Southwest Announces Move to Assigned Seating

Southwest Airlines is introducing the most significant changes to its product in the company’s history: phasing out its longstanding open seating policy in favor of assigned and premium seating.

The Dallas-based airline has maintained its unique open seat selection for more than 50 years. However, following what it called an extensive review of customer preferences, Southwest announced Thursday that it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights starting in 2025.

In a release issued by Southwest, the airline shared that its customer feedback and extensive research showed that 80 percent of its current passengers and 86 percent of potential customers prefer assigned seating.