What to know about Southwest Airlines' 8 boarding groups starting in January
Southwest Airlines is gearing up for assigned seating. Starting early next year, all Southwest passengers will get an assigned seat — and they'll have the option to fly in the airline's all-new extra legroom rows.
Flights with the new seating setup go on sale July 29 for flights departing on or after Jan. 27, 2026.
As part of that shift, Southwest will also make a major change to its boarding process, ending the unique, single-file setup it's used for years. That announcement came after TPG reported earlier this year that Southwest had decided to go with new boarding procedures that look a lot more like the ones used by its top competitors.
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Yes, that will mean an end to the days of setting a check-in alarm to secure a boarding position — and it'll also end the Southwest preflight ritual of lining up along silver posts at the gate.
The carrier will have new ways to hand out preferential boarding access to customers who pay more for its extra legroom seats, carry one of its credit cards or have A-List elite status.
How to get a good boarding group on Southwest
In all, Southwest plans to use a total of eight boarding groups.
The boarding group you get will be determined by a few factors, including:
- What fare product you choose: As part of the shift, Southwest will rename its fare classes. They'll be called: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra (the latter of which will come with an extra legroom seat). Higher-priced fares come with an earlier boarding group.
- Elite status: Southwest will give priority boarding to its Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred flyers
- Credit cardholders: Rapid Rewards members with a Southwest credit card will get earlier boarding.
The 8 boarding groups on Southwest Airlines
Here's how Southwest's new boarding groups will shake out, effective Jan. 27, 2026.
| Groups | Passengers allowed to board |
|---|---|
Groups 1 and 2 |
|
Groups 3 through 5 |
|
Groups 6 through 8 |
|
Priority boarding add-on option
There's an additional way to shortcut the boarding line: Southwest said customers will be able to purchase priority boarding 24 hours prior to departure.
Which group will most customers use?
If you don't carry a Southwest credit card, don't have elite status, and don't pay to upgrade to an extra legroom seat, I expect you'll likely land in:
- Group 6 or 7, if you opt for one of its "Choice" fares
- Group 7 or 8, if you select a "Basic" fare
Closer to next January, the carrier plans to elaborate further on its boarding process, gate experience and preboard policy, Southwest said this week.
Bottom line
As expected, Southwest's new boarding setup sure looks a lot more like the grouped format used by other major airlines. However, since the Dallas-based carrier doesn't actually have a first-class cabin, scoring an extra legroom seats is the key to a priority boarding group.
Keep in mind, you can get a spot in one of those extra-space rows by:
- Purchasing a Choice Extra fare
- Paying to upgrade your seat
- Selecting it for free at booking as an A-List Preferred member
- Selecting it for free within 48 hours of departure as an A-List member or an eligible credit cardholder
Boarding early won't come with quite the stakes as it does today on Southwest, since it won't be your ticket to getting a good seat. A lot of that will be worked out now when you book your flight.
However, getting on board early could still be key to gaining access to the overhead bins, since the airline now charges most customers for checked bags.
Related reading:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards: Guide to earning and redeeming points, elite status and more
- The best Southwest Airlines credit cards
- How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
- Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight
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