Southwest Airlines ends open seating, adds assigned seats and premium options

ST. LOUIS -- It's been a tradition with one airline for more than 50 years.  Now they're changing how you board and where you sit. Moving forward, Southwest Airlines plans to assign seats and offer premium seating options.

Call it the quirkiness or part of the allure for some to Southwest Airlines. Groups A, B, and C board the airplane with open seating. Open seating on an airplane is becoming obsolete.

“I don’t mind it; I actually like it, says Kayla Mouton, passenger. “I think having assigned seats gets you faster onto the airplane. So I think it’s a great change.”

“I don’t like it,” says Chris Flores, passenger. “I like the open seating. Because you can sit where you want.  And if you choose to sit where you want, that’s you. But I like discounts.” 

In a media release Thursday, the Dallas-based company announced new initiatives to elevate the customer experience, improve financial performance and drive shareholder value.

“I guess that’s just the way of the world and this economy we’re in now,” says Jacob Beard, passenger.  “People want more money and need more money.  I guess that’s ...