Passengers Loved Southwest Airlines’ Open Boarding. Now What?

On Thursday, Southwest Airlines announced that its unique boarding system allowing passengers to choose their own seats would change to assigned seating. The carrier had been mulling the change for months, but the announcement still came as a shock to passengers, as the open-seating policy had been in place for more than 50 years and earned the airline ardent and loyal fans — as well as plenty of detractors.

With open seating, passengers weren’t assigned seats at purchase or upon check in, but instead received a boarding position — a letter group and a number. At the gate, passengers would stand in line according to their boarding position, and then once on the plane, could choose any seat they wanted, first come, first served.

As word of the change quickly spread, dedicated Southwest travelers expressed strong emotional reactions on social media and the discussion forum on Southwest’s website. Some, like Evan Bell, hope the carrier reverses the plan.

“I’m definitely discouraged from flying with Southwest,” said Mr. Bell, of Indianapolis. “I looked forward to flying with them, because I could sit anywhere.”

To Mr. Bell and other passengers, the airline had little comfort: “We know that assigned seating is not preferable for every customer,” it responded repeatedly on X to worried posts. “We’re evolving to meet changing customer preferences, and our research clearly indicates a desire for assigned seating.”

Travelers also speculated online about when assigned seating would begin next year, how it would work with current expedited boarding offerings and what other changes could follow: Will the airline charge for assigned seats, putting it squarely in line with most other domestic airlines? And what about the two free checked bags that Southwest allots each traveler, another of the airline’s idiosyncrasies. When other airlines are increasing baggage fees, will that appreciated perk disappear as well?