Your ability to choose your seat is based on the fare you purchase, your Rapid Rewards^® tier status, and/or your Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmember status. You may also choose to purchase a seat (if available) while booking a reservation or after booking.

Learn more about the benefits available to Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers.

Selecting your seat

When booking on Southwest.com^® or the Southwest^® app, after selecting your flight(s) and entering the Passenger information, a seat map will display. Simply click on an available seat to select it. Seats that are not included with your fare bundle or your tier or credit cardmember status will display the applicable seat price.

Alternatively, you can click “Skip all seats” to continue booking your reservation without selecting a seat. If you do not choose a seat during the booking process, you can do so later by visiting Southwest.com® or the Southwest® app. If you do not choose a seat, Southwest will assign a seat at check-in (which opens 24 hours before original scheduled departure). If you want a different seat than the one assigned to you, you can change seats (subject to availability and depending on your fare bundle or your tier or credit cardmember status) up to one hour prior to the flight’s original scheduled departure time.

If you do not select a seat in advance (either because you purchased a Basic fare and so aren’t eligible to select a seat or you chose not to select one when booking), a seat will be assigned to you at check-in. If a seat cannot be immediately assigned at check-in, you will see messaging indicating that your seat will be assigned at the gate. You will receive a security document that allows you to go through the security checkpoint. After clearing security, please see a Customer Service Agent at the departure gate to receive your seat assignment.

Learn more about assigned seating.

¹For Basic fares, seats will be assigned at check-in with the exception of A-List Preferred and A-List Members as well as some Rapid Rewards® Credit Cardmembers who may choose a seat prior to check-in. For Choice Extra, you can select an available Extra Legroom seat (or any other available seat) at time of booking. Extra Legroom seats have a few more inches of legroom and are located at the front of the cabin and exit rows. For Choice Preferred, you can select an available Preferred Seat (or any available Standard seat) at the time of booking. Preferred seats have standard legroom and are near the front of the cabin. Standard seats also have standard legroom but are in the back of the cabin. All seats included in the fare bundle are subject to availability. When seats are purchased separately from a fare, the seat cannot be canceled unless you cancel the flight, too. You’ll receive a flight credit for the seat. Seat exchanges are permitted; price difference may apply. Seats purchased separately are refundable back to the original form of payment only when exchanged for a higher priced seat. Learn more.

²Extra Legroom Seat Selection at Booking: When available, A-List Preferred Members will be able to select an Extra Legroom, Preferred or a Standard seat at the time of booking, or up to 60 minutes prior to a flight’s scheduled local departure time. If no Extra Legroom, Preferred or Standard seat is available, A-List Preferred Members will be assigned a seat in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket purchased. When available, A-List Preferred Members will be able to select Preferred or Standard seats for up to 8 additional Passengers on the same reservation as the A-List Preferred Member, allowing for a total of 9 Extra Legroom, Preferred or Standard seats. If the A-List Preferred Member is removed from the reservation and there is no tier Rapid Rewards® Member or primary Cardmember with the same or greater seating benefits, all seating selections for that reservation will be released and seats will be assigned in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket purchased. Benefits may not apply on itineraries booked with partner airlines. A-List Preferred Members should allow up to 14 days for card status to be updated in their Rapid Rewards account to be eligible for this benefit. Any changes to Rapid Rewards account status, tier status, or credit card status between booking date and travel date may impact benefit eligibility on day of travel. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.

³Preferred and Standard Seat Selection at Booking: When available, A-List Members will be able to select a Preferred or a Standard seat at the time of booking, or up to 60 minutes prior to a flight’s scheduled local departure time. If no Preferred or Standard seat is available, A-List Members will be assigned a seat in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket purchased. When available, A-List Members will be able to select Preferred or Standard seats for up to 8 additional Passengers on the same reservation as the A-List Member, allowing for a total of 9 Preferred or Standard seats. If the A-List Member is removed from the reservation and there is no tier Rapid Rewards® Member or primary Cardmember with the same or greater seating benefits, all seating selections for that reservation will be released and seats will be assigned in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket purchased. Benefits may not apply on itineraries booked with partner airlines. A-List Members should allow up to 14 days for tier status to be updated in their Rapid Rewards account to be eligible for this benefit. Any changes to Rapid Rewards account status, tier status, or credit card status between booking date and travel date may impact benefit eligibility on day of travel. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.

⁴Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade at 48 Hours Prior to Departure: When available, A-List Members will be able to upgrade to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to flight departure for themselves and up to 8 additional Passengers on the same reservation, allowing for a total of 9 Extra Legroom seats. If the A-List Member is removed from the reservation and there is no tier Rapid Rewards® Member or primary Cardmember with the same or greater seating benefits, all seating selections for that reservation will be released and seats will be assigned in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket purchased. Benefits may not apply on itineraries booked with partner airlines. A-List Members should allow up to 14 days for tier status to be updated in their Rapid Rewards account to be eligible for this benefit. Any changes to Rapid Rewards account status, tier status, or credit card status between booking date and travel date may impact benefit eligibility on day of travel. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.