Southwest Airlines: Seats, Fares and Group Travel
CAMLI is an independent online travel agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by Southwest Airlines. Southwest serves more than 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. Routes, schedules, and availability change; use the current route map and the details of your exact itinerary rather than assuming a destination has a nonstop from your airport.
Search flights on CAMLIQuick Answer
Southwest now has assigned seating for travel from January 27, 2026. It still has one cabin rather than separate Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class, or First Class cabins. The practical choice is between Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seats, then between the Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fare bundles that determine when a seat can be selected and which benefits are included.
Search flights on CAMLI to compare available itineraries. Before booking, compare the operating carrier, exact fare bundle, seat map, baggage allowance, and final price for each traveler. A lower starting fare can be less suitable if you need a checked bag, a confirmed seat choice, or flexibility. For parties of 10 or more, Southwest’s official group program has separate arrangements for names, ticketing, seats and some benefits; compare the agreement, not just the ticket price. Fare prices and availability are not guaranteed until the ticket is issued. Optional services are charged separately when not included in the selected bundle.
Southwest has one cabin with three seat choices
Southwest describes one cabin with three seat categories. Standard and Preferred seats have standard legroom; the distinction is location. Extra Legroom seats are at the front and near exit rows and offer up to five additional inches of pitch compared with Standard and Preferred seats, with the amount varying by aircraft. The airline’s seating illustration is for a 737-800/MAX 8, and its published note says five extra inches are available on the 737-700. Check the seat map for the specific flight rather than assuming the same pitch or outlet availability across the fleet.
| Seat choice | What it is | How a traveler can receive it | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | A standard-legroom seat in the back of the cabin. | Basic receives a Standard seat at check-in; Choice includes Standard-seat selection at booking, subject to availability. | A Basic traveler can buy an available Preferred or Extra Legroom seat, but the included assignment is at check-in unless an eligible status or card benefit applies. |
| Preferred | A standard-legroom seat near the front of the cabin. It is a location benefit, not a larger cabin or extra-legroom product. | Choice Preferred includes an available Preferred seat, or any Standard seat, at booking. Other eligible travelers may purchase one if available. | It has standard legroom. A Preferred seat does not include the Extra Legroom seat’s additional pitch. |
| Extra Legroom | A seat at the front or near an exit row with up to five additional inches of pitch versus Standard and Preferred seats; Southwest also advertises extra snacks and a complimentary premium beverage when available. | Choice Extra includes an available Extra Legroom seat or any available seat at booking. Travelers on other fares may be able to buy an available Extra Legroom seat. | Pitch varies by aircraft. The onboard extras are subject to flight length, availability, and Southwest service discretion. |
Southwest’s published materials do not position these seat categories as Premium Economy, Business Class, or a lie-flat product. If comfort is the priority, compare the specific Extra Legroom seat location and the total price against the flight duration; do not expect a separate premium cabin.
Exit rows are not suitable for every traveler
An exit-row seat carries evacuation responsibilities, not just additional space. Southwest requires travelers to be at least 15 years old, understand spoken and printed evacuation instructions in English, communicate directions and be willing and physically able to perform the required functions without assistance. Its criteria exclude, among other cases, travelers who require a seat-belt extension, use a portable oxygen concentrator, travel with a pet or service animal, or have a responsibility such as caring for small children that prevents them from helping. A traveler who cannot meet the criteria must move out of the exit row. Read the complete requirements before choosing one.
Source: Southwest exit-row requirements.
Official sources: Assigned Seating.
Compare Southwest fare bundles
The fare bundle controls the included seat choice, boarding treatment, flexibility, bags, and base-fare Rapid Rewards earning rate. All included seats are subject to availability.
| Fare bundle | Included seat and boarding | Flexibility and credit/refund treatment | Bag and Rapid Rewards treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | A Standard seat is assigned at check-in; Basic is last to board. Eligible A-List members and certain Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers have exceptions to the usual seat-assignment timing. | It is nonrefundable except as allowed by Southwest’s 24-hour cancellation policy. Changes require an upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra. If canceled at least 10 minutes before scheduled departure, a Basic flight credit expires six months from the fare’s booking-and-ticketing date. | Checked-bag fees may apply. Qualifying flights earn 2 points per dollar of base fare. |
| Choice | Choose an available Standard seat at booking; General boarding. | Changes are allowed with any fare difference. A qualifying cancellation can create a Transferable Flight Credit that expires 12 months from the fare’s booking-and-ticketing date. Choice includes same-day change and standby benefits under Southwest’s rules. | Checked-bag fees may apply. Qualifying flights earn 6 points per dollar of base fare. |
| Choice Preferred | Choose an available Preferred seat or any Standard seat at booking; Groups 3–4 boarding. | Refundable if canceled at least 10 minutes before original scheduled departure, subject to the published treatment of previously applied flight credits. It also carries Choice benefits, including the applicable same-day benefits. | Checked-bag fees may apply. Qualifying flights earn 10 points per dollar of base fare. Priority and Express Lanes apply where available. |
| Choice Extra | Choose an available Extra Legroom seat or any seat at booking; Group 1 boarding. | Refundable when canceled by the deadline, and includes the applicable Choice Preferred and Choice benefits. | Two standard checked bags are included on Southwest-operated travel, subject to published limits and exceptions. Qualifying flights earn 14 points per dollar of base fare. A Choice Extra traveler can receive one premium drink on select flights of 251 miles or more. |
A useful way to decide is to start with the outcome rather than the fare name. Choose Basic only if later seat assignment, restricted change options, and a shorter credit life are acceptable. Choice is the practical middle option for a traveler who wants to select a Standard seat at booking and may need a same-day option. Choice Preferred is for someone who values a forward-cabin Standard-legroom seat, refundability, and applicable priority lanes. Choice Extra is the bundle to compare when an Extra Legroom seat and two included checked bags matter. These are not price recommendations: weigh the fare difference against the benefits you would otherwise purchase.
Official sources: Fare Types and Benefits; Fare Information and Rules.
Explore Southwest routes and dates
These six airport pairs are useful starting points for planning, not a ranking of popular routes, a current fare quote, or a promise of nonstop service:
- Dallas (DAL) to Chicago Midway (MDW).
- Baltimore (BWI) to Orlando (MCO).
- Denver (DEN) to Las Vegas (LAS).
- Oakland (OAK) to Honolulu (HNL).
- Phoenix (PHX) to Seattle (SEA).
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL).
Check the official Southwest route map for current network options and the Southwest Low Fare Calendar for airline date exploration. To compare through CAMLI, open the flight-search entry, then enter the airports, dates, and travelers. The entry link does not prefill this list or promise that a particular itinerary is available.
Baggage: dates and itinerary matter
Every ticketed passenger may bring one carry-on and one personal item without a charge, subject to Southwest’s published size and stowage rules. Southwest’s stated carry-on outer limit is 24 × 16 × 10 inches, including wheels, handles, and attachments.
For U.S. Mainland travel, the newer table applies to tickets booked and ticketed on or after April 9, 2026. It also applies to tickets changed on or after that date. Southwest lists the following one-way standard checked-bag charges and inclusions. Hawaii interisland travel uses a separate table, and overweight, oversized, third, and specialty items have separate charges.
| Traveler or fare on eligible U.S. Mainland travel from April 9, 2026 | First standard checked bag | Second standard checked bag | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic, Choice, or Choice Preferred | $45 | $55 | Published one-way amounts; size, weight, route, ticket/change date, and other exceptions apply. |
| Choice Extra | Included | Included | The benefit does not apply on a partner-carrier flight. |
| A-List Preferred | Included | Included | The benefit can extend to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation under Southwest’s published conditions; partner-carrier exceptions apply. |
| A-List or eligible Rapid Rewards credit cardmember | Included | $35 for A-List / $55 for eligible cardmember | Eligibility conditions, the Rapid Rewards number requirement for the card benefit, and partner-carrier exceptions apply. |
For eligible U.S. Mainland travel booked and ticketed before April 9, 2026, Southwest lists $35 for the first standard bag and $45 for the second for Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred; do not apply those earlier amounts to a ticket that was changed on or after the newer date. Review the exact itinerary before purchase and read the CAMLI Southwest baggage policy and CAMLI Southwest carry-on rules for a trip-planning checklist.
Overweight, oversized and special items
The U.S. Mainland standard-bag amounts above do not include additional-item surcharges. Southwest lists $150 for a third or later checked bag, $100 plus the standard fee for a 51–70-pound bag, and $200 plus the standard fee for a 71–100-pound bag. A bag larger than 62 but no more than 80 linear inches carries a $200 surcharge plus the standard fee. If one bag is both oversized and overweight, the published rule applies one $200 surcharge, plus the standard fee, provided it does not exceed 100 pounds.
Accepted sports equipment and musical instruments have their own size, weight and acceptance rules. Listed sporting equipment may have its oversized fee waived, but ordinary bag, excess and overweight charges can still apply. Check the exact item rather than treating all team equipment as free. Hawaii interisland fees and resident exceptions are separate from the mainland table.
Your personal item must meet Southwest’s stowage rules; choose a smaller item that can be stored under the seat. Keep the carry-on outer limit in mind rather than measuring only the bag’s main compartment.
Source: Southwest Optional Travel Charges and item-specific conditions.
Seats, boarding, and upgrades
Assigned seating replaced Southwest’s former open-seating process on January 27, 2026. Boarding now uses Groups 1 through 8; seat selection is no longer based on boarding order. Priority Boarding may be available for purchase from 24 hours before departure, subject to availability, but it does not replace an assigned seat.
If a better seat is important, select it at booking when your fare or status permits. Southwest allows a separately purchased seat to be exchanged, with a price difference where applicable. A separately purchased seat generally cannot be canceled unless the flight is also canceled; it normally becomes a flight credit, with a refund to the original form of payment only in the higher-priced-seat exchange situation described by Southwest.
A-List members can select an available Preferred or Standard seat at booking and may upgrade to an available Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure. A-List Preferred members may select an available Extra Legroom, Preferred, or Standard seat at booking. These benefits can extend to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation under the program rules, but may not apply on partner itineraries and can be affected if status or the qualifying traveler is removed from the reservation.
Use the CAMLI Southwest seat-selection guide for the booking and seat-map steps.
What the boarding groups mean
| Fare or qualifying benefit | Published boarding treatment |
|---|---|
| Qualifying disability-related assistance or unaccompanied minor travel | Preboarding under the airline’s criteria. |
| A-List Preferred; eligible purchased Priority Boarding; active-duty U.S. military with valid identification | Priority Boarding before Group 1. |
| A-List or Choice Extra | Group 1. |
| Extra Legroom seat on Choice or Choice Preferred | Group 2. |
| Choice Preferred in a Standard or Preferred seat | Groups 3–4. |
| Eligible primary Rapid Rewards cardmember | Group 5, or an earlier group when a stronger eligible benefit applies. |
| Choice in a Standard or Preferred seat | Groups 3–7. |
| Basic without a stronger eligible benefit | Group 8. |
Read the group shown on your boarding pass; fare, seat, tier and card eligibility can affect the result. An official Group Travel reservation is an exception to the usual same-reservation boarding treatment: its travelers’ groups follow their seat assignments.
Source: Southwest boarding process.
Card benefits are not the same for every card
When available and subject to Southwest’s eligibility conditions, Plus and Plus Business primary cardmembers can select a Standard seat within 48 hours before departure. Premier and Premier Business provide available Preferred or Standard selection within that window. Priority and Performance Business provide available Preferred or Standard selection at booking and an available Extra Legroom upgrade within 48 hours. Eligible primary cardmembers board no later than Group 5 unless a better benefit applies.
The current first-checked-bag benefit has account-number, same-reservation and other conditions; accompanying-passenger benefits are limited. Do not apply these retail benefits to every traveler on a group agreement or a partner flight without checking eligibility. This is a benefits summary, not a recommendation to apply for a credit card.
Check-in: opening time is not an airport arrival recommendation
Online check-in opens 24 hours before the flight’s original scheduled departure. For a partner itinerary, check in with the airline operating the first flight: use Southwest’s website or app when Southwest operates it and the booking is eligible; otherwise use the first operating airline’s channel.
- Open Southwest Check In or the appropriate operating airline’s check-in tool. Enter the confirmation and passenger details that channel accepts; keep the issuing agency’s ticket information as well.
- Verify the airports, departure time, operating carrier, assigned seat, and boarding group. Review any day-of-travel message and the allowance or fee for your actual bags.
- Retrieve the digital boarding pass or print one where the trip and airport support it. Eligible airport options include a kiosk, selected Skycap locations, or a ticket counter. A retail agency confirmation is not itself a boarding pass.
- Allow enough time for the airport’s check-in, bag drop, security, and gate requirements. Do not aim to arrive at the airport at the last allowed completion time.
Southwest publishes these minimum completion deadlines. Every time below is before the flight’s original scheduled departure; airport-specific instructions can require arriving earlier.
| Task and scope | Minimum deadline | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic passenger check-in | 30 minutes | Applies with or without checked bags; not the bag-drop deadline. |
| Domestic checked-bag tender | 45 minutes | Flights departing St. Thomas require 90 minutes. |
| International passenger check-in and checked bags | 60 minutes | Flights departing Aruba require 75 minutes. |
| Boarding pass obtained and traveler available at the gate | 10 minutes | Boarding may begin as early as 30 minutes before departure; do not treat the 10-minute limit as an arrival target. |
These are passenger, bag, and gate deadlines—not evidence for a separate universal online-system cutoff. Check Southwest airport information and the CAMLI Southwest online check-in guide for the specific trip. Manage Flight is a direct airline tool for eligible booking actions; voluntary ticket reissues or refunds may still belong to the issuing agency.
Sources: Southwest online check-in guidance, Southwest airport-arrival and check-in deadlines, and Southwest check-in landing page.
Onboard service, power, and airport extras
Rapid Rewards members receive free Wi-Fi where available on designated Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft. Southwest also says that Starlink is available on select aircraft. Free entertainment is available only where the aircraft and licensing permit it, so download anything essential before travel rather than relying on a particular movie, series, or live-TV offering.
Southwest says in-seat power ports are on all new 737 MAX 8 aircraft delivered to the airline and are being added to existing aircraft. That is a rollout statement, not a promise that a particular seat will have power. Check the seat map and bring a charged device.
Except for Hawaii interisland flights, Southwest serves complimentary nonalcoholic drinks and snacks on select flights of 251 miles or more. It does not sell food onboard, so bring a meal if you need one. Extra Legroom travelers receive complimentary premium drinks on select flights of 251 miles or more and premium snacks on select flights of 301 miles or more; service and availability can be limited.
The current fare materials describe Priority and Express Lanes, where available, for Choice Preferred and Choice Extra travelers and A-List members. They do not describe lounge access as a fare-bundle benefit, so do not assume a Southwest fare includes airport lounge entry.
Official sources: The Southwest travel experience; Inflight Drinks and Snacks Menu; Customer Enhancements.
Changes, cancellations, credits, and agency-issued tickets
Southwest does not charge a cancellation fee for the four fare types, but the outcome still depends on the fare, cancellation timing, any fare difference, and no-show rules. Cancel at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure: otherwise funds and points may be forfeited. Basic changes require an upgrade; Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra changes can require a fare difference.
Same-day confirmed change and same-day standby are included for Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra under Southwest’s rules. Basic does not include those benefits, although A-List and A-List Preferred members can use same-day standby on Basic. A mobile or web request must meet Southwest’s stated domestic or international timing, taxes or fees can be collected and then refunded, and neither the original seat nor boarding group is guaranteed. Group bookings and unaccompanied minors are not eligible for same-day standby.
For the practical booking-channel checklist, read the CAMLI Southwest cancellation guide alongside the ticket rules.
For a ticket issued by an agency, begin voluntary changes, cancellations, or refund requests with the issuing agency. Southwest’s distribution policy says a travel agency may refund only tickets it issued and that refunds go to the original form of payment. If Southwest reissues an agency-issued ticket, later exchange or refund control can move from the issuing agency to Southwest. Confirm who controls the ticket before requesting a change. Southwest rules and the ticket’s fare conditions remain applicable.
CAMLI handles your booking and issues your e-ticket.
Changes and cancellations are subject to airline rules, ticket eligibility, availability, applicable airline/CAMLI fees, fare differences, and CAMLI Terms.
Official sources: Same-Day Change and Same-Day Standby; General Distribution Policy.
Rapid Rewards and partner itineraries
On qualifying Southwest-operated paid flights, the current fare earning rates are 2× for Basic, 6× for Choice, 10× for Choice Preferred, and 14× for Choice Extra, calculated on eligible base fare. Reward flights, Companion Pass travel, charter and nonrevenue travel are excluded. Tickets booked through online travel agencies when the operating carrier was not disclosed before purchase are also excluded from qualifying-flight treatment. The points and benefits for an official group agreement are covered in the group chapter rather than assumed from this retail formula.
An eligible agency-issued ticket can earn at the applicable rate, but add the Rapid Rewards number during booking whenever possible and make sure the traveler’s name matches the account. Southwest’s GDS policy specifically says that adding the number after the initial booking does not automatically accrue points for that travel; a traveler can request eligible past-flight credit through the airline’s account tools under its rules. The general Rapid Rewards terms allow requests for past qualifying flights for up to 12 months. Do not read that remedy as an automatic-credit promise.
The GDS channel does not support booking with Rapid Rewards points; redemption belongs to Southwest’s direct channels. For points planning, use Southwest Rapid Rewards earning information alongside the program terms, not an agency fare quote as a redemption offer.
Southwest has international airline partnerships, and its partner page lists a mixture of booking channels and shared gateways. On an itinerary involving a partner, the operating carrier can control the seat, check-in, baggage, and service experience. Southwest specifically says its checked-bag benefits do not apply on flights booked with a partner carrier, and its tier-seat benefits may not apply on partner itineraries. Confirm the operating carrier for each segment before booking.
Official sources: Rapid Rewards Terms and Conditions; Partner Airlines.
Families and travelers who need accommodations
Families on Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra can select seats at booking when available. For Basic, Southwest says seats are assigned at check-in or at the gate and it will endeavor to seat a child age 12 or younger next to at least one adult in the party. If seats have not been chosen, Southwest says it will auto-assign them and work toward that result; it is not a substitute for selecting available adjacent seats at booking.
Southwest says customers with disabilities who meet its criteria can preboard and may qualify for an accommodation involving a specific seat. Request needs through Southwest’s current disability-accommodations process, and do not assume a particular seat will remain available until the airline confirms the accommodation.
For disabilities, mobility devices, or a required seating accommodation, start with Southwest disability-related accommodations. For children traveling without an adult or a trip with a pet, consult the CAMLI Southwest unaccompanied-minor guide or CAMLI Southwest pet-policy guide, then confirm the current airline requirements. These are different processes from ordinary family seating; some actions require Southwest or airport handling and should not be presumed available through an agency’s retail booking channel.
Official sources: Assigned Seating, Disability-related accommodations, and Southwest GDS special-service restrictions.
Plan the details of your trip
Use the CAMLI guide for the task you need to complete: baggage, carry-on rules, seat selection, online check-in or changes and cancellations.
If weather or another disruption affects your trip, review the airline’s specific notice and distinguish an airline-initiated disruption from a voluntary change. Ask the issuing agency or Southwest group desk, as appropriate, which rebooking or refund options apply before making a new purchase. Do not assume the group’s original seats or every member’s onward plan can be reproduced on a different flight.
Frequently asked questions
When does Southwest assign seats on a Basic fare?
Basic receives a Standard seat at check-in. A-List members, A-List Preferred members, and certain Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers have published exceptions that may allow earlier selection, subject to availability.
Which Southwest fare includes two checked bags?
Choice Extra includes two standard checked bags on Southwest-operated travel, subject to Southwest’s size, weight, and other conditions. A-List Preferred members also receive two free standard bags under the published policy. The benefit does not apply on partner-carrier flights.
Can I change a Southwest Basic ticket?
A Basic ticket can be changed only by upgrading to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra. The traveler should compare the required upgrade and any fare difference before proceeding.
Does Southwest have free Wi-Fi and power at every seat?
Rapid Rewards members receive free Wi-Fi where it is available on designated Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft; Starlink is on select aircraft. Power is installed on all newly delivered 737 MAX 8 aircraft and is being added to existing aircraft, so neither service should be assumed for every flight or seat.
What should I do if a Southwest segment is operated by a partner airline?
Confirm the operating carrier on every segment before booking. Southwest says partner-carrier flights do not receive its checked-bag benefits, and its status-seat benefits may not apply on partner itineraries.
Is a Southwest group fare always cheaper than individual tickets?
No. Compare the group proposal with the total cost of individual fares, including seats, bags and the flexibility needed by the party. The group agreement’s conditions can matter as much as the initial price.
Can everyone on a Southwest group reservation board together?
Do not assume so. Southwest assigns official group-travel boarding groups by seat assignment, unlike the usual same-reservation boarding treatment.
Can CAMLI reserve Southwest group inventory through a planning inquiry?
A planning inquiry is not a seat hold or a confirmed Southwest group contract. Ask which assistance is available; for Southwest’s official direct group program, use its Group Travel Services.
When can I check in, and does that mean I should arrive then?
Online check-in opens 24 hours before original scheduled departure. Airport arrival is a different decision: use the check-in chapter’s passenger, bag, and gate distinctions and your airport’s guidance rather than treating a minimum deadline as an arrival recommendation.
Does “no change fee” mean a change cannot cost more?
No. A fare or tax difference can still apply, and Basic has upgrade restrictions. Airline rules and any applicable CAMLI terms or fees are separate; read the conditions of the exact ticket before changing it.
How should I manage a ticket bought through an agency?
Use the operating airline’s eligible check-in and day-of-travel tools, but start a voluntary reissue or refund with the issuing agency. If Southwest reissues the ticket, later control can move to Southwest. Keep both the airline confirmation and agency ticket details.
Where should I start for a pet, an unaccompanied child, or an accommodation?
Use the specific policy and assistance links in the families chapter. Ordinary seat selection or a group request does not replace the airline’s special-service process, and some actions must be completed with Southwest or at the airport.
Ready to compare the seats and fares available for your dates? Start at the CAMLI flight-search entry page and review the full itinerary before booking.
Official Southwest references
- Assigned Seating
- Fare Types and Benefits
- Fare Information and Rules
- Optional Travel Charges
- Same-Day Change and Same-Day Standby
- The Southwest travel experience
- Inflight Drinks and Snacks Menu
- Customer Enhancements
- Rapid Rewards Terms and Conditions
- A-List Status
- Partner Airlines
- General Distribution Policy
- Check in for your flight
- Group Travel eligibility
- Group Travel Services contact
- Group passenger names and deadlines
- Group seat assignments
- Boarding Process
- Cardmember Benefits
- Exit Row Requirements
- Official Route Map
- Low Fare Calendar
- Manage Flight
- Online Check-In Guidance
- Airport Arrival and Check-In Deadlines
- Airport Information
- Rapid Rewards Earning
- Disability-Related Accommodations