Southwest’s First Day of Assigned Seating Sparks Boarding Chaos and Packed Bins
TL;DR
Gary Leff details his experience on Southwest’s launch of assigned seating on a day of winter storms, noting chaotic boarding as passengers line up by group even with assigned seats, long lines to store carry-ons in oversized bins, and flight attendants attempting to manage the congestion. He critiques Southwest’s move from free checked bags and perks to paid seating and bag fees, arguing the new process mirrors other airlines and worsens the in-flight experience, with ongoing questions about execution and future improvements.
- I Flew Southwest On Day One Of Assigned Seating — The Boarding Was A Mess And Bin Space Was Chaos View from the Wing
- Southwest just began assigned seating. We tested the first day of flights. The Washington Post
- Southwest ends open seating after 54 years. Here's what the last flight was like CNBC
- Southwest Begins Assigning Seats, Ending 50 Years of the Boarding Scrum The New York Times
- ‘A betrayal’: Southwest’s new plus size policy leaves some passengers unable to fly oregonlive.com
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