Southwest Airlines announces when it plans to start assigned seating

(Gray News) - Southwest Airlines’ boarding process will be seeing some changes next year.

The airline shared on Thursday that its passengers will be able to book a reserved seat starting in late 2025 for flights in early 2026.

Southwest previously announced in July it would start moving away from the open seating model it has been known for over its 53 years of service.

CNN reports that the airline will also begin to offer premium seating for the first time, but that is going to push back the start of assigned seating because the planes will now have to be reconfigured.

Southwest CEO Robert Jordan said earlier this year that many of the airline’s passengers told them that they wanted to have an assigned seat.

According to Jordan, surveys showed that 80% of its customers and 86% of potential customers wanted the option of a seat assignment.

“I know there are going to be customers who say, ‘I want to stay with open seating.’ It’s a minority,” Jordan told CNBC.

Additionally, Southwest will still let passengers check two bags for free. Jordan said the airline has no immediate plans to end the bags-fly-free program.