When Southwest Airways shifts to assigned seating a couple of yr from now, its elite members will be capable to choose an extra-legroom seat free of charge. And people members will not be topic to a few of the tightest seating restrictions set to be imposed on its Wanna Get Away fares sooner or later.
The Dallas-based service quietly up to date its web site that lays out intensive modifications deliberate on the airline — and within the course of provided a sneak peek at what 2026 will carry for its Speedy Rewards A-Record and A-Record Most well-liked members.
As a reminder, Southwest earlier this yr introduced it could start promoting assigned and extra-legroom seats in late 2025, for flights departing in early 2026. The transfer can be a dramatic departure from the service’s signature open-seating coverage that is been round for half a century.
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Executives on the airline provided a big-picture overview of its industrial overhaul in September however held off on sharing too many particulars about how the shift to assigned and extra-legroom seating would have an effect on its Speedy Rewards loyalty program, elite standing or the Companion Go.
Now, we’re getting a (barely) higher sense — as View from the Wing was first to identify.
Seating perks for A-Record members
As soon as assigned seating goes dwell, members who maintain entry-level Southwest A-Record elite standing can be granted a couple of perks associated to seating.
Free most popular seats at reserving
For starters, A-Listers will be capable to choose commonplace “up entrance” seats free of charge.
Somewhat context: Southwest in September shared that it plans to ultimately cost additional for some seats on its planes — not simply extra-legroom seats, but in addition commonplace ones located nearer to the entrance of the plane; assume the “most popular” seats for which lots of the largest U.S. carriers presently cost a premium.
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This profit will apply even to A-Record members flying on Southwest’s lowest-level Wanna Get Away fares. In September, Southwest stated that Wanna Get Away fares is not going to embrace complimentary seat choice sooner or later — however we now know all elite members will be capable to skirt this restriction.
Additional-legroom seats nearer to departure
Maybe extra considerably, A-Record members will even be allowed to pick extra-legroom seats at no added price inside 48 hours of departure — pending availability, in fact.
Seating perks for A-Record Most well-liked members
In the meantime, higher-level A-Record Most well-liked members will be capable to choose any seat on Southwest flights free of charge at reserving. That features extra-legroom seats.
Plus, Companion Go members can be allowed to pick a seat for his or her designated touring companion — and their elite standing seating advantages will prolong to that passenger, as properly.
Adjustments abound at southwest
These seating advantages aren’t totally shocking. Southwest executives in September hinted its industrial overhaul might unlock new potential seating advantages for sure Speedy Rewards members, from A-Record elite members to its bank card holders.
To that finish, the service has not but shared what’s in retailer for its cardmembers; its web site notes that these clients “can look ahead to info in Spring 2025 concerning upcoming card journey advantages.”
With respect to seating, how Southwest is dealing with its new extra-legroom seats for elite members is paying homage to a number of different U.S. carriers’ insurance policies.
As an illustration, American Airways AAdvantage Gold members can choose Major Cabin Additional seats free of charge inside 24 hours of departure; higher-level elite members can choose these extra-legroom rows at reserving. Different airways have comparable, laddered insurance policies in place.
What about boarding?
Southwest’s web site that lays out its forthcoming modifications nonetheless describes its hallmark numbered boarding course of, with elite standing members incomes the precise to have their spot in line reserved 36 hours earlier than departure.
It isn’t clear what further modifications, if any, could be on the horizon for Southwest’s boarding course of. This fall, executives stated the airline anticipated to maintain the essence of its distinctive boarding procedures intact even because it shifts to assigned seating, with clients lining up, single-file, alongside its signature boarding space posts.
Nonetheless, it appears a possible guess some tweaks to the method might come amid an assigned seating and extra-legroom panorama.
“We look ahead to sharing extra in Spring 2025,” a Southwest spokesperson advised TPG on Monday when requested in regards to the modifications shared on the service’s web site.
What’s not altering?
Southwest says all Speedy Rewards members will proceed to earn and redeem factors on the identical fee as as we speak. The airline additionally made clear, in September, that its coverage permitting two free checked baggage for each passenger will proceed.
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