Southwest Airlines Makes Booking Change From July 29: What To Know
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Southwest Airlines will be making a major change to its onboard seating at the end of July.
America's fourth largest airline has confirmed it will transition to assigned seating, ending its unique open seating policy that has characterized the airline for more than five decades. Starting July 29, customers can begin booking tickets with seat assignments for flights departing January 27, 2026, and later.
Southwest's open seating distinguished it from competitors, but seat selection fees and new fare options could boost the company's revenue by $800 million in 2025 and $1.7 billion in 2026.
Why it Matters
The seating refresh comes as the airline makes various changes, including introducing new charges for checked bags, which went into force earlier this year.
The introduction of assigned and premium seating ends an era at Southwest, bringing its model more in line with other major U.S. airlines. The airline expects this shift to improve customer experience, provide seating certainty, and create new revenue streams, a move driven by evolving passenger preferences and industry trends.
What To Know
Passengers booking Southwest flights for January 27, 2026, onwards will be able to select their seats when they purchase tickets, with options ranging from standard to extra legroom at various price points.
The airline is also moving to a new system with eight boarding groups, determined by a mix of seat location, passenger status, and other criteria. While loyal Southwest flyers and premium seat holders will board first. Here's how it breaks down:
Groups 1 and 2 will be reserved for A-List Preferred Members and passengers who purchase an upgrade to extra legroom seat.
Groups 3 through 8 will board based on seat location.
Travelers with qualifying credit cards, including Rapid Rewards cardholders, will be guaranteed boarding in Group 5 or earlier.
The airline is also reconfiguring aircraft to increase cabin comfort, including installing new seats with more cushioning and headrests.
Southwest Boeing 737-800 airplane at Dallas Love Field airport (DAL) in the United States on November 9, 2022.
Southwest Boeing 737-800 airplane at Dallas Love Field airport (DAL) in the United States on November 9, 2022.
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What People Are Saying
Tony Roach, executive vice president of Customer & Brand at Southwest, said: "Our customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience. Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers—including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin. This is an important step in our evolution, and we're excited to pair these enhancements with our legendary Customer Service."
Stephanie Shafer Modi, managing director of fares and ancillary products at Southwest, told CNBC: "We wanted to make sure that, as we designed a boarding construct that sort of paired well with assigned seating, that we were optimizing for efficiency, but also the second priority: balancing that with making sure that we're taking care of our most loyal customers, so tier members, cardholders and customers who buy our most premium products."
The reaction from social media users has been varied, with some praising the move, while others have said it could have downsides.
X user Ryan Smyth wrote: "As someone who loathes Southwest's current seating policy—welcome change. Open seating punishes business travels that often have to operate on tight time frames—which means I always end up in a middle seat in the back of the plane. I'll gladly pay more to avoid that nonsense."
X user Patrick Daugherty wrote: "Like many, I have had a love/hate with Southwest's seating policy over the years, but it was so far ahead of its competitors when it came to making it easy to sit with your (large) family."
What Happens Next
Ticket bookings with assigned seats open July 29, with changes taking effect January 27, 2026. Southwest has yet to announce specific seat selection fees, which are expected to vary by route, seat type, and demand.
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