Tomorrow marks the end of an era for Southwest Airlines as we know it.

If you’ve been putting off learning about Southwest’s new seating policies, your time is officially up. Starting January 27th (yes, tomorrow), the airline is completely overhauling how you board and sit on their planes. If you’re flying Southwest anytime soon, here’s everything you need to know before you head to the airport.

Today is the Last Day for Boarding Numbers

Let’s get straight to the point: as of tomorrow, Southwest’s open seating system is gone. No more boarding numbers, no more racing to grab your favorite seat, no more freedom to sit wherever you want once you’re on the plane.

Instead, you’ll be assigned a specific seat when you book, just like you would on Delta, United, American, or any other airline. The days of checking in exactly 24 hours before your flight to get a good boarding number?! Over. For those of us who loved the old Southwest system, tomorrow is a pretty sad day. But it’s happening whether we like it or not.

Here’s How the New Seating Works

Southwest has split their planes into three different seating categories, and your experience depends entirely on which one you choose (and how much you pay).

• Extra Legroom is the top tier. These seats offer additional legroom in spots like exit rows and the forward cabin. Passengers in this category board first in Groups 1 and 2. Of course, these are the most expensive seats available.
• Preferred Seats are the middle option. You’ll get standard legroom in the forward and middle parts of the cabin. This group boards in Groups 3 through 5, putting you somewhere in the middle of the boarding process. These seats cost less than Extra Legroom but more than Standard.
• Standard Seats are the budget-friendly choice, but you get what you pay for. These are whatever seats remain after Extra Legroom and Preferred passengers make their selections. Expect middle and rear cabin seats, with plenty of middle seats thrown in. This group boards last in Groups 6 through 8.

Boarding Looks Different Starting Tomorrow

The boarding process is getting a complete makeover. Instead of lining up in numerical order based on your boarding number, Southwest will call boarding groups like every other airline does. Your boarding group will be printed right on your boarding pass.

If you paid for Extra Legroom or a Preferred Seat, you’ll get an earlier boarding group. If you went with Standard, you’re boarding with the last groups. The upside? Boarding might feel a little less stressful since you don’t need to find your exact numerical spot in line. The downside? You’re stuck with your assigned seat no matter when you board.

Don’t Forget About Status and Credit Card Benefits

If you have elite status with Southwest or carry one of their credit cards, make sure you’re taking advantage of your perks under the new system.

• A-List Preferred members get free Extra Legroom seats, while A-List members can select a free Preferred Seat. These perks can save you a decent chunk of change if you’re flying regularly.
• Southwest credit card holders still get one free checked bag, which is huge since free checked bags are no longer available to regular passengers. Credit card holders are also automatically placed in boarding group 5, guaranteeing you won’t be stuck in the very last boarding group.

New Rules for Passengers Needing Additional Space

Tomorrow also brings changes to Southwest’s policy for passengers who need more than one seat. Under the old rules, these passengers didn’t have to purchase a second seat in advance, and Southwest would provide extra seats when possible with refunds available after the flight.

Starting tomorrow, passengers requiring additional space must purchase an extra seat and pay any applicable seat fees before they can board. Refunds are still an option after you travel, but only under specific conditions: both seats must be in the same fare class, you need to request the refund within 90 days, and the plane must have had at least one open seat available. Even if the flight was completely full, you might still qualify for a refund if some empty seats were being held for off-duty airline employees.

What This All Means

If you’ve flown on literally any other major airline in the past decade, Southwest’s new system will feel totally familiar. They’ve basically adopted the same seating and boarding policies that their competitors have used for years. Is it disappointing for those of us who loved Southwest’s unique approach? Sure. But starting tomorrow, Southwest is just another airline with assigned seats and tiered boarding groups.

Make sure you understand these changes before your next flight, especially if you’re flying Southwest tomorrow or anytime in the near future. The last thing you want is to show up at the airport expecting the old system and getting hit with a completely different experience.

Stay tuned to DFB for more travel updates!

“Hate the New Changes.” Fans Are NOT Ready for This HUGE Southwest Airlines Change

Are you sad to see Southwest’s open seating go? Let us know in the comments!