Southwest Airlines will officially change its boarding and seating processes beginning next week, the New York Post reports.
The airline is set to end its famous open seating policy starting beginning next Tuesday (January 27), instead shifting to assigned seating among eight boarding groups moving forward. All flights scheduled in the days leading up to next Tuesday will follow the previous first-serve seating model in which passengers are assigned their letter and number position after checking in for their flight, which is largely determined by how quickly passengers check in once the portal opens, usually around 24 hours before scheduled takeoff.
Southwest will also introduce new seat options and fare bundles to coincide with the changed seating policy, which includes the option of a standard seat near the back of the cabin, a preferred seat near the front of the cabin or a seat with around three to five inches of additional legroom space. Boarding groups will be designated into four fare bundles including Choice Extra, which is the most expensive and will be included in boarding groups 1 and 2, as well as Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic.
Southwest CEO Bob Jordan had previously teased the changes during an earnings call in July 2024.
“We feel confident that the solution we are implementing will retain the positive elements of the Southwest Airlines experience and enable us to evolve in a manner that’s consistent with what today’s air traveler is seeking,” Jordan said via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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