Airline Revolution: Southwest Plans for Assigned Seating by 2026, Notorious Open Seating Policy Bites the Dust
Southwest Airlines reveals imminent introduction of pre-assigned seating
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brings up domestic car manufacturing and air travel safety during 'The Big Money Show.'
In the aviation realm, Southwest Airlines is set to get a game-changer—the introduction of assigned seating. As the airline renowned for its open seating system, it's now dishing out deets on the timeline for pax to secure their spaces.
"Our calendar says we'll kick off booking for assigned and premium seating in the second half of 2025 and be fully operational by 2026," Southwest Airlines confirms on their website.
The airline launched an ad blitz flaunting assigned seating this week, a spokesperson shares with FOX Business. Southwest Airlines aimed to "welcome fresh faces and recall the reasons loyal pax chose us in the first place."
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A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 airplane lights up at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on May 16, 2025. (Kevin Carter / Getty Images)
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The company hasn't put hard dates on the assigned seating yet but hints, "Stay tuned as we gather steam towards Q3."
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Seats on a Southwest Airlines plane. (Southwest Airlines / Fox News)
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Southwest Airlines has been on a roll lately with changes galore. The most notable change is the new bag policy that took effect on May 28, only offering free checked bags to chosen loyal and business-class customers.
Earlier this week, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies announced Southwest Airlines is fitting out all of its Boeing 737 planes with new tech targeting enhanced safety on runways.
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Last month, Southwest Airlines unveiled a new rule requiring passengers to keep their portable charging devices visible while in use during the flight.
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By December, the airline implemented a policy change focusing on minimizing turbulence injuries. Instead of priming the cabin for landing at 10,000 feet, flight attendants now follow this process at 18,000 feet.
Contributions from Fox News Digital's Ashley DiMella and Daniella Genovese
Southwest Airlines, known for its influence on economy class air travel and lifestyle choices, has confirmed the introduction of assigned seating within their aircrafts. The airline plans to initiate booking for these seating arrangements in the second half of 2025, with full operation anticipated by 2026. This shift in seating policy, coupled with their recent changes such as the new bag policy, hints at a significant transformation in Southwest Airlines' travel experience offering.
