Southwest Airlines' new seating policy has officially taken flight.
On Tuesday, Southwest passengers took their assigned seats for the first time in more than 53 years aboard the low-cost carrier's fleet, after the seating shift was first announced in July 2024.
The Dallas, Texas-based carrier transitioned from its longtime open seating system in keeping with competitors like American, Delta, and United Airlines to offer passengers more flexibility with a variety of seat preferences including extra legroom, preferred seats and standard seats.
Tony Roach, EVP of customer and brand at Southwest, said in a statement at the time it was first announced that this new opportunity for customers "removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin."
Customers who purchase the Basic fare will have a seat assignment provided at check-in, according to Southwest.
Clint Henderson, travel expert and managing editor of The Points Guy, told ABC News that the company's owners "wanted to see changes."
"They wanted Southwest to be able to charge for bags, to get fees for seat assignments," he said for example. "So, you're seeing all these changes roll out to Southwest to try to make the airline even more profitable."
The metal stanchions that previously showed numbered boarding zones will be phased out over the next 60 days, as Southwest now instead has two alternating boarding lanes.
As of Tuesday when assigned seating begins, the silver columns where passengers previously lined up will have the numbers removed or covered as airports work to remove them entirely.
The digital screen displays at the gate will now show which groups 1 through 8 are boarding.
Boarding order will be determined by several factors including seat location, extra legroom seats, premium fares, and customer loyalty status.
Preboarding and Priority Boarding, for example, includes active-duty military, as well as customers who purchase Priority Boarding, which is available 24 hours before departure.
A representative for Southwest told ABC News that with the new basic economy randomly assigned seats, the airline will do what it can to put kids under 13 next to their parents, but if they are unable, they will offer to accommodate them together on the next available flight.
To avoid this scenario, Southwest advises buying a regular economy ticket instead of a basic economy ticket.
Boarding order breakdown
Groups 1-2
These groups include A-List Preferred, Choice Extra fare, and Extra Legroom seat purchase or upgrade, including A-List Members who upgrade at no additional cost to ELR seats within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
Groups 3-5
These boarding groups include A-List and Choice Preferred fares. Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers who did not receive an earlier boarding group will also board in Group 5.
Groups 6-8
These boarding groups will include Choice fare and Basic fare passengers who did not receive an earlier boarding group.
Additional seating changes for customers of size
There is another major seating policy change with an update to the airline's "customers of size" policy or passengers who encroach upon a neighboring seat.
The policy requires customers who need additional space to purchase an extra seat in advance of flying, with a refund issued if there is an empty seat available. If the plane is full, however, there will be no refund.
Previously, an extra seat for customers of size was free.
The policy is more generous than most other U.S. airlines, which don't offer any such option or refund.
