Does Southwest Airlines Have Assigned Seats?

You would be well aware of Southwest Airlines' unique seat allocation method if you have taken their flights. It was very different from other Airlines' seat allocation policies. However, Southwest Airlines is now all set to break its unconventional practice of not assigning seats when you book your ticket. Today, we will look at whether Southwest Airlines has assigned seats or not.

How does Southwest Airlines Allocate Seats?

From its very first flight, Southwest Airlines used to follow the policy of Early-Bird for seat assignments. Like any regular flight where you can get the option for choosing your seats when booking the flight ticket, Southwest Airlines doesn't have that. You need to race with your co-passengers to get the best possible seat on the flight. It was based on the theory of first come first serve.

Southwest Boarding Passes have a specific alphabetical code, and following that sequence, Passengers board the flight and choose their seat in the Plane.

New Changes in Southwest Seat Allocation Method

Southwest Airlines has announced that they are going to bring some "transformational" changes in Seat Allocation. They are about to break their longstanding tradition of not assigning seats to their passengers. SW Airlines claims that 80% of its passengers will welcome this change.

The Airline is planning to begin selling tickets with seat assignments in the second half of 2025. Its first trip will depart in the first half of 2026. From 2026 SW passengers don't need to rush to find better seats. It would be a positive change to provide the best service to Southwest Airlines customers.

What other Changes we can Expect from SW Airlines in the Upcoming Time?

Southwest Airlines hardly disappoints its passengers when it comes to providing service. They are trying to upgrade themselves, that's why they are bringing the following changes in the upcoming time:

• Southwest Airlines is providing premium seating options to increase passenger comfort. The airline intends to provide more legroom on around one-third of its seats, with up to five inches of pitch. This effort seeks to retain Southwest's reputation for providing one of the most generous basic economy seat pitches in the industry. The new seating options are designed to attract more travelers and increase revenue per passenger by catering to those who want a more roomy and pleasant flying experience.
• Premium seat buyers, as well as frequent Southwest fliers, will receive priority boarding.
• Other new offers include personalized vacation bundles known as Getaways by Southwest, as well as improvements to the Rapid Rewards program features.
• Red-eye flights are also scheduled to commence in February 2025, and the airline stated that it is striving to minimize flight turnaround times in order to "increase aircraft productivity while making day-to-day processes easier for employees."

Conclusion

Southwest Airlines is trying its best to remodel itself to provide the best services. It is abandoning its traditional open-seat approach and adopting seat assignment because it is the demand of the time. From the second half of 2025, you will be able to select a seat while buying a SW Airlines ticket.

FAQ about Southwest Airlines Seat Allocation

Question: When will Southwest Airlines begin seat allocation?

Answer: It will start in 2026, however, you can book the tickets with seats assigned from the second half of 2025 itself.

Question: Is Southwest eliminating open seating?

Answer: Yes. You have heard it right. SW Airlines is eliminating open seating from 2026.