In a shocking twist of fate, Southwest Airlines has introduced some actually good updates to its flight operations.
Starting January 27th, 2026, the 58-year-old company announced that it would be switching to assigned seating, new boarding groups with a new group organization system, and last-minute priority boarding options.
If you’re a frequent flyer, many of these updated policies may interest you. Read on to learn more.
Assigned Seating
Southwest has operated on an open seating policy for many years, but made the decision to switch to assigned seating to better meet customer demands and to stay afloat in the highly competitive airline market.
This also allows for more money-making opportunities (surprise, surprise), as Southwest now offers standard, preferred, and extra legroom seat options throughout the plane. It should be noted, however, that this only applies to the Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra options, so those paying Basic fares will still be assigned a seat at check-in.
The difference between the flight fares, you may ask? Booking a one-way, non-stop trip from LAX to LAS on January 27th costs $59, $89, $159, and $199 for each tier, respectively. This is great if you have a bit of extra money to spend on a 1-hour and 15-minute flight, but it doesn’t do much for the average Joe.
Boarding Groups
Boarding groups are the standard operating style for most airlines today, often separating travelers into multiple sections. Southwest is not only switching to this style, but is also operating under something called the WILMA method.
This method, which stands for Window, Middle, and Aisle, will hopefully shorten wait times and confusion among passengers. After priority or assisted boarding groups, passengers in window seats starting at the back of the plane will board, followed by middle and aisle seats. Ideally, this will reduce the potential for awkward shufflings during boarding.
Last-Minute Priority Boarding
This nonrefundable upgrade will guarantee you a spot in the first boarding group and can be obtained up to 60 minutes before departure. And they mean priority, with guests who purchase this option getting the go-ahead before groups 1 and 2.
The fee can cost anywhere from $30 to $149, depending on demand, flight length, and destination, but it does allow you to have first pick of seating and bin space, which some folks may prefer, if they can afford it.
Takeaways
While these new systems and boarding plans will likely be effective for Southwest’s efficiency and organization, a lot of folks may not see much of a difference. Frequent fliers, or members of the airline’s Rapid Rewards system, will absolutely adore these changes, as Extra Legroom seats or priority boarding are already included in their status benefits.
For one person who takes a flight or two a year, maximum, these “benefits” sound like another way for Southwest to scrape a little bit more money out of their pockets, for essentially the choice between the best of the worst seats available on their planes.
