As of January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines no longer has an open seating policy. Here's how Southwest now boards its aircraft and why it chose to go this route.

Starting Tuesday​, customers on Southwest flights will have assigned seats.

Southwest’s oft-chaotic open-seating policy is finally coming to an end — and while some anxious flyers may rejoice in the move, experts say it’s a harbinger of worse to come for economy passengers.

Southwest Airlines has completed its transition to assigned seating, with travelers experiencing a new boarding process ...

When is Southwest doing assigned seating in Phoenix? The more than half-century-old open seating policy has ended. What to ...