News on Southwest Seat Assignment: What You Need to Know

Big changes are coming to Southwest Airlines, and these will directly impact business travelers. 

AmTrav was the first and one of the only business travel platforms to offer Southwest's best booking technology with the lowest fares. That's why we're paying close attention to Southwest's seating changes that will be supported through that great tech.

The open seating process that Southwest is known for will be replaced with assigned seating across all flights by early 2026, on sale in mid-2025. As we reported back in July, these changes will be the addition of extra legroom sections and new seat cabin aesthetics, all aimed at providing more comfort and flexibility. Here’s what business travelers booking through AmTrav need to know.

What We Know So Far

• Wanna Get Away fares will continue to be Southwest's lowest-cost option, but these fares won’t include seat assignments until check-in.
• Preferred and extra legroom seats will be available as paid add-ons. The extra legroom seats offer 34" of pitch, providing a more spacious experience.
• A-List Preferred members will be able to reserve extra legroom seats for free at the time of booking, while regular A-List members will be able to claim these seats during check-in.
• Southwest will keep its iconic boarding poles, a feature that streamlines boarding while allowing the airline to maintain control over seating and boarding groups.

New Look and Feel

Southwest is introducing new Recaro seats with a sleek dark blue design, accented by light blue headrests (on the left, above). Extra legroom seats will have extra light blue detailing so they're easy to spot, especially in configurations like row 16 on the 737-8 MAX, where the window seat has no seat in front of it, offering unlimited legroom.

The cabin will also feature updated blue mood lighting and new carpets, extending the modernized blue aesthetic throughout the plane. It’s all about creating a more unified and refreshed cabin experience.

Seat Features

The new seats offer more than just a visual upgrade—they come with enhanced functionality:

• Built-in device holders and USB power outlets will allow travelers to easily charge their devices during flights.
• The redesigned tray tables include cupholders on both sides, a considerate touch for left-handed passengers.
• The seatback pocket now includes a water bottle holder, making storage even more convenient.

Aircraft-Specific Details

Southwest’s fleet will see these upgrades rolled out gradually, with each aircraft model getting a tailored configuration:

• 737-700: These older aircraft will lose a row of seats, dropping to 137 seats total, including 40 extra legroom seats with 36" of pitch. While these planes will not receive the new Recaro seats, their existing seats will be recovered in the new design. These aircraft will be phased out by the end of the decade.
• 737-7 MAX: This aircraft will have 148 seats when it enters service, with extra legroom seats at 34" of pitch. These will feature the new Recaro seats, complete with USB power.
• 737-8 MAX/737-800: These planes, which form the bulk of Southwest’s fleet, will retain their 175-seat configuration, with 68 extra legroom seats offering 34" of pitch. The remaining seats will have 31" of pitch. New planes will come with Recaro seats, while planes with Southwest’s Meridian seats will have them recovered in the new design.

Rollout Timeline and Impact on Business Travelers

These seat and cabin changes will be fully rolled out by early 2026, but Southwest is already making strides with upgrades across its fleet. Business travelers should be aware that seat assignments, particularly in the extra legroom and preferred sections, may now come at a cost, but for A-List and A-List Preferred members, these seats offer significant value as they can be reserved at little to no cost.

The move to assigned seating is particularly relevant for business travelers booking through AmTrav, as it introduces more predictability and comfort, both key to ensuring smooth and productive travel. Whether it's securing a seat with ample legroom for a long-haul flight, having access to device charging options, or boarding right before departure instead of boarding early in Group A, Southwest’s changes are designed to improve the overall travel experience.