US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Major airline officially ends longstanding seat policy
Southwest ends open seating after 50 years, introducing assigned seats, new boarding groups, and stricter extra seat purchase rules amid investor pressure to boost profits.
- On Jan 27, Southwest Airlines begins assigned seating, ending the Texas-based carrier's decades-old open-seating system.
- Southwest executives said customer preferences shifted toward assigned seats as company research showed travelers want seat certainty, while CEO Robert Jordan linked the move to boosting revenue amid investor pressure last year.
- An eight‑group boarding system replaces A/B/C, with Extra Legroom seats prioritized in Groups 1‑2, Standard and Preferred seats offered, and check‑in seat assignments for those who skip selection.
- Under the new rule, customers of size must pre-purchase extra seats, with complimentary seats only if space exists; refunds depend on fare class and must be requested within 90 days.
- Gate areas will be converted in phases starting Monday night over two months, marking a major transformation that aligns Southwest Airlines with other U.S. carriers and ends perks like the 'bags fly free' policy.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions
193 Articles
193 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources193
Leaning Left29Leaning Right7Center99Last UpdatedBias Distribution73% Center
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center
L 22%
C 73%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
