Southwest drops open seating. Assigned seats are coming—here’s what the boarding change means for travelers and fares.

Southwest’s assigned seating rollout hits turbulence. Here’s what’s changing—and what it means for your next flight.

Southwest ends open seating in 2026—here’s what the new assigned seats, fare perks, and boarding changes mean for travelers.

For over five decades, Southwest Airlines has been famous (or infamous) for its free-for-all boarding system. Love it or hate it, the...