Choose Your Seat with Southwest Airlines Seat Selection

Choosing a seat that suits your preference can make or break your whole flight experience, especially if you are on a trip with your friends or family or traveling with a group. Southwest Airlines' seat selection works in a completely different way than that of other airlines. Recently, they have been providing different seating systems, which they will change from January 2026. 

In this blog, we will discuss the old and new regulations, regulations for seat selection, and how seat selection works. So that passengers can make changes easily and enjoy a seamless and comfortable journey. 

What are the Southwest Airlines seat selection regulations? 

Traveling by flight makes the process quick and more comfortable. Whether you are traveling with your family or alone, sitting in the best seat can improve your whole experience. Let’s know about the Southwest Airlines seat selection regulations in brief: 

• Right now, passengers do not get assigned seating at Southwest Airlines; they get the open seating option. 
• The boarding stages also vary based on the fare option. 
• Your boarding group will be provided on the ticket, and you can choose a seat after boarding. 
• Passengers can also opt for the early-bird check-in option. 
• If you select the seat separately, you can cancel it only by canceling the entire flight. 
• The seat selection fees only get refunded if you switch your seat to a more expensive one. 
• Passengers are allowed to exchange their seats; however, they may be required to pay the price difference. 

Family Seating Policy 

• Two adults plus two children will be able to board during family boarding after Group A.
• This boarding procedure gives them a better chance of sitting together.
• If you have Group A boarding passes, please board with your group; do not wait for Family Boarding. 
• For any kind of assistance, please ask the crew at the gate or inside the flight. 
• Airlines will ensure that if a child is traveling with passengers, one adult must sit with the child, without any charges. 
• If the adjacent seats really do not exist, they may offer to move your family to a later flight where the seats are available together. 

New regulations starting January 27, 2026: 

In effect, as of or after January 27, 2026, assigned seating is to be incorporated for the flights. The type of seat depends on the fare chosen:

• Basic Fare: Seats are assigned at check-in.
• Other Fares: You are at liberty to choose seats at the time of booking or in advance, any time before the flight.
• Extra Legroom seats and Other Preference seats are offered on a fee-based or complimentary basis, depending on certain fare levels or memberships.

How can a passenger select a seat? 

Southwest's flight seat selection policy is different from others. You cannot choose an assigned seat. Instead, seats are chosen once boarding begins. The earlier you get on, the greater your choices in seat selection will be. The position you hold while boarding thus determines your entry onto the plane.

Via Online: 

Rather than selecting a seat, online check-in allows you to promote your boarding position instead.

Steps:

• Go to the official website of Southwest to choose a seat or open the Android/iOS app.
• Choose either the "Manage Trip" or "Check In" option that is found on the top left of the screen. 
• Enter your confirmation number, first name, and last name on the next screen.
• Check-in generally begins approximately 24 hours before departure; seats are available to be selected by using the "Manage Trip" option before that. 
• Just follow the instructions for seat selection. 
• The selected seat will be visible on the boarding pass. 

Optional:

• Buy EarlyBird Check-In for an extra charge. This allows you to check in early and secure a better spot for boarding.

Via Offline:

• Check in by yourself at the kiosk or have a Southwest agent check you in at the counter.
• Give your confirmation number and ID.
• With the boarding pass, you should have your boarding group and number written on it.
• Wait at the gate until your group is called, then board the plane and select any available seat.

What are the seat selection regulations as per the fare option? 

Southwest seat assignment regulations vary based on the ticket type. Airlines provide different fare options, which you can choose based on your preferences: 

Basic

• Southwest will assign seats to passengers with basic fare tickets at check-in. 
• These passengers only get a standard seat.
• For preferred seats or the extra legroom seat, passengers have to pay the fees for seat selection.
• A-list preferred, A-list members, and Rapid Reward credit card holders receive the seat selection option at the time of booking, if available.

Choice

• These passengers can choose the seats at the time of booking. 
• They can only choose the standard seat. 
• For choosing a preferred seat or an extra-legroom seat, passengers must pay an additional fee.

Choice Preferred 

• Passengers with this fare option get preferred seats. 
• Passengers can either choose the standard seat or the preferred seat without paying any extra charges. 
• However, if you are selecting a seat with extra legroom, then you have to pay the charges. 

Choice Extra

• With this option, passengers get extra legroom seats without any cost. 
• Passengers can choose a standard seat, a preferred seat, or an extra legroom seat, as per their preference. 
• All the seats are available for these passengers without any extra cost. 

What type of seats are provided by Southwest Airlines? 

For Southwest seat selection, passengers get three seat options. Here are the options and its facilities:

Extra legroom seats: 

• The extra legroom seats give a few inches more leg area than normal ones. 
• These are located at the front area of the cabin or at the exit row area. 

Preferred seats:

• In the preferred seat option, passengers get equal legroom as teh standard seats; however, the seats are located at the front area of the cabin. 

Standard seats: 

• Standard seats are the most basic seats; they don’t have much legroom, but they are comfortable. 
• These seats are located at the back of the cabin. 

Important points regarding seat selection: 

• Southwest Airlines' seating chart provides an overview of which seat is better for you. You can make better choices with its help. 
• It is important to arrive early with an open seating option; the earlier you arrive, the better seat you’ll get. 
• It is important to select a seat as soon as possible to grab the best seat.