Southwest Airlines ends first-come seating and begins assigned seats

Southwest Airlines began assigned seating on Jan. 27, ending its decades-long open-seating practice, and on the same day introduced a stricter policy for plus-size passengers that changes refund and purchase conditions.

Southwest Airlines launched assigned seating on Jan. 27, ending the airline’s decades-old first-come, open-seating approach. The change coincided with a revised plus-size policy that narrows when refunds for extra seats are available. These steps follow several service and fare changes the carrier made in 2025 and into 2026 as it moved toward practices more common among other U.S. airlines. Company communications framed assigned seating as a way to offer customers more choice and to allow selection of extra-legroom seats. Key details: - Assigned seating took effect Jan. 27 and replaces Southwest’s previous group-based open seating model. - The airline introduced a seat-location boarding order that starts with Extra Legroom seats and gives earlier boarding to Rapid Rewards elites and premium ticket holders. - The plus-size policy was tightened: passengers who do not fit between armrests must buy an additional seat, and refunds for extra seats are now allowed only if three specified conditions are met, according to the airline. - Southwest introduced new fare bundles (Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic) that began last fall for 2026 travel and include fees for checked bags and some onboard services for many fare types. - Earlier changes included ending two free checked bags in May (first-bag fees began at $35), adding extra-legroom and preferred seats for a premium, making fares available on Expedia, and adjusting the loyalty program. - The carrier had several notable developments in 2025, including a corporate layoff announcement and reports of operational incidents and legal actions, as described in company coverage. Summary: The changes mark a shift in Southwest’s boarding, seating and fare structure toward practices common at other U.S. carriers and affect how passengers select seats and how plus-size seating is handled. Undetermined at this time.