#southwest-airlines

#southwest-airlines

California travelers should brace themselves for a busy week at the state's major airports as they catch flights in time to be settled for Thanksgiving dinner. Although the majority of Thanksgiving travelers are arriving by car,over 1.1 million travelers are expected to depart from California's airports for the holiday, according to AAA's annual travel report, which shows around 32,000 more travelers than this time last year.

Five days after Oakland's City Council voted to drop a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, the Oakland airport's biggest carrier, for allegedly denying workers paid sick leave, Mayor Barbara Lee met with Southwest's CEO to talk business. A spokesman for Lee's office told The Oaklandside that the mayor met virtually with Southwest CEO Robert Jordan and the company's government affairs staff on Oct. 28 to "discuss partnerships to promote Oakland Airport."

In the latest air travel news, Southwest Airlines is reportedly thinking about issuing a high-fee credit card that would give purchasers access to a new network of airport lounges at its busiest airports, among other benefits; Southwest also rolled out its first new 737 MAX 8 with a redesigned interior; U.S. airports are rejecting a demand from the Department of Homeland Security that they show a controversial video to passengers waiting in line for security screenings;

To start, Southwest installed larger overhead bins for carry-on luggage, which appear tall enough for bags to be placed on their side. This coincides with Southwest's decision to end its long-standing free checked bag policy. In addition, Southwest upgraded its seats, including adding a new multi-adjustable headrest cushion along with a personal device holder and dual USB-A and USB-C power ports. Southwest will install the new seats on all new aircraft and plan to retrofit some of its current aircraft later this year.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to welcome the newest member of our airline family, said Airport Manager Jon Stout in a news release sent prior to a planned afternoon news conference at the airport. Southwest has long been a heavily requested carrier, and I'm proud to deliver for the people of Sonoma County. I look forward to a long-lasting partnership.

The island of Sint Maarten is known for its beautiful beaches and one of the most unique airport runways in the world, and it will soon welcome one more thing: Southwest Airlines. The carrier will launch flights between both Orlando and Baltimore to the island's Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) next year, according to Southwest. This marks the airline's first new international destination since 2021.

Writing at The New York Times, Nia Decaille reported that the airline plans to change its policy for what it describes as "customers of size" beginning in January of 2026. The airline's website reveals that the new policy is going into effect on January 27, 2026, and will affect how the airline handles refunding additional seat purchases once a traveler's itinerary is complete.For travelers traveling both before and after January 27, 2026, Southwest's advice is the same: "Customers who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) should proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional, adjacent seat is available."

The plane suddenly jolted shortly after takeoff then felt like it was falling, said Stef Zamorano, who was flying to Las Vegas with her husband to celebrate his birthday.

By embedding its Rapid Rewards program into the NFL experience, Southwest built a loyalty strategy that extends well beyond the game.

"When a portable charger/power bank is used during a flight, it must be out of any baggage and remain in plain sight."

Amid the current macroeconomic uncertainty, it is difficult to forecast given recent and short-lived booking trends.

"Travelers are frustrated with Southwest Airlines' latest changes, including the expiration of flight credits, which many feel undermine loyalty to the airline."