Latest news with #ChoicePreferred
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines Announcement Sparks Outrage
Southwest Airlines made a rather significant announcement this week as the airline charts its path forward after ending its longstanding policies of open seating and free checked bags. But that announcement did not exactly go over well with its customers. The airline announced the decision to ditch open seating and free checked baggage last month, in an attempt to modernize and boost profits. To help replace the previous longstanding policies, the airline announced four new fare bundles — Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice, and Basic, in descending order of price. After previously offering all passengers to check two bags at no charge, now only the "Choice Extra" bundle — the priciest of the available options — offers two checked bags. This top-tier package also comes with added benefits like extra legroom seats, early boarding, and in-flight internet access. Beyond eliminating complimentary checked bags, Southwest is also scrapping its long-standing open seating policy. Moving forward, travelers will need to pay to choose their seats. The "Choice Preferred" bundle offers customers preferred seating and early general boarding, while "Choice" customers will choose from standard seats upon booking, Meanwhile, those who opt for the "Basic" bundle will simply be assigned seats at check-in – a drastic change from the airline's decades of history allowing everyone to choose their own seats. Needless to say, customers were not thrilled as the announcement did not exactly go over well on social media. Customers quickly flooded the airline's Instagram account with comments expressing their displeasure. "I'd rather have my two free checked bags and open seating," one person wrote in the comments on Instagram. 'None of us asked for this,' someone else commented regarding the announcement. "Open seating and two checked bags included is all we want. Southwest was perfect as-is. Honestly was my favorite airline and my #1 choice when flying," another commenter wrote. "I see your stock took a hit. There's more where that came from," someone else added. "Where's the inflight entertainment? Where are my 2 free bags? Feels like I'm just getting up-charged. I can fly on the legacy airlines for the same price and at least get in seat entertainment and not have to waste my phone's battery," another commenter said. We'll have to see how long this backlash lasts.
American Military News
02-05-2025
- Business
- American Military News
Southwest Airlines to debut first plane with extra legroom seats
Southwest Airlines' first plane with extra legroom seats is planned to begin serving customers Thursday, marking an initial step as the low-fare airline prepares for a slew of changes to its fleet and customer experience. Over the rest of the year, all aircraft in Southwest's fleet will be retrofitted to accommodate the new seats with up to 5 inches of expanded legroom, the company said in a statement. Southwest's fleet of Boeing 737-800 and Max 8 aircraft will be the first to see the upgrades, with changes to Boeing 737-700 aircraft starting after summer. Other cabin upgrades, including installation of in-seat power and larger overhead storage bins, will take place alongside the retrofitting. Southwest is also revamping its ticketing options. Southwest's lowest-priced tickets, now known as Basic fares, go into effect May 28. Basic ticket holders will get assigned standard seats in the back of the plane, be last to board and must pay for checked bags. Other new options, Choice Extra, Choice Preferred and Choice, will be bookable starting in the third quarter of this year for 2026 flights. Choice Extra bookings, previously Business Select, will get two free checked bags, access to early boarding and can select seats with extra legroom. Those who make Choice Preferred bookings, formerly Anytime fares, can choose seats with standard legroom near the front of the cabin and have access to early general boarding. Fees apply for checked bags. Both options are refundable. Choice fares, previously Wanna Get Away Plus tickets, allow passengers to choose standard seats toward the back of the cabin and general boarding. Checked bag fees apply, and if ticket holders have to cancel their flight, they will be eligible for a flight credit valid for 12 months. Updating the Southwest fleet and ticketing options precedes the sale of assigned and premium seats beginning later this year, with seat assignments starting in 2026. For flights booked or ticketed on or after, May 28, checked baggage fees will apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares, meaning the first two checked bags passengers bring will not be free. ___ © 2025 The Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Chicago Tribune
01-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Southwest Airlines to debut first plane with extra legroom seats
Southwest Airlines' first plane with extra legroom seats was planned to begin serving customers Thursday, marking an initial step as the low-fare airline prepares for a slew of changes to its fleet and customer experience. Over the rest of the year, all aircraft in Southwest's fleet will be retrofitted to accommodate the new seats with up to 5 inches of expanded legroom, the company said in a statement. Southwest's fleet of Boeing 737-800 and Max 8 aircraft will be the first to see the upgrades, with changes to Boeing 737-700 aircraft starting after summer. Other cabin upgrades, including installation of in-seat power and larger overhead storage bins, will take place alongside the retrofitting. Southwest is also revamping its ticketing options. Southwest's lowest-priced tickets, now known as Basic fares, go into effect May 28. Basic ticket holders will get assigned standard seats in the back of the plane, be last to board and must pay for checked bags. Other new options, Choice Extra, Choice Preferred and Choice, will be bookable starting in the third quarter of this year for 2026 flights. Choice Extra bookings, previously Business Select, will get two free checked bags, access to early boarding and can select seats with extra legroom. Those who make Choice Preferred bookings, formerly Anytime fares, can choose seats with standard legroom near the front of the cabin and have access to early general boarding. Fees apply for checked bags. Both options are refundable. Choice fares, previously Wanna Get Away Plus tickets, allow passengers to choose standard seats toward the back of the cabin and general boarding. Checked bag fees apply, and if ticket holders have to cancel their flight, they will be eligible for a flight credit valid for 12 months. Updating the Southwest fleet and ticketing options precedes the sale of assigned and premium seats beginning later this year, with seat assignments starting in 2026. For flights booked or ticketed on or after, May 28, checked baggage fees will apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares, meaning the first two checked bags passengers bring will not be free.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines to debut first plane with extra legroom seats
Southwest Airlines' first plane with extra legroom seats is planned to begin serving customers Thursday, marking an initial step as the low-fare airline prepares for a slew of changes to its fleet and customer experience. Over the rest of the year, all aircraft in Southwest's fleet will be retrofitted to accommodate the new seats with up to 5 inches of expanded legroom, the company said in a statement. Southwest's fleet of Boeing 737-800 and Max 8 aircraft will be the first to see the upgrades, with changes to Boeing 737-700 aircraft starting after summer. Other cabin upgrades, including installation of in-seat power and larger overhead storage bins, will take place alongside the retrofitting. Southwest is also revamping its ticketing options. Southwest's lowest-priced tickets, now known as Basic fares, go into effect May 28. Basic ticket holders will get assigned standard seats in the back of the plane, be last to board and must pay for checked bags. Other new options, Choice Extra, Choice Preferred and Choice, will be bookable starting in the third quarter of this year for 2026 flights. Choice Extra bookings, previously Business Select, will get two free checked bags, access to early boarding and can select seats with extra legroom. Those who make Choice Preferred bookings, formerly Anytime fares, can choose seats with standard legroom near the front of the cabin and have access to early general boarding. Fees apply for checked bags. Both options are refundable. Choice fares, previously Wanna Get Away Plus tickets, allow passengers to choose standard seats toward the back of the cabin and general boarding. Checked bag fees apply, and if ticket holders have to cancel their flight, they will be eligible for a flight credit valid for 12 months. Updating the Southwest fleet and ticketing options precedes the sale of assigned and premium seats beginning later this year, with seat assignments starting in 2026. For flights booked or ticketed on or after, May 28, checked baggage fees will apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares, meaning the first two checked bags passengers bring will not be free.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Has Major Announcement After Ending Free Bags
Last month, Southwest Airlines sparked criticism when the company announced a bit of a brand overhaul that included ditching its longstanding policies of free checked baggage and open seating on the aircraft in an attempt to modernize and secure more profits. Now, Southwest is codifying those changes with a new announcement. On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines officially announced its new fare bundles, offering perks to high-paying customers and loyalty program members. The airline rolled out four new fare options — Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice, and Basic, in descending price order. The new bundles will be available for customers to purchase in the third quarter of this year for flights scheduled in 2026 'With new choices like seat selection and Extra Legroom, our enhanced fare bundles let Customers customize their trip while still enjoying our industry-leading reliability and hospitality,' Southwest's executive vice president of consumer and brand, Tony Roach, wrote in a statement on Tuesday. While Southwest Airlines has long offered two free checked bags to all customers, only the "Choice Extra" bundle – the most expensive one of the bunch – includes two checked bags. Additional perks of the highest-tier bundle include seats with extra legroom, early boarding, and in-flight internet access. In addition to ditching free bags, Southwest is also ending its longstanding policy of open seating on flights. Now, customers will have to pay in order to select their seats. The "Choice Preferred" bundle offers customers preferred seating and early general boarding, while "Choice" customers will choose from standard seats upon booking, Meanwhile, those who opt for the "Basic" bundle will simply be assigned seats at check-in – a drastic change from the airline's decades of history allowing everyone to choose their own seats. Clearly, it is a new era for Southwest Airlines as they are departing from everything that made them unique. Sign in to access your portfolio
