Choose a Southwest ticket by the seat, baggage and flexibility your trip needs. Assigned seating applies to travel from January 27, 2026, so a booking decision now includes when you can select a seat and which seat types the fare includes. Compare the complete price for every traveler and flight before paying. The policy snapshot below was checked September 11, 2026; the terms displayed for your reservation remain the place to confirm individual benefits.
On a narrow screen, scroll tables sideways. Keyboard users can focus a table and use the arrow keys.
Start with the four fare bundles
Southwest’s fare-benefit comparison distinguishes Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra. The table summarizes the ordinary seat-selection benefit. Availability and eligible status or card benefits can change what an individual passenger receives.
| Fare | Ordinary seat benefit | Useful comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Standard seat assigned at check-in | Price any desired advance selection separately. |
| Choice | Standard seat selection at booking | Compare against Basic plus the extras you require. |
| Choice Preferred | Preferred or Standard seat at booking | Consider the location and refundable fare terms. |
| Choice Extra | Extra Legroom or another available seat | Compare the total including its two checked bags, within limits. |
Preferred seats have standard legroom near the front; Extra Legroom seats provide additional space. Southwest’s assigned-seating guide explains these categories and the aircraft-dependent pitch. Decide whether you are buying a location, extra space or flexibility. Those are separate benefits.
Compare the whole journey
Enter the dates, airports, party size and required bags before comparing bundles. Add seat selection and other necessary extras to each fare. Check each direction separately, because availability and charges can differ. Count an included item as zero additional cost to avoid adding it twice.
Southwest’s fare table lists checked-bag charges for Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred, with exceptions for eligible travelers. Sign in and attach the correct loyalty number before assessing benefits. For any exemption, confirm the passenger, reservation, size and weight conditions. A remembered benefit from an earlier trip is a reason to check the booking again.
Fictional two-person comparison
For one flight, suppose Option A is USD 120 per person plus USD 30 per person for the desired seat and USD 40 per person for one checked bag. The total is 2 × (120 + 30 + 40) = USD 380. Option B costs USD 180 per person and includes those same requirements: 2 × 180 = USD 360. B is USD 20 less. These invented inputs illustrate arithmetic, not Southwest prices.
Use the printable fare-comparison sheet to record actual quotes. Compare flexibility after calculating the price: paying more can still be worthwhile when a trip date is uncertain.
Read the cancellation result before purchase
Record what happens if you change plans: refund to the original payment method, travel credit, or a required fare upgrade. Southwest’s current table shows that Basic changes require an upgrade; other fare changes can involve a fare difference. Read the linked terms for credit expiration, transferability and the cancellation deadline.
A usable comparison states both the amount at risk and what you would receive. “Flexible” alone leaves too much unstated. If two passengers might separate their plans, ask how a change would affect each person and any benefits shared through the reservation. Save the confirmation and the fare conditions with the purchase date.
Prepare for the assigned-seat boarding process
Check in using the airline’s instructions and read the seat and boarding group shown on the boarding pass. Southwest describes group assignment as depending on fare, seat, status and card benefits. The boarding group and the seat number answer different questions: when to join the boarding process and where to sit.
Before leaving home, check your airport’s check-in, bag-drop and gate requirements through the reservation and airline support pages. Work backward from those deadlines, allowing time for transport, queues and assistance. Keep the operating flight number and any connection details accessible offline.
For a family or accessibility requirement, arrange the needed assistance directly with Southwest and verify the resulting reservation. Recheck seat assignments after an aircraft or schedule change. At the airport, follow the current boarding pass and staff instructions; resolve a missing seat assignment with the airline.