Southwest Airlines' New Assigned Seating Policy: What Passengers Need to Know

Southwest's Shift to Assigned Seating

• ✈️ Southwest Airlines has officially ended its long-standing open seating policy, implementing assigned seats for all travelers starting today.
• 📌 This change also includes assigned boarding groups, meaning checking in exactly 24 hours in advance no longer guarantees a preferred boarding position.

Impact on Fares and Strategy

• 💰 The new system links seat assignments to fare type (basic vs. choice), Southwest credit card ownership, and elite status.
• 📈 Passengers may face fees to select specific seats, although accepting an automatically assigned seat without extra cost remains an option.
• 💡 For frequent Southwest flyers, strategies must adapt to this new model, prioritizing factors beyond just early check-in.

Leveraging Credit Cards and Elite Status

• 💳 Holding a Southwest credit card (even the basic $99 annual fee one) can be advantageous, potentially offsetting costs through waived bag fees and assigned seating fee waivers.
• 🎯 The speaker suggests that for those flying Southwest even twice a year, the credit card's benefits might outweigh its annual fee, especially when considering the elimination of the 'bags fly free' policy.
• 💡 A strategy proposed is to use the Southwest card primarily for booking and flying Southwest, rather than for everyday spending.

Broader Industry Trends and Southwest's Evolution

• 🚀 Southwest is transitioning from its unique business model to become more like mainstream carriers such as Delta and United, aiming for increased profitability.
• ⚠️ While adopting practices like assigned seating and bag fees, Southwest currently lacks the established perks of competitors, such as airport lounges or a business class cabin.
• 🧩 The airline is expected to invest in these areas over the next few years, potentially alienating some long-time customers while attracting new ones who are amenable to the new fee structure.