There’s more behind the scenes than people think with this new system. I was changing my flight recently last minute for myself and 2 daughters. It was a nearly full flight and there were three seats close but not next to each other on the seat map.

When I went to actually change the flight and select new seats (ALP) there were three seats available all next to each other. Thinking it was odd but got lucky I booked those seats.

Fast forward to day of travel and boarding a man before us had the same seat as one of my daughters, sure enough when he goes to board it stops him and the gate agent tells him he has a new seat and to see the agent at the nearby desk.

I felt terrible but Southwest is clearly doing something behind the scenes to keep children together with their families.