Quantcast

Southwest Airlines shifts from first-come, first-served boarding to assigned seating

Another city ignores airport commission's advice, zones for housing near JWA
5 Reasons Why Kazakhstan's Air Astana Is Establishing Itself As A Key Player In Asian Aviation
JetBlue is no longer serving hot food in economy class on transatlantic flights
Video shows traveler hurl computer monitor at Frontier employees in Chicago
White House 'in touch' with airlines as hurricanes Helene, Milton spark price-gouging fears
Airline bans two items from luggage amid conflict in the Middle East
Turkish Airlines pilot dies midflight, leading to emergency landing in New York
Spirit Airlines Explores Bankruptcy Filing
Airlines turn to AI to allocate gates and cut waiting times
American Airlines Passengers Save Woman from Alleged Violent Male Companion on Flight
Garuda Indonesia and Japan Airlines (JAL) Form Joint Business Agreement — What To Know
Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Czech Airlines to Cease Operations, Ending 23-Year SkyTeam Partnership
An Asian airline hopes launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes will actually be a comfort upgrade for passengers
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs
New heights, new features: Discover Alaska’s enhanced Flight Pass subscription service
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage program
Explore Japan for free? Japan Airlines offers free domestic flights to foreign travelers
Delta named Official Airline Partner of Birmingham City Football Club
American Airlines to Cut These Routes to Las Vegas, Orlando, and More — Here's Why
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
Southwest wouldn't really start charging for bags — right?
JD Power ranked this Midwest airport as the best among largest airports in North America
Alaska Airlines Chief Plans More Routes After a Deal With Hawaiian
Air Canada could begin suspending flights soon as strike deadline nears
Southwest Airlines shifts from first-come, first-served boarding to assigned seating
Research
Webp uefmsw7k0lt5f20uxuve40u9xjr0
Airbus A380 | Airbus

Southwest Airlines is set to move away from its first-come, first-served boarding process in favor of assigned seating, a decision that has sparked varied reactions among travelers. The airline asserts that the majority of passengers prefer assigned seats, though some loyal customers express regret over the impending change.

The current boarding system allows for flexibility and strategic seat selection, benefiting last-minute travelers and families with lap infants. "If I book tickets on American Airlines, and it’s not months in advance, I usually can’t get the better seats on the plane," one traveler noted. "With Southwest most of the seats are unassigned when I board the aircraft! That means I can switch flights or standby and still get a decent seat."

For those who enjoy controlling their travel experience, Southwest's open seating provides an opportunity to choose neighbors based on personal preferences. "There’s strategy to seat selection!" another passenger commented. "Are you going to pick a seat that’s least likely to have someone next to you? Or maybe you want to find someone small so your space isn’t encroached upon."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

However, Southwest plans to assign premium seats to maximize revenue. The airline argues that without assigned seating for these sections, they won't be able to capitalize fully on them.

Assigned seating may also address issues related to wheelchair usage during pre-boarding. Reports from Puerto Rico indicate discrepancies between the number of passengers using wheelchairs during boarding and deboarding processes. A friend shared an observation: "55 'handicapped' during pre-boarding, including 25 wheelchairs... On his return flight, 15 used wheelchairs to board, only 1 to deboard."

Despite these considerations, some frequent flyers lament the loss of a system they have mastered. One traveler shared their recent experiences: "I flew Southwest a couple of times this past week... People took the middle seat in the row in front of me and behind me. Nobody said ‘excuse me’ and asked me to move." This sense of accomplishment and control is something many will miss.

While some acknowledge that assigned seating can be beneficial under certain circumstances—such as when traveling with family—the sentiment remains mixed. As one traveler summarized: "Still, I’m going to miss Southwest’s free-for-all boarding process which gets people on the plane quickly."

Organizations Included in this History
More News

At the Routes Asia Conference 2025, four prominent Asian airlines shared insights into their current challenges and strategic changes they are implementing.

Apr 3, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced a major enhancement in its connectivity services with the rollout of fast, free Wi-Fi across its transatlantic network, encompassing destinations in Europe, Israel, and West Africa.

Apr 3, 2025

After a trip from Nashville to Seattle, Jeanette Kronquist encountered an unexpected issue with her rental car reservation.

Apr 3, 2025

FedEx, het grootste exprestransportbedrijf ter wereld, heeft een nieuwe locatie in Amsterdam geopend, waarmee het zijn logistieke capaciteit in Nederland verder uitbreidt.

Apr 3, 2025

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is under the spotlight for its annual fee of $95, as cardholders and potential applicants weigh the benefits against the costs.

Apr 3, 2025

Eurowings is set to enhance its partnership with Smartwings by extending its service network from Prague’s Václav Havel Airport.

Apr 3, 2025