Assigned seating experience reports
Jan 28, 2026 | 11:20 am
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,034
I think it's a mental thing... I've seen the same on United where on their new A321neo there are some rows of Economy Plus aft of the overwing exit rows. Often the entire front cabin Econ Plus seats are filled, even middles, and those back in row 26 or so will have all 3 open.
Jan 28, 2026 | 11:22 am
#32
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: KUSA
Programs: Whatever AMEX Plat comes with... I buy on price.. Spirit Big Front Seat, want First/buy First
Posts: 1,886
If it's extra legroom seat for a 3 hour flight versus not, or an aisle versus a middle, I'll take the extra 3-4 minutes to get off the plane.
Jan 28, 2026 | 11:27 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List Preferred, CLEAR+, Covid-19, NK Gold
Posts: 5,271
Jan 28, 2026 | 11:34 am
#34
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: BWI
Programs: Marriott LTT, WN ALP, Hertz 5-Star, Avis Preferred
Posts: 637
Yeah I think she was counting people in the boarding area and she had a whole row to herself so that might've thrown the count off.
Jan 28, 2026 | 11:40 am
#35
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: FLL
Programs: Southwest A-list Preferred
Posts: 54
Every other airline dings when you scan your pass at the top of the jetway and the gate agent asks willing and able. Maybe SW isnt programmed to ding upon scan yet.
Jan 28, 2026 | 1:34 pm
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 62,516
Well my A-List and/or Priority card free ELR seating benefit at T-48 worked in the app. I will mentally assign this to the Priority card to mentally justify $229 AF. Also as I wont chase status going forward unless organically get very close (eg biz travel)
Jan 28, 2026 | 1:56 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2026
Posts: 1
It will be interesting to see if this is correct. If so it may make an upgrade to the Priority card more palatable. As it stands now Im having trouble justifying the $149 af for the Premier card for the chance to maybe be able to snag a preferred seat.
Jan 28, 2026 | 2:06 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,285
OAK-ONT today, all flawless. Talked to several GAs and FAs, all said yesterday was also flawless….very few very minor issues. FA walked me through the new app they use…lots of info on there re all pax, connecting pax, etc. Impressive rollout IMO.
Jan 28, 2026 | 2:35 pm
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,006
Flew today, no system issues.
A little jarring to see Boarding Group 5 as an A-List without an extra legroom seat. Knowing that simply selecting an extra legroom seat moves you up to Group 2, I may do that next time. One was available at T-48, but I stayed back in a row with an empty middle. The middle stayed empty, it was a pleasant flight, but I wonder if on a full flight, Group 5 will have issues with their carryons. There was room for one bag above my seat...on a flight with probably 30-40 empty seats. (Plenty of room farther back in the plane.)
A little jarring to see Boarding Group 5 as an A-List without an extra legroom seat. Knowing that simply selecting an extra legroom seat moves you up to Group 2, I may do that next time. One was available at T-48, but I stayed back in a row with an empty middle. The middle stayed empty, it was a pleasant flight, but I wonder if on a full flight, Group 5 will have issues with their carryons. There was room for one bag above my seat...on a flight with probably 30-40 empty seats. (Plenty of room farther back in the plane.)
Jan 28, 2026 | 3:29 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 2,744
https://www.southwest.com/customer-e...NTS_LINK_GROUP
Jan 28, 2026 | 4:51 pm
#42
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List Preferred, CLEAR+, Covid-19, NK Gold
Posts: 5,271
Jan 28, 2026 | 5:25 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List Preferred, CLEAR+, Covid-19, NK Gold
Posts: 5,271
Jan 28, 2026 | 5:26 pm
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 62,516
In the email it says G5 but in the footnote it says 3-5 but no later than 5. That is both for A List and Priority card holders
My first itinerary coming up I will have 3-5 first leg and 1-2 in 2nd leg due to getting a free ELR seat.
They over complicated this. Unless the system auto upgrades all my BP to G1-2 since one leg is G1-2. Any datapoints yet on this scenario?
My first itinerary coming up I will have 3-5 first leg and 1-2 in 2nd leg due to getting a free ELR seat.
They over complicated this. Unless the system auto upgrades all my BP to G1-2 since one leg is G1-2. Any datapoints yet on this scenario?