As you know, we recently announced changes that will enhance your flying experience with us and hinted at more to come. Today, we're sharing details about our transformational journey to becoming an Even Better Southwest®. As an A-List Preferred Member, I wanted you to be among the first to know about our plans.
While there are a lot of changes ahead, our 53-year-old core values of flexibility, transparency, and Hospitality are stronger than ever. In that spirit, I’m happy to announce what’s changing and what’s not.
Bags fly free®1 is here to stay.
You love Bags fly free,1 and we’re keeping our industry-leading policy. Every ticket with us comes with two free checked bags.
NEW: Assigned seats for an elevated cabin experience.
For your comfort, we’re introducing seat assignments with different options based on the experience you prefer. Our lowest fare offer will still come with two free checked bags, no change2 or cancel fees,3 travel credits that never expire, and a seat will be assigned to you prior to your day of travel. If you prefer to select your seat when you book your flight, including seats with extra legroom, you will have a few options to purchase these benefits.
Our boarding process will be similar to what it is today–we will board in order, preserving our fast boarding process to get you on your way as quickly as possible. We will begin selling flights with seat assignments in the second half of 2025 for travel in the first half of 2026.
More, more, more rewards.
Rapid Rewards® Members will continue to enjoy our industry–leading loyalty program. All Members will earn and redeem points at the same rate they do today, and we will continue to offer no blackout dates, uncapped reward seat availability, and points that don’t expire. To see how Tier benefits will evolve with assigned seating, click here.
We’re introducing Getaways by Southwest™in 2025. This is an entirely new vacation package offering that only Southwest can deliver–with the unmatched flexible policies you know and love. So, if plans change and you have to cancel your vacation, it’s a–okay on this vacay.
NEW: More horizons on the horizon.
We’re launching our first international partnership with Icelandair® in 2025. Customers will be allowed to book Southwest flights through Icelandair. We expect to add at least one additional partner in the next year, and this is just the beginning!
As you can see, we’re focused and excited about the future. We can’t wait for you to experience these new enhancements as they roll out. In the meantime, we promise to continue connecting you to the people and places you love the most.
From the bottom of my Heart, thank you for taking this journey with us. And thank you for flying Southwest Airlines®.
While there are a lot of changes ahead, our 53-year-old core values of flexibility, transparency, and Hospitality are stronger than ever. In that spirit, I’m happy to announce what’s changing and what’s not.
Bags fly free®1 is here to stay.
You love Bags fly free,1 and we’re keeping our industry-leading policy. Every ticket with us comes with two free checked bags.
NEW: Assigned seats for an elevated cabin experience.
For your comfort, we’re introducing seat assignments with different options based on the experience you prefer. Our lowest fare offer will still come with two free checked bags, no change2 or cancel fees,3 travel credits that never expire, and a seat will be assigned to you prior to your day of travel. If you prefer to select your seat when you book your flight, including seats with extra legroom, you will have a few options to purchase these benefits.
Our boarding process will be similar to what it is today–we will board in order, preserving our fast boarding process to get you on your way as quickly as possible. We will begin selling flights with seat assignments in the second half of 2025 for travel in the first half of 2026.
More, more, more rewards.
Rapid Rewards® Members will continue to enjoy our industry–leading loyalty program. All Members will earn and redeem points at the same rate they do today, and we will continue to offer no blackout dates, uncapped reward seat availability, and points that don’t expire. To see how Tier benefits will evolve with assigned seating, click here.
- New A–List Preferred Members will be able to select all available seats at the time of booking, including extra legroom, at no additional cost.
- New A–List Members will be able to select all standard legroom seats at the time of booking with the opportunity to choose an extra legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, if available, at no additional cost.
- All Tier Members will continue to enjoy priority boarding,4 free same-day change,5 and same-day standby.5
- All Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmemberswill receive details in early 2025 on how their card benefits will be enhanced with our new changes. Until then, Cardmembers will continue to take advantage of the benefits they currently have on their card.
We’re introducing Getaways by Southwest™in 2025. This is an entirely new vacation package offering that only Southwest can deliver–with the unmatched flexible policies you know and love. So, if plans change and you have to cancel your vacation, it’s a–okay on this vacay.
NEW: More horizons on the horizon.
We’re launching our first international partnership with Icelandair® in 2025. Customers will be allowed to book Southwest flights through Icelandair. We expect to add at least one additional partner in the next year, and this is just the beginning!
As you can see, we’re focused and excited about the future. We can’t wait for you to experience these new enhancements as they roll out. In the meantime, we promise to continue connecting you to the people and places you love the most.
From the bottom of my Heart, thank you for taking this journey with us. And thank you for flying Southwest Airlines®.
