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You can now book assigned seats on Southwest Airlines: Here’s how it works
Sean Cudahy
Senior Aviation Reporter
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
July 30, 2025
•
5 min read
You can now book assigned seats on Southwest Airlines: Here’s how it works
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You can now officially book Southwest Airlines flights with an assigned seat.
The carrier just started selling flights that will depart on (and after) Jan. 27, 2026 — the day it plans to bid farewell to open seating and welcome in its long-discussed assigned and extra-legroom seating setup.
For those of us who have flown Southwest on countless occasions in the past, it's admittedly a bit of a strange feeling to pull up the carrier's website and see a seat map when booking a trip.
But as of this week, that's now a reality.
These 2026 flights with assigned seating will also mark the start of using fare types that sound a lot different from the ones Southwest has sold for years. "Wanna Get Away" is already a thing of the past, having been replaced by the carrier's new basic economy fare. But the airline is now also phasing out "Wanna Get Away Plus," "Anytime" and "Business Select."
Instead, Southwest's four fare products will include:
| Fare product | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Basic | No complimentary advance seat selection unless you have a Southwest credit card or A-List status, lower Rapid Rewards earnings and last to board |
| Choice | Standard seat selection |
| Choice Preferred | Select a "preferred" seat (a regular seat situated closer to the front of the plane) |
| Choice Extra | Select an extra-legroom seat, plus enjoy two free checked bags and priority boarding |
What it's like booking a Southwest Airlines flight with assigned seats
What is it like booking a Southwest flight with assigned seating?
It'll be a pretty familiar process if you've booked a flight on, well, just about any other airline — but I'll briefly walk you through some of the unique elements of Southwest's assigned seating process.
Here's an example: a one-way February 2026 booking from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C., to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
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As you can see, the ticket options on Southwest's website now reflect the airline's new fare classes.
Basic and Choice
For this trip, prices start at $118 for a basic ticket. That's $30 less than Southwest's Choice fare, which is now Southwest's version of a standard, full-fare, non-basic economy ticket you'd see on another airline.
If you're booking a basic ticket, you won't be able to miss the tightest restriction, which appears when you pull up the seat map: no complimentary seat selection, similar to basic economy policies at other airlines.
However, I will point out: On this flight, you still can pay $60 extra to select an extra-legroom seat.
Compare that to the $140 extra you'd pay for Southwest's full, top-level Choice Extra bundle, which includes extra-legroom seats, two free checked bags and a few other perks.
Choice Preferred
If you're booking a Choice Preferred fare, the seat map will open up some seats closer to the front of the plane. Those will be regular seats with standard legroom, but you won't be stuck in the back of the aircraft.
Choice Extra
And then once you select the higher-priced Choice Extra bundle, you'll have your pick of any seat, including one with extra legroom.
Award booking
Here's an example of how the new fare classes are priced out if you're booking a Southwest Rapid Rewards redemption on another February itinerary — this time from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).
- Basic: 28,000 points (down 9% from Choice, Southwest's new standard fare class)
- Choice: 30,500 points
- Choice Preferred: 36,000 points (up 18% from Choice)
- Choice Extra: 43,000 (up 41% from Choice)
Bottom line
As a reminder, every Southwest credit card will get you a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight companions flying on the same reservation.
Every card will also get you at least some sort of seat selection — in some cases, within 48 hours of departure. Two of the carrier's higher-priced cards come with complimentary extra-legroom access closer to takeoff.
A-List and A-List Preferred members also get baggage, boarding and seating benefits under the new setup.
Related reading:
Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/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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Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
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$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- 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.