At Southwest, we let you sit where you like. We don't assign seats on our flights, so feel free to sit in any available seat once you board the plane. We have a quick, easy, and efficient boarding process. Look at your boarding pass to find your assigned boarding group (A, B, or C) and boarding position (1 - 60).

No, as of January 26, 2026, you can no longer "sit anywhere" on Southwest Airlines. The airline officially transitioned from its legendary "open seating" model to a standard assigned seating system. This major shift was implemented to boost revenue through seat selection fees and to accommodate a fleet-wide retrofit that added extra-legroom "premium" seats. Under the new 2026 policy, passengers select their specific seat (Window, Middle, or Aisle) during the booking process or have one assigned at check-in, similar to the experience on Delta or American Airlines. The "numbered boarding positions" and the frantic rush to find a seat upon boarding are gone, replaced by eight numbered boarding groups. While the change has been controversial among longtime loyalists, it marks the end of an era for the last major U.S. carrier to offer a "first-come, first-served" seating experience.