Southwest Airlines is making a major change to its seating policy, moving away from its traditional open seating system to a reservation-based model. This change will go into effect on January 27th, and will offer customers a wider range of seating options.
Last summer, Southwest announced that it would be transitioning to a reservation-based system in order to provide customers with more choice and control over their flying experience. This new booking model will include three seating options: standard seating at the back of the aircraft, preferred seating near the front, and extra legroom seats in the front and at the exit rows.
Additionally, Southwest will also be implementing a new group-based boarding process to replace their previous system of “A,” “B,” and “C” boarding groups. This new process will prioritize passengers who have booked premium seating options, while those with basic seating will board last. However, this new system will require physical changes to be made at departure gates, which could take several months to complete.
Tony Roach, Southwest Airlines’ executive vice president of customer and brand, stated that these changes will provide customers with more opportunities, such as the ability to select extra legroom seats, and will eliminate the uncertainty of not knowing where they will be seated on the plane.
Along with the new seating options, Southwest is also introducing a “basic” fare option, previously known as “Wanna Get Away,” which is nonrefundable and does not allow any changes in travel dates or times unless passengers upgrade to a higher tier. The “Choice Extra” option, formerly known as “Business Select,” will include two free checked bags and priority boarding.
However, these changes may impact business customers who had previously received priority boarding through corporate business accounts. Southwest is currently working on finding a solution to this issue and will keep customers informed of any updates.
In addition to these changes, Southwest also announced a new policy for larger travelers who require more room. Starting on January 27th, passengers who do not fit within a seat’s armrests will be required to purchase an additional seat. This is a change from the previous policy of offering larger passengers the option to purchase a fully-refundable seat or request a free one at the gate.
Southwest Airlines has been offering open seating since its first flights in 1971, but this era will officially come to an end with the final open seating flight departing from Honolulu on January 26th. This change marks an important step in the company’s evolution and is paired with their commitment to providing legendary customer service.