Southwest assigned seats: the rules for flights from January 27, 2026

Southwest assigned seats: the rules for flights from January 27, 2026

Check the seat assignment and boarding group for the flight you are actually taking. The fare determines advance choice. Basic receives a Standard assignment at check-in. Choice can select Standard when booking; Choice Preferred can choose Preferred or Standard; Choice Extra can select any available seat category. Availability still matters, so a fare benefit is not a promise that every particular location will remain open. Southwest distinguishes Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seats. Preferred does not itself mean extra legroom. Boarding uses groups 1 through 8 rather than the former A/B/C open-seating process. Review your current boarding information instead of applying an older EarlyBird or open-seating strategy to an assigned-seat departure.