Southwest Airlines will begin assigned and premium seating on flights starting Jan. 27, 2026, ending the airline's polarizing open seating policy where passengers chose seats upon boarding as ...

Southwest Airlines is ending its open seating policy and transitioning to assigned seating. The change will take effect in early 2026, with tickets for flights with assigned seating going on sale in ...

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Southwest Airlines’ assigned seating is ...

HOUSTON – Last year, Southwest Airlines announced its plans to eventually drop its open-boarding policy, used for more than 50 years, and start assigning seats. Well, the time is near. Recommended ...

Southwest Airlines will begin assigned seating on Jan. 27, 2026. A new boarding process will prioritize passengers based on seat location and fare purchased. Extra legroom seating will be available ...