US EditionSouthwest Begins Selling Flights with Assigned Seats
UNITED STATES, JUL 29 – Southwest Airlines will replace its open seating with assigned seats and eight boarding groups to boost customer satisfaction and compete with other carriers, citing 80% passenger preference.
- Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines begins selling assigned seats, ending a long-standing open seating policy.
- According to Southwest, a 2025 internal review found over 80% of passengers and 86% of prospects preferred assigned seating, following customer feedback.
- To support assigned seating, Southwest revamped its cabin configuration and boarding, replacing A-B-C groups with eight boarding groups, and about 250 planes have been reconfigured for extra legroom.
- Southwest said tier members and Rapid Rewards credit card holders will board earlier, with card holders guaranteed no later than Group Five, and customers can purchase Priority Boarding 24 hours before departure.
- By transitioning to assigned seats, Southwest aims to attract more travelers and expand its appeal as low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers unveil new premium offerings.
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Southwest begins selling flights with assigned seats
DALLAS (NewsNation) — After more than 50 years, Southwest Airlines is phasing out its iconic open-seating policy and “bags fly free” perk. Starting Tuesday, the airline began selling tickets for flights with assigned seating; the new boarding and cabin structure is set to launch Jan. 27. The shift marks the end of a practice dating back to Southwest’s first flight in 1971. In its place, a more traditional boarding process with eight boarding gro…
·Chicago, United States
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Total News Sources23
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution82% Center
Bias Distribution
- 82% of the sources are Center
82% Center
L 18%
C 82%
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