Southwest is ditching its famous open seating for assigned seats starting Jan 2026—and that’s not all. If you need more than one seat, you’ll have to buy it in advance (no more hoping for a free extra at the gate). There’ll be three seat tiers, and plus-size passengers face stricter rules for refunds. This is a major shakeup for anyone used to Southwest’s free-for-all boarding! #News #SouthwestAirlines #TravelNews