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Southwest Airlines is trying to tailor their product to get customers to spend more. They’re going to introduce assigned seats and extra legroom seats. You’ll no longer pick your own seat when you board.
This means changes to their credit cards. At competitor airlines, cards usually come with boarding benefits. Southwest’s premium card offers a statement credit for buying earlier boarding, which gets you a better seat assignment. They’ve talked about card benefits needing to evolve with the way they’re changing the airline, but haven’t talked specifics.
I haven’t seen much notice of this, but Southwest Airlines has posted how their credit card customers will be treated under new assigned seating and premium seating that the carrier plans to roll out.
All Rapid Rewards Credit Cards will include new complimentary seating and boarding benefits, as well as new ways to earn. Select cards will also include complimentary seating upgrades, within 48 hours of departure, when available.
It sounds like all credit card customers will receive free seat assignments, rather than being relegated to what’s left at check-in for random assignment.
And there will be earlier boarding, though this matters less for Southwest than other carriers once early boarding no longer has a benefit in getting your choice of seats and since Southwest offers two checked bags included with every fare (so passengers try to carry on fewer bags, and in my experience finding overhead bin space is less of a problem as a result).
Perhaps most interestingly, “select cards will also include complimentary seating upgrades, within 48 hours of departure, when available.” That seems to me a lot like effectively A-List status. Here’s what status is going to offer:
About a third of Southwest’s seats are going to offer extra legroom. These are what upgrades will refer to. And with that many extra legroom seats, I am guessing they will be available much more often than not. For those who want the extra room, not having to pay for it and still having a good shot at it strikes me as a lot of value for premium cardmembers.
Currently both the premium Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and more mass market Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card have limited-time offers to earn a Companion Pass valid through February 28, 2026 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases on the card in the first 3 months from account opening.
That’s pretty special. Instead of earning just points from an initial bonus, they’re offering you points and a Companion Pass. This way a friend or spouse you designate can travel with you free (plus government taxes) whenever you fly – whether you’re traveling on points or a paid ticket, as long as there’s still a seat for sale on the aircraft.
(HT: Jonathan B)
Assigned seats—oh, so change the one thing that makes Southwest unique. Alrighty then. But here’s the real question: How will this change affect all those ‘Jetway Jesus’ folks?
Well now they may not be my airline of choice. Next they will get rid of free baggage.
There’s a fee involved to use that credit card! I will NOT pay credit card fees on top of any interest.
There’s a fee involved to use that credit card! I will NOT pay credit card fees on top of any interest. Sorry Southwest.
slowly becoming like wvery other airline… good luck
Too bad SWA swung and missed big time in regards to new seating. They should have configured 4 to eight two seat only rows. For those of us frequent flyers/business flyers. Now my companion and I will be stuck sitting with someone when flight is full. Me in the middle seat. My companion always sits in the isle. Even if not always full, one could still have the sit filled. You cannot control who picks middle seats.
This idea of extra leg room does absolutely zero for business flyers. Especially long haul flights.
Maybe swa will allow me to buy the middle seat. So companion and can enjoy the space.
Now I will start flying Alaska airlines, business class sometimes.
Also last minute changes will be terrible. If the next flight only has a couple middle seats left , then changes will not happen as often. I flew swa for the non-assinged seating policy. I could board after A60 with last minute changes.
What a terrible move. Primarily because no two row business section. If they would have configured that way, then I would have no complaints. Otherwise do not even bother making the changes. But too late.
No more getting an aisle seat after a same-day change.
What people arnt getting is assigned seating isn’t because of preboaders. Those preboarders will always preboard even if they sit in the back. This is strictly due to revenue in take and net profits. Get ready to pay $1200 for one of these “premium seats”
Half measures. It might take a few years, but do it all the way and give us a proper domestic F cabin. Knowing WN culture they’d do it right and have the best product next to Delta.
I agree with others that they should offer a few rows of first class. I haven’t flown SWza since the 90s because I won’t fly any airline that I can’t reserve my seat in advance. At least they are offering many extra legroom seats and the crazy cattle call is going away. My closet large airport is BWI where SWA has 70% off all flights so I’ve mostly traveled out of DCA or PHL on one of the big 3. I’m looking forward to being able to fly more often out of my home airport with the much needed change.
Here we go again! 1990 just cannot resist continuing to comment EVERY SINGLE TIME!
These hedge funds are going to ruin SW just for the sake of “shareholder” value. Almost certain only credit card holders will get free bags, and that perk will go from 2 free bags to 1.
Yes, I agree you don’t need a third of the the plane for first class seating with extra leg room, also assigned seating to me is, I pick my seat on the plane. If I want a window seat I’ll pick it, if I want a aisle seat I’ll pick it, if I’m flying with with my spouse or grandkid, etc I’ll pick our seats together.
What about seats for those with handicap?
So Long SOUTHWEST. Just a matter of time before it tries to merge with someone claiming they’ll go bankrupt thanks to this stupid, greedy plan.
The companion pass is not as good as the points.
Horrible plan by Southwest. The open seating is what distinguished them & it’s not like their flights weren’t full. Refuse to pay a fee to have your credit card as well. Sounds like they hired an executive who was let go from another airline & this individual is trying to implement the crappy policies from their previous employer. Way to ruin a good thing.
Investors like Elliot really need to be called something else other than an “activist investor”. That term is way too positive. Maybe “destructive investor” or “deconstructive investor” would be more appropriate.
This sounds like a good start. Open seating is a zoo. SWA needs a first class cabin next, but baby steps I guess. Catering to the wealthy and business flyers is a great move for business. Can’t rely on the Walmart MAGA crowd forever.
The Southwest card is a Chase card, right. I will not support Chase under any circumstances.
Not certain how Ibfeel about the changes yet but I would like them to fix the problem with the Miracle flight passengers that wheelchair on and walk off just to get on early . And same day changes won’t be so attractive if I have to sit in the middle seat between two fat people.
I like the way it is. The changes don’t sound good.
People with disabilities often need bulkhead or close rows. (I’m not talking about the miracle flight fakers). The ADA says you can’t treat them differently, such as charging more for a seat that meets there accessibility needs. So what is SWA’s answer?
Sad…I loved SWA the “old” way! I never had a bad experience and I always had my choice of seat with the early bird $20 fee! I hope I won’t have to change airlines if SWA fails to keep the great reputation it has established!
I flew 68 flights last year. 66 Southwest and 2 United. Now I’ll just fly United and some Delta once they make the change. I prefer to pick my own seat at time of boarding. I earned my status.
I have a disability that I need wheel chair. I know sometimes people lie but don’t make us pay for them. What happens if a person is large? Do they have to pay for two seats? You guys were the best now just like the rest. What about baggage!
That was what I liked about Southwest Airlines. No spending a half an hour on some website that does not work looking for a seat. I loved the fact that you just pick your own seat right there in the plane.