Southwest Airlines is officially ending its open seating policy, marking a major shift for the Texas-based carrier known for its unique boarding process.
Starting July 29, the airline will begin assigning seats to passengers booking flights for travel beginning January 27, 2026 — dropping the long-standing “pick any seat” approach.
For years, Southwest let passengers board by group and choose any available seat. But that system is going away as the airline joins the rest of the industry in adopting assigned seating.
“Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our customers,” said Tony Roach, the airline’s executive vice president of customer and brand. “It removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they’ll sit.”
Roach said the change gives travelers “greater control” over their flight, including the option to book Extra Legroom seats in advance.
The move comes just months after Southwest scrapped its famous “bags fly free” policy — a change that stirred backlash from longtime customers.
A Senate investigation found five major airlines — including American, Delta, and United — earned $12.4 billion from seat fees between 2018 and 2023. Checked bag fees alone brought in $1.2 billion.
Reaction to Southwest’s decision was mixed on social media. “Outstanding. That mad scramble for seats was always aggravating,” one user wrote on X.
Others weren’t impressed. “No more free checked [bags], no more free changes. Suddenly it's no different from any other airline,” another user posted. One added, “The ability to avoid babies and pets was the only reason I flew them. No more.”