Southwest Airlines has announced a definitive start date of Jan. 27, 2026, for the implementation of assigned seating, marking a significant shift away from its traditional open-seat boarding policy.
The big picture: Passengers will now have the opportunity to select their seats at the time of booking, enabling them to choose from different seat types including Extra Legroom, Preferred and Standard, with the aim of providing more options and control over their travel experience.
- The introduction of assigned seating will also bring about a new group-based boarding process, with boarding Groups 1-2 prioritizing passengers with Extra Legroom seats and granting earlier access to premium fare, loyalty program members, and credit cardholders.
- This move signifies Southwest’s departure from its previous free-for-all seating arrangement, allowing the airline to introduce premium seat charges to compete more effectively with legacy carriers such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.
