Southwest Airlines has fundamentally changed how passengers board and sit on flights departing from Los Angeles International Airport. As of January 27, 2026, the carrier replaced its decades-old open seating model with assigned seats, fare-linked boarding groups, and three tiers of seating products. The southwest passenger seating changes affect every aspect of the travel experience at LAX Terminal 1, from check-in through boarding, and travelers need to understand which seat type their fare includes, when they can select or upgrade seats, and how the new boarding process works. Because Southwest operates domestic flights from Terminal 1 gates 9 through 18B, passengers will encounter the new system whether they booked months ago or purchased a ticket yesterday. The transition introduces trade-offs: more predictability for families and those who value specific seat locations, but additional costs for travelers who want the roomiest seats or early boarding positions.
Ask Karpo to rebuild your LAX departure plan around your flight time, terminal, baggage, ground transport, and seating priority. You will get a tighter leave-home window plus a backup if traffic or check-in timing shifts.
Understanding the Three Seat Categories and What Each Fare Includes
Southwest now offers three seat types across its single-cabin aircraft. Standard seats are located in the back of the cabin with typical legroom and are included with Basic fares (assigned at check-in) and Choice fares (selected at booking). Preferred seats offer the same legroom but sit near the front of the cabin; they're included with Choice Preferred fares or available as an upgrade on Choice tickets. Extra Legroom seats are positioned at the front of the cabin and near exit rows, providing up to five additional inches of seat pitch on 737-700 aircraft—pitch varies by aircraft type—plus complimentary premium beverages and extra snacks when available. These seats are included with Choice Extra fares or can be selected at booking by A-List Preferred members.
The fare you purchase determines not only your seat type but also your flexibility. Basic fares assign a Standard seat at check-in and are nonrefundable with no changes allowed unless you upgrade to a higher fare. Choice fares let you select a Standard seat at booking and include Transferable Flight Credit and same-day change privileges. Choice Preferred fares include a Preferred seat, refundability, and priority lane access. Choice Extra fares include an Extra Legroom seat, Priority Boarding in the first group, and premium drinks on flights over 251 miles. If your original booking predates the January 27, 2026 transition, verify your current seat assignment and fare benefits directly with Southwest, as legacy reservations may have been converted under different rules.
How Boarding Groups Now Work and Who Boards When
Boarding at LAX Terminal 1 now follows a group-based system determined by fare type, seat location, Rapid Rewards status, and credit card benefits. After check-in, your boarding pass displays both your seat location and your boarding group. Preboard is reserved for passengers with disabilities, those needing extra time, and unaccompanied minors. Priority Boarding (available for purchase within 24 hours of departure when available) and active-duty U.S. military with valid ID board next, followed by A-List Preferred members. Group 1 includes A-List members and passengers holding Choice Extra fares. Group 2 covers travelers in Extra Legroom seats who purchased Choice or Choice Preferred fares. Groups 3–4 include Choice Preferred passengers in Standard or Preferred seats.
Group 5 is assigned to Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers who haven't already received an earlier group based on seat type, fare, or tier status. Groups 3–7 accommodate Choice fare passengers in Standard or Preferred seats, while Group 8 is reserved for Basic fare travelers. Passengers on Getaways by Southwest vacation packages board between Groups 3–7 or earlier if they hold tier status or qualifying credit cards. Everyone on the same reservation, including families, boards in the same group, and A-List, A-List Preferred, and credit cardmember boarding benefits extend to up to eight passengers on the same reservation. Companion Pass holders and their companions receive the highest applicable boarding benefit based on individual status. If you're connecting through LAX or have a multi-city itinerary, confirm your boarding group for each segment, as group assignment can vary by flight.
Rapid Rewards Tier Benefits and When You Can Select or Upgrade Seats
A-List members receive their first checked bag free (extended to up to eight passengers on the same reservation), can select Preferred or Standard seats at booking, and have the option to upgrade to Extra Legroom seats at no charge within 48 hours of departure when space is available. A-List members board in Group 1, earn a 25% bonus on qualifying flights, and enjoy same-day standby, priority check-in and security lane access, and priority phone support. A-List Preferred members receive first and second checked bags free (for themselves and up to eight passengers on the same reservation), can select any seat—including Extra Legroom—at the time of booking, and board before Group 1. They earn a 100% bonus on qualifying flights and receive up to two premium drinks in addition to the other A-List perks.
Companion Pass holders can select an available seat for their designated companion, and tier member seating and checked bag benefits extend to both the pass holder and companion. If you don't currently hold tier status, you can still access seat selection windows based on your fare: Basic assigns seats at check-in, Choice allows selection at booking for Standard seats, Choice Preferred includes Preferred seats at booking, and Choice Extra includes Extra Legroom seats at booking. Rapid Rewards points continue to have no blackout dates, reward seats remain uncapped, and points don't expire. Before your LAX departure, log in to your Rapid Rewards account to confirm your current tier status, review your seat assignment, and check whether you're eligible for a free upgrade to Extra Legroom within the 48-hour window.
Credit Cardmember Seat Selection Windows and Boarding Perks
Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers receive seat selection and boarding benefits that vary by card type. Plus and Plus Business cardholders can select a Standard seat within 48 hours of departure on any fare when available and board in Group 5. As of May 28, 2025, all cardmembers receive their first checked bag free, and this benefit extends to up to eight passengers on the same reservation when the cardmember's Rapid Rewards account number is included at booking. Premier and Premier Business cardholders can select Standard or Preferred seats within 48 hours of departure on any fare when available, also board in Group 5, and earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 spent annually (increasing to 2,000 for Premier cards).
Performance Business cardholders can select Standard or Preferred seats at booking on any fare when available, upgrade to Extra Legroom within 48 hours of departure on any fare when space permits, board in Group 5, and earn 2,500 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 spent annually. If you hold a Southwest credit card, verify your specific card type and associated benefits before arriving at LAX Terminal 1, as the 48-hour selection window opens exactly two days before departure. Cardmember benefits apply only when your Rapid Rewards number is attached to the reservation, so confirm this detail at booking or add it later through your account. If you're traveling with family or friends on the same reservation, the first checked bag benefit for up to eight passengers can represent significant savings, but weight and size limits still apply.
Navigating Terminal 1 Check-In, Security, and Gate Changes During Construction
Southwest operates domestic flights from LAX Terminal 1, where gates are numbered 9 through 18B. A $477.5 million extension project is underway, adding a Terminal Vertical Core that will eventually connect to the future Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility and Automated People Mover station. The expansion includes additional ticket counters, baggage carousels, restrooms, and a service-animal relief area. During construction, departure gates have been permanently renumbered, and rotating gate closures continue, so check display monitors frequently for the latest gate assignments. Much of the drop-off lane on the Upper/Departures Level is closed; consider dropping off passengers between Terminals 1 and 2 instead, where it's often less congested.
Terminal 1 now features a state-of-the-art security screening checkpoint, a refurbished Lower/Arrivals baggage claim area, a nursing room, and an animal relief station—consult terminal maps for exact locations. If you're picking up arriving passengers, use the 24-hour LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot on 96th Street just east of Sepulveda Boulevard, one-quarter mile west of the 96th Street Bridge entrance, where you can wait for free until passengers call to confirm they've collected baggage. Ride-app pickups (Lyft, Opoli, and Uber) occur at the LAX-it lot next to Terminal 1; free shuttles marked with green LAX-it signs run from the inner curb on the Lower/Arrivals Level outside baggage claim. If you have a valid boarding pass for same-day departure, you can access other terminals for additional dining and retail options. Check LAX's live traffic feed online before leaving for the airport to review current roadway conditions and estimated travel times around the terminal loop.
What to Verify Before Your Flight and How to Adjust Your Seat Assignment
Before heading to LAX, log in to your Southwest account or use the mobile app to confirm your seat assignment, boarding group, and any applicable upgrade windows. If you purchased a Basic fare and want to select a specific seat in advance, you'll need to upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra; Basic fare changes are not allowed, but fare upgrades are possible. If you hold a Choice fare and want a Preferred or Extra Legroom seat, you can pay the difference at booking or, if you have tier status or a qualifying credit card, wait for your eligibility window to open. Within 24 hours of departure, Priority Boarding becomes available for purchase when space permits, allowing earlier boarding even if your fare or status doesn't automatically grant it.
Same-day standby and same-day confirmed changes are available on Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares; taxes and fees may apply, and fare differences may be required for confirmed changes. If your travel plans shift, remember that Basic fares are nonrefundable and non-changeable, Choice and Choice Preferred fares offer Transferable Flight Credit valid for 12 months, and Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares are fully refundable. Southwest's policy requires cancellations at least 10 minutes before scheduled departure to avoid forfeiting flight credits. If you're traveling with children or companions, confirm that everyone on the reservation is assigned to the same boarding group; families board together, and tier or cardmember benefits extend across the reservation. For questions about your specific reservation, day-of-travel policies, or seat assignment, contact Southwest directly or visit a ticket counter at Terminal 1 before passing through security.
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Sources consulted: Source 1: southwest.com · Source 2: southwest.com · Source 3: flylax.com · Source 4: flylax.com
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