Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating Reveals Details On & Fare Bundles
Discover our new assigned seating options that give customers more flexibility when flying including extra legroom seats, preferred seats, and standard seats. Southwest airlines has completed its transition to assigned seating, with travelers experiencing a new boarding process starting january 27. That system is now gone
Southwest Airlines Introduces Assigned Seating and Extra Legroom
As of january 27, 2026, southwest has introduced assigned seating and a tiered boarding process, aligning the airline's approach to competitors like american airlines, delta air lines, and united airlines. Standard, preferred and extra legroom. Southwest is leaving its old ways behind with boarding and seating processes like most other airlines, taking effect on january 27, 2026.
Southwest airlines' new seating policy has officially taken flight
Southwest adds assigned seating in 2026 See how it affects rapid rewards members—and how to score the best seats free. Southwest airlines shifts to assigned seating after 53 years of open seating The new boarding process includes two alternating lanes and priority boarding options
The airline has also introduced three seating categories
