It was dizzying for a few months for Southwest Airlines, from its passage open seats at its new checkered bag costs which come into force next month.
And the changes are not made.
On Monday, the carrier based in Dallas announced a handful of new advantages for its frequent leaflets and credit card holders which will take effect once the airline is launching seats in 2026.
Southwest plans to rename all From its pricing products, attributed seats begin – not only its characteristic Wanne Get Away, which will become the new basic course of the airline (AKA Basic Economy) next month.
In addition, the airline has revealed that its best -dual credit card holders – such as its members of the elite status – will be able to select its new additional seats in the not too distant future.
Meanwhile, TPG has learned that the Southwest is thinking about new “soft product” services that it will offer to leaflets that select its more spacious seats.
And one of the main leaders of the airline highlights why Southwest has decided to abandon its unique boarding process.
Here is an overview of all the changes to know.
New pricing products
To start, Southwest announced on Monday that it would rename all of its price lessons once it would pass to the assigned seats.
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We already knew that I want to escape would become basic. This will happen when the carrier starts to charge for checkered bag fees, which will apply to flights sold from May 28.
Then, later this year:
- I want to run away and become the choice.
- Each time will become the favorite choice.
- Select Business will become an additional choice.
The three “choice” prices will be put up for sale between July and September, when the Southwest starts to sell seats allocated for flights starting at the beginning of 2026.
New types of seats
The advantages that you will get with the renowned Southwest price courses will actually be quite similar to the advantages of its current tariff products-that is to say the renovated prices classes that the airline announced last month when it pivoted the bag fees and shaken the rapid reward benefits.
The price you select will dictate the line of the plane to which you can access.
From next year, Southwest plans to designate three types of seats:
- Additional legs room (first five rows of the plane and three rows around the output door in mid-carbine)
- Favorite (standard lines located closer to the front of the plane)
- Standard (seats at the rear of the plane)
The seats themselves will all be standard training seats, so we are not talking about the difference between the economy and the business class with a lie platform-but that will include the amount of leg space or the proximity of the plane plane, you will be.
Here is the complete image of the Southwest updated prices and advantages:
| Advantage | Additional choice | Favorite choice | Choice | Basic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previously | Business selection | At any time | I want to escape more | I want to run away |
| Effective | Will be sold in the third quarter of 2025, for 2026 flights | Will be sold in the third quarter of 2025, for 2026 flights | Will be sold in the third quarter of 2025, for 2026 flights | Is on sale on May 28 |
| Selection of seats | Additional legs (or any seat) | Favorite (or any standard seat) | Standard | Not included; Standard headquarters attributed to registration |
| Tile bags (starts on May 28) | Two free | Additional cost | Additional cost | Additional cost |
| Rapid awards (Identical to what TPG reported in March) | 14 points per dollar | 10 points per dollar | 6 points per dollar | 2 points per dollar |
| Boarding | Early | Previous group in general boarding | General pension | On board |
| No cancellation fees | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Refund | Fully refundable | Fully refundable | Transferable flight credit | Non -transferable flight credit |
| Flight credit expiration | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | Six months |
| Route changes | √ (price difference) | √ (price difference) | √ (price difference) | – |
| Changes / Watch the same day | √ | √ | √ | – |
| Free flight entertainment | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Priority / access to the expressway | √ | √ | – | – |
| Free Flight Premium Drink | √ | – | – | – |
| Wi-Fi in free flight | √ | – | – | – |
Credit card benefits
As part of the announcement on Monday, Southwest revealed some new advantages with its credit card portfolio.
Once the seats have been allocated, members with the Southwest Rapids® priority credit card (see prices and costs) and the Rapids® Rapids® Southwest® commercial credit card (see prices and costs) will be able to upgrade an additional seat within 48 hours of departure (when available).
But all Southwest card holders will be able, at least, select a free seat on each flight within 48 hours of departure (when available).
This even goes for flying passengers on a basic price. Remember that for standard passengers, the basic economy will not be delivered with selecting seats in the future.
Here are the updated advantages of the card:
Information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier and Southwest Rapid Reward and the business was collected independently by the points guy. Details of the card on this page were not examined or provided by the issuer of the card.
The advantages of the bag also verified
In addition, from May 28, each card holder of the Southwest will obtain a free checkered bag, just like up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation.
Largest “updating” card to come
Expect that more announcements related to the card will soon arrive; The airline supervises these card changes as part of a global “refreshment” of its card portfolio, after recently concluded a modified agreement with Chase.
The airline has not excluded an annual increase in costs in the near future – but has also tackled new categories of bonuses that could allow card holders to earn more points for daily expenses.
“This is an area of our card in which we have the impression of being able to do better,” TPG, executive vice-president of the Southwest, the customer and Tony Roach, told TPG. “If you use your card for your high -end purchases, you will earn more.”
Elite status of the list
As TPG has reported in recent months, Southwest’s elite status will be delivered with some new advantages linked to the seats, luggage and boarding policies of the airline.
Here is a reminder of how list A and the A-List list of privileged advantages will get rid of:
| Status | Luggage | Suit selection of additional legs space | Favorite seat selection | Selecting standard seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favorite A-List | Two free tile bags | To reservation | (Understood) | (Understood) |
| A-List | A free checkered bag | Within 48 hours of departure | To reservation | (Understood) |
| Begin | When launching the bags checked on May 28 | Once the seats have been allocated (flights in 2026) | Once the seats have been allocated (flights in 2026) | Once the seats have been allocated (flights in 2026) |
Most of the other advantages on list A will be unchanged, from access to priority lanes in the field to two free premium flight drinks for favorite members of list A.
Boarding advantages
An additional advantage for the A-Blisters and card holders: they will have access to previous boarding groups.
In recent weeks, Southwest has revealed plans to move away from its classic unique boarding process – and abandon these messages in numbered money in the boarding area. It was after the leaders of the airlines told me in January that the carrier hoped to maintain the spirit of his unique boarding procedures in place.
The process, Roach said, will now be quite similar to those found in other airlines, with eight groups now planned.
“Just a little what everyone is used to,” said Roach, explaining thought. “We expect there to be many customers who will be new in the Southwest, because, frankly, they have told us:” Once you have made assigned seats, I will consider you. “”
What about the Companion pass?
The rapid members of the awards that have won the airline of the airline will be able to extend their boarding privileges, bags and siege squares to their designated companion.
Additional services in the additional leg space section?
The leaders of the Southwest have maintained that the new additional seats for the legs are not intended to look like a complete first class cabin with hot and other meals.
But Roach told TPG the carrier East Thinking about new high and raised advantages for its more spacious rows.
“We are looking at things like improved snacks, a higher experience for customers who choose to buy the additional price,” he said. “You can expect it to be only slightly room seats, but come with something more in all soft products.”
No restriction on full -size tiles
The bags checked are a significant change for customers, alone. At least for the moment, Southwest does not implement restrictions on full -size hand luggage – something that a handful of its competitors have done, historically, on the basic economic prices (United Airlines still does it).
“We looked at him,” said Roach. “But that was not something we decided to do.”
So, if you are not a member of list A, a card holder and want to manage a basic economy, you can always transport your bag on the plane … assuming, of course, that everything that responds to the rules of liquids 3-1-1 of the Security Administration Transportation.
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