1 in 4 Southwest planes now have extra-legroom seats — here's how to snag one
Sure, Southwest Airlines isn’t planning to “hard launch” extra-legroom seats until January 2026. But the soft launch is well underway.
About a quarter of Southwest’s airplanes have now been configured with the new extra-space rows, executives shared Thursday.
That means, if you’re flying with the carrier, you have roughly a one in four chance of being on a jet that has the new rows with more legroom. And, because open seating hasn’t ended yet, you don’t (technically) have to pay extra to score one of those seats.
Why extra-legroom seats are available early
Southwest will officially start selling extra-legroom seats on July 29, when assigned seating goes live in its booking channels. That'll apply for flights taking off about six months from now, starting Jan. 27, 2026.
To prepare, though, the Dallas-based carrier started retrofitting its fleet of around 800 Boeing 737s in early May, setting up cabins with the new, more premium rows.
Clearly, Southwest can’t just keep its planes out of service until January. So, once crews finish reconfiguring a cabin, the aircraft returns to service.
As of Thursday, roughly 200 of those planes were flying with the new extra-legroom rows, chief operating officer Andrew Watterson said — even as the airline continues with its final six months of open seating.
Scoring a Southwest extra-legroom seat
How do you know if you’ll be on one of those newly updated jets when you book a flight?
For now, the short answer is: You won’t.
Airlines (especially Southwest, with its all-737 fleet) frequently swap aircraft slated for a particular flight, so it’s hard for the airline to predict months in advance what jet it’ll use on a specific flight from, say, Nashville to Orlando.
Upgraded Boarding becomes more tempting
However, Southwest has started giving passengers a heads up about the pseudo-premium seats once it confirms the plane they’ll be on, closer to departure — in part hoping they’ll purchase its Upgraded Boarding option, which guarantees a passenger a priority boarding position and an early crack at its (for now) first-come, first-served seats.
“We’ve already started to monetize those retrofitted aircraft by notifying customers who will be on a flight with extra legroom seats, and inviting them to take advantage of our existing Upgraded Boarding product,” Watterson told analysts on Thursday, speaking on the company’s second-quarter earnings call.
What to know about Upgraded Boarding
Upgraded Boarding on Southwest, an optional add-on customers can purchase, guarantees an A1 through A15 boarding position under the airline’s unique, single-file boarding process.
Customers who aren’t happy with their boarding position can purchase Upgraded Boarding within 24 hours of departure. Prices start at $30 but can range quite a bit higher on a particular flight.
I purchased it in February when I wasn’t happy with the boarding position I’d secured for the airline’s inaugural red-eye flight from Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), not wanting to get stuck in a middle seat for the cross-country flight.
I did this right through the mobile app. You could also use Southwest's website to purchase this add-on, or click on a link the airline sends you if you get notified that your flight will have the extra-legroom seats.
Upgraded boarding on the outs
Upgraded Boarding isn’t long for Southwest, though. It’ll disappear in January when the airline launches assigned seating and shifts to a more traditional eight-group boarding process.
But for now?
It could be your ticket to scoring an extra-legroom seat before those rows technically launch as the airline’s first premium product in January.
Credit card perk reminder
It's also worth noting: Existing customers with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) or the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) get four Upgraded Boardings per year as a card perk.
While a card refresh (just announced Thursday) will spell the end of that perk, those boarding upgrades are still usable between now and the end of this year.
Bottom line
Your chances of scoring a Southwest extra-legroom seat in 2025 will keep growing as the year goes on, as the airline hopes to reconfigure all of its planes before its assigned seating era kicks off early next year.
Related reading:
- Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
- 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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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. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 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.