When Southwest Airlines moves to assigned seating in 2025, A-List elites will be among the first to select where they get to sit, as well as qualify for upgrades to extra legroom options.
For the most loyal flyers aboard Southwest Airlines, A-List status will now come with the option to select a seat, or even upgrade to one with more legroom – but not much else.
The airline announced the upgrades to the Rapid Rewards loyalty program on Monday, December 16, 2024.
A-List “Upgrades” Coincide with In-Flight Experience Improvements
The changes come after a contentious fight with activist investor Elliott Investment Management. While airline chief executive Bob Jordan kept his job, the compromise came with several major changes to Southwest’s product, including moving to assigned seats instead of open seating with group boarding.
With the move, airline elite members will get the first shot at upgrading their experience. A-List Preferred flyers will be able to select any ailable seat when they book their Southwest flight, including those with extra legroom, for no additional cost. If flyers need to make a same-day change, they will be able to for no fee and with “even better seat options.” A-List flyers will only be able to select standard seats at the time they book, with the potential of upgrading to an extra room seat within 48 hours of departure, if one is ailable.
For the coveted Companion Pass, flyers will be able to select an ailable seat for their second passenger when booking for no extra fee. Tier Member seating benefits will also apply to both the Companion Pass holder and their co-treler. Companion Pass points can still be earned by credit card, with Rapid Rewards cardholders earning a single boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.
In addition to the boarding process, the experience at the airport and in-flight will look different for passengers. Flyers will soon be able to pre-check their bags online during the check-in process, leing them to only print their luggage tags at the airport. Bags can be tracked online from the point of departure to destination.
Aboard the alrine’s new Boeing 737 MAX-8 airframes, guests will he access to more USB power outlets to stay connected throughout their flight, along with larger overhead bins that are easier to reach. The in-flight entertainment package is promising to offer over 100 movies and TV shows, doubling the previous selection.
And as always, Southwest will continue to offer two free checked bags with each flight. The airline says they are “keeping the industry-leading policy.”
Share your thoughts about the changes to Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards on the FlyerTalk forums.
TagsPassenger Experiencesouthwest airlinesSouthwest Rapid Rewards