Southwest Airlines ends open-seating, announces assigned seating flights in 2025

For the first time since its founding more than 50 years ago, Southwest Airlines will move from an open-boarding system to assigned seating.

It was part of multiple new initiatives the air carrier announced Thursday to "elevate customer experience, improve financial performance, and drive shareholder value," according to a company news release.

Southwest was the only major airline in the country to still offer open seating. Along with a new boarding system, Southwest will offer red-eye flights in early 2025 with tickets for those already on sale.

The announcement was made after Southwest reported its second-quarter profits were down $367 million, 46%, from 2023.

This is not the first time Southwest has offered assigned seating. In 2006, the airline tested 200 flights from San Diego and San Antonio. Results from that test showed that boarding time increased between 1 and 5 minutes. Former CEO of Southwest Airlines Gary Kelly said then it was clear that customers preferred the open-seating method.

According to recent research done by Southwest, however, 80% of customers and 86% of potential customers prefer assigned seating. Customers who stopped flying with Southwest cited open seating as their number one reason.

"Moving to assigned seating and offering premium legroom options will be a transformational change that cuts across almost all aspects of the company," said Bob Jordan, Southwest president, CEO and vice chairman of the board. "Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice — at the right time — for our customers, our people, and our shareholders."

Online responses to the boarding change have been mixed, with some travelers stating the transition to assigned seating is long overdue. Many claimed the "free-for-all" method of seating resulted in stress, higher tensions inside airplanes and the necessity to get to the airport even earlier in an attempt to get early-bird check in, which could boost the potential of getting a row A seat.

Others have said the open-seating method is cost effective and allows for better seats without having to pay an upcharge.

How does this affect New Mexicans?

According to the Albuquerque International Sunport website, Southwest accounted for 51% of flights in 2019, making it the city's largest carrier.

Many travelers at Sunport cited choosing Southwest for their prices and ease of travel, including Michael Reed, who said his daughter booked his flight with Southwest. Though Southwest has not announced if prices will change along with seats, they previously said open seating resulted in faster boarding times, which translated to cheaper tickets for passengers.

"I usually go with Southwest for flights to California because they're a lot cheaper," Reed said. "In general, I look at Southwest flight options before other airlines."

Dominic Dominguez seconded that sentiment, stating that flight options are better with Southwest.

"Southwest always has the cheapest flight options and it's really easy to fly with them, especially if you're trying to do a nonstop flight," he said.

Traveler Steve Gish said he still continues to book with Southwest primarily, although recent "meltdowns" has caused him to be a little wary of the airline. In 2023, the airline received a civil penalty over a fiasco in winter 2022 that caused more than 2 million passengers to miss flights and adjust travel plans.

"We booked these tickets a long time ago, but I know they had some issues with flights recently," said Gish. "I'm from San Diego, so Southwest's locations where flights drop off is really useful. I'm curious to see how the new seating arrangements are going to affect their flights."