Southwest Airlines Bids Farewell To Open Seating After 53 Years, Adds Premium Options For 2025

Southwest Airlines, known for its open seating policy for over five decades, has announced a change that will reshape the passenger experience. Starting in 2025, the airline will transition to assigned seating, ending its longstanding tradition of allowing passengers to choose their seats upon boarding. Southwest has decided to deploy allocated seating as part of a larger drive to improve financial performance and consumer satisfaction.

“Moving to assigned seating and offering premium legroom options will be a transformational change that cuts across almost all aspects of the company,” said Bob Jordan, President, CEO, and Vice Chairman of the Board, in a press release. “Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice — at the right time — for our customers, our people, and our shareholders.”

What This Means For Passengers

Under the new system, passengers will receive seat assignments, eliminating the need to rush to check in exactly 24 hours before the flight. This change is expected to alleviate the stress associated with the current boarding process, where about 50% of customers check in within 30 seconds of the check-in window opening. Additionally, Southwest plans to offer premium seating options with extended legroom.

Approximately one-third of seats across the fleet will feature this amenity, aligning with industry standards for narrowbody aircraft. While these changes may increase comfort and convenience for many passengers, some loyal Southwest customers who appreciated the open seating model may need time to adjust to the new system.

Southwest’s Broader Transformation

The seating policy change is part of a more extensive transformation at Southwest. The airline is also introducing overnight “redeye” flights starting February 14, 2025, initially on five routes, including Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando, and Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville. Southwest has been modernizing its offerings over the past two years with improvements such as faster wifi, in-seat power, and larger overhead bins. A refreshed cabin design featuring new RECARO seats is also in the works.