Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon have assigned seats and be able to pay a premium for more legroom, breaking a tradition of more than 50 years
FILE - A traveler walks through the Southwest Airlines ticketing counter area at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, April 18, 2023.
of allowing travelers to choose their own seats.on Thursday, the airline said it had been studying seating options and decided to change its longstanding policy because passengers have shifted their preferences. Changes to the seating policy could also boost revenue, which comes as it had a steep decline in its profits in the second quarter of the year.
"Our implementation of assigned and premium seating is part of an ongoing and comprehensive upgrade to the Customer Experience, one that research shows Customers overwhelmingly prefer," Bob Jordan, the airline's president and CEO, said in a statement. Southwest had used an open-seating model since the airline was founded where passengers line up to get on board and then choosing their own seat once they get on the plane. But on longer flights, passengers want an assigned seat, they said.
The airline also said it will offer redeye flights for the first time. Its first overnight flights will land on Valentine's Day in nonstop markets like Las Vegas, Baltimore, Los Angeles and Orlando. More flights will be phased in over time.
Assigned Seats Premium Seating Passenger Preferences Revenue Boost Open-Seating Model Redeye Flights Earnings Call
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