19
Nov
2025
On January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will start using significant policy changes and abandon its old open-seat policy in favor of assigned seating. Also, the airline will not be offering any free additional seats to the plus-size passengers and will have to buy extra seats in advance. These changes will help Southwest become more efficient and bring it into line with industry standards, but they have been criticized for eliminating the old-fashioned customer bonuses.
1. Assigned Seats
As of January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will transition to assigned seating as opposed to open seating. Airport seating options will be entered when passengers make their booking, or will be assigned automatically in case of a Basic fare of standard price. This modification is meant to provide travelers with greater control and minimise the uncertainty at boarding.
2. Seat Options
The categories of seats will be Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seats that Southwest will provide. With higher fare classes, the elite status, or Southwest credit cards, the passengers will enjoy more access to Premium seats and a priority boarding position. Basic fare passengers are assigned seats at the time of check-in, provided that they do not choose a seat previously.
3. New Boarding Structure
The new boarding process will include eight groups (1-8) by fare, loyalty status, and seat type rather than the previous A/B/C groups. Groups 1-2 encompass Extra Legroom holders and top-tier Rapid Rewards members, and Groups 3-5 encompass premium fare holders. Groups 6-8 primarily board Basic fare passengers. When they get a chance, family members continue to sit together. The process will be simplified by eliminating traditional boarding lines and stanchions.
Southwest terminates the free checked baggage policy, the most famous one, the bags fly free, on May 28, 2026. A majority of the passengers are now paying bag fees on the checked bags unless traveling business class, elite status, or using Southwest credit cards. The move is included in a larger revenue plan to counter decreased revenues as operational costs increase.
New Checked Bag Fees: By May 28, 2026, Southwest will have a price of $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second bag of the checked luggage of the largest proportion of its passengers. These charges are charged on flights booked or changed of their own free will on or after the date. Checked bags remain limited by size and weight, and overweight and oversized charges are charged independently.
Exceptions and Perks: Those flying under the highest-tier Business Select fare category still have access to two free checked bags. Rapid Rewards A-List Preferreds can also keep two free checked bags, and A-List members and Southwest credit card holders can have one free checked bag. Passengers who hold a Companion Pass also offer baggage to their companion passengers during the flight.
Reason for Change: This is a modification of a larger revenue strategy that will help offset declining profits and increasing costs of operation. Nevertheless, Southwest is the only airline that has been offering free bags to all its passengers, as compared to most other airlines based in the United States. The change is premised on the evolving traveler expectations, industry trends, and economic viability.
Impact on Customers: The majority of passengers will now be charged for checked bag fees unless they are exempted in the mentioned exceptions. It is a great change in the long-term policy of Southwest, and it places it in the same position as the other airlines. Customers should also check their types of fares and their loyalty level to see whether they are eligible for baggage fees or not.
Beginning January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will require passengers who are unable to fit comfortably in a single seat (that is, those who encroach into an adjacent seat past the armrest line) to pre-purchase an extra seat during booking.
As opposed to the old policy, when the plus-size passengers were able to demand a free extra seat at the airport or purchase it and recover the money in the future, the Southwest New Policy requires the additional purchase of the extra seat. Refunds will only be given if:
When a passenger fails to pre-book the add-on seat and requires it, they must purchase it at the airport or be rebooked on another flight, assuming the flight on which the passenger is already booked is complete. The new policy abolishes the free extra seat option and changes the conditions for refunds.
The plus-size passengers now have to purchase a second ticket in advance when they do not fit into a single seat, and are only refunded part of the ticket instead of the former flexibility and free extra seat.
Southwest Airlines will no longer have its old open seat policy and will start a new assigned seating policy and a new process of boarding that will start January 27, 2026.
Most types of fare are going to allow passengers to choose their seats during booking. There will be different types of seats, such as Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seats, but with different fare packages (Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice, and Basic). Basic fare passengers not choosing a seat at the time of booking will be automatically assigned a seat at check-in; Rapid Rewards credit card members and the highest elites may choose their seats earlier, regardless of fare type. Such a modification will give the passengers more freedom to choose their seats and remove the uncertainty of an open setting.
The boarding process will be changed from the present A/B/C boarding groups to Group-based boarding, with a designation of Group 1 to Group 8, which will maximize the ordered seating. Passengers with Extra Legroom seats will board first (Groups 1-2). The passengers in the premium fare category, loyalty program members (A-List and A-List Preferred), and holders of the Southwest credit cards will be given preferential boarding opportunities. Families in the same reservation will be seated where possible, and stanchions in the gates will be removed as a part of this transition.
Southwest is also eliminating open seating in favor of assigned seating selected during booking and an innovative boarding order due to seat and fare-based assignments, which increase passenger control and efficiency during the boarding process.
The Southwest Airlines “10 Minute Rule” entails the passengers being at the gate and being ready to board at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of the flight. In case a passenger is less than 10 minutes before departure or does not check in and appear before that time, then the ticket can be classified as a no-show. This may lose the value of the ticket or Rapid Rewards points, based on the type of fare. This rule is beneficial as it helps prevent delays in the boarding process and departures, and makes for a more effective use of standby seats since the gate agents will be able to release the seats earlier when passengers fail to arrive in time.
The changes in the policy of Southwest Airlines, including the change to assigned seating, the introduction of baggage fees, and the tightening of plus-size passenger rules, are indicative of an attempt to modernize the company, which should be oriented to operational effectiveness and an increase in revenue. These alterations are consistent with the industry standards, but they represent a break with such perks of Southwest as open seating and free baggage. Any passengers who intend to fly Southwest starting in 2026 must prepare in advance with seat reservations, learning about fee structures, and new boarding protocols to achieve a comfortable travel experience.
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