The first aircraft with extra legroom seats from Southwest Airlines is scheduled to begin offering customers on Thursday, marking a first step in the low-fare airline’s plan to make a , slew of changes to its ship and customer experience.
All plane in Southwest’s ships will be retrofitted over the course of the year to accommodate the new chairs with up to 5 inches of more room, according to a , a statement from the business.
The first to undergo the updates will be the Boeing 737-800 and Max 8 aviation, with modifications to the Boeing 737-700 starting this summer.
Along with the upgrading, there will be additional room upgrades, including the installation of in-seat energy and larger overhead storage bins.
Additionally, Southwest is expanding its booking options.
May 28 is the start date for Southwest’s lowest-priced tickets, then known as Basic charges. Basic solution holders will be required to pay for checked bags, get next to table, and be assigned regular seats in the backseat of the plane.
Beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, additional new options, such as Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, and Choice, may be bookable for 2026 planes.
Prior to now, Business Select customers who choose Choice Extra will receive two free checked bags, earlier boarding, and seat selection with more legroom.
People who use Choice Preferred bookings, which were previously offered on Anytime fares, have access to early public boarding and seats with regular legroom close to the front of the cabin. Checked bag taxes are applicable.
Both choices are recoverable.
Prior to Wanna Get Ahead Plus tickets, Choice fares let passengers select common seats in the back of the cabin for general boarding. Checked case fees are applicable, and ticket holders will be eligible for a 12-month trip credit if their flight is canceled.
The price of assigned and advanced seats beginning later this month, with seat assignments beginning in 2026, is preceded by the updating of the Southwest ship and ticketing options.
Check bag costs may be applied to Southwest’s Basic, Wanna Getting Away Plus, and Anytime tickets for flights booked or ticketed on or after May 28, which means that the initial two checked bags that people take will not be free.
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