Southwest Airlines Launches Assigned Seating on Puerto Rico Flight

The airline's first-ever assigned-seating flight will depart from San Juan to Orlando.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:23pm

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Southwest Airlines is set to operate its first-ever assigned-seating flight this week, with one of the initial flights departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Orlando, Florida. The flight, WN3575, will mark the first time Southwest's new seating model is used on a Caribbean route as part of the airline's broader transition away from its long-standing open-seating policy.

Why it matters

The move to assigned seating is a major shift for Southwest, which has historically relied on a first-come, first-served boarding process. The San Juan departure signals the importance of leisure-focused Caribbean routes in the airline's evolving product strategy as it looks to offer customers more choice and flexibility.

The details

Under the new model, Southwest will offer Extra Legroom seating, Preferred seating, and Standard seating. Passengers will receive an assigned seat prior to boarding, replacing the airline's traditional boarding-position system. The seating changes will be paired with a new group-based boarding process.

  • The first assigned-seating flight will depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Orlando, Florida on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
  • Southwest has not yet announced a timeline for a full rollout of assigned seating across its network.

The players

Southwest Airlines

A major U.S. airline that has historically operated with an open-seating policy but is now transitioning to an assigned-seating model.

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport

The main airport serving San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one of Southwest's important Caribbean markets.

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What’s next

Southwest has not yet announced when assigned seating and premium options will expand to additional Caribbean routes, but more details are expected as the airline continues testing the new system.

The takeaway

Southwest's shift to assigned seating on a Puerto Rico flight signals the airline's efforts to modernize its product offerings and cater to customer demand for more choice, even on leisure-focused Caribbean routes.