Southwest Airlines will implement assigned seating on all flights departing on or after January 27, 2026, ending its decades-long open-seating policy, while also requiring plus-size customers to purchase extra seats in advance under updated conditions for refunds.
The Dallas-based carrier announced the assigned seating change in July 2024, citing customer preference for more control over seat selection and the introduction of premium options to generate additional revenue. Customers booking flights departing on or after January 27, 2026, can now select from three seat categories: Standard seats toward the rear of the cabin; Preferred seats closer to the front; and Extra Legroom seats near exit rows offering 3 to 5 inches more legroom. Seat type influences boarding priority, with Extra Legroom passengers boarding in the earliest groups. The airline has adjusted its boarding process to eight groups, prioritizing premium fares, loyalty members and credit cardholders. For flights before January 27, 2026, the traditional open-seating approach remains in place, allowing passengers to choose any available seat upon boarding.
Southwest Executive Vice President of Customer and Brand Tony Roach stated in 2025: “Our Customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience. Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers — including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats — and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin.”
The policy shift aligns Southwest with other major U.S. carriers such as American, Delta and United, which have long used assigned seating. Bookings for assigned seats on qualifying flights became available starting July 29, 2025. The change accompanies other recent adjustments, including the introduction of checked bag fees in May 2025.
A separate update affects customers of size — defined by the airline as those unable to lower both armrests or who encroach on adjacent seats. Currently, these passengers may purchase an extra seat in advance with a potential refund post-travel or request a complimentary additional seat at the gate if space allows. Beginning January 27, 2026, passengers must proactively purchase the extra seat at booking and pay any applicable seat fee. Refunds remain available after travel but are conditional: both seats must be in the same fare class; the refund request must occur within 90 days of travel; and the flight must depart with at least one open seat (or include space-available passengers such as non-revenue employees). Refunds may also apply if the flight was full but accommodated space-available travelers.
Southwest remains the only major U.S. airline among American, Delta and United that provides any post-travel refund option for eligible extra seats. The airline has contacted previous users of the extra-seat policy to encourage advance purchases for future trips. A spokesperson noted earlier in 2025: “To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy they should purchase it at booking.”
The changes have drawn mixed reactions. Advocates for plus-size travelers, including the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, expressed disappointment, with one representative telling The New York Times that Southwest had served as a “beacon of hope for many fat people who otherwise wouldn’t have been flying.” Travel influencer Jeff Jenkins of Chubby Diaries told USA Today that refund conditions, particularly the requirement for an unused seat on departure, could create uncertainty for travelers.
Some online commentators have supported the update. A Reddit user stated: “It sucks for the person who has to buy two seats but that’s just not other passengers [sic] problem. It becomes our problem if we have to endure oversized passengers in our space for a full flight.”
For Southern Maryland travelers, who often fly Southwest from nearby Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport or Reagan National Airport, these changes affect routine trips to destinations like Florida, the Southwest or business hubs. The airline’s transition emphasizes advance planning, especially for those needing extra space or preferring specific seats. Customers with disabilities may qualify for accommodations under separate criteria.
The updates form part of Southwest’s broader efforts to modernize its operations while retaining core customer service elements. Details on seating maps, fare bundles and refund processes are available on the airline’s website.