Southwest Airlines Facing Backlash After Another Polarizing Change

Earlier this year Southwest Airlines officially announced its controversial change to its boarding process with travelers selecting an assigned seat ahead of time rather than being assigned a boarding group.

“All tickets purchased for travel starting Jan. 27, 2026, will feature assigned seating. Moreover, Southwest Airlines Customers can choose their preferred fare bundle, including the opportunity to purchase assigned and premium seating and select a seat at booking,” the airline said in a statement at the time. “Customers connecting into the Southwest network from transoceanic journeys with airline partners, currently Icelandair and China Airlines, will be able to select seats for all flights in their itineraries.”

Southwest also started handing out bag fees to travelers, which sparked even more outrage.

Southwest Airlines Changes Jumpseat Eligibility

Southwest wasn't done with its changes, though. While flight attendants have complained about the new protocols, they celebrated another recent change that came to their benefit.

The airline introduced a policy that restricts cabin jumpseat access to pilots and flight attendants only. The change came after the Transport Workers Union Local 556 (TWU 556), which represents the airline’s flight attendants, advocated for the change in the name of safety.

"Now that Flight Attendants are required in Initial training to perform a physical standards test in addition to operating the door and all emergency evacuation protocols, we request that only Crew occupy the cabin jumpseat(s). Having non-Crew individuals sit in the cabin jumpseat can disrupt in-flight duties," it claimed. "Only other Flight Attendants understand the needs of working crews, and only Flight Attendants are properly trained and qualified in evacuation procedures each year. During an evacuation, having an individual on the jumpseat who is not fully trained and qualified to evacuate an aircraft is not the industry standard and does not provide the highest level of safety."

Southwest Airlines Crew 'Up in Arms' Over New Change

While flight attendants and pilots who rely on the jumpseat during their commutes celebrate the change, other crew members are allegedly "up in arms" over the change.

"Industry observers also point to a broader labor discussion within Southwest. Aviation analyst JonNYC noted online that the airline may have accepted the jumpseat change during ongoing negotiations with the flight attendant union," Aviation A2Z reported.

While flight attendants and pilots celebrate the change, other airline employees will face a much more difficult task of landing a last-minute seat.

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