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March 27, 2026 signaled the end of Southwest’s two-plus-decade-long A/B/C group boarding procedure. I wrote about Southwest’s decision to upend its long-standing policy a year ago in Bags no longer fly free on Southwest, but I hadn’t really thought about the change until I booked my return flight on February 2, 2026.

My boarding position was A51, a result of me checking in exactly 24 hours before the flight. Before they allowed A-List or A-List Preferred members to check in 36 hours before a flight, I remember getting really low A-group numbers. It was a fun game to play. And before they had the A/B/C boarding groups, my family used to arrive at the airport super early to get one of those low-numbered plastic boarding passes they handed out during Southwest’s first three decades of existence.

After the last flight on the 27th, Southwest employees across the country updated the signage and ripped out the boarding position stanchions. In their place are now two monitors that show which numbered group is boarding and which group should line up next. I bought the cheapest seat available, so I was in the eighth and final boarding group, and my seat was in the back of the plane.

I do miss the open seating arrangement. Even with a B or C boarding pass in the past, I knew I could get a seat at the very front of the plane because (1) I didn’t have any luggage that needed to go in the overhead bin and (2) middle seats were often available. My baggage, if I brought any at all, fit under the seat in front of me. And I’m not 6’4″ and 250 pounds, so the middle seat was fine for the short flights I typically took on Southwest.

That same seat in the front now costs $48–$54 to upgrade to. Now, when you board, the cabin is more visibly stratified. Those in the back were auto-assigned their seats, most likely because they bought the cheapest tickets. Those in the front are A-List or A-List Preferred customers, or people who paid more for extra legroom.

I get it — Southwest needs to make money and be more competitive vis-à-vis other airlines. But like I said in my previous post, all of these changes run the risk of alienating loyal customers. The lady sitting next to me on my return to San Jose was also a longtime Southwest customer, and she wasn’t happy with the recent changes either.

I have several more trips planned over the next few months, and most of them are still scheduled on Southwest. Prior to booking, I did look at other airlines to find cheaper prices or schedules that fit my travel plans. Southwest is no longer my automatic choice when it comes to flying in and around the West Coast.