Southwest to assign seats, end open seating, cut routes 2026 makeover

Southwest Airlines is steering a broad makeover into 2026, rolling out a set of interlocking changes that touch where travelers sit, how they fly, and which cities they serve. The Dallas-based carrier plans to implement assigned seating on all flights from January 27, 2026, and to require passengers who cannot fit within a single seat to purchase a second ticket in advance, with refunds only under stricter conditions. At the same time, Southwest is refining its network and removing long-standing policies such as open seating and, in a separate financial shift, its “bags fly free” policy. The moves come as the airline seeks to reshape its brand and operations in response to evolving market dynamics and customer expectations.

In the near term, the changes have produced tangible disruption in St. Louis. Southwest announced the cancellation of six direct flights from Lambert International Airport to Little Rock, Tulsa, Charlotte, Des Moines, Oklahoma City, and Wichita. The airline said it is redesigning east–west connectivity that has traditionally routed through St. Louis to other points in its network, aligning routes with its strengths and broader network strategy. Local...