Southwest Airlines Starts Assigned Seats with New Fee System

Post by : Bandan Preet

A big change is coming to one of the world’s most popular low-cost airlines. After following the same system for over 50 years, Southwest Airlines has now started selling assigned seats to passengers for the first time in its history. This new seating option became available this week for flights starting from January 27 next year.

Until now, Southwest has had a unique open-seating policy. This meant that passengers could choose any seat they liked once they got on the plane. Many people found it exciting, while others thought it was confusing and stressful. With this change, the airline will now work more like other major airlines, where travelers can pick their seats in advance—but for an extra cost.

The price of a seat will not be the same for everyone. It will depend on where you’re flying, when you're flying, and what kind of seat you choose. For example, if a family is planning a trip from Denver to Orlando during the busy Presidents' Day holiday in February, it could become quite expensive. A round-trip ticket under the airline’s "Choice" fare—a middle-priced ticket—was recently showing a cost of around $692.

But that’s not all. If you want to sit near the front of the plane or choose a window or aisle seat in Rows 7 to 13 (called “preferred” seats), you’ll have to pay more. For those, the added cost is around $46 for a window or aisle seat, or about $41 for a middle seat. If you want more legroom in the front six rows of the plane, known as "extra-legroom" seats, the price can be as high as $96.

However, passengers with elite frequent flyer status or special credit cards linked to the airline will not have to pay some of these extra seat fees. This is one way the airline is rewarding its most loyal travelers. These customers may also get earlier access to preferred or extra-legroom seats before regular travelers.

The seats in the back of the plane, from Row 17 to Row 30, are free to choose if you have the "Choice" ticket. If you buy a more expensive ticket called “Choice Preferred,” you’ll get the preferred seats without paying extra. And if you go for the highest-priced ticket, “Choice Extra,” it includes the extra-legroom seat plus a free premium drink, such as an alcoholic beverage.

This change in seating isn’t the only new thing. For the first time ever, the airline has also started charging for checked bags. Since late May, passengers must now pay $35 for their first checked bag and $45 for the second. This makes the airline more like others that have been charging these fees for years.

Another big change is the launch of a new low-cost ticket called “basic economy.” This is the cheapest type of ticket but comes with fewer benefits. You won’t get a free seat selection with this kind of ticket. The airline believes that once people realize they can’t choose a seat, they may be more willing to pay a little extra to upgrade to the “Choice” ticket.

According to one top airline official, they expect these changes to increase profits, especially in the first few months after assigned seating begins. If things go well, they believe even more people will upgrade their tickets to get better seats and perks.

This shift marks a turning point for the airline. For decades, it stood out for doing things differently. It allowed two free checked bags, had equal legroom across the cabin, and let passengers board in order based on check-in time rather than seat number. It was a bit like a race to grab the best spot once you got on board.

But now, as other airlines continue to earn billions from fees on luggage and seat selection, Southwest seems to be changing course. Investors and financial experts had been urging the company to find ways to increase income. Recently, a major investment group even pushed for changes in how the airline runs its business. This led to a big shake-up on the airline’s board of directors.

A government report showed that major airlines in the U.S. earned about $12.4 billion just from assigned seating fees between 2018 and 2023. So it’s no surprise that Southwest is now joining the trend.

To keep its most loyal customers happy, the airline is still offering some special benefits. If you have the highest level of status, known as “A-List Preferred,” you’ll get early access to the best seats and won’t have to pay extra. Other frequent flyers, as well as credit card holders linked to the airline, will also get similar perks.

This move is a clear sign that the airline is preparing for a new kind of future—one where it operates more like its competitors, charging for extras that used to be free, and offering more choice to those willing to pay.

Southwest Airlines