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
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
Southwest Airlines says it's taking steps to keep its onboard beverages cooler. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers look for their luggage in Chicago last month. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
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
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
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
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