Southwest Airlines is making MAJOR changes to its boarding process after years of having a controversial “open seating policy” where seats were not preassigned.

In July 2024, Southwest announced that it would be ending its open seating system and would instead assign seats among other changes. So, what’s being updated and what do you need to know? We’ve got all the details.

Southwest Airlines hosted an Investor Day briefing back on September 26th, 2024, where they revealed some important information about their business plans along with an update on their assigned seating policy — which they’re going to “evolve.”

In addition to the new seating policy, Southwest will continue to focus on operational efficiency. In a statement, the company said, “The updated boarding process will maintain Southwest’s unique and popular approach in boarding through position numbers and signage displayed on stanchions within the gate area. The carrier’s most loyal Customers and those who purchase premium seating will continue to be among the first to board.”

But, you won’t have to worry about dealing with this new system — whether you’re excited about it or not — until it begins to roll out in 2026. Southwest has said that passengers can book reserved seating beginning in late 2025, with those seats being available for flights in early 2026.

In addition to the new assigned seating policy, Southwest will soon be offering “premium seating” with up to five inches of additional legroom. As it stands now, all Southwest planes have the same type of seats throughout their planes, meaning the new premium seating will give folks the option to upgrade.

Open seating will be sticking around throughout the rest of 2025, but if you plan on flying Southwest Airlines in 2026, get ready for assigned seats to make their way to your booking screen later this year. As of now, flights can only be booked through October 1st, 2025, and Southwest will open its schedule through November 1st on February 6th, so mark your calendars if you’re waiting for that.

And, Southwest’s checked bag policy will be sticking around as well — even after the seating policy officially changes. Passengers will still be able to check up to two free bags, which is a HUGE perk when flying these days. Keep an eye on the Southwest Airlines website for these changes as 2026 gets closer!

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest travel news that could impact your trip to Disney World. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog so you don’t miss any updates.

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Do you fly Southwest Airlines? Tell us in the comments.

The post 2 BIG Changes Hit Southwest Airlines Soon — Including Its Controversial Open Seating Policy first appeared on the disney food blog.