Frequent Flyers React to Southwest Airlines' New Seating Policy

It looks like Southwest Airlines' new policy update isn't going to fly with some frequent flyers.

It was announced this week that the Dallas-based airline will be switching to assigned seating after offering passengers the ability to choose their own seating for over 50 years.

Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan shared the news on Thursday, July 25, confirming that the airline will now offer assigned and premium seating, plus an updated boarding policy. Jordan insisted that Southwest customers "overwhelmingly prefer" assigned seating, according to company research .

But some Southwest flyers online beg to differ.

Shortly after the news was announced, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) were set ablaze with fiery reactions to the policy change, with tons of users expressing their disappointment in losing what some say was the "best thing" about flying Southwest.

"as a loyal Southwest customer, I hate this. the whole reason I fly southwest is bc it’s cheap & I can pick my seat!!! If you don’t like it, fly on a different airline," one upset fan tweeted .

Someone else blatantly called the policy switch a "terrible decision."

"It was literally the one reason I only flew Southwest. They've become just another airline now, as far as I'm concerned," another user lamented , while others worried about how the new change will impact Southwest's flight prices.

"Ugh that sucks. That means their flights are about to get more expensive," one person predicted .

Another disappointed X user wrote , "Inexpensive flights are the whole point of flying SW. Assume assigned seats cost more and kind of defeat the purpose of flying SW. It's started to get to the point where you need early bird check in to avoid C anyway. Kind of a bummer."

Others, however, were in favor of the news, including those who were never fans of the open seating business model.

"But they really weren’t that cheap. And boarding was always a mess. I will happily pay for a seat on Southwest now," one X user pointed out .

"Bout time because people are ridiculous and rude when boarding trying to be closest to the front," added another.

Thursday's announcement did not include an exact timeframe for when the new policy would be rolled out, but when it does, there will likely be some turbulence during the transition.

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