Southwest Airline’s open seating coverage is coming in for its ultimate means.
The Texas-based service mentioned Monday that flights with assigned seats will start on Jan. 27, 2026, marking the finish of an technology during which the bargain service for many years bucked business norms through having passengers make a choice their seats all over boarding.
Southwest, which introduced final yr that it used to be leaving behind open seating, mentioned consumers can get started reserving flights with assigned seats for 2026 beginning on July 29.
“Assigned seating unlocks new alternatives for our Shoppers — together with the facility to make a choice Further Legroom seats — and gets rid of the uncertainty of no longer understanding the place they’ll take a seat within the cabin,” Tony Roach, government vice chairman of purchaser & emblem at Southwest Airways, mentioned in a remark.
The brand new coverage will permit vacationers to make a choice from other fare bundles and seat choices, together with the ones providing extra legroom. A Southwest spokesperson mentioned the airline is not able for now to provide main points on how its fares will trade underneath the brand new reservation device.
The airline additionally not too long ago did away with its “baggage fly loose” coverage, signaling a broader shift in its income technique amid mounting monetary drive. Individuals who guide flights on or after Would possibly 28 ust pay $35 for the primary checked bag and $45 for the second one.
New boarding procedure
Southwest additionally introduced on Monday that it’s overhauling its boarding procedure.
The brand new boarding collection will team passengers in keeping with seat location, with precedence given to those who make a choice seats with further legroom and to loyalty program participants. Southwest consumers too can pay for precedence boarding in the event that they wish to transfer up within the queue.
Whilst Southwest passengers are recently assigned a bunch letter (A-C) and quantity, they’ll now be assigned a bunch quantity, 1-8.
The brand new means is meant to “ship a easy and environment friendly Buyer Enjoy on each flight,” Southwest mentioned.
