Southwest Airlines Makes Major Change Today After 50 Years

For the first time in more than 50 years, passengers flying on Southwest Airlines won't have unassigned seating.

The change was announced months ago and has been criticized by some and defended by the airline's CEO. However, today, on January 27, 2026, it officially came to an end. There's a second major change that went into effect this week for plus-sized passengers. What is the change for plus-sized passengers? According to The New York Post, "travelers who cannot fit between their seat's armrests will be required to buy a ticket in advance."

According to a statement from Southwest, flights with open seating will need to abide by the new policy for plus-sized passengers. “Customers who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) should proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional seat is available,” Southwest wrote.

Passengers reacted online. "About to board a Southwest flight on their first day of using assigned seating. Sometimes I don't even recognize the world I live in anymore," wrote one man on X.

Passengers Had Wildly Different Responses to Day 1 of the New Changes

Passengers affected by day one of the new seating policy change posted wildly different reactions on social media.

Not everyone was upset. One person shared a photo of a boarding pass and line to X on January 27 and wrote, "People get to their seats MUCH faster than with open seating! They aren’t clogging up the aisle looking for a good seat as much as they used to."

However, another passenger also shared a photo from an airport, and wrote, "Oof. First day of assigned seating at @SouthwestAir. Tough going. I’m sure they’ll figure it out. Boarding took longer than usual. Overhead bin space in front filled up too fast. Folks in rows ahead of exit rows had to put bags in back, which will make unboarding unpleasant."

Oof. First day of assigned seating at @SouthwestAir. Tough going. I’m sure they’ll figure it out. Boarding took longer than usual. Overhead bin space in front filled up too fast. Folks in rows ahead of exit rows had to put bags in back, which will make unboarding unpleasant. pic.twitter.com/TPwrxDxjSw

— Hon. Lorenzo Sierra (@Sierra4AZ) January 27, 2026

And another person wrote, "Worst decision Southwest has made. I love open seating. It’s why I fly Southwest. Now having to pay for seats and bags, It’s just like all the other airlines. there is no reason to fly SWA at all. Now it strictly comes down to price and schedule. Such a disappointment."

The 2 Policies Used to Set Southwest Airlines 'Apart From Its Competitors'

For decades, the two policies helped differentiate Southwest Airlines from other competitors, according to Fox Business.

According to Fox Business, "BUCKLE UP: Southwest Airlines is officially ending two signature policies that have long set the carrier apart from its competitors."

BUCKLE UP: Southwest Airlines is officially ending two signature policies that have long set the carrier apart from its competitors.

Starting Tuesday, the airline will raise ticket prices for plus-size passengers and also end the airline’s decades-old open-seating arrangement. pic.twitter.com/FXYj52UBFi

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) January 26, 2026

Starting Tuesday, January 27, the airline "will raise ticket prices for plus-size passengers and also end the airline’s decades-old open-seating arrangement," Fox Business reported.

"Our Customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience," Southwest executive Tony Roach said in 2025, according to Fox Business. "Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers — including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats — and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin."

How will the new policy work? "Rather than getting a group letter and position number for boarding when checking in for the flight, then choosing a seat upon boarding, travelers will now receive a boarding group number between 1 and 8 that correlates with loyalty status or fare class," the New York Post explained.

Related: Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan Suggests Another Major Change Is Coming