Southwest Airlines operates with an open seating policy, meaning there are no assigned seats. Passengers select their seats once they board, with boarding groups determining the order. Early Bird Check-In, Southwest Airlines Seat Selection Policy now free, automatically checks passengers in 36 hours before departure, often resulting in a better boarding position. Additionally, Southwest offers a reserved seating option for a fee, allowing passengers to select specific seats in advance. Despite these enhancements, the open seating policy remains at the core of Southwest’s boarding process, giving passengers the flexibility to choose or adjust their seats based on availability once onboard.