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.

Starting Tuesday​, customers on Southwest flights will have assigned seats.

Southwest Airlines has completed its transition to assigned seating, with travelers experiencing a new boarding process ...

Southwest ends open seating; now assigned seats are required and extra charges for larger passengers begin Jan 2026, with ...

Southwest has officially switched to assigned seating, ending open seating as the airline continues to remake its once-distinctive business model.

Southwest’s oft-chaotic open-seating policy is finally coming to an end — and while some anxious flyers may rejoice in the ...

Southwest Airlines has officially ditched its first-come, first-serve seating policy in Nashville and across the country.

Milwaukee's biggest carrier is rolling out assigned seating and other new rules on Jan. 27.