In Defense of Southwest’s Open-Seating Policy

Look, I absolutely see the value in structure. I wash my sheets once a week, I write a to-do list in my Notes app every morning, and I meal prep most Sundays. But when it comes to flying, there’s something refreshingly chaotic about Southwest’s open-seating policy.

In the world of air travel, where other people are completely responsible for getting me from point A to point B, Southwest’s open-seating policy is a breath of fresh air: it gives me a little ounce of control that feels empowering. And yet, with recent news that Southwest is retiring its open-seating policy, I can’t help but to wonder why.

As an avid Southwest flier and credit card member, I know how to hack the open-seating policy. I know to set my alarm the day before my flight so that I can check in and secure an A- or B- boarding position. I know that I’ll have a better chance of securing a window seat when I walk past the emergency exit rows. And I also know that Southwest’s open-seating policy has allowed the company to remain more affordable than other notable airline companies. What I don’t know is how a whopping 80 percent of Southwest customers prefer assigned seating, per the company’s findings.

I can see how it may be a stressful boarding process for some, but the best thing about an open-seating policy is the open seating. Instead of being placed next to strangers, I can vibe-check the people around me and decide who I want to sit next to. Of course, I don’t mean this in a judgmental way. It’s more so that the policy saves me from being forced to sit next to a manspreader or someone listening to music without headphones on.

The open-seating policy also keeps things fair. When I’m on another airline, I can’t help but to feel like a peasant when I’m walking past first-class passengers on my way to economy. I know they pay for that roomy leg room and fresh cocktails in hand, but on Southwest, all seats are created equal. The person in a business suit is treated no better than the student wearing sweatpants. Now, with Southwest’s initiative to bring “premium seating,” I fear that won’t be the case.

Another thing: the Southwest check-in process puts the responsibility on the passengers. If you remember to check-in 24 hours before your flight time, you’ll secure a better boarding position, which will set you up well to find a window or aisle seat. But even if you forget to check-in, you still have an option to pay more to get a better boarding pass number. With Southwest’s current open-seating policy, the responsible are rewarded. Now, it seems the company is prioritizing the passengers who can dish out the most money.

Ultimately, Southwest’s open-seating policy kept things affordable. By foregoing the open-seating policy completely, I can only assume that the airline will start charging people to select their seats — the exact reason I’ve avoided booking with other airlines in the first place. If Southwest really does get rid of its open-seating policy, that’s up to them. But all I have to say is: that’s not very brat of them.

Taylor Andrews is a Balance editor at PS who specializes in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, and more.