Southwest Airlines is ending one of its signature policies, moving to assigned seating starting Tuesday.
The Dallas-based carrier will no longer allow passengers to choose their own seats as they board, a hallmark of Southwest’s operations for decades. Under the new policy, travelers who do not select a seat in advance will be assigned one at check-in.
Southwest said the change is designed to give customers more fare options, including bundled packages that offer extra legroom, preferred seating or standard seating. The airline will also allow passengers to purchase seat upgrades.
In addition, Southwest will introduce a new group-based boarding system beginning Jan. 27. The revised process will prioritize boarding based on seat location, though elite-tier members and Rapid Rewards credit card holders will continue to board earlier.
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