As of Tuesday, Jan. 27, Southwest Airlines has officially rolled out assigned seating and a redesigned boarding process across its network. The change marks the end of the airline’s longtime open-seating policy and introduces a more structured travel experience aimed at giving customers more options and comfort.
The transition unfolded across multiple time zones late Monday night from Honolulu to Los Angeles. By early Tuesday, the airline’s first assigned-seating flights took off. Two departures – one from San Juan to Orlando and another from Manchester, New Hampshire, to Chicago Midway – officially usher in the new system.
With the new system now live, passengers can expect:
Assigned seating at the time of booking
Extra Legroom and Preferred seating options
A simplified, group-based boarding process
A more predictable and streamlined airport experience
Southwest emphasizes that while the seating model has changed, its commitment to customer service, low fares, and friendly travel remains the same.
Southwest said the move reflects evolving customer expectations and growing demand for more predictability when traveling. Assigned seating allows passengers to select their seats in advance, while new premium options offer added legroom and preferred placement in the cabin.