Southwest Airlines Receives a Warning After Major Changes

Southwest Airlines is in the method of making some vital modifications to its identification, ending its longstanding “bags fly free” coverage as nicely as its open seating coverage. But as the airline transitions into its new identification, one journey professional has a fairly clear warning.

Earlier this yr, Southwest Airlines announced plans to start charging for checked luggage and transfer to an assigned seating model that permits prospects to pay additional to choose their seats, which might embrace premium seats with additional legroom.

The drastic coverage modifications got here as the airline searched for methods to enhance its earnings, which have been slumping in current years. But there’s no guarantee it can work.

Southwest Airlines started charging for checked luggage back in May, charging prospects $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for an further checked bag. The transfer ended Southwest’s iconic “bags fly free” coverage, which it had caught to for many years.

The early outcomes from the modifications weren’t great. Customers weren’t completely happy, the airline noticed an quick decline in bookings, and the transfer didn’t present an quick, apparent enhance to earnings.

Still, Southwest is dedicated to transferring ahead with the plan, and it seems like CEO Bob Jordan is happy with the early outcomes.

“The revenue contribution from bag fees has exceeded our expectations so far, and we’ve experienced no negative impact to the operation,” Jordan said.

For many years, Southwest Airlines had a democratic, open seating coverage on all of its flights, permitting passengers to merely select any seat on the plane after boarding in the order in which they checked in, though the airline ultimately allowed some company to pay to board sooner than others.

Beginning in January of 2026, that’s altering.

Earlier this yr, Southwest Airlines formally announced that it could be ending its open-seating coverage, transferring to an assigned seating model. Now, company may have to select between 4 fare bundles: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra.

Basic passengers will either obtain an robotically assigned seat a day before departure or pay additional to choose a seat. All other fare sorts will embrace seat choice at no additional price.

The assigned seating model will formally go into impact starting January 27, 2026.

While Southwest has already made some moderately vital modifications, the airline just isn’t completed evolving yet.

Back in June, CEO Bob Jordan made it clear that Southwest was retaining its choices open for future modifications.

While he didn’t particularly point out what the airline had deliberate for the future, he talked about issues like worldwide flights and airport lounges – issues Southwest’s rivals at the moment offer, but it has never pursued.