The changes are a “next step in a continuing strategic transformation,” according to a release from the company, which has historically offered open seating.
DALLAS — Southwest Airlines will move to assigned seating and also offer premium seating and redeye flights as part of a “strategic transformation,” the airline announced Thursday.
Unassigned seating has long been a hallmark of the Dallas-based airline, but that model will change after the airline conducted consumer research and found that most customers preferred assigned seating, according to a press release from Southwest Airlines.
Southwest will also offer a premium area of the cabin with additional legroom, the company said. The company said one-third of the seats across Southwest’s fleet will have extended legroom but did not offer a timeline for when the new seating policies will be implemented.
“We have been building purposefully to this change as part of a comprehensive upgrade to the Southwest experience as …