Southwest Airlines has announced the end of its open-seat boarding tradition, which will be replaced with assigned seating starting January 27, 2026. Passengers will have options for seat selection at booking time.
According to Tony Roach, Southwest executive vice president, customers want more choice and control over their travel experience. Assigned seating offers benefits like Extra Legroom seats and removes uncertainty about where passengers will sit. The change will also introduce a new group-based boarding process.
Extra Legroom seats in Groups 1-2 will have priority, while premium fares and loyalty program members board earlier. Details can be found on the airline’s website. This shift aims to better compete with legacy carriers, which generate revenue through premium seating fees.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/travel/southwest-airlines-assigned-seats-start