Southwest Airlines, known for its 54‑year tradition of open seating, announced flights departing on January 27, 2026 will switch to mandatory assigned seating.
00:00Southwest Airlines, known for its 54-year tradition of open seating, announced that flights departing on January 27th of next year will officially switch to mandatory assigned seating, marking a major shift in its onboard experience.
00:15Beginning July 29th of 2025, passengers will be able to select their seats while purchasing tickets, with new fare bundles offering options like extra legroom, preferred, and standard seats.
00:27The boarding process will change as well, as flyers will board in numbered groups from 1 to 8, prioritized by seat selection, fair tier, loyalty status, and credit card membership, all of this set to replace the old ABC group model.
00:43Executives say the move responds to customer demand for more control and choice, and also aligns with the company's strategy more closely with legacy carriers while unlocking new streams of revenue.
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