Does Southwest Airlines Have Assigned Seats? Explained!

Does Southwest Airlines have assigned seats? This question comes up for many travelers planning their next flight. This airline stands out with its unique open-seating policy, unlike most airlines that assign seats when you book. Instead, it lets you choose your seat when you board, which can feel exciting or confusing, based on your travel style. 

In this blog, you will learn about their seating process, and you will also see if they follow the assigned seats system or not. Be it your first time or your trillionth time, staying informed about Southwest’s method helps you plan better and enjoy your trip. So, make sure you read this article to understand their system better.

Does Southwest Airlines Assign Seats?

Seats are not pre-assigned when booking with this airline. Instead, they use an open-seating policy, letting you pick any available seat once you board. You get a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a number based on when you check in. It starts 24 hours before departure. Check in early to board first and get a better seat. Families with young kids and passengers needing assistance board early, too. But Southwest plans to switch to assigned seats in 2026, so the open-seating style will change soon. For now, choose your spot freely!

What Seating Options Will Be Available?

You will be able to choose different seats on the plane. 

• Extra Legroom seats will be at the front or near the emergency exits, giving you more space to stretch your legs. 
• You get about five extra inches on some planes, but it can be different on other planes. 
• Preferred seats will have the same regular legroom but closer to the plane’s front. 
• Standard seats will also have regular legroom in the back of the plane.

Your Rapid Rewards with Assigned Seating

Southwest will ensure its Rapid Rewards program stays excellent for customers, even if it changes how seating works. 

• If you’re an A-List Preferred member, you’ll get to pick any open seat, even the ones with more legroom, for free.
• For A-List members, you can pick the best and regular seats for free when you book. You can get an extra legroom seat for free within two days before your flight. 
• If someone travels with you using your Companion Pass, they’ll get the same seating benefits as you. 
• If you bought extra seating perks, those only count for you. Also, if you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, you’ll get new free seating and better boarding. You will also get new ways to earn points. 
• Some cards will even give you a free seat upgrade close to your flight if available. For now, credit card holders can still use their current benefits.

Southwest’s Open-Seating Policy

Now that you know the answer to, ”Does Southwest Airlines have assigned seating?” You must know about the seating system used currently. Southwest Airlines started its flights in 1971 with a special rule: you could pick any empty seat. But in 2024, the airline said it will change this and begin assigning seats in 2026. Check out how their current seat picking works:

How Does Seating Work on Southwest Airlines

It doesn’t pick your seat for you when you buy your ticket. In place of that, you get a letter and a number. This shows when you can get on the plane.

• Checking In– You can check in online or on the app starting 24 hours before your flight. You get a better letter and number (like A1) if you check in early. You can get on the plane sooner and pick a better seat.
• Boarding Groups- Have a look at the groups below:

1. Group A– This group gets on the plane first. You’ll find many seating options with them, such as window or aisle seats.
2. Group B- This one gets on next. There aren’t as many seats left, and you might have to sit in the middle or back seat.
3. Group C– This group gets on last. There are only a few seats left, and you might have to sit in a middle seat or away from the people you’re traveling with.

• Getting on the Plane– When it’s time to board, people stand in line based on their letter and number. You can sit in any empty seat when you get on the plane. It lets you choose where to sit, like by the window, near the front, or with your family.

Benefits of Open Seating

Southwest has several advantages of its open-seating policy:

• Getting on the plane is faster– When people can sit anywhere, it makes getting on the plane quicker than when everyone has a special seat. It helps the plane leave on time and makes everything work better. 
• You can pick your seat– When you get on the plane, choose the seat you like best. You can sit near the front to get off faster or find a seat where it’s not too crowded.
• Everyone gets the same treatment– They don’t have fancy seats or special sections, so everyone has the same experience.

Ways to Secure a Better Boarding Position

To maximize the chances of getting a preferred seat, Southwest offers several options:

• Check in early– If you check in right when it opens, you have a good chance of boarding the plane sooner. 
• Buy a better ticket– If you buy a “Business Select” ticket, you’ll be among the first to get on the plane. This ticket also lets you go through security faster.
• Pay to check in earlier– You can pay extra money to check in 36 hours before your flight. This usually gets you a better spot to board than if you check in, but it doesn’t always mean you’ll be in the first group.
• Pay to upgrade your boarding– If early boarding spots are left, you can pay extra money at the gate or when you check in online to get one of the first spots.
• Fly a lot with Southwest– If you fly with them often and have “A-List” or “A-List Preferred” status, they let you board earlier without paying extra.

How Southwest’s Boarding Process Works?

They have a unique boarding process that’s different from most airlines. They still use the open-seating system since they have not started assigning seats. In this, you pick your seat when you board. 

Check In to Get Your Boarding Position

You can check in for your Southwest flight one day before it leaves. You can do this on the Southwest website, their phone app, the airport ticket counter, or a self-service machine. 

• When you check in, they give you a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a number (1 to 60 or more, such as A23 or B15). 
• Checking in sooner gives you a better spot, like A1 is the very best. This is important because a lower number means you get on the plane earlier and have more seats to pick from.

Stand In The Line At The Gate

You can get on the plane around half an hour before it flies. 

• Go to the gate and find signs that show your boarding group and a number range. 
• Stand near the sign that matches your group and number. 
• If your boarding pass says B10, go to the B sign and stand where the numbers are around 10. 

Board the Plane

The airline boards its planes by calling groups one after another.

• First Group A goes, then Group B, and finally Group C. 
• Inside each group, people go in order of their number, like A1, A2, etc. 
• Some people get to board early, like those who need extra help or more time, etc.
• Families with children six years old or younger can board after Group A finishes and before Group B starts. 
• When the airline calls your group and number, you simply walk through the gate and get on the plane.

Choose Your Seat

You can choose any empty seat after you get on the plane. 

• You can pick any open spot if you want a window or need to sit near the front. 
• If you get on the plane first, you’ll have more choices for where to sit, especially if you want a window or aisle seat.

Factors Affecting Seat Choice 

This airline lets you pick any seat when you board, but many factors decide how many choices you have. Check them out below:

• When You Check In- Check in as soon as the window opens. An earlier check-in gets you a better boarding position. Waiting too long might land you in group C, where only middle seats or back rows remain.
• Your Boarding Group and Number- You get a group and a number. Group A boards first, and Group B follows, with fewer options. Group C boards last, usually leaving middle seats. 
• Flight Popularity- Busy flights fill up fast. Holiday trips, weekend flights, or routes to big cities have fewer open seats. Less popular flights, like midweek or early morning ones, offer more choices.
• Aircraft Size- Southwest uses different planes. Bigger planes have more seats, giving you better chances of finding a good spot. Smaller planes fill up quicker, so your choices decrease.
• Special Options You Pay For- You can pay extra to pick your seat sooner on Southwest. Business Select gets you a top spot, and EarlyBird Check-In checks you in early. Upgraded Boarding lets you pay for a better spot at the gate.
• Traveling with Others- If you’re with family or friends, you’ll want seats together. Early boarding helps groups sit side by side. 
• Special Needs- Passengers needing extra time or help, like those with disabilities, can preboard if they ask at the gate. 

Pros & Cons of Open Seating

With an open-seating policy, passengers select any available seat upon boarding. This technique made the airline stand out for many years. But it comes with some advantages and challenges. Below is a look at the pros and cons of open seating:

Pros	Cons
Pick any open seat when you board, like a window or aisle spot that suits you.	Board late, and you might get stuck with middle seats or spots far from friends.
Open seating speeds up boarding, so flights leave on time more often.	Checking in 24 hours before your flight is crucial for a good boarding spot.
No one gets special seats, so all passengers have an equal chance of a good spot.	Some try to save seats for others, causing arguments since Southwest has no clear rule.
If you don’t like your seat, move to another open one before takeoff if you spot one.	Families or friends boarding late may not find seats together on busy flights.
Checking in early rewards you with better choices, like seats near the front.	You won’t know your seat until you board, which can feel uneasy on full planes.

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