How a lot are Southwest’s new assigned seats? It relies upon

Southwest Airways‘ first assigned seats went on sale this week for flights beginning Jan. 27 of subsequent 12 months. What you will pay will differ.

The value relies on the route, whenever you’re touring and the place you sit. Choosing your splendid seats can add tons of of {dollars} to the price of a household trip, much like flying on different airways.

For instance, a roundtrip ticket within the “Alternative” ticket class — the second least expensive sort of ticket — between Denver Worldwide Airport and Orlando Worldwide Airport leaving Feb. 14 and returning Feb. 21, which coincides with Presidents Day, was going for $692 on Southwest’s web site on Thursday. For seats the airline deems “most well-liked,” it will be $46 for a window or aisle seat in Rows 7 to 13, or $41 for a center seat in these rows.

Clients with elite frequent-flyer standing on the airline or with Southwest Airways bank cards shall be exempt from a number of the charges.

An additional-legroom seat, positioned within the first six rows of the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane, was going for $96 for window or aisle. Costs have been comparable, however barely decrease, for the return flight.

Seat choice at the back of the airplane in rows 17 by means of 30 are freed from cost for a “Alternative” ticket. The dearer “Alternative Most well-liked” ticket consists of most well-liked row seats, whereas the priciest possibility, “Alternative Additional” consists of extra-legroom seats and likewise comes with a free “premium” beverage like an alcoholic drink.

The identical route, on the identical days on United Airways was $665, with extra-legroom seats various from $105 to $126 every approach and $37 to $42 for most well-liked seats.

The adjustments are all a part of Southwest‘s plan to ditch the hallmarks of its greater than half-century-old enterprise mannequin. For many years, that included open seating (and uniform legroom all through the cabin) together with a unusual boarding system that led to a mad sprint on the airport for a seat, and two free checked luggage for all prospects.

Southwest’s rivals have made billions on bag and seat charges, elevating questions for years from traders and Wall Avenue analysts about whether or not the service was maximizing income. Final 12 months, activist hedge fund Elliott Funding Administration took an enormous stake in Southwest, calling for such adjustments, and resulting in a board shakeup. Main U.S. carriers introduced in $12.4 billion assigned-seating charges between 2018 and 2023, in line with Senate panel report.

Southwest’s first-ever bag charges began with tickets offered in late Might. The airline is charging $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second, roughly in step with different airways.

The service additionally joined rivals in launching a no-frills fundamental financial system ticket, the place prospects do not get free, superior seat choice, one thing Southwest expects it’s going to profit from subsequent 12 months, when seat assignments go into impact.

“We assume there shall be a optimistic affect in Q1 once we go to assigned seat, that is a extra compelling buy-up from fundamental financial system to Alternative,” Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s chief working officer, mentioned on an earnings name final week. “Nevertheless, ought to we achieve making it a optimistic earlier than then, that is a further tailwind as we go all through the second half.”

Southwest will reward its most loyal prospects although, with selection seats as perks.

Frequent flyers with top-tier A-Checklist Most well-liked standing on Southwest will get extra-legroom seats at reserving, in addition to two free checked luggage, and A-Checklist status-holders can e-book them 48 hours earlier than departure, although there isn’t any assure they will be accessible. Each teams may have complimentary entry to most well-liked seats. A number of Southwest bank cards additionally present entry to most well-liked seats, whatever the fare sort.