Which seats have more legroom on Southwest Airlines?

If legroom is what you’re after, look for Extra Legroom seats. These are the first 6 rows and row 15 on 737-700 planes and rows 1 to 5 and 14 to 16, plus seats 6A, 6B, and 6C on a 737-800 or 737 MAX 8. If you’re flying on a Boeing 737-700, the absolute most legroom is in seat 15A, which is missing the seat in front of it. On a Boeing 737-800 or Boeing 737 MAX 8, the seats with the most legroom are 16A and 16F.

What is the best seat on Southwest Airlines?

While the best seat can be subjective, seats with the most legroom are often the most coveted. These seats include the bulkhead seats, the exit row seats, and the window seats behind the exit row door (seat 15A on the Boeing 737-700 and seats 16A and 16F on the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8).

Is Southwest adding new Extra Legroom seats to all of its planes?

Yes, there are now Extra Legroom seats on all Southwest planes. These seats offer 3 to 5 extra inches (depending on the plane type) over Standard and Preferred seats.

What's the difference between Southwest seat types?

Southwest now offers 3 seat types you can book: Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom. Standard and Preferred seats are the same type of seat, but their locations differ. Standard seats are in the back of the plane, while Preferred Seats are closer to the front. Extra Legroom seats offer 3 to 5 additional inches of legroom and are at the very front of the plane and in the exit rows.

How does Southwest assigned seating work?

As of January 27, 2026, all Southwest passengers get an assigned seat. Your fare class, Southwest elite status, and whether or not you’re a Southwest credit card holder determines when you’re able to select a seat and what type of seat you can select.

The Best Seats When Flying on Southwest Airlines [2026]

Updated: February 4, 2026, 1:00pm CST

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Table of Contents

Key Takeaways
Southwest Airlines Boarding Process
Standard vs. Preferred vs. Extra Legroom Seats
Southwest Airlines Seat Configurations
Best Seats on Southwest Airlines
Final Thoughts

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Key Takeaways

Southwest Airlines now uses assigned seating, and seat selection timing and options depend on your fare type, status, and credit card benefits.
The best seats are generally considered to be the exit row for extra legroom and the front row for quicker deplaning.
Seats over the wings provide a smoother ride, making them a popular choice for passengers sensitive to turbulence.

Having the right seat on your flight can sometimes make or break your day (or trip). Southwest used to have an open seating policy, which often led to confusion and a stressful boarding process. As of January 27, 2026, all Southwest passengers now have an assigned seat and a boarding position.

With the new seat options, you might be wondering how to choose the best seat on Southwest Airlines. Don’t worry — we have you covered. We’ll go over Southwest’s new seat types and boarding process, plus give you some tips for choosing the right one for your next flight.

Southwest Airlines Boarding Process

The Southwest Airlines boarding process was completely overhauled in January 2026, eliminating the A, B, and C boarding groups with boarding numbers from 1 to 60.

All flights use Southwest’s new boarding process, which includes groups 1 to 8.

Group 1 and 2: Anyone who purchased a Choice Extra fare or an Extra Legroom upgrade, A-List Preferred members, and A-List members who were able to select an Extra Legroom seat 48 hours prior to the flight.
Group 3 to 5: Anyone who purchased a Choice Preferred fare, any remaining A-List members, and all Southwest credit card holders.
Group 6 to 8: Anyone who purchased a Choice or Basic fare.

Standard vs. Preferred vs. Extra Legroom Seats

Southwest completely overhauled its seating and boarding process in early 2026, and now there are 3 types of seats you should know about: Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom.

Southwest Airlines new seat types — Image Credit: Southwest

Standard and Preferred seats are the exact same seat, but in different locations. Standard seats are toward the back of the plane, while Preferred seats are closer to the front. Both offer 31 inches of legroom.

Extra Legroom seats have 3 to 5 extra inches of legroom compared to Preferred and Standard seats. They are at the front of the plane and in the exit rows. Only the Boeing 737-700 planes will have the full 5 inches of extra legroom.

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Plane Types	Standard Seats	Preferred Seats	Extra Legroom Seats
	Rows 16 to 27	Rows 7 to 9, row 14, seats 15B and 15C	First 6 rows and row 15
	Rows 17 to 30	Rows 7 to 13, plus seats 6D, 6E, and 6F	Rows 1 to 5, rows 14 to 16, and seats 6A, 6B, 6C

Southwest Airlines Seat Configurations

Southwest Airlines flies only Boeing 737 planes. Currently, Southwest uses 3 variants of 737: Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, and Boeing 737 MAX 8. A fourth type of plane, the Boeing 737 MAX 7, will be coming in the next couple of years to replace some of the older 737-700 planes.

Boeing 737-700: 137 seats; 31 inches of pitch (legroom) in Standard and Preferred seats and 36 inches of legroom in Extra Legroom seats
Boeing 737-800: 175 seats; 31 inches of pitch (legroom) in Standard and Preferred seats and 34 inches of legroom in Extra Legroom seats
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 175 seats; 31 inches of pitch (legroom) in Standard and Preferred seats and 34 inches of legroom in Extra Legroom seats

Hot Tip:

A row was removed from each of the airline’s approximately 300 Boeing 737-700 planes to create room for the Extra Legroom seats.

Best Seats on Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines ditched their open seating policy for assigned seating in January 2026. Now, it operates like any other airline you might be familiar with. There’s no more setting alarms to check in exactly 24 hours in advance just to grab a good seat during boarding.

New Southwest assigned seating chart — The 3 different seat types are clearly displayed on Southwest’s seat map. Image Credit: Southwest

Qualifying passengers can choose their seats, while some will have them assigned at check-in. To ensure you can choose your seat, you need to have Southwest elite status, have a Southwest credit card, or purchase a Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra fare.

Best Seats if You’re Flying With Young Kids

Flying with kids can be interesting. Even the most seasoned young travelers are prone to occasional meltdowns and tantrums. If you’re flying with kids on Southwest, select a seat toward the back of the plane. Sitting in one of the very last rows puts you near the bathrooms and flight attendants. This can be crucial if you end up with a kid who’s sick, messy, or just “kind of” potty-trained.

Southwest New Cabin — Southwest is introducing all-new interiors. Image Credit: Southwest Airlines

Best Seats for the Most Legroom

For 3 to 5 extra inches of legroom above the regular economy seats, be sure to book an Extra Legroom seat. You can simply pay for one of these seats, but there are a few ways to score one of these coveted seats for free.

Book a Choice Extra fare (available at the time of booking)
Have A-List Preferred status (available at the time of booking)
Have A-List status (available 48 hours prior to departure)
Have a Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card or Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card (available 48 hours prior to departure)

If you want to score the most legroom on the plane, look for the 1 or 2 window seats behind the exit row that don’t have a seat in front of them. It’s seat 15A on the Boeing 737-700, seats 16A and 16F on the Boeing 737-800, and seats 16A and 16F on the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

The Money Seat on Southwest Airlines — My husband, who is 6 feet, 6 inches tall, always looks for this coveted seat right behind the exit row door. Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann

Hot Tip:

Extra Legroom seats also include extra snacks and complimentary premium beverages.

Best Seats if You’re a Nervous Flyer

If you’re not a fan of turbulence (and, really, who is?) look for seats over the wings. These seats offer the smoothest ride. Additionally, seats toward the front of the plane shield you from turbulence more than seats at the back of the plane, where you feel any up-and-down bobbing more.

Best Seats if You’ve Got a Short Connection Time

If you’ve got a short connection time, you want to get off the plane as quickly as possible. The bulkhead seats (first row) is your best bet. These seats are Extra Legroom seats, so you need to book a Choice Extra fare, have A-List Preferred status, or pay an extra fee at the time of booking to secure a bulkhead seat.

If you choose the bulkhead, remember that you won’t be able to put a carry-on or personal item in front of you, so everything needs to be stored in the overhead bins.

Hot Tip: Looking for a great credit card that earns tons of points? Check out our guide to the best credit cards for Southwest Airlines flyers.

Best Seats if You Want To Recline

If you’re looking forward to putting your seat back to take a little snooze on your flight, be sure to choose a row that can actually recline.

Avoid the exit rows, the row in front of the exit row, and the last row of seats on the airplane. These seats typically do not recline at all.

Southwest Airlines Exit Row — The exit row is great if you want extra legroom, but not if you want to recline your seat or are traveling with kids. Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann

These rows may have limited or no recline on Southwest Airlines:

Boeing 737-700: Rows 14, 15, and 27
Boeing 737-800: Rows 13, 14, 15, and 30
Boeing 737 MAX 8: Rows 13, 14, 15, and 30

The Best Seats if You’re Traveling With a Large Group

If you’re traveling with a large group and want to sit together, select seats at the time of booking. To do this, you need to avoid Basic fares, since these tickets don’t include seat selection.

Final Thoughts

Southwest Airlines completely changed its boarding process and open seating policy in early 2026, in favor of assigned seating. Every passenger receives an assigned seat, but your fare type, elite status, and credit card benefits affect when and if you can choose your preferred seat.

If you want a specific seat, you need to pay to choose it at the time of booking unless you have A-List Preferred status or are booking a Choice Extra Fare.