Tag Archives for southwest airlines.
The Southwest Airlines boarding experience has been the worst of all possible worlds since moving to assigned seating on January 27. Now flight attendants are being asked to shoulder the burden, and their union is putting the airline on blast.
Southwest Airlines has banned its employees from using smart glasses and other wearable devices capable of recording during work hours, citing safety, privacy, and legal responsibilities—though the policy doesn’t apply to passengers.
Southwest Airlines moved from flexible open seating to strict assigned seats overnight—now passengers report being forced to remain squeezed next to travelers spilling into their space, even when entire rows remain empty.
Southwest flight attendants have voted down higher union dues three times, but the proposal is back for a fourth try. This time, the union is limiting ballots to in-person meetings, turning a $5-a-month ask into a fight over turnout, process, peer pressure and whether “no” actually means no.
Southwest’s Companion Pass is still the best domestic perk: your companion flies for just taxes (from $5.60 each way), even on award tickets, as long as there’s an open seat. Last week my family used two passes on one trip. And right now you can get Companion Pass through Feb. 2027 via a credit card initial bonus.
A passenger is suing Southwest Airlines, claiming the airline denied her wheelchair assistance and then left her stranded in an airport restroom, causing severe emotional distress—Southwest responded by offering just a $150 voucher.
Southwest Airlines flight attendants are furious after the airline decided to relocate their reserved overhead bin space from the front to the back of the aircraft—sparking fears their belongings could be stolen. The change, meant to solve chaotic boarding issues following the airline’s switch to assigned seating, has triggered immediate backlash from crew members concerned about security and convenience.
Southwest passengers are in disbelief: despite planes flying half-empty, the airline now strictly enforces assigned seats—even preventing passengers from spreading out into empty rows. “Sir, you cannot move like that!” a flight attendant scolded one traveler.
Southwest Airlines has dominated my home airport in Austin, but I’ve long avoided flying them—not for their bag fees or the boarding process, but because their unreliable wifi crushed productivity. Now, Southwest is finally fixing their biggest problem by rapidly rolling out Starlink wifi, promising internet speeds in the air that rival your home network.
Southwest Airlines quietly revealed to the SEC that customers are redeeming fewer Rapid Rewards points than ever—a troubling sign that loyal passengers may be turning away just as the airline makes major changes.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
