Southwest Airlines Announces Assigned Seating

Southwest Airlines is introducing new seat and boarding options that allow travelers to choose the experience they prefer. 

Beginning January 27th, 2026, Southwest cabins will feature the following seat choices.

• Extra Legroom Seat: a roomier experience with more legroom (up to five additional inches). Also includes earlier access to bin space, enhanced snacks, and complimentary premium beverages.
• Preferred Seat: standard legroom seats near the front of the cabin.
• Standard Seat: standard legroom seats located in the back of the cabin.

Southwest previously announced their new fare bundles and will begin ticketing them on July 29, 2025, for flights taking off on/after January 27, 2026. Southwest has also shifted its boarding process to prioritize customers into boarding groups based on seat location. The inclusions for the new boarding groups are below:

You can find more information about their plans here.

We will continue to update travelers during this transition. Cain agents are available for support as needed.