Southwest's transition from open seating to an assigned seating model is almost here, bringing several changes across the operation. As they near this major milestone on January 27, theye’re sharing more details on how assigned seating reshapes two key areas: the gate experience and boarding process.

Gate area experience: New lanes for line up

Beginning January 27, Southwest will no longer use numbered metal stanchions (silver columns) for boarding lines. Instead, they’ll have two alternating boarding lanes with digital screen displays (at gates where screens already exist) that show which group is boarding. The airline will also has a separate Preboarding and Priority Boarding area for active-duty military, Customers who purchase the new Priority Boarding product (available beginning 24 hours before departure for flights starting January 27), and Customers who need to preboard.

Gate areas will be converted in a phased approach, beginning the evening of January 26. It will take approximately 60 days to remove the numbered stanchions from all airports. The stanchions that are not removed overnight on January 26 will have their numbers removed or covered so they are not visible by the morning of January 27, when assigned seating begins.

The new boarding process, optimized for assigned seating

As they’ve previously shared, Southwest is transitioning from A/B/C boarding groups to Groups 1-8. The goal of this change is to maintain an efficient and orderly boarding approach that’s optimized for assigned seating, prioritizing Customers into boarding groups based on seat location, beginning with Extra Legroom seats in boarding Groups 1 and 2. Customers with premium fares and the most loyal travelers will both enjoy access to preferential seats and earlier boarding.

Below are the boarding process details:

• Priority Boarding is available for purchase starting 24 hours before departure, when available.
• Newly designed boarding passes will show seat assignment and boarding group.
• Certain Passengers needing special accommodations will be able to self-identify digitally prior to their day of travel, with special service requests (SSRs)—like wheelchair assistance—visible on their boarding pass.
• Everyone on the same reservation of nine or less Customers, including families, will be assigned to the same boarding group.
• The eight boarding groups will be based on seat location, fare type purchased, tier status, and Rapid Rewards® Credit Card benefits. Fare, tier, and Cardmember boarding benefits will extend to up to eight Passengers on the same reservation. Companion Pass holders and their Companions will receive the highest applicable boarding benefit based on their individual status.
  • Groups 1-2: A-List Preferred, Choice Extra fare, Extra Legroom seat purchase or upgrade (including A-List Members who upgrade at no additional cost to ELR seats within 48 hours prior to departure, when available)
  • Groups 3-5: A-List and Choice Preferred fare, plus Rapid Rewards® Credit Cardmembers who did not receive an earlier boarding group will also board in Group 5
  • Groups 6-8: Choice fare and Basic fare who did not receive an earlier boarding group

1. Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey as of Q1 2025
2. Fulltime-equivalent active Employees as of Sept. 30, 2025