The open -seating policy of Southwest airline is coming for its last approach.
Texas -based carrier said on Monday that flights with the scheduled seats will begin on January 27, 2026, which marks End of an era In which the discount carrier for decades reduced the norms of the industry by selecting their seats during boarding passengers.
Southwest, which announced last year that he was leaving to sit open, Said Customers can start booking flights with seats starting from July 29.
“Seating unlocks new opportunities for our customers – which includes the ability to select additional legroom seats at Southwest Airlines and brand executive vice -president Tony Roach said in a statement – and removes the uncertainty of knowing where they will sit in the cabin,” The Executive Vice President of Customer and Brand said in a statement in the brand.
New policy will allow passengers to choose Various fare bundles and seat optionsIncluding more legrooms offer. A South -West spokesperson said that the airline is now unable to give details of how its fare will change under the new reservation system.
Airline also recently Remove your bag fly free “policyIndicate a comprehensive change in your revenue strategy amid growing financial pressure. People who book flights on or after May 28 will have to pay $ 35 for the first checked bag and $ 45 for the second.
New boarding process
Southwest also announced on Monday that it was ending its boarding process.
New boarding Sequence Will the group passengers be based on seat space, which prefer those who choose seats with additional legrooms and for members of the loyalty program. If they want to proceed in the queue, the south -western customers can also pay for priority boarding.
While the southwest passengers are Currently a group letter (AC) and number is assignedNow they will be assigned a group number, 1-8.
Southwest stated that the new approach aims to “provide a smooth and skilled customer experience on every flight.”
