We know that just about everything at Southwest Airlines is changing. One of the biggest updates is that we’re seeing the Dallas-based airline introduce assigned and extra legroom seating, and that policy is live for flights as of today (January 27, 2026).
Continue reading: Southwest Airlines Now Has Eight Boarding Groups, Ends “Cattle Call”
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Not a fan of any of the changes, but, at least assigned seats might cut back on the excessive wheelchairs on SW flights (due to some unsavory individuals scamming to get better seats). Byebye Jet-bridge Jesus.
End of an era. Ruined by an increasing level of society that has no manners, no couth, no sense of decorum but is told by various factions (politics, media, entertainment) that they're entitled and special.
Good! I hated seeing snotty little girls sit at the window seat and then lay their feet across multiple seats in hopes no one would sit next to them.
I just recently had the opportunity to experience the last of Southwest's open seating. It was on a connection and my concern was: even if I got a good boarding group, if my inbound flight was late, and they already started boarding the next one, you completely lose any priority and are worried the whole time about where you're going to have to sit.
It was a workable system when the airline was small and casual, but not when it grew to try to offer a full network. Kind of just like its complicated city hopping routing system.
This is going to bite alot of folks inthe ass. I have a denver flight in group 4with a single digit seat i’m betting the overhead bins will be full by the time i get on.
Sad to see it go. Southwest, IME, always had the fastest turnaround times despite people at the end desperately searching for a not-middle seat. It always seemed to me that the claims were correct, that the lineup that people endlessly derided was simple, quick, and efficient. That's something that I always appreciated about Southwest.
As an A-List Preferred customer, I will enjoy the changes. I can buy Basic fares but I still get any seat I want upon making the reservation; two bags are free; I won’t have to watch X number of suspicious pre-boarders take the seats I may like; and I’m with early 1-2 Group during boarding.
On the negative side – yeah, have to watch those credits if I cancel, so they don’t expire; the new changes are NOT good for passengers who don’t have status; and I suspect the luggage circus will delay flights in the future.
I fly other airlines also, but SWA currently has routes I need from my home airport so I’ll be flying them quite a bit in the foreseeable future.
Depends on your situation, I guess……
I've flown them since 1979 and the only time I had an issue was in Oakland.Being a Texan,we understand how the whole procedure worked.Losing free bags,points and class certifications make them just like everyone else.Herb is turning in his grave
Just flew on the “New” Southwest Airlines. I was dead last in category 8 and I was selected to have an aisle seat and my husband had a window seat. From what I could tell, there is no need to upgrade unless you want the exit row.
BTW they only served water, claiming the flight was too short to hand out pretzels
Just flew on the “New” Southwest Airlines. I was dead last in category 8 and was selected to have an aisle seat and my husband had a window seat. From what I could tell, there is no need to upgrade unless you want the exit row.
BTW they only served water, claiming the flight was too short to hand out pretzels
It definitely makes them "more like the rest". But knowing where I'm sitting is a big plus-up that would make me more likely to fly them than before. The pricing still being higher than the competition despite the LCC label? Not so much.
My view is pretty much the opposite. I flew WN coast-to-coast last Saturday. I am tall, was booked so that I was in the A1-15 group thus took advantage of extra legroom seats on an almost-empty short leg, a full medium leg, and a full long leg. Leg room for my 6’5” frame was excellent. Bonus: WN’s app and software were more than up to the task of my rebooking to a day earlier due to the brewing storm.
Only eight boarding groups? The last time I flew Delta, Group One was the eighth group called to board, after people who need assistance, active duty military, etc.
Now they are just like all the other airlines. Seems that their main business will be from some of the points they fly to/from with no other suitable option or they go to/from some smaller airports.
The cattle call is still alive and well. It is now more disorganized and simply numbered instead of alphabetized. Having or attempting to achieve SW status is now worthless. Might as well fly another airline.
The system doesn’t seem to work well, based on my experience today, 2/11/2026. The process seemed to be the cause of the 40 minute delay in take off.
This is the biggest mess up
A carrier could do!
People are running up
And down the aisles as I write this looking for bin space
Obese people are notorious. The front bins seem to hold the prize
Then at deplaning again more jockeying.
When it was open seating and free bags( ok make it one if you must ) it was a happy time for all. Everyone had there things with them, and walked to find a seat and close bins
With this seating, more bags and owners look list confused
May the God’s of a better future decision matrixs fall upon these terrible managers.
Herb , stop rolllong over in that grave , they will figure this out! Southwrst has a great history of success on a shoestring with peanuts .. where did those days go?