Southwest Airlines Reveals Details About Its New Seating and Boarding Policy

Southwest has installed extra-legroom seats on 25% of its fleet - The Points Guy

Sure, Southwest Airlines isn't planning to "hard launch" extra-legroom seats until January 2026. But the soft launch is well underway.About a quarter of Southwest's airplanes have now been configured with the new extra-space rows, executives shared Thursday.That means, if you're flying with the carrier, you have roughly a one in four chance of being on a jet that has the new rows with more legroom. And, because open seating hasn't ended yet, you…

Southwest Airlines Reveals Details About Its New Seating and Boarding Policy

The airline shared when things are changing.Laura Buckman/Getty Images A Southwest Airlines agent takes a boarding pass from a passengers boarding a flight.Southwest Airlines will debut its new assigned seating policy in January 2026, bringing an end to the airline's once signature process of open seating.The airline's new boarding procedure will go into effect for flights scheduled on and after Jan. 27, 2026, according to Southwest, during whic…

Southwest Airlines will start assigned seating in January 2026

It’s the final boarding call for open seating.