Southwest passengers will be assigned seats, ending the chaotic scramble of its current open seating plan. The ability to choose your seat opens July 29, 2025, for flights departing in 2026 and beyond.

Southwest Airlines passengers will get assigned seats for the first time, marking a major shift in the carrier’s business model.

Starting July 29, customers can begin booking tickets with seat assignments for flights departing January 27, 2026.

Southwest Airlines Implements Major Change to Signature Offering first appeared on Parade on Jul 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. As millions of travelers flock to the airport on vacation, a widely-used airline has axed hundreds of flights throughout the U.S.

The airline announced Monday that its new assigned seating will be available at the time of booking for flights beginning on January 27, 2026.

Southwest reported adjusted earnings of 43 cents a share on $7.2 billion in revenue, below Wall Street’s expectations of 51 cents a share on revenue of $7.3 billion in the second quarter, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet.