The Southwest Airlines’ assigned seats will soon be here.
The carrier, known for its open seat policy, has confirmed that it will introduce premium seats allocated to all flights as early as next year.
By adopting assigned seating, Southwest aims to appeal to wider ranger travelers and create a more consistent and comfortable flight experience.
The new model also debuts a premium seating layer, offering additional benefits such as additional legroom within the cabin and preferred locations.
The new seating system gradually replaced the current open seating format, allowing passengers to select their seats on a first-come, first-served basis while on board.
This approach praised its efficiency and simplicity, but also caused dissatisfaction among pre-allocated seats, especially those who prefer certainty for family, groups and business travelers.
Southwest has not yet shared the exact start date for allocated seats, but will be providing timeline updates in the coming months.
On its website, the carrier said, “We are expected to begin booking premium seats allocated in the second half of 2025 and are expected to start operating with premium seats allocated in the second half of 2026.”
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