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What to know about Southwest Airlines' 8 boarding groups starting in January
Sean Cudahy
Senior Aviation Reporter
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
July 22, 2025
•
5 min read
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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.
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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
Featured image by SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Why We Chose It
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.