Southwest Airlines quietly removes another passenger perk
The airline that used to be all about being different than its rival continues to become exactly what it used to mock.
Southwest Airlines used to be the airline of the people. It offered transparent, all-inclusive fares and a democratic (albeit chaotic) boarding system.
People loved the airline because it had very few extra fees, and the price it advertised was basically the price you paid. Yes, the airline offered extra-fee early check-in as well as a sort of cut-the-line "business" boarding option, but bags, non-alcoholic drinks, and everything you expected to be included were included.
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That started changing way back in 2023 when Southwest (LUV) started chipping away at its identity. It was a small change at first — the airline started charging $8 per flight segment for WiFi rather than $8 for the entire day.
It may sound small, but it was the airline adding a new charge for passengers who already had the hassle of having to make a connection. That's a small salt-in-the-wounds move that can't possibly be worth the extra revenue versus the passenger annoyance.