"The seat scramble at Southwest Airlines is no longer a thing. After 50 years, Southwest officially retired its open seating policy this week. It was a major move for the carrier, known for passengers scrambling for good seats as they boarded. The first two flights with assigned seating landed at Chicago Midway International Airport and Orlando International Airport, where the airline celebrated with a water-cannon salute, balloons, and commemorative bag tags reading "I understood the assignment.""
"But some loyal customers are unhappy with the shift. Larry Wolf, who's flown Southwest for more than two decades, told The New York Times, "I liked them really well when they were young and scrappy." With assigned seats, "now it's just like any other airline." Others welcomed the change, saying it eliminated the stress and anxiety that came with the seat scrum."
Southwest Airlines retired its 50-year open-seating policy and implemented assigned seating. The first two flights with assigned seating landed at Chicago Midway and Orlando International, celebrated with a water-cannon salute, balloons, and commemorative bag tags reading "I understood the assignment." The airline introduced three seat categories—standard, preferred, and extra legroom—with premium seats priced hundreds of dollars above the cheapest fares. The carrier says the change responds to customer preferences and will increase revenue. Loyalty divides customers: some view the change as loss of airline character, while others say it reduces boarding stress and anxiety.
Read at Entrepreneur
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