Southwest Airlines is ending the open-seating system that has distinguished the airline for more than 50 years. Starting Tuesday, January 27, the Dallas-based carrier will move to assigned seats and offer passengers the option to pay for preferred locations or extra-legroom seats. The shift comes as Southwest faces investor pressure to increase profitability.
The move ends one of aviation’s most distinctive practices and represents a major transformation in the airline’s business model as it moves closer to larger U.S. carriers.
Goodbye to Open Seating
Under the system that defined Southwest for more than a half century, customers checking in exactly 24 hours before departure could secure the coveted “A” boarding group, nearly guaranteeing a window or aisle seat. Those who waited to check in landed in “B” or “C,” where the likelihood of middle-seat availability rose with each passing hour.
The system worked. Southwest used early boarding to speed passenger loading and reduce aircraft turnaround time, helping the airline operate more efficiently. It remained profitable every year until the coronavirus pandemic. The practice also became a point of identity for the carrier and a competitive advantage at a time when most U.S. airlines assigned seats.
Over time, though, the arrangement became less democratic. Southwest began allowing passengers to pay extra for spots closer to the front of the boarding line—a crack in the open-seating concept that would eventually widen into the complete overhaul taking place this week.
The New Structure
The eight-group boarding system replacing open seating is built on more traditional airline architecture. Instead of numbered metal columns at departure gates, passengers will file through two alternating lanes once it’s time for their group to board. The Dallas-based airline’s gate areas will be converted in phases starting Monday night, a process that could take about two months.
Southwest is selling tickets at fares with different seating choices. Standard seats are assigned at check-in. Preferred and extra-legroom seats can be purchased at booking. For certain flights, passengers also will have the option of paying for priority boarding beginning 24 hours before departure.
Boarding groups will be based on seat location, fare class, loyalty status, and airline credit card benefits. Passengers who purchase extra-legroom seats will be placed in the first two groups. Customers with premium fares and “most loyal travelers” will receive preferential seating and earlier boarding, while those with basic fares will likely land in groups 6 through 8. A single reservation for nine or fewer people, including families, will keep those passengers assigned to the same boarding group.
A Shift in Policy
The new system brings changes to the airline’s policy for customers who need extra room. Effective Tuesday, travelers who do not fit within a single seat’s armrests will be required to purchase an additional seat in advance. The previous policy allowed passengers to choose between pre-purchasing a refundable extra seat before the airport or requesting one free at the gate. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but no longer guaranteed and depend on seat availability and fare class.
The changes follow Southwest’s decision in May 2025 to end its decades-old “bags fly free” policy and begin charging baggage fees for most travelers. Together, the seating overhaul and baggage fees represent one of the biggest transformations in the airline’s history.
Why the Change
Investor pressure to increase profitability drives the shift. When Southwest announced the plan in 2024, studies on seating options showed that customer preferences had changed over the years. The vast majority of travelers said they now want to know where they are sitting before they arrive at the airport. Open seating was the top reason surveyed travelers cited for choosing competitor airlines instead of Southwest, according to CEO Robert Jordan.
Jordan said the company has “tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect.” Southwest began selling tickets under the new seating policy in July 2025.