Southwest Airlines allows passengers to book assigned seats, new fare classes for travel starting on January 27, 2026.

Southwest Airlines ends open seating in January 2026 with assigned seats, fare bundles, and a new group boarding system. Here ...

Southwest Airlines is scrapping its decades-long open seating policy in favor of assigned seating, with tickets for the first flights rolling out in late July. Southwest's new policy eliminates ...

Southwest assigned seating will work similarly to other airlines: Passengers who buy the cheapest tickets can select a seat for a fee, or a seat will be assigned to them the day before their flight.

Southwest Airlines will end open seating in early 2026. It will sell tickets for the first flights with assigned and premium seating in the second half of 2025.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- For the first time in history, Southwest Airlines will ditch its open seating policy in favor of a more traditional boarding process.