Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025

Assigned seats could be coming to Southwest Airlines as soon as next year.

The carrier said it expects to start selling tickets with seat assignments in the second half of 2025, with the first of those flights operating in the first half of 2026, according to a news release . Southwest found that the model is something 80% of its customers want, along with 86% who opt to fly other airlines.

The airline previously announced the switch in July, a break from its longstanding choose-your-own-adventure approach to seating. The move is part of a slate of changes the carrier is making aimed at adding value for passengers and investors following pressure on the airline’s earnings in recent quarters.

“We’ve spent the past few years laying a foundation that serves as the base of our transformation,” Ryan Green, Southwest’s executive vice president of commercial transformation, said in the release. “We’ve already started rolling out modernized cabins with improved WiFi, in-seat power, larger overhead bins, enhanced operational efficiencies, and optimized flight schedules. We will continue to build upon our unique competitive advantages, while adapting to consumer priorities in today’s dynamic environment.”

The news comes after the airline confirmed this week that it would reduce service and staffing in Atlanta, Georgia.

What other changes are coming to Southwest?

In addition to seat assignments, the airline will offer premium seating.

“Southwest will offer extra legroom options with up to five additional inches of pitch for approximately a third of its seats while maintaining a standard economy seat pitch among the best in the industry,” the company said. “New seating product options will drive demand and are expected to generate more revenue per passenger.”

Those who buy premium seats will get priority during the boarding process, along with loyal Southwest flyers.

The airline is also “formalizing” partnerships with international carriers, beginning with Icelandair. Flights through Baltimore-Washington International Airport are slated to begin in 2025. Other new offerings include customizable vacation bundles called Getaways by Southwest, as well as updates to its Rapid Rewards program benefits.

A-List members will be able to choose standard legroom seats when they book a flight and extra legroom seats within 48 hours before they depart for no extra charge – depending on availability. A-List Preferred members can pick any available seat – including those with extra legroom – at no additional cost when booking.

Red-eye flights are also expected to begin in February 2025, and the airline said it is working to reduce turn times between flights in an effort “to increase its aircraft productivity, while making day-to-day processes easier for employees.”

But not everything is changing. The airline’s beloved policy of allowing two free checked bags is sticking around.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025