Southwest is saying goodbye to its most divisive policy. Here's what to know.

""Southwest's decision to offer assigned seats and extra legroom seats will help Southwest attract more passengers who may have avoided the airline up to now because of its lack of these two products," Harteveldt told SFGATE in an email. "Assigned and extra legroom seats help Southwest narrow its product gaps against other airlines, which will help make the airline more competitive.""

""When a Customer elects to stop flying with Southwest and chooses a competitor, open seating is cited as the number one reason for the change," Southwest Airlines said in a news release at the time."

"On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines ushers in a new era by eliminating one of the last remnants of its former branding and embracing assigned seating."

Southwest Airlines ended its nearly 55-year open-seating policy and moved to assigned seating, aligning with other carriers. Customers will receive seat numbers instead of competing for boarding positions, and the airline will add extra-legroom seats that carry higher fees. Company research found that 80% of existing Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer assigned seating, and open seating is cited as a leading reason passengers switch to competitors. Airline analyst Henry Harteveldt said assigned and extra-legroom seats will narrow product gaps, attract previously reluctant flyers, and make the airline more competitive. A 10% stake by Elliott Investment Management helped push the change.

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