01/27/2026
WoW 💫
Southwest Boarding Groups from January 27, 2026
Whether you loved them or hated them, Southwest’s lettered boarding columns will no longer be seen at its departure gates.
Similar to systems used by mainline carriers like American, Delta, and United, Southwest’s boarding groups will now go from 1 through to 8. The group you’re assigned on your boarding pass will be linked to your fare type, Southwest status, and any Southwest credit card you might have in your wallet.
Groups will include the following:
Groups 1 and 2: Choice Extra fares, passengers who upgraded to Extra Legroom, A-List Preferred status holders, and A-List status holders who upgraded to Extra Legroom
Groups 3 to 5: Choice Preferred fares, A-List members, and Rapid Rewards credit cardholders
Groups 6 to 8: Choice and Basic fare passengers
However, there’s a caveat. All passengers will have the option to pay extra to add Priority Boarding from 24 hours before departure. Fares will vary depending on each flight.
Southwest is leaving its old ways behind with boarding and seating processes like most other airlines, taking effect on January 27, 2026.