Southwest Airlines Switching to Assigned Seating Model

Southwest Airlines is also introducing extended legroom options and overnight flights.

A Southwest Airlines plane prepares to land at Midway International Airport in Chicago on Feb. 12, 2023. AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato

Southwest Airlines is ditching its long-standing open seating policy and will now assign seats to passengers, the company said in a July 25 press release.

The Dallas-based airline has operated flights on an open-seating basis for more than 50 years, but is introducing the new seating policy to align with customer preferences and boost revenue opportunities, the company said.