They have been vertiginous months for Southwest Airlines, since their Advance of open seats to his New Revised Bag rates that enter into force next month.
And the changes are not made.
On Monday, the Dallas headquarters announced a handful of new advantages for its frequent flyers and credit card holders that will enter into force once the airline sets seats assigned in 2026.
Southwest plans to change the name all Of its rates products, once assigned seats begin, not only its Hollemark wants to escape a rate, which will become the new basic class of the airline (also known as basic economy) next month.
In addition, the airline revealed its credit card holders of the highest range- as its elite status members -All select your new additional leg seats in the not too distant future.
Meanwhile, TPG has learned that Southwest is reflecting on new “soft product” services that will offer flyers that select its most spacious seats.
And one of the main executives of the airline is shedding light on why Southwest decided to abandon his unique shipping process.
Here is a summary of all the changes to know.
New rates products
To begin with, Southwest announced on Monday that it will change the name of all its rates classes once it changes to assigned seats.
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We already knew I want to escape would become basic. That will happen when the carrier begins to collect plaid bag rates, which will apply to flights sold from May 28 onwards.
Then, at the end of this year:
- I want to escape more will become an option.
- At any time it will become preferred.
- Business Select will become extra choice.
The three “election” rates will go on sale at some point between July and September, when Southwest starts selling assigned seats for flights that come out in early 2026.
New types of seat
The benefits you will get with the renowned tariff classes of Southwest will be quite similar to the benefits of their current rate products, that is, the classes of renewed fees of the airline announced last month When he turned to the rates of the bags and Rapid Rapid Rewards Raid Rates.
The rate you select will dictate the row of the plane you can access.
From next year, Southwest plans to designate three types of seats:
- Additional mobile (first five rows of the aircraft and three rows around the midcabin exit door)
- Preferred (standard rows located closer to the front of the aircraft)
- Standard (seats on the back of the plane)
The seats themselves will be all standard coach seats, so we are not talking exactly the difference between the economy and the executive class of the lie, but this will be found in the amount of leg space or how close to the front of the plane, it will be.
Here is the complete image of the updated rates and benefits of Southwest:
| Benefit | Extra choice | The favorite choice | Choice | Essential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previously | Selected business | Whenever | I want to escape more | I want to escape |
| Effective | It goes on sale in the third quarter of 2025, for 2026 flights | It goes on sale in the third quarter of 2025, for 2026 flights | It goes on sale in the third quarter of 2025, for 2026 flights | It goes on sale on May 28 |
| Seat selection | Additional legs (or any seat) | Preferred (or any standard seat) | Standard | Not included; standard seat assigned in check-in |
| Revised bags (Start on May 28) | Two free | Additional costs | Additional costs | Additional costs |
| Quick Rewards Gains (just like TPG reported in March) | 14 points per dollar | 10 points per dollar | 6 points per dollar | 2 points per dollar |
| Shipment | Early | Previous group within a general boarding school | General shipment | Last to address |
| There are no cancellation rates | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Refund | Totally reimbursable | Totally reimbursable | Transferable flight credit | Non -transferable flight credit |
| Flight credit expiration | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | Six months |
| Itinerary changes | √ (Rate difference) | √ (Rate difference) | √ (Rate difference) | – |
| Changes/wait the same day | √ | √ | √ | – |
| Free Board Entertainment | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Access to priority/lane express | √ | √ | – | – |
| FREE PREMIUM DRINK IN FLIGHT | √ | – | – | – |
| Free wi-fi on board | √ | – | – | – |
Credit card benefits
As part of Monday’s announcement, Southwest revealed some new advantages with his Credit card portfolio.
Once assigned, the seats begin, the members with the Priority credit card southwest rapid rewards® (see rates and rates) and Southwest® Rapid Reward® Commercial Credit Credit Card (see rates and rates) You can update an additional leg seat within 48 hours after departure (when available).
But all Southwest card holders, at least, can select a free seat on each flight within 48 hours of departure (when available).
That goes even for passengers flying in a basic rate. Remember, for standard passengers, the basic economy will not come with the selection of seats in the future.
Here are the benefits of the updated card:
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rebuits Premier and Southwest Rapid Revips Plus Business has been independently collected by the type of points. The details of the card on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Benefits of the bag also reviewed
In addition, as of May 28, each southwest card holder will obtain a free control bag and, therefore, up to eight companions traveling in the same reservation.
The biggest card ‘update’ to come
Wait more ads related to the card soon; The airline is framing these changes on the card as part of a general “update” of its card portfolio, after recently reaching an agreement amended with Chase.
The airline did not rule out an annual rate increase in the near future, but also caused new categories of bonds that could allow card holders to gain more points for daily spending.
“That is an area of our card where we feel we can do better,” Southwest Executive Vice President Tony, Tony Roach told TPG. “If you use your card for your purchases from the best walls, you will win more.”
Elite status of the list A
As TPG reported in recent months, the state of Elite in Southwest will come with some new advantages related to updated seats, luggage and shipment of the airline.
Here is a reminder of how the favorite luggage of list A and list A and the benefits for seats will be shake:
| State | Luggage benefit | Extra leg seat selection | Preferred seat selection | Standard seat selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List a preferred | Two free registered bags | In the reserve | (including) | (including) |
| List a | A free recorded bag | Within 48 hours after departure | In the reserve | (including) |
| Starts | When the bag rates were checked, the launch of May 28 | When the assigned seats starts (flights in 2026) | When the assigned seats starts (flights in 2026) | When the assigned seats starts (flights in 2026) |
Most others Advantages of the list A It will remain unchanged, from the priority lane access to the ground to two free premium drinks for preferred members of the List A.
Boarding benefits
An additional benefit for both A-Listers and card holders: they will have access to previous boarding groups.
In recent weeks, Southwest revealed plans to Advance of your classic shipping process of a single file – And leave those silver posts, numbered in the boarding area. That is after the airline executives told me in January that the carrier expected Keep the spirit of your unique shipping procedures in place.
The process, said Roach, will now be quite similar to those found in other airlines, with eight planned groups.
“Simply what everyone else is accustomed,” Roach said, explaining thought. “We hope there are many customers who are new in Southwest, because, frankly, they have told us: ‘Once you go to assigned seats, I will consider you.”
What about the company pass?
The members of Rapid Rewards who obtained the coveted airline passage can extend their privileges of approaching, bag and seat to their designated partner.
Additional services in the additional legs section?
Southwest executives have maintained that additional leg space seats are not destined to resemble a complete first -class cabin with hot and similar foods.
But Roach told TPG the carrier is Mulling some new and high benefits for their most spacious ranks.
“We are seeing things like improved snacks, a higher experience for customers who choose to buy the additional rate,” he said. “You can expect that it is not just extra -groom seats, but it comes with something extra in all soft products.”
There are no full -size hand -size equipment restrictions
Verified bag rates are a considerable change for customers, on their own. At least for now, Southwest is not implementing restrictions on full -size handbags, something that a handful of its competitors has made, historically, in basic economic rates (United Airlines still does).
“We look at him,” Roach said. “But it wasn’t something we decided to do.”
So, if you are not a member of list A, a card owner and want to fly the basic economy, you can always take your bag to the plane … assuming, of course, that everything that is inside complies with the transport security administration 3-1-1 fluid rules.
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