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A Southwest Airlines plane takes off as another Southwest jet taxis in Burbank, Calif. Southwest Airlines has announced it will discontinue its 50-year policy of open seating, instead opting for assigned seating that will include premium seating in an effort to broaden its appeal.

A Southwest Airlines plane takes off as another Southwest jet taxis in Burbank, Calif. Southwest Airlines has announced it will discontinue its 50-year policy of open seating, instead opting for assigned seating that will include premium seating in an effort to broaden its appeal. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

National

Southwest is changing how it boards planes, but don’t expect it to be faster

Southwest Airlines is expected to say more this week about its major change to assigned seats. It’s part of a larger shift across the industry to maximize revenue, even if it makes boarding slower.

AIRLINES BOARDING SQUEEZE

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Southwest Airlines unveiled big shifts in how it does business Thursday, saying it will throw out the open-seating model it has used for decades and introduce redeye flights. Here, an employee and passenger are seen at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last year in Austin, Texas.

Southwest Airlines unveiled big shifts in how it does business Thursday, saying it will throw out the open-seating model it has used for decades and introduce redeye flights. Here, an employee and passenger are seen at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last year in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

National

Southwest Airlines says ‘assigned and premium seating’ will replace open seating plan

Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan says research shows passengers “overwhelmingly prefer” an assigned-seat system. He also pledged to improve the airline's financial performance.

Pristine Floyde searches for a friend's suitcase in a baggage holding area for Southwest Airlines at Denver International Airport in December 2022.

Pristine Floyde searches for a friend's suitcase in a baggage holding area for Southwest Airlines at Denver International Airport in December 2022. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

National

Southwest will pay a $140 million fine for its meltdown during the 2022 holidays

The U.S. Transportation Department ordered Southwest Airlines to pay a $140 million civil penalty as part of an agreement over operational failures that stranded millions of passengers a year ago.

Southwest will pay a $140 million fine for its meltdown during the 2022 holidays

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Southwest Airlines says it's ready for the holidays after its meltdown last December

A Southwest Airlines jetliner approaches Denver International Airport on May 26. The airline has spent months preparing for the holiday travel season after a meltdown last December that left thousands stranded. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Business

Southwest Airlines says it's ready for the holidays after its meltdown last December

A major blizzard set off a series of issues last year that forced the airline to cancel more than 16,000 flights, stranding passengers across the U.S. Southwest says this year will be different.

Southwest Airlines says it's ready for the holidays after its meltdown last December

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Biden wants airlines to pay passengers whose flights are hit by preventable delays

Travelers wait in line at the Southwest Airlines ticketing counter at Nashville International Airport after the airline cancelled thousands of flights in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 27, 2022. Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

National

Biden wants airlines to pay passengers whose flights are hit by preventable delays

No airline currently offers cash compensation in addition to refunds or amenities. The White House plans to change that. The move comes after a chaotic holiday travel season.

Southwest's COO will tell senators 'we messed up' over the holiday travel meltdown

Southwest Airlines Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson is scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on Thursday to discuss the cancellation of nearly 16,700 flights in December. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Business

Southwest's COO will tell senators 'we messed up' over the holiday travel meltdown

NPR obtained Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson's prepared testimony for his scheduled appearance before a Senate committee to discuss what led to thousands of flights being canceled.

Biden calls for passage of a bill to stop 'junk fees' in travel and entertainment

In his State of the Union address, President Biden delivers remarks on tackling what he calls "junk fees," or the unknown added costs that get tacked onto hotel, airline and other bills in the travel and entertainment sectors. Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Pool/Getty Images

Politics

Biden calls for passage of a bill to stop 'junk fees' in travel and entertainment

In his State of the Union speech, President Biden addressed the Junk Fees Prevention Act, which aims to limit the hidden fees and charges that exist in the entertainment and travel industries.

An Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights seeks to make flying feel more humane

Southwest canceled more than 16,700 flights over several days in late December, leaving thousands of travelers stranded for days. Now lawmakers are attempting to hold airlines to account for disruptions and cancellations with a new Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Law

An Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights seeks to make flying feel more humane

The meltdowns that recently brought flights to a halt have prompted lawmakers to draft new rules for airlines. The changes would give travelers at least $1,350 if bumped from an overbooked flight.

Southwest faces investigation over holiday travel disaster as it posts a $220M loss

Travelers wait in line at the Southwest Airlines ticketing counter at Nashville International Airport after the airline canceled thousands of flights in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 27, 2022. The Department of Transportation is investigating the disaster, which led to $220 million in losses for Southwest Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

Business

Southwest faces investigation over holiday travel disaster as it posts a $220M loss

The Department of Transportation says it is looking into the airline's flight scheduling practices and will hold it accountable for refunds. The 16,700 canceled flights cost Southwest $800 million.

Southwest Airlines' holiday chaos could cost the company as much as $825 million

Southwest Airlines says more than 16,700 of its flights were cancelled between Dec. 21-31, which will cost the company as much as $825 million. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Business

Southwest Airlines' holiday chaos could cost the company as much as $825 million

Southwest Airlines says disruptions that led to more than 16,700 cancelled flights over the holidays will have severe financial consequences for the company.

Southwest Airlines apologizes and then gives its customers frequent-flyer points

Travelers are shown lining up at the check-in counters for Southwest Airlines in Denver International Airport, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, in Denver. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Business

Southwest Airlines apologizes and then gives its customers frequent-flyer points

Southwest Airlines says it will award the travelers who were caught in the surge of canceled flights during the holidays 25,000 frequent-flyer points, an award worth more than $300 in flights.

Flight fare prices skyrocketed following Southwest's meltdown. Was it price gouging?

Travelers wait in line before passing through a security checkpoint at Denver International Airport on December 28, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

National

Flight fare prices skyrocketed following Southwest's meltdown. Was it price gouging?

Passengers who looked for last-minute tickets encountered sky-high prices — in some cases, triple or quadruple the rate for the same route in the last few months. Experts say it's fairly normal.

Southwest plans on near-normal operations Friday after widespread cancellations

A woman walks through unclaimed bags at Southwest Airlines baggage claim at Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, as the carrier canceled another 2,350 flights after a winter storm overwhelmed its operations days ago. Rick Bowmer/AP hide caption

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Rick Bowmer/AP

National

Southwest plans on near-normal operations Friday after widespread cancellations

Ahead of the New Year's weekend, the airline said that Friday will see minimal disruptions after its slashed schedule stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers during a wintry holiday stretch.

Southwest cancels another 4,800 flights as its reduced schedule continues

Travelers wait next to their luggage near the Southwest Airlines baggage claim area at the Nashville International Airport after the airline canceled thousands of flights in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday. Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

National

Southwest cancels another 4,800 flights as its reduced schedule continues

The airline's CEO says the company is hoping to be "back on track before next week." But until then, it's continuing on a reduced schedule.

The blizzard is just one reason behind the operational meltdown at Southwest Airlines

A flight board shows canceled flights at the Southwest Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday. Eugene Garcia/AP hide caption

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Eugene Garcia/AP

Weather

The blizzard is just one reason behind the operational meltdown at Southwest Airlines

Southwest isn't the only airline experiencing delays and cancellations, but it is by far the worst-hit, with about 5,500 of its flights canceled across the country in the last two days.

The blizzard is just one reason behind the operational meltdown at Southwest Airlines

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A Southwest pilot is under investigation for the divisive phrase 'Let's go, Brandon'

Southwest Airlines is conducting an internal investigation into an incident where a pilot signed off with the phrase "Let's go, Brandon," which conservatives are using to insult President Biden. Morry Gash/AP hide caption

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National

A Southwest pilot is under investigation for the divisive phrase 'Let's go, Brandon'

The airline said it will address the situation with the pilot and that it doesn't condone employees sharing personal political opinions while working or tolerate behavior that leads to divisiveness.

More Southwest Airlines flight disruptions follow a weekend of cancellations

Passengers board a Southwest Airlines airplane at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank, California on October 10, 2021. The airline has continued to cancel or delay hundreds of flights on Monday. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

National

More Southwest Airlines flight disruptions follow a weekend of cancellations

Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights are either canceled or delayed on Monday, after a weekend of disruptions that the carrier has blamed on air traffic control issues and weather conditions.

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