be able to self-identify digitally before their day of travel, with service requests, such as wheelchair assistance, clearly visible on their boarding pass.
New Boarding Groups
Doing away with the A, B and C group boarding, Southwest's new system will feature eight groups based on seat location, fare type purchased, tier status and Rapid Rewards Credit Card benefits.
Southwest will still offer priority and preboarding to passengers with disabilities, active duty U.S. military and passengers who purchase priority boarding when available.
Afterward, Groups 1 and 2 will include A-list preferred customers, passengers who purchased Choice Extra fares and or extra legroom seats or upgrades.
Groups 3-5 will include A-list status members and travelers who have purchased Choice Preferred fares. Rapid Rewards Credit Card members will board no later than Group 5.
The final passengers to board will be those with Choice or Basic fares who will board with Groups 6-8.
Those unfortunate passengers relegated to middle seats on the first day of Southwest's new policy on January 27 will have a shot at free Subway, however.
Updated Gate Areas
Passengers waiting to board a flight at Spokane International Airport. (photo by Patrick Clarke)
Southwest has done away with its traditional numbered silver stanchions, instead utilizing alternating boarding lanes with digital screen displays that show which group is currently boarding.
Passengers will also notice a separate preboarding and priority boarding area.
"Gate areas will be converted in a phased approach, beginning the evening of January 26," Southwest confirmed last year. "It will take approximately 60 days to remove the numbered stanchions from all airports. The stanchions that are not removed overnight on January 26 will have their numbers removed or covered so they are not visible by the morning of January 27, when assigned seating begins."
A rendering of Southwest's new seats, featuring an electronic device holder. (Photo Credit: Southwest Airlines)
Upgraded Cabin Experience
Southwest customers flying for the first time in the assigned seat era will also notice upgraded cabins, with new RECARO R2 seats and enhanced lighting.
Travelers will also notice extra legroom seats reserved for those customers who purchase the popular upgrade as well as convenient seatback charging ports and larger overhead bins.
Free in-flight Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members, elevated snack options and new-look uniforms are also welcome improvements that Southwest customers can watch for as the carrier continues its modernization efforts.
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