{"id":2308278,"date":"2024-07-25T17:18:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-where-freedom-open-seating-goes-to-die\/"},"modified":"2024-07-25T17:20:34","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:20:34","slug":"southwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Airlines: The End of Open Seating Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsouthwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom-5%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2308278&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Southwest\u200b Airlines (SWA) faced backlash after announcing the end of\u200d its \u200bopen seating policy,\u200d a move seen as a betrayal by loyal \u200dcustomers who appreciated the airline&#8217;s affordability and \u2064unique approach to air travel. \u200dThis\u2063 decision\u2063 follows previous controversial policies, such as allowing passengers categorized\u2062 as\u2062 &#8220;fatties&#8221; to fly for free. The airline claims\u2064 the change results from customer feedback and aims to improve financial\u2063 performance amid \u200ddeclining \u2064profits experienced by\u2063 many\u2064 airlines. Critics argue this shift\u2063 towards assigned seating \u200cwill increase ticket\u200b prices and diminish\u200d the budget-friendly \u200dexperience that Southwest is\u200d known for, as flying becomes less enjoyable\u200c due\u200c to rising costs. The article emphasizes that the open \u200dseating policy enabled many \u200bcustomers, particularly those without easy access to major airports, to afford air travel\u2062 and enjoy flexibility in their \u2064choices.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Hardworking Americans were once again betrayed by big business this week when Southwest Airlines (SWA) announced it will soon relegate its famous open seating policy to the graveyard of good airline travel policies.<\/p>\n<p>First came the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/12\/15\/under-the-weight-of-southwests-fatties-fly-free-policy-normal-people-will-pay-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;fatties fly free&rdquo;<\/a> policy. Now, the beloved airline has <a href=\"https:\/\/swamedia.com\/releases\/release-66ab759a702a76e0bcb37c45465c6a58-southwest-airlines-launches-enhancements-to-transform-customer-experience-and-improve-financial-performance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allegedly decided to ditch <\/a>the 50-year tradition that set it apart from competitors after &ldquo;listening carefully to Customers and conducting extensive research.&rdquo; A deeper dive into SWA&rsquo;s press release suggests that the company chose the change with hopes of saving its <a href=\"https:\/\/swamedia.com\/releases\/release-66ab759a702a76e0bcb37c45465dcace-southwest-airlines-reports-second-quarter-2024-results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flailing second-quarter profits<\/a>, a dip <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/business\/article-southwest-airlines-to-start-assigning-seats-breaking-50-year-tradition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">several major airline carriers<\/a> suffered regardless of their seating policies. <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ClayTravis\/status\/1816479181196136582\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blowback<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TicTocTick\/status\/1816445461126922248\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">that<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lindseymagness_\/status\/1816459032313385018\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ensued<\/a> after SWA President, CEO, and Vice Chairman of the Board Bob Jordan debuted the change on Thursday morning, however, suggests the loyalists who have kept the heart-branded Boeing carrier afloat for decades are not pleased.<\/p>\n<p>SWA has long been hailed as <em>the<\/em> airline that made it possible for regular Americans who love the freedom to choose and don&rsquo;t have easy access to massive metroplex airports to get across the country with efficiency and ease. The beloved airline&rsquo;s discount prices and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom\/\" title=\"Southwest Airlines: The End of Open Seating Freedom\">noteworthy hospitality offered sky passengers<\/a> an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom-3\/\" title=\"Southwest Airlines: The End of Open Seating Freedom\">affordable air travel option<\/a> other than notoriously <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/unlimited_ls\/status\/1788597104664830100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">brawl-<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DramaAlert\/status\/1792666356556374183\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">plagued<\/a> budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, those who love SWA but long for a better shot at a front-row chair and some legroom already have the opportunity to pay for priority boarding offers like Earlybird check-in and A-list preferred status. <\/p>\n<p>If SWA fliers wanted assigned seats and the higher prices and unfriendly flight attendants that come with those, they would fly American. Or Delta, which is still <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/technology-outage-delta-air-lines-delays-7361e641fe2c656d7fba06e4a0424c6a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">scrambling to satisfy<\/a> the customers it left stranded at airports around the country last week.<\/p>\n<p>SWA&rsquo;s attempt to &ldquo;broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future Customers&rdquo; by getting rid of that freedom to choose, however, will inevitably jack up ticket prices in an attempt to win over customers who are happily married to airlines that already offer assigned seating. So much for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/todayinthesky\/2015\/10\/08\/southwest-airlines-zings-competitors-fees-in-new-ads\/73613386\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;Low fares. Nothing to hide. That&rsquo;s TransFarency!&rdquo;<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Trusting passengers to pick where they sit keeps costs low and gives the airline wiggle room to offer flash deals and rewards programs that actually benefit travelers like me who want to fly. And that&rsquo;s good because flying ain&rsquo;t cheap. <\/p>\n<p>The only reason people like me can afford air travel in the face of price hikes that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/select\/airline-ticket-prices-are-up-25-percent-why-and-how-to-save\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">outpace inflation<\/a> is because of SWA&rsquo;s open seating policy. I don&rsquo;t live in the boonies, but I also don&rsquo;t have easy access to a metroplex where&nbsp;budget airline options abound. SWA is the only sky bus that offers reasonably priced flights to choice destinations from my hometown.<\/p>\n<p>There&rsquo;s no doubt that flying is becoming less and less enjoyable by the year. The only thing that makes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelpulse.com\/news\/airlines-airports\/shrinking-seat-sizes-and-disappearing-legroom-impacting-airline-experience-for-americans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shrinking seats<\/a>, cardboard-like snacks, and airlines&rsquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/07\/19\/get-race-quotas-out-of-the-cockpit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">embarrassing embrace of wokeism <\/a>better is choosing my seat.<\/p>\n<p>Open seating may get a bad rap from people who fly with other airlines, but who cares what they think? Choosing your own seat isn&rsquo;t just the cherry on top of SWA&rsquo;s other perks like family-friendly boarding, bags that fly free, companion passes, and smiley staff. It&rsquo;s the whole sky sundae. <\/p>\n<p>SWA&rsquo;s friendly staff and informative boarding process make it easy to get settled in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom-2\/\" title=\"Southwest Airlines: The End of Open Seating Freedom\">flotation device-equipped chair<\/a>. If a passenger doesn&rsquo;t like his neighbor or wants a better view of the clouds, open seating makes it easier to talk someone into switching because passengers did not pay for specific spots. Thanks to pick-where-you-plant-yourself policies, customers can even make last-minute flight changes and cancellations with little to no penalty.<\/p>\n<p>After today, I count myself among the growing club of SWA loyalists who think the carrier has <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jacksettleman\/status\/1816465968878563786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;gone soft&rdquo;<\/a> by selling out the one thing that set it apart from other airlines in exchange for unpromised profit. SWA let their desire for new customers and greediness get ahead of them and their frequent flyers&rsquo; wishes, and now people like you and me are literally going to be paying for it.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her on X @jordanboydtx.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week, hardworking Americans felt let down by big corporations once more as Southwest Airlines (SWA) revealed plans to abandon its well-known open seating policy, a hallmark of good airline practices. Following the controversial \u201cfatties fly free\u201d initiative, the airline has reportedly chosen to end a 50-year tradition that distinguished it from its competitors after \u201ccarefully listening to Customers and conducting extensive research.\u201d A closer look at SWA\u2019s press release indicates that this decision was made in hopes of boosting its struggling second-quarter profits, a trend seen across several major airlines regardless of their seating arrangements.<\/p>\n<p>The backlash that followed SWA President, CEO, and Vice Chairman Bob Jordan&#8217;s announcement on Thursday morning indicates that the loyal customers who have supported the airline for decades are not happy with this change. SWA has long been recognized as the airline that enabled everyday Americans, who value the freedom to choose and lack easy access to large metropolitan airports, to travel across the country efficiently. The airline&#8217;s affordable fares and notable customer service provided a viable alternative to budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier, which are often associated with chaos.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, those who appreciate SWA but desire better chances for front-row seating and extra legroom already have the option to pay for priority boarding services like Earlybird check-in and A-list preferred status. If SWA passengers wanted assigned seating along with the higher costs and less friendly service that come with it, they could choose American or Delta, which is still trying to make amends with customers it stranded at airports last week.<\/p>\n<p>SWA\u2019s effort to \u201cbroaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future Customers\u201d by eliminating the freedom to choose will likely lead to increased ticket prices as they try to attract customers who are already loyal to airlines that provide assigned seating. This undermines their promise of \u201cLow fares. Nothing to hide. That\u2019s TransFarency!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Allowing passengers to select their seats keeps costs down and enables the airline to offer flash deals and rewards programs that genuinely benefit travelers like me who want to fly. This is crucial because air travel is becoming increasingly expensive. The only reason I can afford to fly despite rising prices is due to SWA\u2019s open seating policy. While I don\u2019t live in a remote area, I also don\u2019t have easy access to a major city with numerous budget airline options. SWA is the only airline that provides reasonably priced flights to desirable destinations from my hometown.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no denying that flying is becoming less enjoyable each year. The only thing that makes the shrinking seats, subpar snacks, and airlines\u2019 awkward attempts at political correctness more bearable is the ability to choose my seat. Open seating may be criticized by those who fly with other airlines, but their opinions don\u2019t matter. The ability to select your own seat is not just an added bonus to SWA\u2019s other benefits, such as family-friendly boarding, free checked bags, companion passes, and friendly staff; it\u2019s the essence of the experience.<\/p>\n<p>SWA\u2019s welcoming staff and straightforward boarding process make it easy to settle into a seat equipped with flotation devices. If a passenger is unhappy with their neighbor or wants a better view, open seating facilitates seat swapping since passengers haven\u2019t paid for specific spots. This flexibility also allows customers to make last-minute changes and cancellations with minimal penalties.<\/p>\n<p>After this announcement, I find myself among the increasing number of SWA loyalists who believe the airline has \u201cgone soft\u201d by compromising the one feature that set it apart from others in pursuit of uncertain profits. SWA has prioritized attracting new customers and greed over the preferences of its frequent flyers, and now people like us will literally pay the price for it<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":490,"featured_media":2308279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-10.08.18%E2%80%AFAM-e1721920125172-1200x675-1.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[36202,36196,36134],"class_list":["post-2308278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-airline-policies","tag-open-seating","tag-southwest-airlines"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-10.08.18%E2%80%AFAM-e1721920125172-1200x675-1.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2308278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/490"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2308278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2308278\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2308279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2308278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2308278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2308278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}