Southwest Airlines transitions from open seating to assigned seats starting January 2026

Southwest Airlines has announced a significant change to its boarding process, moving away from its long-standing open seating policy. Starting January 27, 2026, passengers will receive specific seat assignments on all flights. This shift will also introduce the airline's first-ever extra legroom seats as a premium option.

Beginning July 29, customers booking flights for January 27 or later will have the opportunity to choose their seats in advance. Tony Roach, Southwest's executive vice president of customer and brand, stated, "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."

The introduction of assigned seating is part of a broader revamp of Southwest's fare choices. The "Wanna Get Away" fare becomes "Basic," excluding complimentary seat selection. "Choice" allows standard seat selection; "Choice Preferred" offers seats closer to the front; and "Choice Extra" includes free extra legroom seats.