An Ode to the Old Southwest, the People’s Princess of Airlines
Bidding adieu to free checked bags, open seating, and common decency
For most of us, boarding an airplane is a stark reminder of this country’s disappearing middle class and the fading light of the American Dream. The walk past first class feels cruel as you dodge flight attendants wielding trays of mimosas and peer down at passengers opening their complimentary Missoni bags who evade eye contact. The descent into coach is that of a Saw trap, an amalgamation of uncomfortable seat cushions, crunched laptops, and, sometimes, physical fights.
But for decades, there has been one airline that transcended this reality, a socialist Eden for the everyman—with pretzels. With its open seating policy, free checked bags, flexible changes, and lucrative rewards program, Southwest Airlines has been the unofficial People’s Airline, holding true to its spirit when all of the other airlines were robbing passengers blind.
Through my college years, I depended on Southwest’s low fares to get me home for winter break to see my family. Having two free checked bags came in clutch for lugging back my holiday haul, not to mention the suitcase my mom always packed for me, full of avocados and local ingredients from our Arabic market—both essentials for my new life on the east coast. I respected Southwest for rewarding those who cared (or were anxious) to show up early enough to get their desired seat; it made it so a college student as disorganized and frugal as myself could still afford to sit in the window and dramatically gaze out of it.
Unfortunately, as of this week, all of these perks are coming to an end. Back in September 2024, Southwest first announced they would introduce assigned seating and charge passengers extra for more legroom by 2026. And on Monday the airline revealed they will be getting rid of their free checked bag policy, starting May 28. Only A-List members in Business Select will continue to benefit from the policy. To qualify as an A-Lister, you have to book 20 qualifying flights or earn 35,000 qualifying points in a single year. (Those with Southwest Visa credit cards also get one free checked bag.) What was once the people’s princess of airlines now feels just like the other girls—maybe even worse.
For me, and evidently many others who’ve come to depend on the airline’s liberal policies, Southwest’s vibe shift is more than just a disappointment; it’s a slap in the face—proof that brand loyalty and consumer protection are, even here, virtually dead. It also reveals a new fickleness to Southwest’s moral code; part of the airline’s mission statement was what they referred to as “transfarency,” which included the promise of inclusivity and no hidden fees.
In response to the changes, past customers are threatening to never fly Southwest again, while others—including me—feel that with the changes, there’s no longer any incentive to fly the airline. The in-flight jokes are just not enough when it’ll cost me $50 to fly with what I feel is a reasonable amount of shoes home. People are going so low as to compare Southwest to the infamously cheap and chaotic Spirit Airlines. Even Amtrak got in on the dogpile.
This is not just about money, either. For plus-sized passengers, the seating policy is especially accommodating; on an episode of Ronald Young Jr.’s podcast Weight For It, Young describes Southwest as “anecdotally, the best airline for fat folks,” noting that the airline has a “customer of size” policy that gives plus-sized passengers an extra seat, free of charge. As Southwest continues to shift priorities, many are worried the “customer of size” policy will go the way of the free checked bag.
While I’ve never been one to celebrate a corporation, I have to admit that Southwest always had a place in the annals of my heart. Maybe I even took its conveniences for granted. Now, instead of being first in line to board, giddily selecting my own spot as if the world were at my fingertips, I’ll be banished to airlines like Delta or United, forever in Zone 6. If this latest shift has taught me anything, it’s to pack light, trust no one, and maybe opt for the train instead.