Southwest Airlines to Launch Assigned Seating in July 2023

TL;DR
Southwest Airlines will switch from open seating to assigned seats starting January 27, 2026, with seat selection available from July 29, 2025, including new premium extra legroom options. The airline is also revamping its boarding process into eight groups, prioritizing elite and higher fare passengers, as part of a broader shift to increase revenue and meet customer preferences.
Topics:businesstravel#airline-policy#assigned-seats#boarding-process#extra-legroom#southwest-airlines#travel
- Southwest Airlines to start selling assigned seats on July 29 The Points Guy
- Southwest Airlines announces start date for assigned seating CNN
- Southwest Airlines sets date for assigned seat launch, new boarding order Axios
- Southwest Airlines will start assigned seating in January 2026 The Washington Post
- Southwest Hawaii’s Golden Era Ended. Here’s What’s Next. Beat of Hawaii
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