Overview
- Starting Jan. 27, Southwest assigns seats on all flights and replaces A/B/C lines with eight boarding groups, with Basic fares receiving seat assignments at check-in.
- Cabins now feature Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seats, and four fare bundles—Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra—govern seat selection, pricing, and benefits.
- Status and cards shape boarding order: A-List Preferred and Choice Extra typically board in Groups 1–2, A-List, Choice Preferred, and credit cardholders in Groups 3–5, and Choice and Basic in Groups 6–8; parties on one reservation board together.
- A revised policy for travelers who need more than one seat requires purchasing an additional seat at booking, with refunds only under specific conditions including same fare class, seat availability, and a request within 90 days.
- Gate areas are being converted with numbered stanchions removed starting Jan. 26 as retrofits progress across the 737 fleet—about 200 aircraft completed or in process—and the final open-seating flight is WN1791 from Honolulu to Los Angeles.