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Southwest Airlines has long stood out in the aviation industry for its distinctive open-seating policy—a system where no passenger is assigned a specific seat until boarding. This first-come, first-served approach has been both praised for its simplicity and critiqued for its unpredictability. However, in a significant shift set to take place in early 2026, Southwest will begin offering assigned seating, marking a major transformation in its customer experience strategy.
This new seat selection model is being introduced in response to evolving traveler expectations and competitive pressure from other major U.S. carriers that have long provided assigned seating. Alongside this change, Southwest is also rebranding its fare structure into new tiers—Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra—each offering different seat selection privileges and added benefits.
For passengers, this means a more structured, predictable boarding experience and the opportunity to secure preferred seating in advance. Whether you're a budget traveler, a frequent flyer, or someone seeking extra legroom, understanding how Southwest’s new seating system works—including pricing, perks, and policies—will be crucial for planning your trips effectively.
In this guide, we’ll provide a complete overview of Southwest Airlines seat selection changes, pricing breakdowns, and answer frequently asked questions to help you navigate this new chapter in air travel. Moreover, Airlines Ticket Policy is here to help and guide you throughout the journey.
As of early 2026, Southwest will implement assigned seating, allowing passengers to choose their seats during booking or check-in, depending on their fare class. This marks a departure from the airline's traditional open-seating model, where passengers select seats upon boarding.
Southwest is rebranding its fare classes to introduce a tiered system that includes:
With the introduction of assigned seating, the boarding process will be streamlined:
Southwest Airlines’ upcoming shift to assigned seating marks a pivotal evolution in its service model, designed to meet modern travelers’ expectations for comfort, convenience, and choice. By introducing fare-based seat selection and restructured fare tiers—Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra—the airline is offering more flexibility while still retaining elements of its customer-friendly identity. While this change may take some adjustment for loyal customers used to the traditional open seating system, it ultimately aligns Southwest with broader industry practices that prioritize seat certainty and added value.
The new system also brings clarity to the cost of upgrades, making it easier for passengers to choose based on their budget and seating preferences. Whether you want to save with a Basic fare or enjoy perks like extra legroom and early boarding through Choice Extra, Southwest’s new model offers options for every traveler type.
As we approach the 2026 rollout, staying informed about fare rules, seat pricing, and available upgrades will help travelers make smarter decisions. Southwest’s changes reflect a commitment to improving the overall flying experience, and for many passengers, the ability to pre-select a seat could be a welcome improvement.
For the best travel experience, review fare details carefully and plan ahead to get the seat—and the perks—you want. Airlines Ticket Policy is available 24*7 to help you in your air journey.