Aviation ❯ Airlines ❯ Southwest Airlines

Seating Policies

Assigned Seating Passenger Safety Open Seating Accessibility

Southwest Lets Gate Agents Offer Free Adjacent Seats to Plus-Size Passengers

Following months of passenger backlash, Southwest now gives agents the authority to provide or rebook customers who need more than one seat.

Southwest’s Assigned Seating Launch Brings Mixed Reactions and Early Hiccups

Southwest Ends Open Seating as Assigned Seats and Tiered Fares Take Effect

Passenger Sues Southwest After Viral In-Flight Assault, Citing 'Free-for-All' Seating

Southwest Airlines Launches Assigned Seating and Tiered Fare Bundles

Southwest Airlines Sets Jan. 27, 2026, for Assigned Seating and Eight-Group Boarding