Southwest Airlines has announced a significant change in its boarding process, effective January 27. The airline will introduce an eight-group system based on seat selection and loyalty status, with priority given to those who purchase more expensive tickets. This marks a departure from the company’s long-standing open-seating policy.
The new system will prioritize frequent flyers in groups one and two, followed by “choice” and “basic” ticket holders. The current system will end on January 27, allowing customers to buy assigned seats starting July 29.
This change is part of Southwest’s efforts to cut costs amid challenging times for the airline industry. The company has recently ended its free checked bag policy and removed open seating, leaving it with a more limited edge over competitors.
Industry experts say the trend of cost-cutting measures by airlines like Southwest reflects waning consumer demand, particularly in the domestic market. “Consumer spending started to stall,” says Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian.
In other news, a former police detective convicted of using excessive force during the Breonna Taylor raid has been sentenced to 33 months in prison. Hunter Biden also defended his father, former President Biden, in a pair of interviews released on Monday, denying allegations of cocaine use and downplaying the Democratic Party’s response to his father’s presidential debate performance.
Meanwhile, Major League Baseball teams have changed their team names from the Washington Redskins (Commanders) and Cleveland Indians (Guardians), following an anti-racism movement that swept the country after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/07/21/southwest-airlines-assigned-seats-changes