Overview
- Southwest ended its open seating on Jan. 27, rolling out assigned seats in three tiers—Extra Legroom, Preferred and Standard—plus new fare bundles and eight boarding groups.
- Early flights drew split reviews as travelers and some crew reported slower boarding, overhead‑bin congestion and software glitches, while others said the process felt smoother and more predictable.
- The airline’s tightened Customer of Size policy now steers passengers to buy an extra seat at booking and limits refunds to specific conditions, with rebooking required if adjacent seating is unavailable on full flights.
- Free checked bags for most casual travelers have been eliminated, a shift that aligns Southwest with competitors and contributes to heavier reliance on carry‑ons and boarding for bin space.
- Management cites customer research and market demands, with Elliott Investment Management’s push spotlighted in the shift, and CEO Bob Jordan backing guidance that earnings could more than quadruple in 2026.