Are Southwest’s Extra Legroom Seats Worth It? My First Flights

Many people — myself included — were not happy when Southwest Airlines did away with the two features that made Southwest the airline we affectionately referred to as “the bus.”
The Airline of Love scrapped open seating (which was based on boarding zone). Those of us in the know were hip to which seats to target (bulkheads, exit rows, etc. Or the back rows when flying to destinations that deplane from the front and back). When you lucked out and scored the seat you wanted, it was a mini victory.

Southwest also ditched its first-two-bags-fly-free policy. They didn’t drop it to one free bag. Zero bags now fly free (“unless you have the credit card,” as the saying goes.)

I started flying Southwest around 23 years ago, not long after moving to Los Angeles. (Back when airfares were as low as $14. Yes, really.) I grew accustomed to its quirks. While I didn’t love stopping everything I was doing 24 hours before a flight — so I could check in and get a decent boarding position — I usually enjoyed my Southwest experiences. (Most of my Southwest experiences are under two hours, with a few three- and four-hour trips sprinkled in there.)

I’ve flown between Hollywood Burbank (BUR) and Oakland (OAK), and between BUR and Denver (DEN), over the past few weeks. Here are my experiences with Southwest Extra Legroom seats.

Plus, I hold the Southwest Companion Pass through the end of 2026. My wife flies free on any Southwest flight I take, so we’re trying to milk that as long as we can.

How I Got the Extra Legroom Seats

Southwest’s Extra Legroom seats can be purchased in advance as part of an airfare bundle or a la carte. Here are all the ways in — and how I actually did it.

• Hold A-List Preferred status. You earn it with 40 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year, so it’s not cheap to get, but the seating perk is the real thing.
• Buy a Choice Extra fare. The bundle formerly known as Business Select lets you pick an Extra Legroom seat right at booking. You also get Group 1 boarding and two free checked bags. If you want a guaranteed seat without chasing status, this is it.
• Hold plain A-List status. A-List flyers can grab an Extra Legroom seat 48 hours before departure for free, if one’s available — but not at booking like A-List Preferred. The perk covers up to 8 people on the same reservation, so your whole group rides along — just make sure the A-List member’s Rapid Rewards number is on the booking.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card or Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Cardholders can select the Extra Legroom upgrade within 48 hours of departure, when seats are open. You don’t have to pay with the card; just attach your Rapid Rewards number to the reservation. For example, I booked one a couple of these flights through Chase Travel℠ and paid with Chase points. I added my Rapid Rewards number and it was easy peasy.
• Pay the upgrade fee. Booked a cheaper bundle and have no status? You can still buy your way into an Extra Legroom seat at booking or later — assuming one’s open. The price can sting — up to $250 per segment on some routes.

I’m a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card member. I’m able to select Extra Legroom seats 48 hours before a flight’s departure. (I’m also entitled to a complimentary standard seat upon booking when booking a Basic airfare.)

The Onboard Experience

Extra Legroom members enjoy group 2 boarding. That comes after passengers needing assistance, military and other priority boarding, A-List Preferred members, and group 1. But it’s still great for getting on the plane early — especially if you’re carrying on.

That said, there is dedicated overhead bin space for Extra Legroom passengers — and our flights’ flight attendants were very good about policing it.

We were pleasantly surprised by the legroom on our 737-700s.

Both my wife and I think the space is noticeably larger than Delta Comfort+.

For reference, I’m about 6’1.”

I could comfortably work on my laptop.

Extra Legroom seat passengers enjoy special amenities, too: pistachios (regular or honey roasted) and one complimentary alcoholic beverage.

Overall, we were very happy with our Southwest Extra Legroom experience.

Final Approach

Unless there’s a substantial price savings, we’ll take Southwest whenever possible through at least the end of the year. We love Delta’s hard product (the planes, Sky Clubs, crews, etc). But convenience- and price-wise, we’re talking the Southwest bus more often.

We’re impressed with their Extra Legroom seats. And the Southwest Priority’s $229 annual fee for complimentary Extra Legroom seats — especially for my three-person family to enjoy them — is well worth it.

All information about the Southwest credit cards was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided by nor reviewed by Chase.