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Southwest Airlines’ new unassigned seating model — complete with its first-ever extra-legroom seats — is set for takeoff in early 2026.

Meanwhile, big changes are in the works for Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program, including new benefits for A-List and A-List Preferred Elite status members and opportunities for international redemptions as the Dallas-based carrier prepares to launch partnerships with international airlines. is

Together, the changes would mark perhaps the biggest business overhaul for Southwest in half a century, as the carrier faces growing concerns about its financial performance.

The news comes two months after Southwest executives unveiled plans in late July to add extra-legroom seats and eliminate its trademark seating policy, a unique arrangement that has been a hallmark of the airline for the past half century.

Both are part of a broader plan by executives to boost revenue, as the airline has overtaken its larger US competitors such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in profitability since the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, as TPG reported last week, one key Southwest policy will continue: The carrier is not abandoning its popular two “bag fly free” policies.

But more details about the big changes in the works at Southwest are expected Thursday as the company prepares to host its annual investor day.

Here’s what we know so far.

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When will the Southwest assigned seat start?

Southwest will begin selling assigned seats in late 2025.

The airline will begin flying with its assigned seating model in the first half of 2026, the carrier said Thursday.

This summer, the carrier cited thorough customer research in its decision to shift to a newly assigned model. CEO Bob Jordan said in July that survey data found that 80% of Southwest fliers would choose assigned seating, and 86% of those customers who not Chose the Fly Southwest model.

“Consumers travel differently in the wake of the pandemic,” Jordan told investors in Dallas on Thursday. “Consumer preferences have changed.”

“Southwest flies farther than ever before, and seat assignment is a high priority on long-haul flights,” the carrier added Thursday in a broader statement summarizing its overhaul plan.

Southwest extra-legroom seats

The airline’s first-ever extra-legroom seats will roll out to aircraft with tickets on sale in the latter half of 2025 and flights taking off in the first half of 2026, with the addition of its assigned seats.

Southwest’s “premium” seats will offer up to five additional inches of pitch, the carrier said Thursday. (Pitch is the distance from a fixed point on one seat to the same point on the opposite seat, often seen as a proxy measure for legroom.)

About a third of the seats on Southwest’s planes will offer extra legroom, with the airline saying Thursday that it will maintain “a standard economy seat pitch among the best in the industry.”

However, the standard economy seat pitch on some Southwest aircraft will decrease by about an inch, the company announced.

Extra-legroom seats will cost extra, but the airline will offer the seats for free as part of its reworked status benefits for A-List and A-List Preferred.

New International Partner

Southwest is now formalizing partnerships with international airlines to increase interest in its Rapid Rewards loyalty program and provide more global connectivity to its frequent flyers, the carrier said Thursday.

Southwest’s first partner will be Icelandair, with the initial launch of the linkup expected in 2025.

The two airlines will use Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) as their initial joint gateway but will expand their offerings next year.

It looks like Southwest Rapid Rewards members will be able to use their points to book partner flights with Icelandair.

Southwest also expects to add at least one international partner next year.

The carrier is “under discussion,” the leaders said, along with other transatlantic and transpacific airlines.

Expected Changes to Quick Rewards

Earnings and Redeeming Rapid Rewards points will remain the same — with no blackout dates for redemption — even as the carrier prepares to change its benefits, including benefits for elite status.

Assigned seats and premium seating will certainly play a major role in those levels of benefits, leaders have indicated — as will new airline partnerships.

A-list and A-list preferred seating benefits

As part of the changes, A-list elite status members will be able to select standard legroom seats and extra legroom seats upon booking within 48 hours of departure at no extra cost.

A-List Preferred Members will be able to select all seats, including extra-legroom seats, at the time of booking for free.

Credit Card Program Updates

The airline also said to expect upcoming updates to its cobranded credit card program, “including how assigned seating will make being a CC member with WN even more valuable,” Ryan Green, Southwest’s executive vice president of commercial transformation, told investors Thursday.

Those details are expected in early 2025.

Current credit card benefits, terms and policies will remain in place in the meantime, the company said.

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Bags will still fly free

Last week, Southwest assured TPG that there was no change to its generous baggage policy and reiterated that stance on Thursday.

Unlike U.S. competitors that charge for checked bags, Southwest offers two free checked bags to all passengers. The airline also does not charge for full-size carry-on bags.

“Based on Southwest’s research, the company believes that any change to the current policy … would reduce demand and far outweigh any revenue gains,” Southwest said Thursday.

The bottom line

We expect to learn more about the southwesterly changes during the day. Check back for more updates on how Southwest fliers can expect the on-board experience to change in the coming years.

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