HUGE Changes Are Coming to Southwest Airlines SOON

Southwest Airlines has been making A LOT of changes recently! If you haven’t had a chance to read up on the changes yet, or you want all of their big announcements rounded up, keep on reading.

Southwest Airlines at the Orlando Airport

We are covering ALL the changes announced by Southwest Airlines so you are prepared and know what to expect in the coming months.

Southwest Airlines has long been known for its open seating policy and generous two free checked bags policy for all passengers. However, these things are about to change!

Changes are coming to Southwest!

Let’s start with Southwest’s open seating policy. If you have ever flown Southwest, you are probably used to checking in 24 hours before your flight to secure the best boarding group. On the day of your flight, you are allowed to board based on your boarding group and can select whatever open seat your heart desires once you get on board.

Southwest Cabin

However, in July 2024, Southwest Airlines said it would end the open seating policy. Instead, passengers will be assigned seats on the plane, and passengers can choose to pay to reserve specific seats. Southwest has said it will continue to board using position numbers, but passengers can no longer pick their seats when boarding.

Southwest

Passengers can book reserved seats beginning in late 2025, and the first flights with assigned seats will begin in early 2026. In addition to offering the option to reserve seats, Southwest will also introduce premium seating, which will offer up to five additional inches of legroom.

Premium Seating ©Southwest Airlines

While the checked bag policy survived the first round of announcements in July 2024, Southwest Airlines also recently announced an update to this policy. The airline has adjusted the checked bag policy for flights booked on or after May 28th, 2025.

Sunset on a Southwest plane

Once the change takes effect, only Rapid Rewards® A-List Preferred Members and Customers traveling on Business Select® fares will receive TWO free checked bags. A-List Members and other select Customers will receive ONE free checked bag. Also, Southwest will credit one checked bag for Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers.

©Southwest Airlines

All other customers will need to pay to check their bags. Southwest Airlines’ generous checked bag policy has long been well loved, and many passengers choose to travel on Southwest because of it. We will be curious to see if this change and the change to the open seating policy will impact their passenger numbers.

©Southwest Airlines

There is still one more change we need to discuss, though! Southwest Airlines will also adjust the number of Rapid Rewards points customers earn. Customers will earn more when booking Business Select fares and less on Wanna Get Away® and Wanna Get Away Plus® fares.

Southwest Airlines

There are A LOT of changes coming to Southwest Airlines in the future. When announcing these changes, Southwest has stated that they aim to “deepen and reward loyalty between Southwest and its most engaged Customers” and “create new opportunities to reach consumers who value fare above everything else.”

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What do you think about all these changes Southwest Airlines has announced? Let us know in the comments!