Texas-based Southwest Airlines has nailed down the details and date for its new assigned seating program: January 2026. According to a release, travelers will get their first chance to specify their seat at the time of booking beginning July 29, 2025, for flights beginning on January 27, 2026.

The new policy represents a major shift away from Southwest's longtime open seating model which it followed for more than 50 years. According to the airline, customers stated a preference for seat assignments. As part of this transformation, the airline is offering premium seating options on all flights, redesigning the boarding model, and introducing redeye flying.

After conducting extensive research, Southwest determined that 80 percent of current customers and 86 percent of potential customers preferred an assigned seat. When customers chose a competitor, open seating was cited as the number one reason for the change.

Southwest executive VP Tony Roach says in a statement that assigned seating "unlocks new opportunities" including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats, and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin.

Seating options
Customers will be able to choose from various fare bundles, some that offer the opportunity to select a seat during the booking process, as well as access to the different seat types: Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard.

• Extra Legroom: seats in front of cabin and exit rows
• Preferred: Standard legroom seats near the front of the cabin
• Standard: seats in back of cabin

Customers will also be able to purchase a seat upgrade.

Some Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers can select a seat at booking or within 48 hours of departure, regardless of which fare they purchase.

A-List and A-List Preferred Customers will have access to select a seat at booking regardless of the fare they purchase, including Basic fares.

New boarding
Along with the new assigned seating model, the airline will also begin a new group-based boarding process which will prioritize customers into groups based on seat location, beginning with Extra Legroom seats in boarding Groups 1-2.

Premium fares, Tier Members, and credit card members will board first. Or, Priority Boarding can be purchased 24 hours prior to departure.

Here are the boarding groups in diminishing order of VIP-ness:

• Basic: "Go for less" - board last. (IE don't spend anything extra on boarding access)
• Choice: board second-last. (IE spend a little to get a leg up over the Basic people)
• Choice Preferred: board second-first (IE spend a little more to get a leg up over the Choice and Basic people)
• Choice Extra: board first (IE spend whatever it takes to get on first)

These categories also determine whether your ticket is refundable and what it costs if you want to make changes.

Today's announcements follow Southwest's launch of a new advertising campaign "Are You Sitting Down?" which draws upon the airline's signature humor to build excitement around the launch of assigned seating.