Southwest Airlines Moving Forward With Major Policy Change for All Customers in January

Over the past several months, Southwest Airlines has implemented a number of changes as the airline looks to boost its profitability, the most high-profile of which was the airline's decision to end its longstanding policy of free checked baggage.

Now, as we move into the new year, Southwest customers should be prepared for another major change as the airline is officially implementing a significant policy change beginning in late January.

Major Southwest Airlines Changes

• End of Free Bags: Southwest Airlines began charging customers for checked bags back in May, ending its longstanding “bags fly free” policy.
• Assigned Seating: Southwest Airlines announced that it will ditch its longstanding open-seating policy and embrace an assigned seating model.
• Ditching its Point-to-Point Model: Southwest has made it clear that it will move away from its point-to-point model, which prioritizes nonstop flights, and instead embrace more of a hub-and-spoke model, connecting cities through central hubs.
• Expanding Internationally: The airline announced earlier this year that it intends to expand its international offerings, likely even including long-haul flights to Europe.
• Free In-Flight WiFi: Southwest has begun offering free in-flight WiFi to its Rapid Rewards members.

Southwest Beginning Assigned Seating

Aside from ending its "bags fly free" policy, the most high-profile change that Southwest Airlines announced in 2025 was the end of its longstanding open-seating policy.

For years, Southwest has utilized a democratic open-seating boarding policy in which passengers simply chose any seat available, boarding the plane in the order in which they checked in for their flight. However, beginning in January, that is changing.

For all flights departing on or after January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will be moving forward with an assigned seating model, moving away from the open-seating policy.

Now, passengers will have to pay for a more premium option if they want to have the option to choose their seat prior to the flight, as "basic" customers will have a seat assigned to them at check-in.

Seating Options

As Southwest moves forward with this major policy change, it is offering a few seating options to customers, including a premium seating option for the first time in the airline's history.

• Extra Legroom seat: at the front of the cabin as well as near the exit rows, with three to five additional inches of legroom (pitch) compared to Standard seats (varies by aircraft type: five extra inches of legroom on the 737-700 aircraft, and three extra inches of legroom on the 737-800/MAX 8). Extra Legroom seats will also include Group 1-2 boarding (allowing for earlier access to bin space), extra snacks (when available), and an extra complimentary premium beverage (when available). 
• Preferred seat: standard legroom seats located near the front of the cabin. 
• Standard seat: standard legroom seats located in the back of the cabin. 

Basic and Choice fare types include a standard seat, while Choice Preferred includes a preferred seat. Choice Extra fare types, however, include any seat, including the Extra Legroom seat.