Why is Southwest open seating?

The open-seating policy has been a Southwest hallmark since its first flight, and the benefits were immediately clear. Numerous studies showed that open seating enabled Southwest to get Customers on planes more quickly and efficiently than its competitors.



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Customers who purchase an Anytime fare will automatically be checked in to their flight 36 hours prior to scheduled departure—that's 12 hours before our traditional 24-hour check-in. You will receive an earlier boarding position, improved seat selection, and earlier access to overhead bins.

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Overselling a flight can occur because of weight restrictions and aircraft type changes. We don't overbook as part of our philosophy of Customer-friendly policies. Will I be compensated for an oversold flight? When appropriate, we'll offer compensation when a flight is in an oversale situation.

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Southwest Is A Safe Airline
They are a favorite among travelers looking for cheap flights without having to compromise on comfort or security. According to the most recent list of the world's safest airlines, Southwest was ranked in the top 15 airlines in the world in 2021, even beating out Delta, American, and United.

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As such, we do not publish flight loads. If for any reason you're uncomfortable traveling in the current environment and would like to discuss the flight load of your upcoming flight, we strongly encourage you to reach out to our Customer Service Department via any of the options below. Email here.

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Re: Assigned Seating and First Class Southwest has 52+ years experience that shows that open seating is far more operationally efficient than than assigned seating. Operational efficiency = more flights/day per plane which in turn allows SW to keep fares low.

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Except for a few standard differences — like more legroom in the exit row — Southwest seats are all the same size.

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6 ways to get the best seat on Southwest flights
  1. Check in 24-hours before departure. ...
  2. Pay for Early Bird check-in. ...
  3. Earn elite status with Southwest. ...
  4. Pay for a Business Select fare. ...
  5. Have the right Southwest credit card. ...
  6. Bring your kids with you or say you need extra time.


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Re: Saving Seats Unfortunately, there's no policy to enforce. Officially, Southwest has no policy for or against seat saving, and in practice actively allows it. Reps will even suggest that passengers save seats for later boarding companions.

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Checking in for a flight early or late comes down to more personal preference than anything else. As long as you check in before the window closes, you'll (most likely) get a seat on the aircraft. But, being strategic, one way or the other, might bag you a better one.

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Up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. There should be enough open seats to enable the child to sit next to at least one accompanying adult.

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Southwest Airlines doesn't actually have a dedicated first-class fare, instead, it's known as Business Select. Generally, first-class tickets are the most expensive fare that you can purchase.

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Southwest flies only Boeing instead of Airbus because when it was founded, to keep costs down, they decided to have not only one brand, but one model of airplane — the 737.

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