Southwest Airlines Ends Open Seating Policy

Southwest Airlines is making the biggest change in its history. After more than 50 years of letting passengers choose any available seat, the airline is officially moving to assigned seating. If you are wondering how this shift alters your future travel plans, here is exactly what you need to know about the upcoming booking and boarding process.

Why Southwest is Changing Its Seating Policy

On July 25, 2024, Southwest executives announced the end of the open seating era. The decision comes down to clear customer feedback and shifting financial pressures. According to the airline, 80% of current Southwest customers prefer an assigned seat. When looking at travelers who choose competitors like Delta Air Lines or United Airlines, 86% state they want an assigned seat.

Southwest realized that the anxiety of open seating was driving potential customers away. Furthermore, the airline is facing intense pressure from Elliott Investment Management. This activist investor group recently purchased a massive stake in the company and demanded changes to increase profits. By moving to assigned seating, Southwest can charge premium prices for better seats, creating a massive new revenue stream.

How the New Assigned Seating Works

The exact date you can book an assigned seat is still approaching. Southwest plans to start selling tickets with assigned seats in the second half of 2025. The actual flights featuring the new assigned seating will take to the skies in early 2026.

When the new system goes live, booking a flight on the Southwest website or mobile app will look very similar to booking on American Airlines or JetBlue. You will see a digital map of the Boeing 737 cabin. You will click on the exact row and letter you want before you pay for your ticket. Families will be able to select seats together at checkout, eliminating the stressful practice of asking strangers to trade seats on the plane.

The Introduction of Premium Extra Legroom Seats

Southwest is not just assigning seats. The company is completely redesigning its cabin layout. The airline will dedicate roughly one-third of the seats on its aircraft to offer premium extra legroom.

These premium seats will likely sit at the front of the plane and in the exit rows. While Southwest has not yet released the exact pricing for these seats, industry experts expect a model similar to United Economy Plus. Travelers will pay an upgrade fee to secure a few extra inches of space. To make room for these premium sections, Southwest will have to remove a small number of standard seats from its planes.

What Happens to the Boarding Process?

For decades, Southwest used a highly specific boarding method. Passengers received a group letter of A, B, or C alongside a number from 1 to 60. You then lined up at numbered pillars at the gate.

With assigned seating, the famous cattle call boarding process will disappear. Southwest will transition to a traditional zoned boarding system. You will wait at the gate until the gate agent calls your specific zone. You will then walk onto the plane and sit in the seat printed on your boarding pass. There is no longer a reason to rush onto the aircraft to claim an aisle or window seat.

This change also means the end of the EarlyBird Check-In product. Currently, passengers pay between $15 and $25 per flight to get an automatic early boarding position. Moving forward, customers will simply pay for their preferred seat location instead.

The Retrofitting Timeline and FAA Approval

Updating an entire airline fleet is a massive project. Southwest operates around 800 Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline cannot simply start charging for extra legroom tomorrow. Every single plane needs to go into a hangar to have its seats physically moved and reinstalled.

Before Southwest can fly these newly configured planes, the Federal Aviation Administration must inspect and approve the new cabin designs. This regulatory approval process is exactly why you will not fly in an assigned Southwest seat until 2026.

Good News: Bags Still Fly Free

The most common worry among Southwest loyalists is losing the famous luggage policy. Southwest executives quickly confirmed that all passengers will still get two free checked bags.

The airline researched this heavily and discovered that charging for bags would actually hurt their business. The two free checked bags policy is the main reason millions of travelers choose Southwest over budget carriers like Spirit Airlines or Frontier Airlines. Keeping this policy intact helps Southwest maintain customer loyalty during this massive transition.

Red-Eye Flights Are Coming Too

Alongside the seating changes, Southwest is launching overnight red-eye flights. The first overnight routes will begin on February 13, 2025.

These initial flights will connect West Coast cities to East Coast hubs. For example, the first red-eye routes include flights from Las Vegas to Orlando, Los Angeles to Baltimore, and Phoenix to Baltimore. By adding overnight flights, Southwest can keep its planes in the air longer and generate more ticket sales without needing to buy new aircraft.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Southwest assigned seating start? Southwest plans to open bookings for assigned seats in the late summer or fall of 2025. The actual flights with assigned seating will begin operating in early 2026.

Do I still have to check in exactly 24 hours early? Once the new system is active in 2026, checking in exactly 24 hours early will no longer be necessary to secure a good seat. Your specific seat will already be locked in from the moment you purchase your ticket.

Will Southwest offer a first-class cabin? No. Southwest is not adding a traditional first-class cabin with large recliner seats. They are only adding standard economy seats that feature extra legroom.

Will Southwest charge for checked bags now? No. Southwest has officially stated that the two free checked bags policy will remain exactly as it is today.