Southwest Airlines Ends Open Seating, Starts Assigned Seats in 2026

Southwest Airlines will end its nearly 50-year-old open seating policy and introduce assigned seating starting January 27, 2026, with seat selection available from July 29, 2025. The airline will offer various fare bundles including standard, preferred, and extra legroom seats, with boarding groups based on fare, loyalty status, and seat location, replacing the current “A,” “B,” and “C” boarding groups. This change aims to provide customers with more choice and control, aligning with industry standards and customer preferences, as well as increasing ancillary revenue through premium offerings such as seat selection and priority boarding. Despite the changes, Southwest will maintain certain perks like two free checked bags, although it introduced fees for checked bags starting May 29, 2025. Southwest has reconfigured about one-quarter of its fleet to accommodate the new seating arrangement and has tested the boarding process to maintain efficiency. Executive Vice President Tony Roach described the move as an important evolution to improve the travel experience while reducing uncertainties related to seating.