Earlier this year, the Southwest Airlines announced that it would sink into the policy of her open seats and move to the assigned seating model, which will have space with an additional leg room at the front of the plane.
Although the designated seats on the airline will not arrive until January, Southwest has gradually modified its Boeing 737 aircraft with a new layout, including seats with an additional leg room at the front of the airplane.
This means that for a limited time, those extra leg seats will be free for those who are lucky to fly to the southwest plane that has already been modified.
Southwest adds additional leg seats
Throughout its history, Southwest Airlines has never offered the highest quality places to its customers. The airline used a rather democratic open -seating model, where all seats were the same (outside the Exit Row, offering a little extra space).
But when Southwest retreats from that open sitting model, but it changes.
Earlier this year, Southwest Airlines announced that by 2026 The beginning will add spaces with additional feet on all your flights.
“To prepare in the designated and highest quality seats, Southwest employees will modify aircraft to accommodate new, additional leg seats,” Southwest announced in April. “These large -scale efforts will affect each southwestern naval aircraft from April 30 to the end of the year and opens the way to sell seats in the third quarter of 2025 and operate in the first quarter of 2026.”
Southwest releases changes
Although Southwest is not expected to be modified by the end of the year, the airline gradually added additional leg seats to its flights. Actually howThe guy of the points Reports, Southwest has already modified 380 of its planes with a new seating setup, which accounts for about 47% of its park.
Extra leg seats make up the first five rows of aircraft, as well as three rows around the output row of plane.
It is worth noting that although these places will eventually be sold to customers at the highest quality price, that is, only the standard bus seats with some extra legs. The seat itself is the same as the rest of the plane, and the width is no different.
It is also worth noting that since the Southwest Airlines will still be executed according to the policy of its open seats by the end of the year, these additional legs will be available free of charge before they are “first come, first received”.
How to get free additional leg seats
Southwest Airlines will start paying additional fees for additional leg seats beginning in 2026. At the beginning of the year. Until then, the seat will be accessible to everyone for free if you are one of the first to board the plane.
From ancient cudahy The guy of the points It has recently been explained that the best way to secure one of these places is to make sure you are in the boarding group. This can be done by being one of the first to visit your flight as Southwest planes are currently entering registration time.
As an alternative, the status of A-List Elite or the purchase of an Early Pird permit would also help, but this is hardly free.
“As long as the airline does not officially connect to open seats, customers with a” A “group boarding will certainly be best taken to collect extraordinary legs on flights offering a new layout,” Cudhy wrote. those places. ”
When it comes to which planes will have additional foot seats, this is mainly determined by success in terms of your flight. The guy of the points Reports that all Southwest flights to and from Hawaii were provided with additional feet.
In addition, this is due to the winning success, but your odds will continue to improve later this year as more and more planes will be modified.
This story was initially reported by Men’s Journal in 2025. September 15, where she first appeared in the travel department. Add men’s log as the desired source by clicking here.