Southwest assigned seats: Here's when ticket and boarding changes will happen

Passengers traveling on Southwest Airlines will fly in assigned seats starting next year, ending the airliner’s historic open seating policy. 

Tony Roach, Southwest’s executive vice president customer & Brand, said in a company release that "assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers—including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin."

When will Southwest’s ticket and boarding change begin?

Why you should care: Southwest announced Monday that consumers can choose their seats beginning on Jan. 27, 2026. Consumers can purchase their tickets with assigned seats on July 29, 2025.  

The Dallas-based airliner is offering fare bundles that offer passengers to not only pick a seat during booking, but also access specific seat types: extra legroom, preferred, and standard. According to a Southwest release, customers can pay to have their seats upgraded if they want to.

RELATED: Southwest Airlines: All the changes coming ahead of summer travel

Certain Southwest rewards members also get the benefit of choosing their seats for flights. For instance, Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers, depending on which card they have, can pick a seat at booking or within 48 hours of your flight's departure. 

Additionally, A-List and A-List Preferred Customers can select a seat while booking their flight regardless of the fare they buy. 

Meanwhile, Southwest is also rolling out a new group-based boarding process for passengers starting with extra legroom seats boarding in Groups 1-2. And customers with premium fares, Southwest Tier Members and Credit Cardmembers will board earlier in the process.

Passengers can also buy Priority Boarding starting 24 hours before their departing flight to be the first to board the plane.