When I first started flying with Southwest, I made the same assumption a lot of people do — that they must have First Class or Business Class seats tucked somewhere on the plane. The first time I flew with them, from Nashville to Phoenix, I was scanning the boarding options and thought I’d just pay a little extra to sit up front. But once I got on board, I realized that every seat on a Southwest plane is exactly the same size and style — no big recliners, no separate cabin.
Instead, Southwest offers what they call Business Select, which gives you the experience of an upgraded trip rather than different seats. I tried it for the first time on a flight from Dallas to Las Vegas, and honestly, it made a big difference. I got priority boarding (Group A1–A15), so I was one of the first on the plane and snagged a front-row seat with extra legroom. The seat itself wasn’t fancy, but being able to stretch out and deplane early made it feel like a premium experience.
The ticket also came with a free drink, bonus Rapid Rewards points, and flexible change and cancellation options, which came in handy when I had to move my return flight a day earlier.
So, while Southwest doesn’t technically have “First” or “Business Class” seats, the Business Select fare gives you perks that make flying much smoother — especially if you value flexibility and early boarding. I’d call it “First Class, Southwest-style.”
