As of January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines no longer has an open seating policy. Here's how Southwest now boards its aircraft and why it chose to go this route.
Trips With Tykes on MSN
Southwest seat assignments are here: 5 things you need to know
Southwest Airlines has officially entered a new era as of January 27, 2026 - the start of assigned seating. After decades of open seating and a unique cattle call boarding process, assigned seats are ...
Starting Jan. 27, 2026, passengers flying Southwest Airlines will no longer choose seats at the gate. The Dallas-based airline will roll out assigned seating for the first time in its 53-year history, ...
The changes Southwest Airlines has been planning for more than a year are now live — including assigned seats, ending the ...
Southwest Airlines killed its last brand differentiator — and risks being replaced with its competitors after optimizing away ...
The introduction of assigned seating comes with other changes such as the addition of premium seating options and a new ...
In a major shift from its long-standing policy of open seating, Southwest Airlines has announced that beginning July 29, customers booking flights for travel on or after January 27, 2026, will have ...
Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest passengers will be assigned seats, ending the chaotic scramble of its current open seating plan. The ability to choose your seat opens July 29, 2025, for flights ...
Results that may be inaccessible to you are currently showing.
Hide inaccessible results