When Southwest Airways shifts to assigned seating a few yr from now, its elite standing members will be capable to choose an additional legroom at no cost. And, these 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 peak at what 2026 will deliver for its Speedy Rewards A-Checklist and A-Checklist Most popular members.
As a reminder, Southwest earlier this yr introduced it will start promoting assigned and extra-legroom seats in late 2025, for flights departing in early 2026. The transfer will likely 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 business overhaul in September, however held off on sharing too many particulars about how the shift to assigned and additional legroom seating would have an effect on its Speedy Rewards loyalty program, elite standing or its Companion Cross.
Now, we’re getting a (barely) higher sense — as View from the Wing was first to identify.
Seating perks for A-Checklist members
As soon as assigned seating goes stay, members who maintain entry-level Southwest A-Checklist elite standing will likely be granted just a few perks associated to seating.
Free most well-liked seats at reserving
For starters, A-Listers will be capable to choose customary “up entrance” seats at no cost.
Just a little context: Southwest in September shared that it plans to finally cost additional for some seats on its planes — not simply additional legroom seats, but in addition customary ones located nearer to the entrance of the plane; suppose the “most well-liked” seats for which lots of the largest U.S. carriers at the moment cost a premium.
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This profit will apply even to A-Checklist members flying on Southwest’s lowest-level Wanna Get Away fare. 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 standing members will be capable to skirt this restriction.
Additional-legroom seats nearer to departure
Maybe extra considerably, A-Checklist members may also be allowed to pick out additional legroom seats at no added value inside 48 hours of departure — pending availability, after all.
Seating perks for A-Checklist Most popular members
In the meantime, higher-level A-Checklist Most popular members will be capable to choose any seat on Southwest flights at no cost at reserving. That features extra-legroom seats.
Plus, Companion Cross members will likely be allowed to pick out 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 weren’t totally stunning. Southwest executives in September hinted its business overhaul might unlock new potential seating advantages for sure Speedy Rewards members, from A-Checklist elites to its credit score cardholders.
To that finish, the service has not but shared what’s in retailer for its card members; its web site notes that these prospects “can sit up for data in Spring 2025 relating to upcoming card journey advantages.”
With respect to seating, how Southwest is dealing with its new additional legroom seats for elites is paying homage to a number of different U.S. carriers’ insurance policies.
For example, American Airways AAdvantage Gold members can choose Important Cabin Additional seats at no cost inside 24 hours of departure; higher-level elites 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 best to have their spot in line reserved 36 hours earlier than departure.
It is not clear what extra modifications, if any, is likely to 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 prospects 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 sit up for sharing extra in Spring 2025,” a Southwest spokesperson informed TPG Monday when requested concerning 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 price as as we speak. The airline additionally made clear, in September, that its coverage permitting two free checked luggage for each passenger will proceed.
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