New Changes With Southwest 2025

Southwest Airlines has changed a lot in the year 2025, and they continue to make changes which has confused and frustrated travelers! Don’t lose hope! There are still lots of ways to travel on Southwest and still get some great benefits. It does look a little different, but I am here to help you with some of the new changes with Southwest Airlines.

If you decide to move forward with any of the Southwest card offers, I would be so thankful if you would use my links, as this is a free way for you to support my business and allows me to keep putting out great information for you to travel while saving money. Thank you in advance for all your support anytime you go through the links on my page.

New Card Benefits

Having a Southwest credit card is going to help you adjust to the new changes with Southwest Airlines. These credit card benefits will help ease some of the worries with paid bags and paid seats now being part of the process. I would highly consider grabbing a Southwest credit card if you fly this airline frequently. Check out the top offers on the Southwest credit cards HERE to check out the differences and see which one is a great fit for your travel needs.

One Free Checked Bag

Getting one free checked bag is a major plus with the new changes at Southwest Airlines. This not only gets the cardholder one free checked bag but also anyone on their reservation up to 8 people. So families that book together will still be able to check one free bag each. Checked bags will cost $35 each, so the savings on this could easily cover your annual fee on your Southwest credit card. Every Southwest card includes this benefit, so whether you open a personal card or a business card, you get this benefit.

Boarding Benefit

All cardmembers will now receive Group 5 boarding. The days of boarding by groups A, B, and C are no longer. Now there will be numbered group boarding similar to other airlines. All cardholders will be able to board with group 5, which will help if you need overhead storage space. This benefit is included on all cards. Your boarding group may be higher depending on your A-list status or your upgraded seat, but at least you know you are not boarding last.

Seat Selection 48 Hours Prior

Assigned seats are part of the new changes with Southwest Airlines. This was upsetting for many, but if you are a cardholder, you get some benefits in this area. This benefit does vary by card. At the 48-hour window before your flight, depending on your card, you will be able to select your seat if available. The lowest annual fee card from Southwest will give you a complimentary standard seat 48 hours before your flight, while the other higher cards offer preferred or standard seats. The highest annual fee personal card from Southwest gives you a preferred seat at the time of booking, and there is an opportunity for a free upgrade to extra legroom. Depending on your seat preference, it may be worth applying for the higher personal card.

Complimentary Seat Selection at Booking

Would you rather not wait for the 48 hours before your flight to select your seat? Then you may want to consider one of these Southwest credit cards instead. With the new changes with Southwest Airlines, you will need to pay for your seat selection, but certain credit cards will cover that cost. The Southwest Priority card (Personal Card) offers cardholders a complimentary Preferred seat at the time of booking their flight. Not only that, but there is also a possible upgrade to a complimentary Extra Legroom seat if available when that 48-hour to departure window arrives. If you are looking for a business card that gives the same options for seat selection, then you would want to apply for the Southwest Performance Business card. This business card offers the same seat benefits.

Flight Discount

Another new change with the Southwest Airlines credit card benefits is a flight discount. This discount is given once a year to cardholders. You can use this promo discount on any flights but the Basic fare. The flight discount isn’t included with every card and also varies in amount. The lowest annual fee Southwest card, the Southwest Plus Credit card, offers a 10% discount. Both the Southwest personal Premier card and the Southwest business Premier card offer a 15% discount.

Earn 2x on Everyday Spending

This new change to Southwest Airlines credit cardholders will help you earn more on everyday spending. Depending on which card you apply for, you can now earn 2x on gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. The Southwest Plus gives 2x on gas and grocery stores up to $5,000 a year. While the higher-end Southwest Priority earns 2x on gas and restaurants with no max out limits. Just double-check your card to see which category applies to your card. TIP: Label this card with what earns you 2x so you can maximize your spend and not forget. I use a label maker.

Bag Policy Changes

Who didn’t get sad when Southwest did away with 2 free bags?!? This new change with Southwest Airlines was not news that travelers wanted to hear. If you booked your flight before May 27, 2025, you will still get your two free bags, but if you booked your flight after then, the new baggage policy applies.

Bags will now cost $35 unless you hold a Southwest Credit Card, then you will get your first bag free for you and up to 8 people on your reservation. If you want to add the second bag, it will cost you $45. Besides cardholders, there are other ways you can get your bag for free when flying Southwest.

If you choose to book a Business select fare (this fare is ending in January 2025), then you will receive 2 free checked bags. If you are also A-list Preferred, you will receive 2 free checked bags, and A-list members will get one bag for free. So holding status with Southwest will help you receive free checked luggage.

Seating Changes

Booking Seat Categories

The terminology with fares like Wanna Get Away are gone. There are new ticket categories when booking your ticket with Southwest. There are new categories: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. The higher the category, the more points or cash it will cost you on your flight.

Picking Your Seat When Booking

If you book a flight after January 27, 2025, you will now be booking your seat as well. When booking a flight, you will see the seat selections and the prices per seat. If you are a cardholder at this point, you will see your benefits listed above to help you book your seat.

Extra legroom seats

• Cost $78-$91 (costs may vary)
• Located in the front of the plane and the Exit rows

Preferred Seats

• Cost $36-$41 (costs may vary)
• Located in the middle of the plane before the Exit rows

Standard Seats

• Located in the back half of the plane
• Basic Fare- You will be placed in a seat
• Cardholders are able to select seats 48 hours prior to departure

Southwest Companion Pass

The Southwest companion pass is still in effect, and no changes have been made. That isn’t to say there won’t be some in the future. For now, you can still earn a companion pass and get BOGO flights. To learn all about the Southwest Companion pass benefits and how to earn it through my FREE Guide HERE.

Companion Pass with Card Promo

With the amazing high-elevation offer on the personal Southwest credit cards, I have created an easy-to-follow timeline if you want to use this promotion to help you earn a Southwest Companion pass for almost 2 full years!

If you follow this timeline, you could earn BOGO flights for all of 2026 and 2027! The dates are on there to keep you on track to earn the points and earn the pass, and maximize your benefits.

Until Southwest does away with its companion pass, I definitely think these miles still hold value, and you can find workarounds with the bag fees and assigned seats. Just stay flexible and enjoy the points and travel benefits while you can.