{"id":2308297,"date":"2024-07-25T17:34:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-where-freedom-open-seating-goes-to-die\/"},"modified":"2024-07-25T17:36:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:36:32","slug":"southwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-the-end-of-open-seating-freedom-6\/","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-6%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=2308297&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 Airlines (SWA) has announced it will be ending its <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\">long-standing open seating policy<\/a>, a move that has disappointed many loyal customers. This decision comes\u200c after\u200c a series of controversial policies, such\u200d as the &#8220;fatties fly free&#8221; initiative, and is framed as an effort to enhance customer experience and improve declining profits. Despite SWA&#8217;s previous reputation for\u200c providing affordable, \u2062customer-friendly service, critics argue that assigned \u200bseating will lead to higher ticket prices and mimic the less desirable practices of other \u2063major carriers like American Airlines and Delta. The reaction from customers indicates a strong sentiment against this change, \u2062as many appreciate the airline\u2019s low-cost\u2064 flights \u2064and flexibility. Ultimately, the transition from an open seating policy to assigned seats raises concerns\u200c about the future of air \u200ctravel affordability, particularly for those who rely on SWA for reasonable fares from non-metro areas.  <\/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 affordable air travel option 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;<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\">budget airline options abound<\/a>. 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 flotation device-equipped chair. 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 move that many see as a blow to good airline practices. Following the controversial &#8220;fatties fly free&#8221; initiative, the airline has reportedly chosen to end a 50-year tradition that distinguished it from its competitors after &#8220;carefully listening to customers and conducting extensive research.&#8221; However, a closer look at SWA&#8217;s press release indicates that this decision may have been driven by a desire to boost its struggling second-quarter profits, a challenge faced by 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 suggests 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 may not have easy access to large metropolitan airports, to travel across the country efficiently and affordably. With its low fares and exceptional customer service, SWA provided a viable alternative to budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier, which are often associated with chaotic experiences.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, those who appreciate SWA but desire a better chance at sitting in the front row or having 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 easily choose American or Delta, which is still working to address the issues faced by customers stranded at airports last week.<\/p>\n<p>SWA&#8217;s effort to &#8220;broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers&#8221; by eliminating the freedom to choose seats 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 &#8220;Low fares. Nothing to hide. That\u2019s TransFarency!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Allowing passengers to select their seats helps keep costs down and gives the airline flexibility to offer flash deals and rewards programs that genuinely benefit travelers like myself. 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&#8217;s open seating policy. While I don\u2019t live in a remote area, I also lack easy access to a major city with numerous budget airline options. SWA is the only airline that offers 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&#8217; 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 my own seat is not just an added bonus to SWA&#8217;s 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 allows for easy seat swaps since no one has paid for a specific spot. This flexibility also enables customers to make last-minute changes or cancellations with minimal penalties.<\/p>\n<p>After this announcement, I find myself among the growing number of SWA loyalists who feel the airline has &#8220;gone soft&#8221; by compromising the one feature that set it apart from others in pursuit of uncertain profits. SWA has prioritized attracting new customers over the preferences of its frequent flyers, and now, people like us will bear the financial consequences. <\/p>\n<p>Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also appeared in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University with a major in political science and a minor in journalism. Follow her on X @jordanboydtx<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":490,"featured_media":2308298,"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":[36197,36198,36196,36134,36137],"class_list":["post-2308297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-airline-policy","tag-customer-experience","tag-open-seating","tag-southwest-airlines","tag-travel-news"],"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\/2308297","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=2308297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2308297\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2308298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2308297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2308297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2308297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}