Southwest Airlines Overhauls Boarding Policy

It’s been whispered about for months, but now it’s official. After more than 50 years, Southwest Airlines is doing away with one of its signature policies — open seating. The airline has not yet announced when the new assigned seating process will roll out, but it confirmed the news in a press release shared on Thursday.

Introduction of Premium Seating

In addition to assigning seats, Southwest Airlines will introduce premium seating with extra legroom. This move aligns with industry trends where premium seating options are significant revenue sources for competitors. Approximately a third of the seats on planes will have the premium, extra-legroom setup, the airline said. This change comes amid criticism of Southwest’s financial performance, particularly given the softness of domestic air prices.

Customer Preferences Drive Change

Southwest noted in the release that “80 percent of Southwest customers, and 86 percent of potential customers, prefer an assigned seat.” The airline admitted that when customers choose to stop flying with Southwest and switch to a competitor, open seating is often cited as the primary reason for the change. This shift in policy aims to better align with customer preferences and improve overall satisfaction.

Introduction of Red-Eye Flights

In addition to the seating policy shift, Southwest announced the introduction of red-eye flights for the first time, which will launch in February. Booking is now available for overnight routes such as Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando, Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville, and Phoenix to Baltimore. The airline mentioned that more overnight routes will be added throughout the coming year.

These significant updates reflect Southwest Airlines’ efforts to evolve and stay competitive in the ever-changing aviation industry. The introduction of assigned seating and red-eye flights marks a new chapter in the airline’s history, aiming to enhance customer experience and meet market demands.