Booking & Policy
Major ImpactSouthwest Announces Assigned Seating & Extra Legroom Cabin Configuration
Announced: 10 Jan 2026•Effective: 1 Apr 2026
Southwest Airlines is officially transitioning away from its historic 50-year open seating model to assigned seating, adding an extra legroom section across approximately one-third of seats.
What this means for your trip
You will no longer need to check in exactly 24 hours in advance to secure an early boarding position (A1-A30). You will select your specific seat during booking. Southwest's '2 Bags Fly Free' policy remains 100% untouched.
By David Chen•Verified