Latest news with #TonyRoach
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
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest announces four new fare choices. What to know if you're flying out of JAX
Those flying Southwest Airlines from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) will soon have more choices when it comes to fares, and one less option for destinations. Amidst a flurry of major changes in seating and bag fees, and a major layoff, the airline has announced an overhaul of its fare bundles. The new fares, branded as Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic, will be available starting in the third quarter of this year for flights beginning 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." Tony Roach, Executive Vice President Customer & Brand said in a release. The airline recently announced new and renewed routes to, from and within Florida. Southwest has come under fire recently after it announced the end of its long-standing practice of open seating, with assigned seating coming in 2026. In March, the company announced it was creating a new Basic fare and charging baggage fees, starting May 28, a shift from the current practice of allowing two free checked bags. The company also announced it would be laying off about 1,750 employees, or about 15% of its corporate positions, in the end of April "to create a leaner and more agile organization." Decreasing demand this year has affected all the major airlines. According to the Associated Press, Southwest, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines all pulled their financial guidance for 2025, and Southwest announced on April 23 that it would be trimming its flight schedule for the second half of the year. New JAX destinations: Avelo announces flights from Philadelphia/Wilmington to Jacksonville International Airport Choice Extra (formerly Business Select): The most expensive, with the most add-ons as part of the base fare. Early boarding, two free checked bags and complimentary access to extra legroom seats at booking and complimentary internet. Rapid Rewards points equal to 14x the fare Refundable up to 10 minutes before departure Choice Preferred (formerly Anytime): The next most expensive. Access to preferred standard seats at booking (generally those closer to the front of the plane) and an earlier group in general boarding Fee to check bags Rapid Rewards points equal to 10x the fare Refundable up to 10 minutes before departure Choice (formerly Wanna Get Away Plus): The next tier. General boarding and a standard seat assignment toward the back of the plane at booking. Fee to check bags Rapid Rewards points equal to 6x the fare Refundable as a transferable flight credit, valid for 12 months Basic: Previously announced as starting May 28, the least expensive tier. Seat assignment provided at check-in, final positions in boarding Fee to check bags Rapid Rewards points equal to 2x the fare Refundable as a non-transferable flight credit, valid for 6 months Travelers on Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic fares will all have to pay to check bags, as well as for internet and premium drinks onboard. The airline also announced changes to its loyalty program, Rapid Rewards. Starting May 28, A-List members get the first checked bag for free, while A-List Preferred members will get the first two checked bags for free. Both levels will be able to book up to eight additional passengers traveling on the same reservation (weight and size limits apply). More benefits are coming soon, Southwest said, including the ability to choose seats or extra legroom at booking. Southwest said last year it would be ending its long-standing practice of open seating that began with the airline's founding in 1967 and switching to assigned seating. Albany, NY - ALB Albuquerque, NM - ABQ Amarillo, TX - AMA Aruba, Aruba - AUA Atlanta, GA - ATL Austin, TX - AUS Baltimore/Washington, MD - BWI Belize City, Belize - BZE Birmingham, AL - BHM Boise, ID - BOI Boston (Logan), MA - BOS Bozeman/Yellowstone, MT - BZN Buffalo/Niagara, NY - BUF Burbank, CA - BUR Cancun, Mexico - CUN Charleston, SC - CHS Charlotte, NC - CLT Chicago (Midway), IL - MDW Chicago (O'Hare-Terminal 5) IL - ORD Cincinnati, OH - CVG Cleveland, OH - CLE Colorado Springs, CO - COS Columbus, OH - CMH Corpus Christi, TX - CRP Dallas (Love Field), TX - DAL Denver, CO - DEN Des Moines, IA - DSM Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL - VPS Detroit, MI - DTW El Paso, TX - ELP Eugene, OR - EUG Fort Lauderdale, FL - FLL Fort Myers, FL - RSW Fresno, CA - FAT Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - GCM Grand Rapids, MI - GRR Greenville/Spartanburg, SC - GSP Harlingen, TX - HRL Hartford, CT - BDL Honolulu (Oahu), HI - HNL Houston (Hobby), TX - HOU Indianapolis, IN - IND Jackson, MS - JAN Kahului (Maui), HI - OGG Kansas City, MO - MCI Las Vegas, NV - LAS Liberia (Guanacaste), Costa Rica - LIR Lihue (Kauai), HI - LIH Little Rock, AR - LIT Long Beach, CA - LGB Long Island/Islip, NY - ISP Los Angeles, CA - LAX Los Cabos, Mexico - SJD Louisville, KY - SDF Lubbock, TX - LBB Manchester, NH - MHT Memphis, TN - MEM Miami, FL - MIA Midland/Odessa, TX - MAF Milwaukee, WI - MKE Minneapolis/St. Paul (Terminal 2), MN - MSP Montego Bay, Jamaica - MBJ Montrose (Telluride/Crested Butte), CO - MTJ Myrtle Beach, SC - MYR Nashville, TN - BNA Nassau, Bahamas - NAS New Orleans, LA - MSY New York (LaGuardia), NY - LGA Norfolk, VA - ORF Oakland, CA - OAK Oklahoma City, OK - OKC Omaha, NE - OMA Ontario/LA, CA - ONT Orange County/Santa Ana, CA - SNA Orlando, FL - MCO Palm Springs, CA - PSP Panama City Beach, FL - ECP Pensacola, FL - PNS Philadelphia, PA - PHL Phoenix, AZ - PHX Pittsburgh, PA - PIT Portland, ME - PWM Portland, OR - PDX Providence, RI - PVD Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands - PLS Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - PVR Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - PUJ Raleigh/Durham, NC - RDU Reno/Tahoe, NV - RNO Richmond, VA - RIC Rochester, NY - ROC Sacramento, CA - SMF Salt Lake City, UT - SLC San Antonio, TX - SAT San Diego, CA - SAN San Francisco, CA - SFO San Jose, CA - SJC San Jose, Costa Rica - SJO San Juan, PR - SJU Santa Barbara, CA - SBA Sarasota/Bradenton, FL - SRQ Savannah/Hilton Head, GA - SAV Seattle/Tacoma, WA - SEA Spokane, WA - GEG St. Louis, MO - STL Steamboat Springs (Hayden), CO - HDN Tampa, FL - TPA Tucson, AZ - TUS Tulsa, OK - TUL Washington (Dulles), DC - IAD Washington (Reagan National), DC - DCA West Palm Beach, FL - PBI Wichita, KS - ICT Multiple airlines including Jet Blue, Southwest and Allegiant have recently halted select flights with service to and from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). Here are the discontinued flights, as reported by First Coast News. Jet Blue: JetBlue discontinued its nonstop flight from Jacksonville to Ft. Lauderdale. Southwest: Southwest Airlines discontinued its direct flight from Atlanta to Jacksonville. Allegiant: Allegiant Airlines discontinued its nonstop flight from Jacksonville to Cleveland. Breeze: In November, Breeze Airways discontinued its flight from Jacksonville to Westchester County, New York. Effective Aug. 5, 2024, Southwest said it will be serving 117 airports, including 11 in Florida. Florida airports offering Southwest flights include: Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Fort Myers (RSW) Jacksonville (JAX) Miami (MIA) Orlando (MCO) Panama City Beach (PNS) Pensacola (PNS) Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) Tampa (TPA) Yes. Starting May 7, a Real ID will be required by the Transportation Security Administration to fly domestically on Southwest or any other airline. Some states allow prequalified residents to obtain the ID online, while others complete the process in person. Other acceptable forms of ID include a passport or passport card. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Southwest Airlines new fare choices coming to JAX
Miami Herald
30-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Southwest Airlines continues brand revamp with new fare bundles, perks for top-tier fliers
Southwest Airlines is unveiling new fare bundles as controversial changes to the airline's policies are set to take effect in the coming months. Historically branded as a no-frills, budget-friendly airline, Southwest in the last year announced it would sunset its signature open seating and free checked bag policies in an effort to modernize services and secure future profitability. The hotly contested brand overhaul continued this week with four revamped fare bundles offering the most perks to top-tier fliers and loyalty program members. The new fare options - Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic, in descending price order - will be available for purchase in the third quarter of this year for flights scheduled in 2026, the airline said. '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,' Tony Roach, Southwest's executive vice president of consumer & brand, said in a statement. Representatives for Southwest declined to provide additional comment, referring to the airline's news release and website as sources of information about the bundles. Choice Extra, the priciest option of the bunch, is the only package offering passengers two free checked bags. Additional perks include roomier seats, early boarding and complimentary internet. A tier below, Choice Preferred offers preferred seating and early general boarding. Choice ticketholders choose from standard seats upon booking, while those who opt for Basic - the most restrictive fare - are assigned seats at check-in. Southwest did not disclose pricing specifics for the newly unveiled bundles. But the airline did confirm new perks for loyalty program members. Southwest credit card holders will be able to select their seats regardless of the bundle they purchase and also receive early boarding and a free checked bag, the airline said. A-List members get preferred seating, earlier boarding and 'other inflight experience enhancements.' On social media, Southwest regulars were less than pleased with the new flight bundles, with one user commenting on the airline's Instagram announcement that they'd 'rather have my two free checked bags and open seating.' 'None of us asked for this,' another said. Others expressed sadness about booking summer flights with other airlines. Southwest will start charging for checked bags on flights booked on or after May 28. Assigned seats will be available for purchase in the second half of 2025 for flights departing in 2026. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Southwest Airlines continues brand revamp with new fare bundles, perks for top-tier fliers
Southwest Airlines is unveiling new fare bundles as controversial changes to the airline's policies are set to take effect in the coming months. Historically branded as a no-frills, budget-friendly airline, Southwest in the last year announced it would sunset its signature open seating and free checked bag policies in an effort to modernize services and secure future profitability. The hotly contested brand overhaul continued this week with four revamped fare bundles offering the most perks to top-tier fliers and loyalty program members. The new fare options — Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic, in descending price order — will be available for purchase in the third quarter of this year for flights scheduled in 2026, the airline said. '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,' Tony Roach, Southwest's executive vice president of consumer & brand, said in a statement. Representatives for Southwest declined to provide additional comment, referring to the airline's news release and website as sources of information about the bundles. Choice Extra, the priciest option of the bunch, is the only package offering passengers two free checked bags. Additional perks include roomier seats, early boarding and complimentary internet. A tier below, Choice Preferred offers preferred seating and early general boarding. Choice ticketholders choose from standard seats upon booking, while those who opt for Basic — the most restrictive fare — are assigned seats at check-in. Southwest did not disclose pricing specifics for the newly unveiled bundles. But the airline did confirm new perks for loyalty program members. Southwest credit card holders will be able to select their seats regardless of the bundle they purchase and also receive early boarding and a free checked bag, the airline said. A-List members get preferred seating, earlier boarding and 'other inflight experience enhancements.' On social media, Southwest regulars were less than pleased with the new flight bundles, with one user commenting on the airline's Instagram announcement that they'd 'rather have my two free checked bags and open seating.' 'None of us asked for this,' another said. Others expressed sadness about booking summer flights with other airlines. Southwest will start charging for checked bags on flights booked on or after May 28. Assigned seats will be available for purchase in the second half of 2025 for flights departing in 2026.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines announces new fare programs for Florida flights. Here's what to know
Amidst a flurry of major changes in seating and bag fees, and a major layoff, Southwest Airlines has announced an overhaul of its fare bundles. The new fares, branded as Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic, will be available starting in the third quarter of this year for flights beginning 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." Tony Roach, Executive Vice President Customer & Brand said in a release. The airline recently announced new and renewed routes to, from and within Florida. Southwest has come under fire recently after it announced the end of its long-standing practice of open seating, with assigned seating coming in 2026. In March, the company announced it was creating a new Basic fare and charging baggage fees, starting May 28, a shift from the current practice of allowing two free checked bags. The company also announced it would be laying off about 1,750 employees, or about 15% of its corporate positions, in the end of April "to create a leaner and more agile organization." Decreasing demand this year has affected all the major airlines. According to the Associated Press, Southwest, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines all pulled their financial guidance for 2025, and Southwest announced on April 23 that it would be trimming its flight schedule for the second half of the year. Declining air travel to U.S.: DeSantis proclaims Florida top vacation destination again. Will Trump tariffs change that? Choice Extra (formerly Business Select): The most expensive, with the most add-ons as part of the base fare. Early boarding, two free checked bags and complimentary access to extra legroom seats at booking and complimentary internet. Rapid Rewards points equal to 14x the fare Refundable up to 10 minutes before departure Choice Preferred (formerly Anytime): The next most expensive. Access to preferred standard seats at booking (generally those closer to the front of the plane) and an earlier group in general boarding Fee to check bags Rapid Rewards points equal to 10x the fare Refundable up to 10 minutes before departure Choice (formerly Wanna Get Away Plus): The next tier. General boarding and a standard seat assignment toward the back of the plane at booking. Fee to check bags Rapid Rewards points equal to 6x the fare Refundable as a transferable flight credit, valid for 12 months Basic: Previously announced as starting May 28, the least expensive tier. Seat assignment provided at check-in, final positions in boarding Fee to check bags Rapid Rewards points equal to 2x the fare Refundable as a non-transferable flight credit, valid for 6 months Travelers on Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic fares will all have to pay to check bags, as well as for internet and premium drinks onboard. The airline also announced changes to its loyalty program, Rapid Rewards. Starting May 28, A-List members get the first checked bag for free, while A-List Preferred members will get the first two checked bags for free. Both levels will be able to book up to eight additional passengers traveling on the same reservation (weight and size limits apply). More benefits are coming soon, Southwest said, including the ability to choose seats or extra legroom at booking. Southwest said last year it would be ending its long-standing practice of open seating that began with the airline's founding in 1967 and switching to assigned seating. Effective Aug. 5, 2024, Southwest said it will be serving 117 airports, including 11 in Florida. Florida airports offering Southwest flights include: Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Fort Myers (RSW) Jacksonville (JAX) Miami (MIA) Orlando (MCO) Panama City Beach (PNS) Pensacola (PNS) Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) Tampa (TPA) West Palm Beach (PBI) This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Southwest Airlines new fares in Florida: Choice Extra to Basic
