Why Southwest Now Uses Assigned Seating and How It Works

As of January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines no longer has an open seating policy. Here's how Southwest now boards its aircraft and why it chose to go this route.
WFMZ-TV

What travelers can expect as Southwest Airlines introduces assigned seats

FILE - A Southwest Airlines plane lands at Love Field Airport, Nov. 26, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) FILE - A Southwest Airlines plane lands at Love Field Airport, Nov. 26, 2025, in ...

‘Soul of Southwest is gone’: Passengers divided after 1 week of airline’s new seating, boarding procedure

"Is this now the new frontier airlines???" said one Southwest flyer on X.