The end of the era is the official Southwest Airlines passengers.
On Monday, the airline announced the opening date for new allocated seats.
For flights starting January 27, 2026, passengers will have the option of choosing a seat when booking, Southwest said in a announcement.
“Customers want more choice and more control over the travel experience,” said Tony Roach, Executive Vice President of Southwest in a news release.
“Assigned seats unlock new opportunities for customers, such as the ability to choose seating in the legroom, and remove the uncertainty of not knowing where you are sitting in the cabin,” Roach said.
Various fare bundles offer several options for seat selection during booking. Different types of sheets (extra legroom, priority and standard) also appear as part of these bundles.
The age of assigned seats also pioneer the new group-based boarding process.
Additional legroom seats will be prioritized in boarding groups 1-2.
Premium Fares and Loyalty Program members and credit card holders board early in the process. Details are available on the airline’s website.
The airline has announced plans to close the arrangements for free seating last summer.
This change will allow low-cost carriers to improve their competition with legacy carriers American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines by charging a premium for some seats on the plane. These airlines generate much of their revenue by charging more for premium seats.
CNN’s Chris Isidore contributed to this report.
