When is Southwest ending open seating?

Southwest's open seating policy will end on January 27, 2026.

What new seat options will Southwest offer?

Southwest will introduce Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seat options.

Will flying Southwest become more expensive?

Experts suggest that while fares may appear low, unbundled services and new seat options could increase the overall cost for average passengers.

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Southwest Ditches Open Seating for Assigned Seats

22 Jan

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Summary

Southwest ends open seating, implementing assigned seats from January 2026.
New fare classes offer Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seat options.
Experts warn this shift signals higher costs for average economy flyers.

Southwest Ditches Open Seating for Assigned Seats

Southwest Airlines will transition away from its long-standing open-seating policy starting January 27, 2026. This significant change introduces assigned seating and a new boarding group system, similar to other carriers. Passengers will receive boarding group numbers based on loyalty status or fare class.

The airline is also diversifying its seating options, introducing Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seats across its fleet. These new fare classes, such as Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra, will determine seat selection availability at booking.

While Rapid Rewards members and Southwest credit card holders may benefit from early access and upgrades, experts suggest this shift will ultimately increase costs for average economy passengers. This move aligns Southwest with industry trends of unbundling services, making air travel potentially more expensive and complicated.