Southwest Ends Open Seating, Adopts Assigned Seats

Southwest Airlines ended its longstanding open seating policy on January 27, 2026, introducing assigned seats for the first time in the carrier's more than 50-year history. The Dallas-based airline, which operates flights to over 100 destinations, also implemented a stricter policy for passengers requiring extra space, requiring them to purchase an additional seat in advance. The changes, affecting all domestic and international flights, align the airline more closely with competitors like Delta, United, and American.

The shift to assigned seating allows passengers to select seats during the booking process, with options for standard, preferred, or extra legroom accommodations. Basic fares receive seat assignments at check-in, while higher tiers like Choice Preferred and Choice Extra offer priority boarding, forward seating, and perks such as complimentary checked bags and inflight Wi-Fi. Boarding now proceeds in eight numbered groups based on fare type and loyalty status, following preboarding for families with young children, passengers with disabilities, and active-duty military members. Southwest officials stated the move addresses evolving customer preferences, citing...