Southwest Airlines Implements Assigned Seating Across All Flights

The low-cost airline's biggest change to boarding and ticketing practices since its founding.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 3:07pm

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Southwest Airlines has implemented assigned seating on all of its flights starting on Tuesday, January 27th. The company is phasing out its previous A-B-C boarding groups in favor of an assigned seating system similar to other airlines, where passengers' ability to select certain seats will depend on their fare type. Southwest says its last flight with open seating left Honolulu, Hawaii on Monday night.

Why it matters

This is a major shift for Southwest, which has long been known for its open seating policy and lack of assigned seats. The change brings Southwest more in line with industry standards and gives passengers more predictability around seat selection, but may also impact the airline's reputation for a more casual and flexible boarding process.

The details

Under the new assigned seating system, passengers will be boarded and assigned to specific seats based on their group number, similar to other major airlines. Fare options will include standard, preferred, and extra legroom seats. Southwest also announced that passengers who 'encroach upon the neighboring seat' and need extra space will be required to purchase an additional ticket.

  • Southwest's last flight with open seating left Honolulu, Hawaii on Monday, January 26th.
  • The new assigned seating policy went into effect on all Southwest flights starting on Tuesday, January 27th.

The players

Southwest Airlines

A major low-cost airline in the United States, known for its open seating policy and casual boarding process until this change.

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The takeaway

Southwest's shift to assigned seating marks a significant change for the airline, as it moves away from its signature open seating model to a more standardized approach seen across the industry. This may impact the airline's reputation for a flexible and casual boarding experience, but also provides more predictability for passengers around seat selection.